I now know 3 dogs with my top name...

bobishea

First off, we are not TTC right now, but I have recently run into a dilemma with my top name pick. 

 I have had this name picked out for as long as I can remember. Back when I would draw pictures when I was little or play "house" and have a baby, my baby's name was Riley. It was my last name at the time and my maiden name now. There was an issue when my sister got pregnant and told me she was naming her baby girl Riley. She knew that I had had it picked out FOREVER. We didn't have a big fight about it, but I did make it clear that I really wanted to use that name. I realize it isn't right to claim names, especially before we are thinking about TTC, but I really think it was a special circumstance considering she has known since our childhood that I loved that name.

 Anyway, the problem now is that I know 3 dogs named Riley. 3!

It is really making me question whether or not I would use Riley as a first name now. I think no matter what I will use it as a middle name, but now I am going to feel guilty since I made a big deal about using Riley and my sister didn't get to. Should I feel bad? 

bread&jam

It's better as a dog's name IMO. Sorry. Maybe it's a sign for you to move on...

TheWop

Well....dogs don't live forever.  Are you super close with the dog owners?  It wouldn't bother me personally.  If you love the name and always have, and you would be upset if your sister used it, well then you should name your child Riley.  And are you planning on naming only a girl Riley?  If so, what if you never have a girl and your sister missed out on using a name because you were stuck on something you might not have? 

ETA: I think Riley is a boys name. 

TheWop

Oh and I used to have a dog named Riley

JMU_Bride09

I think that Riley is a great name for a little boy, and I don't think you should let the names of other peoples' pets change your mind. People name their dogs lots of things...I've known an Eddie and a Sasha, both of which are still perfectly fine names for a baby or a dog.

Chelsey68

my name is Chelsey and throughout growing up i had a few kids come up to me and tell me they had a dog named Chelsey. i even dated a guy that a dog with my name. Alot of people use human names as dog names. I know two girls i went to school with one has a son named Riley and one has a daughter named Riley so its really a unisex name. if you love the name dont let what other people think of the name stop you from using it. i dont think that the child would get made fun of over the name and if someone really wants to make fun of your name they will find a way too regardless of what it is.

evaazalea

I would be pretty annoyed if I was your sister, but that's not a great reason to chose a name you aren't sure about in the end. My dogs all had people names as well, one being Emma, a very popular name!

KikiCohen

First, Riley is a boy's name IMO.  Second, I wouldn't let the dog thing bother me at all.  I think that my FN is absolutely a "people name" (it's the title of a classic book about a character of the same name) yet I know at least two people that have dogs with this same name.  These dogs obviously weren't around when I was born, yet they came along anyways.  So you're not going to avoid your LO having the same name as someone's pet just b/c you avoid all the pet names you know right now.  When I met both of these individuals, they said "oh, that's my dog's name!"  It's a little awkward b/c I really don't know what to say back to them, but oh well!

alohamora

TysMomPlusOne:

I would be pretty annoyed if I was your sister, but that's not a great reason to chose a name you aren't sure about in the end. My dogs all had people names as well, one being Emma, a very popular name!

I agree with this.  Riley is a pretty popular name in general, probably for both humans and dogs.   It was ranked #40 for girls this year and #105 for boys.  I don't care for the name.

BBF2011

FWIW...I know a baby girl named Reilly..... and I know a dog named Riley.

gisa886

I agree that Riley is a boys name more than a girls name.

As far as the dog subject goes, I don't think it matters too much. Here are the dogs names in my family

Izzy

Cassie

Bailey

Tink

Brinkley

Abby

Dogs can be named anything really.

naybird

I use to have a dog named Riley! It will always be a (boy) dog's name to me!

SeasideBride06

Unless you are with the dog owners daily and spend a LOT of time with them, I would let that stop you from using the name.  As for Riley itself, I don't love it, but I do like that it is your maiden name, and with that significance, I would use it.

BTW, my maiden name is Davis, and I would love to use it for a son!

mommybrynn

I have never really cared fr Riley in general, but it definitely says "dog" to me, too.  Maybe it's a sign to keep looking!

bucklebunny1

I know a ton of dogs named Callie. Even family members dogs. Didn't stop us.

DawnJM25

I knew a family with the last name Riley growing up, so to me it's not a first name.  I don't like it for a girl or a boy, but I like more traditional names anyway.  When I forst got married I was in love with a couple of names, but once DH vetoed them I moved on and found others I liked.  It's possible to fall in love with new names and move on!

CarolynDouglas2012

1st, Riley is a beautiful name for a little girl. WAY TOO feminine for a boy.

2nd, and more importantly, people give their dogs "people" names all the time. I don't think you should change your mind because some neighbor door the street named their dog that. If it is a name that has stuck with you for this long I would keep it. Especially since you obviously loved it so much that you had a fight over it with your sister.  

cloud9climber

Well... I know about 12 kids named Riley.  I would think of something else.  It's much too popular anyway. 

FirstBabyMomma

I know a lot of dogs with the name Riley, but also a lot of boys with that name. I teach at a junior high with 560 kids, and we have eight Rileys (all boys).

My 15 month old niece is named Riley. I hate it. I just don't think it's a cute name for a little girl, and it is definitely not a nice name for an adult woman.

I do like maiden names as middle names, though, and Riley as a MN for a girl would be fine, IMO.

emikat

The best cat I've ever had was Emily.  I wouldn't advise people to stay away from that name just because a cat shared that name.  If you love it still, use it. 

huahualove

If it makes you feel any better, my mom picked my name after she had a friend with a dog with the same name. It makes me laught now, but I think you are fine. It isn't like you are naming your kid Rover. oh, and just in case you were wondering, my name is Amber.

UnconditionalLove90

Honestly, I also love the name Riley. I understand that there are many dogs named Riley [I know of two], but I don't think that should matter. People use human names for their pets all the time. I have a dog named Sophia [My parents have her currently because I can't have her where we live] but you can bet on it that if I ever have a little girl, her name is going to be Sophia. I just love that name.

Maybe you could consider changing up the spelling of Riley? Maybe spell it Rylee or Ryley or Rylie?

I don't think your sister would mind if you chose not to use that name. She might give you are hard time about it for a little while [I know my sister would], but if she really wanted to use it then she would have.

 

KFACE08

I've personally never met a dog named Riley. I have met a little girl named Riley. FWIW, my dog's name is Sophie and I know another dog named Sophie. Unless it was a name like Spike or Fido, I don't understand the "it's-a-dog's-name" argument/problem. I do admit, I would be a bit annoyed if I was your sister though.

momofabigailanne

You are not pregnant nor trying to get pregnant now.  You don't even know if your phantom baby will even be a girl.  That's a pretty big IF.

 

The dogs could be dead by the time you conceive a girl.  I wouldn't worry too much about it.  See how you feel when the time comes. 

bklynbridecesh

I am going to name my soon to be DD Riley.  Many people on this board in particular didn't like it, when I asked their opinions.  If you love it, go for it, and forget about the whole dog issue.