Name baby same as older 1st cousin?

EnviroMom2B

Hello lovely ladies (and guys if there are any lurking about)!  We are team green and having a very difficult time with boy names.  My DH and I love the name Quinn.  The problem is my DH's 20 year old cousin is named Quinn.  He is currently away at College, but his family live very close to us (about 30 minutes away).  We are not super close with them, but see them on Holiday's and other such family functions.  Is it weird to name the baby Quinn? Or is this far enough removed that we would be OK?  Also, we were pretty set with Drew as a middle name for boy or girl (Morgan Drew for a girl), but I think it sounds funny with Quinn.  Thoughts?

Thanks!

KatyInNH

If I have a second daughter, I'm going to seriously consider naming her Lydia which is the name of one of my first cousins. Doesn't bother me any. I'll probably just make a comment to her like, "I hope you don't mind if I steal your name, it's always been one of my favorites!"

GSUDavis

I see no issue with you using it, especially if you don't see them very often. 

Helenahhandbasket

I've shared before, but my 1st cousin and I have the same first name.  We are only 2 years apart, and our mothers (who were sisters) were super close and even worked together.  The name was a top 10 80s name.

It was slightly odd, but since it was all I ever knew-- it was really NBD.

EnviroMom2B

Thank you!  Appreciate the responses.  Definitely moved to the top of our list.

ELauren88

My first cousin and I are 2 years apart, and have the same name. I don't remember it ever being an issue, and it definitely isn't one now. We even saw each other quite a lot as children.

PinkDahLia44

I don't think it would be an issue if you don't mind it. I, personally, wouldn't do it, but only bc it would bother me.

jasminelorraine20

FWIW, I have a God Brother named Elijah that is only one year older and we are close. I named my son Elijah because it was the only name that SO and I agreed on and I am in love with the name. His sister gave me some heat for using the name, but ehh it was only for like a day and our families have embraced the name. It's really no big deal at all.

jasminelorraine20

ladynymeria said:

I personally wouldn't do it, but I'm really close to my first cousins and I seem them a lot so it would be confusing for my family.

Same here as far as cousins being close, but it depends on your family dynamics OP. We have about 5 Michaels in the family. A bunch of first cousins and uncles with this name. So it's normal in mine.

Beevol

I wouldn't because I'm Jewish and naming a child after (or even the same) as a living relative is a no-go. For me, I'm so biased that I can't get past that, so I can't offer an opinion on it. 

I can offer an opinion on the name though - you're right, Quinn Drew is kind of a mess. It sounds like you wanted to name the kid Andrew but gave up half way or something. Morgan Drew is nms but flows really nicely. Quinn Andrew or Andrew Quinn are both lovely (Drew Quinn sounds like Dworkin to me and that's not the best association). 

louloutte87

I'm going to say no as I don't think it's appropriate, but if you love it and the family doesn't mind, why not!

Elsa1984

My cousin and I are one year apart and have the same first name (same spelling too). It has never bothered us. 

If you love it, I would use it. Especially since, like you said, they would rarely see each other and there is a huge age gap between the two of them. 

blu-eyedwife

ladynymeria said:

I personally wouldn't do it, but I'm really close to my first cousins and I seem them a lot so it would be confusing for my family.

Same.  We have 2 sets of "same names" in our family and because we're close we have to identify people by first and last name.  I know people are worried about kids in school being known as John B. versus John D.  Can you imagine having to do that your entire life, not just in school?

Renisra+2

I think using the name is a personal choice. I'm not sure I would use the name of a first cousin, but I am using the name of a 2nd cousin that I used to babysit for this baby. I toyed against it for that reason, but I couldn't consider it enough of a "con" to actually eliminate the name.

I don't care for Quinn Drew, it does sound jumbled. So that's something that you might want to work out.

Also, Morgan Drew is okay as far as flow, but I feel with a unisex-ish name like Morgan, a more feminine middle name would be better suited to balance it out more. The whole name being unisex could be a bit confusing for her down the line.

EnviroMom2B

Interesting additional perspectives.  May have to think on this a bit more.  Appreicate the opinions!

DawnJM25

I probably wouldn't do it.  There are 2 Mikes in my family, and they somehow got the nicknames "Big Mike" and "Little Mike."  You are the one to make the decision for your own family situation, but in mine, I wouldn't do it.

moret07

I personally wouldn't do it either. I have a first cousin who named her son Zackary and my nephews name is Zachary and I always found it odd she did that. Also, I don't like Quinn Drew at all!! Quinn Andrew is much better. It is certainly something that you have to decide how much it will or won't bother you.

JenLa21

I have 2 cousins with the same name and it was no big deal. And they are pretty close in age. Also, my H has the same name as his first cousin, bigger age gap, but still, not a big issue. It's a family name.

ashiscute

I have a very large Italian family and a large Irish family. There are lots of repeats. So it really doesn't bother me. I have Alexander and Daniel on my short list and I have cousins by those names.

However I'm only meh about Quinn and Quinn Drew is awkward. I much prefer Morgan for a boy and agree that Morgan Drew is too ambiguous for a girl name.

ajetter

DH's cousin is Ryan and we named our first Ryann.  We only see each other 3ish times a year, and it really isn't all that weird.

lolathepeke

I have two cousins who named their children the same name as another first cousin in the family. At first I thought it was super weird even though no one is super close with each other. But honestly now I don't think it's a big deal at all. FWIW both are fairly classic, timeless names like Quinn.

this decaf life

Technically it's fine but personally, I would find a different name.