What is so wrong with twin names sounding the same?

Question

On here people seem to have a strong opinion of "let them have their own identity."

If they are identical, noone will be able to tell their own identities anyway unless you know them closely.

Also, I think its very cute. Like:

Blake and Blair
Nathan and Noah
Logan and Lucas
Tanner and Tyler

Aleigha and Alana
Tally and Tessa

ect.

Answer 1

I don't like rhyming (like Randy and Sandy or Caden and Jaden) but same-initial names are fun, like Nathan and Noah and the other ones you suggested.

Answer 2

I absolutely can't stand matching names. You're throwing away an opportunity to use two names you couldn't narrow down, like for me, it would be Daphne and Eleanor. If you happen to like names that start with the name letter, that's one thing, like Daphne and Daria, but I cannot stand names that are picked simply because they match.

I can't take people seriously if they choose tacky, trashy names for twins, like Ashley and Ashlin, or Zoe and Chloe. I just find them less intelligent when I hear those sort of names. I don't mind names that are similar in taste, like Emma and Madison, or Molly and Lucy, but tasteless matching names without any real thought are just tacky.

You could use names with the same meaning, like Matilda and Lucinda, Allegra and Rowena, Deborah and Melissa, or Phoebe and Katherine. You could use opposite meanings, like Phoebe and Melanie, or Chandra and Heloise. You could even use subtly matching names, like classic place names with history behind them, like Charlotte and Adelaide, Georgia and Charlotte, Alexandria and Florence.

And why shouldn't you give them their own identities? They aren't a pair of shoes, they're people. You're going to hear people say, "Logan, Lucas, whatever. You, L! Get over here!" At least people can try to get the name right if it's something like Daphne and Eleanor. And cute is great when they're four, not when they're forty.

Also, I'm thirding Irish Mommy here. She's said it all, in a much more polite and intelligent manner than I can handle.

Answer 3

Well you do have a good point, in a way, but the names being different isn't really to tell them apart for other people, it is for them to feel like they aren't always lumped in together.

Sibling rivalry is hard for any kids close in age, but when they are the same gender and they look the same, and are in the same class at school, and have the same birthday, then they have to share SOOO much that the rivalry is worse.

I am a twin and as children my sister and I had this love hate relationship because we shared EVERYTHING. As a teacher, I can tell you that sharing is important, but children need something that is theirs and only theirs. I didn't like when my sister liked the same things for me. We deliberately chose different favorite colors etc. and I was bad at Math on purpose sometimes just because she was really good at it. We hated having to share friends and our parents.

It's hard enough to get to know who you are as a person when you don't have a twin, but when you have a twin, everyone lumps you in together. It's hard to think of yourself as an individual (something that is VERY important to self esteem and confidence) when everyone else sees you as half of a package.

Choosing an individual name lets the child know that at least their parents see them as two seperate children, not as halves of the same one. This gives them confidence to go out and be themselves. It has nothing to do with people telling them apart.

That said, I do like some of your combinations.
Nathan and Noah, Logan and Lucas, Tanner and Tyler are not too similar, and for that matter Tally and Tessa are not the same....
But Blake and Blair and Aleigha and Alana are too similar for me.

I would prefer two totally different names with similar feels to them, like Lucas and Noah or Blake and Tanner or Tessa and Alana though.

Just because something is cute doesn't mean you should always do it! It's not just about pleasure for you, it's about picking the perfect name for your children. Remember, a name is the most important gift you will ever give them because it will last a life time.

Answer 4

In elementary school, I knew two identical twin boys named Stephen (STEF-in) and Stephon (stef-ON). Worst twin combo ever!

I heard someone on here give really good advice once (and I'm sorry I don't remember who you are so I can't give you credit for it). They said when naming twins, pretend you already have a child with one of the names you like and are having another single birth. If the other name sounds too similar, don't give both names to your twins. This method tends to rule out the names that sound overly rhymey (like Candy and Mandy) but not names that start with the same letter (like Nathan and Noah).

