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Using FRIEND's names (not their children)

anna7602anna7602 member
in Baby Names

Would you use a friend's name for your child or is it too weird because you associate the name with that friend already?

This isn't in a scenario where you want to honor that friend in any way, you simply like the name. But there's also the possible effect that the friend in question will feel like you are "honoring" her, making things even more complicated.

 

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Re: Using FRIEND's names (not their children)

  • apc1929apc1929 member
    That sounds tricky.. I would think it would matter how popular the name is.  If its somewhat  common than I don't think it would be a big deal if you loved it- and once the baby was born that is who you would associate the name with I'm sure. 
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  • pawcallpawcall member
    Before we locked in on our names, we really liked the name Erik.  There is a couple that we socialize with very frequently, and the man's name is Erik.  Wouldn't have stopped us from using the name, but we ultimately found something we liked better.
    ~Mom to an amazing Jan 2011 boy~
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  • CactusGirlCactusGirl member

    I agree this is difficult and I do think it depends on how popular it is. For example, my husband has a good friend named Reo. I really like that name and would love to use it for a boy, but since it isn't very common I think it would be way too weird. However, if it was a name like Ryan or Joseph I don't think it would be a problem.

     What is the name? If you give us that I think you might get more honest opinions.


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  • bandwife928bandwife928 member
    If it were an unusual name, I would never use it.  If it were something fairly common and it wasn't a close friend that we spend lots of time with, I'd consider it.
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  • plainjanie1plainjanie1 member
    We'd be naming our son the same name as one of my good girlfriends (not on purpose), Sam - but I don't have an issue with associating them together as one is male, one is female.
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  • HappyMrsKHappyMrsK member

    This is difficult. I have a friend named Madeleine and this was one of the girl names that both my DH and I liked (there were only two other girl names we could agree on). I felt kind of weird, because I wasn't "honoring" her as you put it, it was jsut a name DH and I both liked. I don't think it would stop me from using it, although DH and like some other names better anyway.

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  • katiemac12345katiemac12345 member
    I think its fine. However, if you do it, don't do what someone did to me... A friend was pregnant and was going to name her daughter Katie, and then explicitly said "But not after you!" - I was like... ummm...gotcha loud and clear. I didn't think the baby was being named to honor me, but at that same time, it was awkward the way she said it.
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  • mandeline21mandeline21
    I loved the name Francesca, but DH vetoed it because we have a close friend by that name.  She didn't think it would be weird (to use the name, but not in her honor), but DH couldn't get over it.
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  • starlight8323starlight8323 member

    There is only one good solution to this problem:

    Go to your friend and say "Hey, we were thinking. We both really like the name Elizabeth and were wondering if it would be weird for you if we used it for this little one's name."

    That way, it sends the message that you are not naming DD after her, but you just like the name. AND the etiquette of it all is covered, because you are okaying it with your friend. There's practically no chance that she will say it would bother her, because she will be flattered that someone likes her name.

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