18 answers

Baby Name Dilemma

My husband and I are expecting again. We don't really have names picked. There is one name that has come up each time, but we haven't yet used it. We are considering selecting it this time, but our friend gave birth and chose the name for her daughter. It is not a common name, but it is traditional and very pretty. Is it uncouth or impolite to also use it if we also have a girl? Our kids would be about the same age, and, again, it is not a very common name, so I don't know if that would be weird.

What can I do next?

Featured Answers

If you really love the name, go for it. Be prepared, though, for the "you stole their name" sentiment. While you both liked the name separate from one another, it is now "their name". If these are people you spend a lot of time with and are close to, then I would shy away from it. If these are people you see a couple times a year and the two children won't be in the same class, then go for it!

My son's name is John and I wouldn't be upset if a friend named their child John. It's not an uncommon name, but we love it and wouldn't be offended if someone else loved it too!

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Nope. My sons name is Anthony. Anthony is a family name in my family. One of my best friends has a son named Anthony as well. Her son is more than 5 years older than mine. When we decided on the name Anthony I called her and told her first. She thought it was great that our sons would have the same name. ( they also both have the middle inital J- both of their dads have names that begin with the letter J ). It wouldnt bother me at all if anyone family or friend wanted to use the same name as either of my kiddos.... I would tell your friend about your name selection before your baby arrives. She probably wont mind at all. Congrats on the baby!

2 moms found this helpful

I suggest you talk with your friends about your concern. My daughter had chosen her daughter's name when she was in grade school and talked about it a lot with her best friend from grade school and while they were both pregnant. The friend used "the" name as a middle name for her daughter who was born first. She didn't tell my daughter ahead of time and my daughter was angry. She felt like her friend had betrayed her by using the name first.

They had a rough relationship for a couple of weeks but my daughter let it go. However, 11 years later, she is still a bit peeved. I suggest that if her friend had talked with her about using the name ahead of time it wouldn't have felt so much like stealing the name or betrayal. Using the name would be in the open and the issue discussed before it happened.

That said, I agree that if that's the name you want to use, use it.

1 mom found this helpful

i agree with the other moms. its ur choice what u name ur child. my son 3 months old name is elijah alexander. my cousin is having a baby boy any day now and he is naming the baby alex james. we have no issues with names in our family and "stealing". plus me and an older and younger cousin all have the same middle name nichole. they are spelt different but nobody argues that so-an-so stole their name. hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful

You are free to name your child whatever YOU and your your husband choose regardless of who else has chosen to use the same name.

1 mom found this helpful

If you really love the name, go for it. Be prepared, though, for the "you stole their name" sentiment. While you both liked the name separate from one another, it is now "their name". If these are people you spend a lot of time with and are close to, then I would shy away from it. If these are people you see a couple times a year and the two children won't be in the same class, then go for it!

My son's name is John and I wouldn't be upset if a friend named their child John. It's not an uncommon name, but we love it and wouldn't be offended if someone else loved it too!

1 mom found this helpful

This is my honest answer and I am sorry if I am too blunt. It is YOUR child... name it as you want! I think the whole name thing gets too many people too upset. My SIL was so irrate that we used "HER" middle name that she had picked out for a child that she was not even pregnant with or thought about conceiving. Yet I had to hear about "we stole her name". The other joke to us about it was that the middle name is a family name.

Sorry, just my honest opinion.

Congrats on baby and use the name you feel is best for baby and you as the parents!

1 mom found this helpful

How about you ask your friend if it would bother her? She might take it as a compliment. Personally it's not something I would do and my husband was totally against it (he grew up sharing his name with several other cousins, as did my father). But two of my husband's sisters have daughters with names that are nearly identical except for the first letter of their names.

I have a friend named her daughter the exact same name combination, first and middle, as her best friend's daughter. They just used different spellings. They live a few states away but visit each other frequently and they think it's cool that their kids have the same name. They had each chosen the name separately without input from each other, and then before birth told each other and decided mutually not to change their minds.

It can't hurt to talk to your friend. And then weigh just how important it is to you and your husband to use the name after that conversation.

1 mom found this helpful

You're allowed to name your child anything you want. Keep in mind people with whom you're friendly now are not neccessarily going to be good friends forever. If you are getting close to using this name give your friend a call and offhandedly tell her that you don't want to weird her out or anything but that you've always liked the name *Sally* - and it keeps comig up in baby-name conversations - and the only reason you keep discrading it is becuse their daughter has the same name. But you're seriously considering it and in case your baby ends up with the same name please don't think we're name-stalking. Don't ask permission - becuase she might say that she thinks it's weird or wahtever. Just tell her you may (or may not) use it. Last I checked names are up for grabs to anyone who wants to use them - there's no exclusive right to names (yet hahaha!)

1 mom found this helpful

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