[name]Hi[/name] everyone, [name]Just[/name] looking for a few people’s opinions please… I’m expecting a little girl in [name]June[/name] and my partner has always loved the name [name]Lucy[/name] and I like the name myself. The problem is, my cousin has a little girl named [name]Lucy[/name] already! We very rarely see this side of the family, once or twice a year maybe at family gatherings, but it will mean my nana has two granddaughters with the same name. Should I completely rule this name out and upset my partner or just go with it? [name]How[/name] upset would you be if your cousin used your child’s name? Looking forward to peoples responses, thank you!
Ask your cousin. Everyone feels differently about this. I know that my sister doesn’t speak to one of our cousins because the cousin “copied” my niece’s (very popular) name. I personally wouldn’t care. It just depends how your cousin feels - I would advise you to respect whatever s/he says though.
Thanks for the reply, I was worried to even ask her as I personally rule any names out straight away for this reason but my boyfriend thinks I’m being silly.
What about using a [name]Lucy[/name] variation like [name]Lucia[/name] (my fave!) [name]Lucina[/name] or [name]Luciana[/name]… Then your nana and your side if the family could perhaps call her lulu or even [name]Luna[/name] if you used [name]Luciana[/name] to avoid confusion and everyone else you know could call her [name]Lucy[/name]? I know lots of people who have a few nicknames!
I think you should really ask. Like others have said, it depends on how your cousin feels about it. If they say they don’t care, then go for it. I also think it could work well to pick a [name]Lucy[/name] variation. I love [name]Lucia[/name] personally, but you could even use [name]Lucinda[/name] or something like that.
Yeah, I’m no board with the asking. While you are at it you can also feel her temperature on very similar names like [name]Lucia[/name].
She might not care but she might be equally sensitive to similar names or might think [name]Lucia[/name] is to close but [name]Lucinda[/name] or [name]Luciana[/name] might be fine. People can have really odd and unpredictable boundaries.
If one of my cousins used a name I loved I wouldn’t consider it off limits. The children would be second cousins, and really, it is not a big deal. I would use it!
I love Fluzie’s suggestion of using another variation of [name]Lucy[/name]. There are so many beautiful names that could lead to [name]Lucy[/name] as a nickname. Then your daughter would get the best of both worlds, a lovely formal name and fun and sweet nickname!
As a side note, I have about 40 cousins. It would be ridiculous for everyone to avoid names they love if somebody else used them.
Ask your cousin. If this is someone you see only on a once or twice yearly basis, I wouldn’t think it would be a big deal. If the children would have identical names down to middle and last names, or this was a relative you were particularly close to, then I would see a problem.
I’m close with my cousins and I’d never dream of using one of their baby-names. But if you ask, it’s completely acceptable. On the other hand, if you ask, she may say no. I like the suggestion of a longer form for [name]Lucy[/name], to be used around family.
[name]Lucinda[/name]
[name]Lucia[/name]
[name]Lucida[/name]
[name]Melusine[/name]
[name]Lucasta[/name]
Andalusia/Andalucia
[name]Lucille[/name]
You can still use [name]Lucy[/name]. Your cousin doesn’t own the name, so I don’t understand why you would have to ask permission to use it. As long as you aren’t giving your daughter the same middle name(s) it isn’t copying.
If you don’t see the cousin often and aren’t close, I would use it. I have several cousins with the same name because I am one of 54 first cousins! It happened more than once. If it were a close cousin, I wouldn’t, but it doesn’t sound like you are. [name]Love[/name] [name]Lucy[/name]!
I’m not close with many of my cousins but I still wouldn’t use a name that one of them had already used). If it was one of my favorite names, I might use a variant though (like [name]Lucy[/name] and then [name]Lucille[/name] or something).
It all depends on how close to the family you are. For me, I would NEVER consider using the name of a cousin’s child on my mother’s side, as I see them all the time and our children would also see each other quite often. On the other hand, I see my father’s family maybe once or twice a year, so I’d use a name in a heartbeat (maybe be a little more hesitant if the name is VERY uncommon).
The only difference would be if someone on my mother’s side were planning to use one of my absolute favorite names, like [name]Alexander[/name], [name]Stella[/name], or [name]Julie[/name]… in that case I would let them know RIGHT away (even though kids for me are a bit in the future) that I have been planning to use the same name for years and still plan to even though they want to name their kids that… that way they know ahead of time and have time to adjust! haha.
For you, if you are not that close with the family/this specific cousin, I wouldn’t worry about it. If it will cause absolute turmoil in the family then maybe reconsider it. I’d ask around the family (not just the one cousin) and see how they react.
I would say ask permission. You don’t want to start a family argument over a name, and if your cousin is uncomfortable with the idea I am sure that you and your partner can come up with other great names, or as others have suggested use a longer form of [name]Lucy[/name].
Hmm…
Personally I wouldn’t use [name]Lucy[/name] as your cousin has already used the name. I think it would be awkward for your [name]Nana[/name] having two granddaughter’s with the name [name]Lucy[/name]. Can you imagine telling people that you have two granddaughters with the same name? Its strange! I would understand if it was a distant cousin. Like your great Aunt’s grandchild. But it’s your [name]Nana[/name]'s granddaughter! Yes you could use a ‘[name]Lucy[/name]’ variant like [name]Luciana[/name], [name]Lucille[/name], [name]Lucinda[/name] or [name]Lucia[/name] but still, it is still strange. I think you need to ditch the idea of having [name]Lucy[/name] in a first name slot. Maybe as a middle name like for instance [name]Francesca[/name] [name]Lucy[/name] or [name]Gabriella[/name] [name]Lucy[/name]?? But not in the first. Too strange.
xxx
It sounds like you like the name but not THAT much. If you don’t want to use is then just tell him you aren’t comfortable using a name that’s already in use in your family. He should respect that
I’ve ruled out a lot of names that have already been used within my family because I like them but not that much. [name]Ashley[/name] is a name I really love and don’t want to give up. I asked the bearer of the name if it was OK and he said yes. That’s the only reason it remains on my list.
Your SO has always loved the name. Most people who love names have had a favorite for years that they said they always want to use. For me, that name is [name]Amy[/name]. I will go through hoops to convince my future husband to name my daughter that.
If your SO has been set on the name [name]Lucy[/name] for awhile, I would call up the cousin and ask- or message on Facebook. If she doesn’t like the idea, I’d ask if you could use a variant- such as [name]Lucille[/name], [name]Lucia[/name], [name]Lucinda[/name] or [name]Lucida[/name] or a name like [name]Louise[/name] or [name]Louisa[/name]- and use [name]Lucy[/name] as a nickname. Explain how much SO loves the name. If she still doesn’t want it, then you need to respect that. If the positions were reversed, would you want the cousin to use a name you already used even after you made asked her not to?
Use it as a middle name or use a similar sounding name such as [name]Luna[/name], [name]Lacy[/name], [name]Lily[/name], [name]Luka[/name] or [name]Louise[/name].