would you...

nilly5

...not use a name because it was already used in your family? Ex.- when I was pregnant with DS I really liked the name Matthew, but my BF has a brother named Matthew. I really didnt want to "name my child after him" so we chose a different name.

Also, I tried to not use a name that has already been used in my family...but this is just me. Has anyone had a problem like this? Or am I the only one who doesnt want to repeat names?

(Grandparents are ok tho! I just mean like cousins or siblings I dont name after)

sunnyday016

Depends on how often we see them and the type of relationship we have with them.

jiffy-pop

I wouldn't use the same name as 1st or 2nd cousins that we see every Christmas.

robbydoll5

I wouldn't do it.  I would think everyone assumed I copied and that would drive me crazy.  

lovemytwoboys

We didn't want to repeat names either. We had to eliminate:

Andrew - my cousin
Joshua - my cousin
Nicholas - my brother

We were considering Connor though which a cousin of DH's recently named her baby, but we didn't take that one out of the running. For one, we never see them. I've met them once and DH hasn't seen them in 10+ years. Plus, I guess it is different if it is a baby for some reason. In the other instances, it almost seems like you're naming the baby after the adult (even if you really aren't...).

EastCoastBride

No- I didn't consider names of people in our family.  While I dont' feel they are "off limits", per se, at the same time, I feel there are plenty of other names to choose from.

That being said, if there was a specific reason why I wanted to "repeat" a name, I may have.  Hypothetical, but if I had a grandfather I was REALLY close to and I wanted to name my son after him - if someone else had already been named after him, OR if there were somone on DH's side w/ that name - I don't know if that would stop me from using it if it truly have very personal meaning to me. 

nycitylove

Well for me it's different because we're Ashkenazi Jews and do not name after any living relatives. Sephardic Jews do name after living relatives. However, after my grandfather passed away, every boy was given his first name as their middle name. I was the first one to have a boy and not give my son the same middle name. I will not use any name of any family member that is living.

kklickka

We really like Samantha, but I have a cousin with that name so we won't use it.  But in DH's family there are 2 Christophers in the same generation, so it's not necessarily a no-no to everyone - just to me. 

HappyMrsK

sunnyday016:

Depends on how often we see them and the type of relationship we have with them.

I agree with this.

HappyMrsK

sunnyday016:

Depends on how often we see them and the type of relationship we have with them.

I agree with this.

M.Amy

nilly5:

...not use a name because it was already used in your family? Ex.- when I was pregnant with DS I really liked the name Matthew, but my BF has a brother named Matthew. I really didnt want to "name my child after him" so we chose a different name.

I think that is a little extreme especially with a common name.  If it was a very unique name then I wouldn't use it because it would be obvious where the name came from. But for names like, Michael, John, Matthew - they are fair game.

Baby*Kisses

my bf liked the name kole for a lil while but i didnt want it because i have a cousin named cole