My fiancé doesn’t really want first names that start with the same letter as our last name (J) but at the same time, he keeps suggesting some J names like [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]/[name_f]Josefina[/name_f] and [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] and [name_m]Jeremiah[/name_m]. I was wondering about other peoples’ take on alliterative names. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like/dislike them? What are some alliterative combos you may have on your lists, or do you avoid them completely?
I don’t think alliterative names are bad, although I do know someone who just named her son with J for his first, middle, and last name, which seemed a little over kill to me. My last name starts with M, and a lot of my favorites are M names. I wouldn’t use ALL M names for my kids, but I wouldn’t let the alliteration stop me from using a name I loved.
I love alliterative names when they are not too over the top.
I think it depends on the letter and how much of the beginning sound you are repeating.
[name_m]Digby[/name_m] [name_m]Davidson[/name_m] is handsome
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] Jenner is lovely
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_m]Jones[/name_m] is too much [name_u]Jo[/name_u] sound for me, unless you want to call her [name_u]JoJo[/name_u]
As for letters I think some just don’t work e.g. O. [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] [name_m]Olsen[/name_m] - OO ([name_m]Don[/name_m]'t like the initials)
J works but be prepared for some people to her JJ.
I think if they just share the same first letter it’s not that bad, but if they share the first consonant/vowel sound then it’s a little too much. For example, [name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Avalon[/name_f] or [name_f]Patricia[/name_f] [name_m]Patterson[/name_m].
My mom has an alliterative name with the first letter H and it doesn’t sound bad. So I think it just depends on the name; if the first and last sound too similar, I would choose something else.
My brother and I both have alliteration in our names one way or another. I’m AAB And he’s [name_f]BAB[/name_f]. [name_m]Noone[/name_m] ever forgets my brothers name. It’s simple to say and easy to remember. That’s why they use it a lot in children’s novels. Quite like alliteration myself, actually. I don’t have any combos to share, sorry, but I do enjoy quite a lot of names that start with the same letter as my first.
I think their fine if they aren’t too close no [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] [name_m]Bennett[/name_m] or [name_m]Matteo[/name_m] [name_m]Matthews[/name_m] but [name_m]Matteo[/name_m] [name_m]Miller[/name_m] is fine if you get what I mean. With J it works but the child will most likely get JJ.
I agree - some alternative names work well and others don’t. when it does flow well, there is something distinctive and memorable about an alteration name.
Like the pps have said, it really depends how close the names sound together. Personally, I love a little bit of alliteration, as long as the first and the last don’t have for example the same first four letters. If you love the name and it isn’t too close to the last name, then go for it.
I love to use alliterative names if the names are not too lengthy and both are sounding in same way.
I think it depends on the letter. Our surname starts with a hard G, and much as I love the names [name_m]Garrett[/name_m], [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] and [name_m]Gideon[/name_m] I just don’t think the alliteration works with a hard G sound.
I don’t think vowels work well either because of the awkward mouth movements, try saying [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] Edwards or [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_u]Abbott[/name_u] over and over and you’ll see what I mean.
Soft consonants I think are fine, [name_f]Lois[/name_f] [name_u]Lane[/name_u] being one good example, so I think J would work too.
Thank you all! Yeah, I know what many of you mean when you say it depends. I often use alliterative names for characters in my books, but the fiancee was so against it…and then started suggesting some! Men! 
I think it can be fine with the right name. My future last name will begin with an M and I’m finding myself in love with other M names. No one in my circle likes M names with my last name, so I’m not sure if I’d ever go for one. And it’s honestly just [name_u]Marlowe[/name_u] that I keep coming back to. My FI’s brother/[name_m]SIL[/name_m] are expecting a baby soon and their chose an M name for their daughter and…it doesn’t sound great. FI and I can’t help but exchange glances every time her name is mentioned because it really clashes. Hers is alliteration done wrong.
I like them but it does limit you especially when you have more kids. My last name starts with a P so all alliteration names for us sound like super hero names to me…I guess because of [name_m]Peter[/name_m] [name_u]Parker[/name_u]…even though that’s not out last name.
The only J names I like are [name_f]Jane[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and [name_u]June[/name_u]
I think it depends on the names. Sometimes they can sound like cartoon characters, but sometimes it can be pulled off. It is a bummer for me, because I like a lot of B names but our surname starts with a B. I don’t think we can swing it because I find alliterative B names to be kind of goober sounding, like [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] Button, [name_f]Betty[/name_f] Boop, and [name_m]Bruce[/name_m] [name_m]Banner[/name_m], etc.
Something like [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] [name_m]Smith[/name_m] - totally fine. [name_u]Haley[/name_u] Holloway - sounds like she’s walked from the pages of a [name_f]Marvel[/name_f] comic.
It mainly depends on how many sounds they share. [name_f]Milena[/name_f] McCartney sounds good, but [name_f]Milena[/name_f] [name_m]Miller[/name_m] is really [name_m]OTT[/name_m]. It’s a bit of trial an error and seeing if it sounds ok. If it sounds [name_m]OTT[/name_m] or like [name_u]Pepper[/name_u] Potts/[name_f]Lois[/name_f] [name_u]Lane[/name_u], look for other alternatives. If it doesn’t then go for it- but you’ll probably have to accept that some people will call them by their initials (JJ, TT, whatever)