[name_f]My[/name_f] [name_m]SIL[/name_m] wants to name her baby boy (due in [name_u]August[/name_u]) [name_m]Oliver[/name_m]. [name_f]My[/name_f] DD’s name is [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] (she is 2.5 years). [name_f]Do[/name_f] you guys think those names are too close for first cousins? We do call [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] [name_f]Livie[/name_f] and [name_f]Liv[/name_f] at times and [name_m]SIL[/name_m] has stated that she will call her son [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] at times. What do you all think?
Yes they’re close because they’re the male and female version of the same name after all. I’m surprised that she’s chosen [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] when there is already a cousin close in age named [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. [name_f]Do[/name_f] they live nearby? [name_m]Will[/name_m] you be socializing with her? The only positive thing is that your daughter is [name_f]Livie[/name_f] and [name_f]Liv[/name_f] and he will be [name_u]Ollie[/name_u]. At least there is a difference in their nicknames.
I personally don’t see it as that big of a deal, especially since their nicknames will be very different. They are definitely very similar names, but I don’t think it will cause any confusion, especially as they are different genders. And I can’t really think of any “drawbacks” to close names for first siblings besides potential confusion when yelling out names during family gatherings, which as I said will likely not be an issue in your case. Maybe it will even help to make the cousins a little closer. They are both lovely names!
She says she loves the name [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] and has for a long time. She claims it just feels right…We live about 9 hours away from each other in different states. We do socialize, we visit home (where she lives) several times a year (4 or 5 roughly) and we skype (with the grandparents too) maybe once a month or so.
I don’t think it’s a big deal. I’m sure [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] and [name_f]Liv[/name_f] won’t mind!
They’re cousins not siblings, so I don’t see it as a big deal. It would be more annoying to me if they lived close by, but as it’s already been stated at least the nicknames are very different sounding.
If a family member or friend wanted to name their son my son’s exact name, so be it. I did not get legal right to the name after I named him.
What comes to mind for me is, yes it is close, but it sounds like she has liked it for a long time, perhaps even longer then you may have liked [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]? Who knows, unless its something you’ve discussed in depth? One thing we all know is how hard it can be to find ‘the one’ and hopefully she has taken into careful consideration that the name is similar to your dd, and if, even so, still has her heart on [name_m]Oliver[/name_m], then its probably best that she has endeavoured to warm you up to the idea. I do empathise that it may feel like she is somewhat trespassing on naming territory but ultimately you can feel proud that it is such a great name that you both love in each of its f/m variants. I’m sure your family will be delighted to use fond, adorable nn’s [name_f]Liv[/name_f] & [name_u]Ollie[/name_u]. Best of [name_m]Luck[/name_m].
Honestly, I’m embarrassed to say I never put these names together in my head before this. They seem so different and have such a different feel and sound. And they’re both such great names, far be it for me to suggest someone not use the name that “feels right” – God knows it took us forever to find that name that felt right for us and it wasn’t until our son was a couple days old, so … I’d accept it graciously and let it go. Who knows – she may not even use it.
It wouldn’t bother me. I have a lot of cousins with “ase” and “son” ([name_m]Grayson[/name_m], [name_u]Mason[/name_u], [name_u]Jace[/name_u], etc) names in my extended family. It has never been a problem. Not even with the grandparents.
They are masculine and feminine versions but I don’t think it’s a big deal. They sound different enough when said I don’t see that being a problem, and the nicknames are definitely different enough.
I would have never put these two in the same category as being too much alike, both have different sounds. The nicknames are no where near each other either. It would be different if you called her [name_f]Olive[/name_f] or if [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] was pronounced more like [name_f]Olive[/name_f]-ya. Also as someone said they are cousins, not siblings.
I tried saying this to my brother in laws wife. [name_f]My[/name_f] daughters name is [name_f]Anna[/name_f]. She like [name_f]Lilliana[/name_f] but changed it to [name_f]Lilian[/name_f] because she was afraid I would feel like she was either stealing [name_f]Anna[/name_f] or copying me. Which was not the case at all!! [name_m]Just[/name_m] because I named my kids a name does not mean I own it.
I can see if it is the same exact name, but a family member naming their kid a variation of my kids name would not bother me at all.
o-[name_f]LIV[/name_f]-ia and [name_m]OL[/name_m]-i-ver… they are less similar spoken than written. I can understand if you feel a tad bit perturbed… [name_f]My[/name_f] son is [name_m]Travis[/name_m]… I think if my sister-in-law named her daughter [name_f]Treva[/name_f] I would be annoyed. On the other hand, if you feel upset, the annoyance of having to share your child’s name with a close relative you see only occasionally will be less than the potential annoyance she may feel every single day, calling her child by a name that just doesn’t “feel” right to her.
Is she telling you that she’s going to name him [name_m]Oliver[/name_m], or asking you if she can? That makes a difference.
[name_f]My[/name_f] family has a [name_f]Laura[/name_f] and a [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] (first cousins), my sister’s middle name is [name_f]Laure[/name_f], and my name begins with an L. It’s never been a problem.
This is very much a non-issue. The cousins will love it. Besides, you have no right to tell her what she can and can’t name HER child.
I personally would find it a bit upsetting, but then again, I live within 10 minutes of my in laws and my siblings, and I see them all at least once a week. But considering you live so far away and don’t see each other very often, I don’t think it’s that bad.
Thanks for the replies everyone. Anyone else care to weigh in?
Not a big deal. Wouldn’t phase me.