Our friends named their baby what we picked out for our future son, should we pick a new name?

Question

My husband of 5 years and I picked out a boy and girl name for our first child about 2 years ago.

We have been friends with a married couple for years, the wife just gave birth to her second child and named the baby "Alexander", which was the name we picked out too.

I am now pregnant with our first baby and we don't know if it is a boy or girl yet, but my husband still wants to name the baby Alexander if it is a boy no matter what. I want to also, and our friends knew too that it was a special name for us.

Do you think it will be weird hanging out with our friends when we will possibly have sons that are a year apart with the same names?

Should we still name our baby boy the name we have wanted for years?

Answer 1

Yes, you can name your child whatever you want to. I would keep the name you chose.

Answer 2

I'm right there with you sister! My husband and I are expecting our first and don't want to know what the baby's sex is until it's born. We picked out the boy name of Ryan. I just found out that my step sister who is pregnant with her second (a boy) also picked the same name. I fully plan on still giving our baby the name Ryan if it's a boy. It might seem a bit odd at times but I still feel we should give our potential son the name we chose.

To give another example- 3 of our neighbors have sons around the same age (9-11) and they all have sons named Zachary (Zack). The only time it becomes wierd is at a community get together then we have to specify which Zack we are talking to according to their last name or nickname.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

You will have to live with your son's name for the rest of your life, therefore you should make it the name that you like best, regardless of what anyone else may think. We had picked out our daughter's full name before we got pregnant and kept it a secret...about 4 months before she was born my cousin, purely by coincidence picked the same middle name for her daughter. We decided to use it anyway and now it may become a family tradition. So don't worry about what your friends will think, it's your child and should be the named the name you feel fit, who knows, you may not be friends with these people 10 years down the road anyway.

I also had a friend with the same name from preschool through about middle school and we always called her by her name and I was called by a nickname when we were together...it worked out just fine :)

Answer 4

In the future keep names a safely guarded secret to avoid this problem. My sister tried to do the same thing to me. Fortunately for me, I had several possible names.
Alexander is a beautiful name and if that is the desired name you have for your son, name him just that. Besides, you and your husband can choose nicknames for your son and keep it between you two.
Whenever your friends son is around you can use your sons nickname or use his first and middle name. You could always be bold and call him by his name. Another option is to give your son Alexander as a middle name if you are concerned about confusion between your's and your friend's children. It's up to you. But don't change his name for their sake.
I hope your "friend" named her child your child's chosen name by coincedence. If you confided in her the names of your children, it was extremely insensitive for her to use that name.
Good luck. Congrats and Happy Naming.

Answer 5

I think that if you and your husband want to name your baby that name, then i would go for it. its a wonderful name. as for your friends, i think that they were being very selfish and they should have thought of a different name. If they knew that was your special name then they should have respected that. I think that some time away from them might be better for all of you, either that, or you should confront them about the whole situation. Im sorry to hear what poor friends they are, but congrats on the baby. Hope all works out!!

Answer 6

Definately!! You can name the baby what you want even if your friend's child has the same name.

Besides, you both agree on a name! A lot of couples go back and forth for a long time trying to agree. If you both love it, then that's what you should name the baby. It truly does not matter if your friend's child has the same name! :)

Good luck!

Answer 7

Yes- it wont be as weird as u may think. Although u guys are friends, im sure that you all have diff personalities and what not. For instance, you and your husband may call your son alex for short, or another nick name. 9 times outta 10, your friends wont have the exact same nick name. If it is a boy, however, and you and your husband give him a nick name early on, dont tell your friends!! lol- you guys will be fine, Congrats!!!

Answer 8

go for it. You like the name and you picked it before they did so I would definitely stick with it. If they say anything then simply tell them how you feel about it and how they knew that is was a name the two of you had picked out long ago. I think its fine. But maybe you will have a girl and then not have to worry about it. good Luck and congrats to you!

Answer 9

Hm, yeah that is a bit strange. Laila is a lovely name. If you really love Laila and want something similar you could try: Lillian Marie Liliana Marie Leela Marie Lyla Marie Leah Marie Bella Marie Kyla Marie Keira Marie Otherwise, a first name with an "M" sound in the middle will flow well with the middle name Marie. Something like: Dominique Marie Emerson Marie Emlyn/ Emmeline Marie Imogen Marie Jemima Marie Summer Marie Hope that helps! :)

Answer 10

That's exactly why you should tell people what names you have picked out! What a horrible thing for your friends to do!!! I don't know what else to say. Maybe a different variation of the name or switch the first and middle names that you have picked out.

Answer 11

go with what youwant. if its a boy and you still like alexander once he is born then name him that. your friends knew you had that name picked and out of respect should not have done that. and to throw it in their face and show you don't care name your kid what you wanted. you never know if your friendship will last. or if the boys will grow up being best friends. so do what you want.