Same name within the family?

magnoliablossom00 · June 2012

While DH and I were engaged, his cousin and cousin's wife got pregnant. We were all hanging out at a family reunion one day, and my MIL asked me which name we would like to use one day. I said, "We don't have a name for a girl, but our boy name is Davis, with DH's first name being the MN." Cousin's wife must have overheard, because then she turned around, smiled, and walked away.

Next thing we know, his cousin and his wife have decided on the name Davis, with HER dh's first name as the MN. Anyway, it turned into a little bit of a fight between my MIL and the cousins. They ended up having a boy, and using the name anyway. (They also ended up admitting they got the idea from us- who knows if they'd admit it now though!)

Now that we are pregnant again, we still really love the name Davis if we have a boy. It is not just about the name, but also about the meaning, what it means to our religion (which they are not), etc.

Would it be too weird to have two cousins with the same name? We live 5 hours away from them, but would see them once or twice a year at reunions. What do you think? I feel like it was our suggestion in the first place (thanks MIL!), so we should not be ashamed. I don't care if our kids have the same name, I just don't want to look like copy cats.

What do you think?

frugalwife · June 2012

Use it. If they have a problem with it then it's their problem for using the name in the first place knowing you already had it picked out.

gymnst1013 · June 2012

I don't think so at all.

Veittobe · June 2012

In your case I would definitely use it.

nfrtny · June 2012

Use it. That was really rude on their part.

ladybug122 · June 2012

I would still use it since it has been yall's favorite from the get go. Plus, they'll be second cousins and 5 hours away - I doubt it will ever seem like a big deal.

AlyciaandRich · June 2012

Em&Jon:
Use it. If they have a problem with it then it's their problem for using the name in the first place knowing you already had it picked out.

Ditto. I would.

justme04 · June 2012

I don't think that it is weird, then again I have 2 cousins named Christopher, 2 Christy's (1 with a K), and a Christina. Also there are 3 Michales. (My name is Nancy so I don't fit into the exact topic...I don't think I've meet anyone my age(26) with my name).

I wouldn't have a problem using the same or a similar name as one of my relatives....I mean it isn't like I invented a name on the spot and have a patent on it. I think fighting over the use of a name is ridiculous.

Just take it as a compliment that she liked your idea and know that it has a special meaning to you no matter what anyone else says.

JuneBugsMommy · June 2012

Em&Jon:
Use it. If they have a problem with it then it's their problem for using the name in the first place knowing you already had it picked out.

kaitylin · June 2012

Use the name! I told my sister when I was pregnant that DH and we wanted the name Isabella (we didn't know if we were having a boy or girl yet though but had been talking about the name for a long time as it's a family name on his side). My cousin was pregnant at the same time but Team green and due 2 months before us. They had never mentioned the name Isabella ever as being on their shortlist but that night when they came over they said they were thinking of using Isabelle! They didn't even know I was pregnant yet but it was weird timing because I had literally just asked my sister "what if they use that name" and she assured me they had never even mentioned it! I finally ended up talking to my cousin about it and explaining that we loved that name and had been considering it before we knew they were considering it and would they care if we used it too. They said they didn't mind. They ended up having a girl but decided not to name her Isabelle afterall - they thought she looked like an Emily (she really does!) so it all worked out in the end. However, I would have still used it anyway and I think it's fine for second cousins to have the same name. It would be a little weirder for cousins but second cousins is no big deal especially since you thought of it first.

MommaG123 · June 2012

I would use it still.

11kacey · June 2012

Davis is OUR boy name too! LOL.

Use it.

JsMama11 · June 2012

I would name him Davis #1

just kita · June 2012

I think you should use it. I actually like the idea of cousins with the same name. One of DH's closest friends plan to name their future LO the same name as our LO. They love the name, it has nothing to do with us, and I think it is cool that our LOs will share a name.

CarlaAndJames · June 2012

Use it. Dh has a brother and a first cousin named michael. It has never been an issue at all. We already know if dh and his brotherhave sons they'll both be william after dhs deceased father.

MrsPBNJ0220 · June 2012

I wouldn't personally only because I'm one for unique names anyway. I personally would prefer a name that is different from everyones name, and for sure different than a cousin's name. While I was pregnant with DS my grandfather who my sister and I were both very close to, passed away 2 weeks before he was born. I mentioned to my sister that if we had a little girl next she would be getting my grandfather's name, Lacey (Boys had girls names a lot back then). She said that she was also thinking about it, and it was a discussion we both had because neither of us wanted our kids to have even the same middle name. It came down to the fact that she has already named her other two kids our mom and dad's name so I got my grandfather's name. My point being as much as I love my grandfather if my sister wanted it bad enough she could have used it and I would not have, even in a middle name situation.

With that being said it's entirely up to you, I don't think there is some rule against it, just personal preference. :-)

aetg · June 2012

My step cousin and I have the same name. It's kinda funny but not really abig deal. She is my age, but we never really see each other outside of occasional Christmas gathering. I'd go for it.

magnoliablossom00 · June 2012

MrsPBNJ0220:
I wouldn't personally only because I'm one for unique names anyway. I personally would prefer a name that is different from everyones name, and for sure different than a cousin's name. While I was pregnant with DS my grandfather who my sister and I were both very close to, passed away 2 weeks before he was born. I mentioned to my sister that if we had a little girl next she would be getting my grandfather's name, Lacey (Boys had girls names a lot back then). She said that she was also thinking about it, and it was a discussion we both had because neither of us wanted our kids to have even the same middle name. It came down to the fact that she has already named her other two kids our mom and dad's name so I got my grandfather's name. My point being as much as I love my grandfather if my sister wanted it bad enough she could have used it and I would not have, even in a middle name situation.

With that being said it's entirely up to you, I don't think there is some rule against it, just personal preference. :-)

Isn't Davis a more unusual name for a first name anyway? We have a common last name, that's why we cannot go with Jacob, Joshua, Michael, etc. We are intentionally looking for slightly less common first name that is still meaningful to our family and religion. It's quite a bill to fit. Ha. I guess that's why we are so frustrated that we have tried and tried to find "the name" and then.... stolen.

CantWait2Be · June 2012

Ds' name is Jack III, daddy is Jack Jr and gpa is Jack. Well my dhs brother had a son a few years and his wife decided to name him Jackson even though she knew if we had a boy at some point we may use Jack since dh wanted a III. She said they picked Jackson because they wanted a J name... Guess she couldn't think of any others. This really pissed me off for a while, but we have good reason behind using Jack so they can be the ones looking like idiots with the son with a similar name. We don't see them a whole lot though.

mamarazzi528 · June 2012

I would still use it if you love it!

We're picking out names right now and one of our top girl choices is DH's second cousin's daughter's name. Since we only see them once a year, we decided we don't care if they have the same name. Plus they'll have different last names at least.

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