Is it creepy to name your child after yourself?

Jillian E. · June 2011

We're 14 weeks along, with only a few more weeks until we find out our baby's gender. If it turns out that we're having a girl, my husband is totally set on naming her "Annaliese" which is my middle name. The problem isn't the name itself, but the fact that I want our little girl (if she is, in fact, a girl) to have her own identity, starting with her name. Other options are:

- Sophie

- Noelle

Thoughts?

ejs207 · June 2011

My baby girl will have the same middle name as I do. It's also my mother's middle name and my grandmother's first name.

Honestly, though, I would shy away from having her first name be your middle name. I agree with you that she should have her own identity. How does DH feel about using it as her middle name as well but picking a first name that is uniquely hers?

anthompson5 · June 2011

ejs207:

My baby girl will have the same middle name as I do. It's also my mother's middle name and my grandmother's first name.

Honestly, though, I would shy away from having her first name be your middle name. I agree with you that she should have her own identity. How does DH feel about using it as her middle name as well but picking a first name that is uniquely hers?

I agree

Keri Marie · June 2011

Annaliese Noelle sounds beautiful!

I don't think it's creepy but if it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it. I was born on my moms birthday and it always made her feel bad that we had to share our birthday celebrations.

XCrissCrossX · June 2011

Unless you use your middle name as your name, I don't really think it matters. Middle names are pretty much obsolete these days so who is really going to know that your daughter's name is your middle name?

mlf625 · June 2011

I don't understand how her having your middle name as her first name effects her identity whatsoever. This argument always makes me scratch my head. My brother is named after my dad and has never had an identity issue.

If you like it, use it. FWIW, I prefer Annaliese over Sophie or Noelle.

LaComtesse · June 2011

I find naming a child after your first name (male or female) to be kinda weird. I just don't like it. I like the idea of using a middle name as a first name. It's a nice connection without being pushy about "You are going to be mini-me!" I definitely see the issue of wanting her to have her own identity, but I think she will (how often do you use your middle name?).

Of the names you have, I love Annaliese and Sophie. I don't care for Noelle, but it's not bad, either.

callalilly323 · June 2011

My mom is Anne Elizabeth and I am Elizabeth Anne, and it has never affected my identity in a negative way -- quite the contrary. You're not giving her your first name, but you're still giving her a piece of your legacy, and I think that's a beautiful thing.

yearofthemonkey · June 2011

We have friends that named their daughter "Annelie", which could be a short form of "Anneliese". I can't remember exactly how they spelled her name, but when pronounced it sounds like "a nelly". I believe it is Swedish?

JaneGold · June 2011

It bothers me that society generally sees naming a son after a father as perfectly acceptable, yet naming a daughter after the mother is somehow narcissistic or strange.

I agree with PP that in general (male or female) I wouldn't want to pass a first name down as another first name, but a middle name to a first name or vice versa is no problem in my book. We are very strongly considering using my first name for our future daughter's middle name. It is a family name and we love it.

miababy · June 2011

I see no problem with it and I actually think it's a really nice thing. She will have her own identity, but always have that little part of you with her! Plus, it's a lovely name!

BFab11 · June 2011

If this is a girl she'll have the same MN as me. It's up to you; I don't think there's anything wrong with it, and it's a pretty name, but if you don't like it then don't do it.

HannahO28 · June 2011

I don't think it's creepy by any means, but I do generally feel like it's narcissistic.

IMO, naming a baby after someone is a huge honor. It shows how much you love and respect them, and how much you want your child to embody some of their characteristics. Deciding that you are worthy of that honor just seems totally self-gratifying.

MissPrettyMomma · June 2011

i dont think so at all. i think its a beautiful name she wouldnt have an identity of her own if you gave her your exact name but since you want to just give her your mn i dont see a problem. plus the name is beautiful!

sugarpumpkin716 · June 2011

just because she might have your middle name doesn't mean she won't have her own identity. annaliese is GORGEOUS anyway. i don't think it's creepy. i wouldn't name my daughter after myself, just because it's not my style, but i don't see anything wrong with it.

alexvause · June 2011

I have the same first name as my mom and grandma. Creepy, no. Confusing, yes

abell77 · June 2011

Creepy? No. I think it would be weird to give her the same name as your first name, but I see nothing wrong with giving her your middle name. I don't see it as being an issue at all with her having her own identity.

Jaytee501 · June 2011

I love Annaliese & in my opinion, your daughter would still have her own identity.

WashingtonQueen · June 2011

I dont think that it is such a big deal. Guys name their sons after themselves all the time. Your just talking about your middle name, I think its great.

MissBHaven1024 · June 2011

For me personally, I will never name my children after family members because I believe that people should have their own names, but I might just be biased because I am the only grandchild of 6 that wasn't named after anyone else. However, I don't think it's "creepy" to name your child after yourself. That's no more "creepy" than naming a son after his father. If you think people should have their own names, that's good and fine, but to worry that it's "creepy" is unnecessary. But that's just me...

AlphabetFish · June 2011

My sister was named after my mother's middle name; I have never, EVER recalled her feeling like she didn't have her own identity--after all, no one called my mother by her middle name, so the name really did belong to my sister.

I think it's totally fine and I find Annaliese to be a gorgeous name, and much less common than Sophie or Noelle.

PhilsWife07 · June 2011

Why would that be weird? I don't get the name = identity mindset.

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