37 answers

Name Game

A friend of mine recently asked us what we were naming our little girl. When I told her the name we decided on she couldn't believe her ears because it was one of the names she also liked. I am 5 months pregnant and know it is a girl, she is 2 months and obviously doesn't know yet. I feel really bad, but how was I to know!!! Do I confront the situation or just let it go? I'm sure my hormones are making me way more sensitive about this then needs be....

What can I do next?

Featured Answers

Hi L.,

I have a friend since grade school and we both have boys that have about 3 months between them. My son is the older of the two. We both ended up naming them the same first name :)
It has never been a problem for us or the boys....
I wouldn't worry about it personally, besides how many other kids his age may have the same name once they are in school and all....
hope this helps

Name her whatever you would like...it doesn't matter. No one really cares in the end and you should do what you want.

Plain and simple. You were pregnant first. You found out gender first. You get the name first :) If she has a problem with it, she can choose a different name :P

Sorry.. I am pregnany too, and I've been a bit more blunt than normal lately...

More Answers

Okay, it would be one thing if you were related or if she had told you she wanted that name and THEN you decided on it, but since you came up with it on your own and the kids won't be related... it doesn't really matter! I had 3 friends all the way through school with the same name. It really didn't matter. Even if you name your daughter that, she can still use it too. It REALLY won't matter. Use the name. You and your husband decided on that name and nothing anyone else can say or do should change that.

I agree with everyone else, just name your baby whatever you want.
And later if your friend names her child the same thing, then it is up to her.
If she doesn't like it, then she can name her baby something else.
It shouldn't affect you at all.
Don't worry about it, let it go, and just give your baby the name you chose for her.

Hi L.,

Just let it go. If she continue to has a problem with it, then it is not your problem. You chose your name. You could change your mind...but you certainly shouldn't entertain a different name just because a friend of yours likes the same one. You can name your child whatever you want to name her. And other people just have to deal with it. Kids WILL end up with the same names. Growing up I had 3 Amy's in just about all my elementary classes. In highschool, there was one other R. in my classes. It happens.

What would she have done if she too ended up with a girl and you chose to NOT tell anyone what you were naming your child. And to be honest, I don't see this as a 'this is what you get when you find out the sex before the birth'. This is just a potential issue when two friends are pregnant at the same time. It's life. Society goes through phases where some names are more popular then others.

Just let it go. Enjoy your pregnancy. Enjoy the life growing inside of you.

L.,

She asked and you told her what you had already decided on or what you were seriously considering. Its not like she told you first and then you said the same thing. It's your baby you get to choose the name. Does she expect you to change your choice because she likes that name too? Too bad for her that your having your baby first, that puts the ball in her court. If she has a problem with using the same name let her change her mind about it. Otherwise its not a big deal. There are lots of people out there with the same names and we all handle it just fine!

The same thing happened to me and my sister! I had my son and we had decided to name him Keiron, and my sister got a little upset because that was the name that she wanted. However, we came to the conclusion that since we had already decided on it and our child was coming first, we fell into the "first come first serve" rule.
Don't feel bad about what you're going to name your child. You have decided on a name, and a true friend would not make you change it. (my sister didn't hold a grudge, and didn't mind when we told her that we weren't going to change our choice).
Don't worry about it...really. The one thing I will tell you is that if you do decided to change your name choices, do it for you and your partner....not your friend.

I would just let it go. It is a compliment that she likes the name you picked out. When you are going to have a baby, it's always good to have a boy and girl name picked out. I carried my 2nd baby, a girl, the same way I carried my first, a boy. I only had a boy named picked out but picked a girls name only 2 weeks before she got here.

If she was your sister it might be a different story, but I really wouldn't worry about it.

There's plenty of kids with the same name and it's not like you "took" her name.

My family thinks we're really mean but we refuse to tell anyone our kids names before they are born. It's just our thing!

I remember being pregnant and situations like this meant more then than they do now. Ultimately, it is really no big deal (I am not saying you are making a big deal about it!) I think connecting with her would be good, making it a light conversation, with humor, honoring your friendship and acknowledging you are not surprised you like the same name, noting other things in your lives you have in common, I am sure there are many.

There are totally worse things in life than having the same name as a playmate, however, it does not feel that way when you are pregnant and beside the health of the baby, the biggest thing you concentrate on is choosing a name.

Other posts are right, it may even be a mute point, her baby could be a boy. And, she has many months to go, names come and go, she may not even feel the same way about it when baby is born.

It is not worth weakening a friendship over. Join together during this precious time of life. Have fun together! You may never be pregnant again at the same time!!

Also, info for both of you: If you are looking for a birthing method, check out the classes I teach for HypnoBirthing. www.YourPeacefulBirthing.com

Good luck with everything,
J.

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