should I take this to heart. . . ??

Brandibaby28

I have always loved my grandmother's mn Allena. DH and I wanted to use it spelled a little different -Alayna. He likes that too.  Well my (2nd) cousin who we see frequently, finally got engaged to her BF they have been on/off for a looong time.  We are asked about names and when I say our girls name I get a "OMG! thats my fiance's daughters name!" I have never met  this little girl, I guess she is like 8yrs old.

But, just the way she said it made me feel uncomfortable. Like that name was taken!  Do you think we should reconsider? or not worry about it since I don't even know what this child looks like?

BlondeDutchess912

If they've been together a loong time and you've never met her, I say use the name. It has history with you and your DH. 

Lady Leigh

Id use it too,

Becky262

Use it!

strangebird

It is a family name, although I don't feel you should alter the spelling if you intend to honor your grandmother, especially if the new spelling is the same spelling your cousin's stepdaughter uses. It would be best to stick with the traditional spelling of a family name, thereby honoring your grandmother and, hopefully, negating any tension between you and the stepdaughter. There's no reason you shouldn't still consider the name; families share names all the time.

sleepingbeauty825

strangebird:

It is a family name, although I don't feel you should alter the spelling if you intend to honor your grandmother, especially if the new spelling is the same spelling your cousin's stepdaughter uses. It would be best to stick with the traditional spelling of a family name, thereby honoring your grandmother and, hopefully, negating any tension between you and the stepdaughter. There's no reason you shouldn't still consider the name; families share names all the time.

This

LilyLoveEst07

mj.reilly:

sleepingbeauty825:

strangebird:

It is a family name, although I don't feel you should alter the spelling if you intend to honor your grandmother, especially if the new spelling is the same spelling your cousin's stepdaughter uses. It would be best to stick with the traditional spelling of a family name, thereby honoring your grandmother and, hopefully, negating any tension between you and the stepdaughter. There's no reason you shouldn't still consider the name; families share names all the time.

This

2nd this.

And third. Couldn't have said it better.

laner68

It's your Grandma, use it.

TripMomma

I would use it, and I like Alayna much better.

ames71

LilyLoveEst07:

mj.reilly:

sleepingbeauty825:

strangebird:

It is a family name, although I don't feel you should alter the spelling if you intend to honor your grandmother, especially if the new spelling is the same spelling your cousin's stepdaughter uses. It would be best to stick with the traditional spelling of a family name, thereby honoring your grandmother and, hopefully, negating any tension between you and the stepdaughter. There's no reason you shouldn't still consider the name; families share names all the time.

This

2nd this.

And third. Couldn't have said it better.

Agreed. 

dana1318a

strangebird:

It is a family name, although I don't feel you should alter the spelling if you intend to honor your grandmother, especially if the new spelling is the same spelling your cousin's stepdaughter uses. It would be best to stick with the traditional spelling of a family name, thereby honoring your grandmother and, hopefully, negating any tension between you and the stepdaughter. There's no reason you shouldn't still consider the name; families share names all the time.

 

I agree with this.

happyin10

Don't even worry about it!  If you have never even met this girl, and they've been dating for a while you won't see her often enough for it to be a problem. 

MG7

I'd use it, you never met this little girl and the name has meaning for you.

{lovebird}

strangebird:

It is a family name, although I don't feel you should alter the spelling if you intend to honor your grandmother, especially if the new spelling is the same spelling your cousin's stepdaughter uses. It would be best to stick with the traditional spelling of a family name, thereby honoring your grandmother and, hopefully, negating any tension between you and the stepdaughter. There's no reason you shouldn't still consider the name; families share names all the time.

I agree with this.

Brandibaby28

Thanks Feffy ! that is pretty much what Hubby said! . . .  She just made me feel kinda akward, if ya know what I mean.

futurefreeland

That is a tough one...I was in a very similar situation with a name I really liked. I decided not to use it because I thought it would always be in the back of my mind that I wasn't completely comfortable with it. But since it is a family name that makes a difference too. Given all the circumstances in your situation though, I would go ahead and use it.