I think twin names that match too much sound, well, too contrived. They make your kids sound like a set of salt and pepper shakers or a right and left shoe instead of two individual people.

That being said, I think it's okay when the names start with the same letter. My personal favorite method for naming twins (not that I've ever had a chance to put it into practice) is to choose two names with similar meanings or origins. That way the names sound good together and you secretly get to enjoy being clever, but your twins still get to enjoy distinct names. Examples:

Helen ("light") and Claire ("bright")
Kate ("pure") and Lily ("pure")
Mary (virgin mother) and Diana (virgin goddess) -- also the names of sisters in "Jane Eyre"
Moira and Eilish (Irish forms of Mary and Elizabeth)

I would be interested in hearing how identical twins feel about having matching names.

Answer 5

Well, think about it. Twins are going to have to share nearly everything throughout their lives. A lot of twins share bedrooms, classes, and friends. If they're identical twins their names are going to be confused by other people a lot, also.

Going through your life being called by someone else's name just doesn't sound like very much fun to me.

Honestly I think you are being really inconsiderate when you say "nobody will be able to tell them apart anyway". If you were a twin, wouldn't you WANT to be your own person?

Answer 6

It isn't simply a matter of "telling them apart." After all, as you pointed out, if they do happen to look similar -- or even if they don't, in the case of twins -- people already tend to treat them as two copies of the same exact person. And that can be quite annoying. After all, they may in fact be complete opposites -- one a prim and proper little lady, the other a rough and tumble tomboy. Why should they be forced to have nearly identical names, as well?

Along those same lines, it tends to come across as rather thoughtless to use a name you (assumably) love for one child, and a default choice that happens to "match" for the other. Quite literally throwing away the opportunity -- honor and responsibility, even! -- of actually naming BOTH children in favor of some childish, contrived "set." And there's just no logical reason for that.

Finally, the names parents choose for their children are not meant to be cruel little jokes. And yet, if you decide it would be "cute" to name twins -- or any siblings -- something obviously comical, such as Taylor and Tyler, Hope and Faith, Heaven and Nevaeh, Aidan and Braden, Violet and Viola, etc., that is exactly what you've done. Chosen two obviously similar names simply because they ARE, quite literally, a joke. And that's just ignorant, to be honest.

Fact is, children aren't meant to be punchlines. And if people tend to snicker -- or shudder -- when you mention such a gaggingly-matchy set, that's unfortunately what you've purposefully made them. People know how most feel about this stereotypically cheesy practice. And we've all known unfortunately-named twins sometime throughout our lives (Candy and Mandy, Phil and Lil, etc.). Anyone who's known of such ridiculously comical names and still thinks it a well-thought-out method of naming is either immature (generally the sort a 10-year-old might like for her dolls) or oblivious. Sad, really.

Answer 7

Cutesy is nice when they're babies, not so much as they grow up. They truly each should have their own identity at LEAST with a name; they'll be tied in a special way forever anyway.

Answer 8

Identical twins can still have their own identities. if they're girls, theres usually one who's the girly girl and one who's more sporty or more of a tomboy. with boys, one will usually be more outgoing while the other would be the shy, artsy type. Just because they look alike, doesn't make them the same person.

Answer 9

There's a fine ine between matching names and incredibly stupidly one letter different names.

Sam and Sue = NOT GOOD
Madeleine and Madison = BOTH NICKNAMED MADDY, NOT GOOD
Georgia and Fiona = SAME YET DIFFERENT SO GOOD!

Answer 10

I don't think that there is anything wrong with having twins with the same sounding names. My mom and her twin sister were Linda and Lisa, but I never thought about them sounding alike. Sometimes it works, but sometimes it doesn't. I think Blake and Blair sound a little too alike, but the rest of them aren't bad.

Answer 11

Its my opinion that twin names can sound alike but rhyming I dont think is that good but like if their name were Carolina and Mariana and their nicknames were Mary and Carrie that would be okay.