Sibling names?

jazzyag

DD has a very rare name, it has been in my family since the 1300s and is unique to our family tree.  It's my granny's name and my mum, my cousin and my MNs. 

I'm due in May so we have lots of time, but names are not easy for DH and I at all, especially for boys (we are team green).  He likes traditional names like Russell, Keith and Michael.  I like less common names like Callum, Rowan, and Ira.  For girls he's OK with less traditional names as long as they're pretty sounding.

My question is: Would it be strange to have one sibling with a unique name and one with a well known one? 

*edit* repeating words...

forensicmama

I don't think so, especially since the rare name is a family name (Alice and Emma is one thing, but Kaniyah and Emma is quite another).

I think it would be great if you both contributed one name to a son's name, you both have great taste (Rowan Michael or Ira Russell), however different.

jazzyag

I do like both your suggestions, unfortunately DH had vehemently vetoed Rowan, and to a lesser extent Ira and just about any other name I come up with.  Russell would probably be a MN because my brother has had it claimed since we were kids (it was our dad's name and he passed when we were young)

DD's name is Ankaret (Ang-krett), as far as I can tell it's the Anglicization of the Welsh name Angharad, which means "much loved"  Unless you're related to me you've probably never heard the name before.  When she gets older she can go by Annie, Anne or Anna if she chooses, but my granny warned us that once shortened it's hard to un-shorten.  She's been spending her adult life trying to re-claim Ankaret rather than being Anne.

ETA: post and run...DD's bedtime.

Becky262

I don't think that traditonal and less common are mutually exclusive tastes in names.  I think you should be able to find a name that's traditional but not in the top 10 - or even top 50

For example, Callum can be a nn for Malcom.  Or maybe something like Isaac - a traditional Biblical name with the less common nn Ike.  Andre with the nn Dre, Christopher with the nn Topher.  Even if the nn isn't a good compromise, maybe taking one of his suggestions and finding a more unique version.  He likes Michael, what about Micah or Miles?

Besides, matching a family name passed down for 400 years is going to be pretty difficult to do!  lol 

ABColeslaw

I love Callum...and there aren't a lot of Callum's out there. 

jazzyag

ABColeslaw:

I love Callum...and there aren't a lot of Callum's out there. 

DD hasn't totally nixed Callum...yet

Puppylove*85

I think that it is fine.  Also, parents tend to stick with traditional names more often for boys anyway.  I think that there is more concern about teasing.

It might be best to stay away from the most popular names right now - Jacob, Ethan, Noah, Aidan.  But a recognizable name that is a little less common would still sound nice with your daughter's name.

Also, Keith has almost the same popularity as Rowan according to the 2009 Social Security names website.

alliejo725

Totally fine. Your DD's name is just lovely, by the way. And it's so cool that it's been in your family for so long!

Really, it would be hard to find a name that works perfectly with DD's name. So anything goes. I guess one thing you could do (if you haven't yet) is research some Wesh names with YH. Maybe the two of you could find some names that work for both of you, and are Welsh like DD's name.

 

jazzyag

thanks for everyone's feedback, sorry I haven't replied sooner, haven't had more than a minute on the computer the past 2 days.