I have a cousin who passed away in a car accident several years ago. He was only a teenager and it was quite a shock for our family. His name was [name_m]Adam[/name_m].
Should I take [name_f]Eve[/name_f] off the table as a possibility for a daughter? I certainly don’t want to cause any additional pain for my Aunt and Uncle. Am I overthinking this? Or is the association too strong? Would it justify a “heads up” to my Aunt and Uncle in advance?
I just don’t want to completely fall in love with [name_f]Eve[/name_f] or mention as a possibility to my husband without some outsider perspective.
I think it shouldn’t be a problem, but you know your family best. Maybe they feel very strongly about [name_m]Adam[/name_m] and [name_f]Eve[/name_f]. Ask someone in advance if you really feel that this would be an issue for them.
But from an outsider’s perspective, the association is only there if you purposely go looking for it.
Thanks roeofjune! I don’t think the association is any stronger for our family (or Aunt and Uncle) than to anyone else. I don’t remember any discussion of the name [name_f]Eve[/name_f] when [name_m]Adam[/name_m] was alive.
If that part of your family is fine with it I think it’d be OK - but if they have reservations I’d reconsider. Unlike issues with an individual’s name combo, or even issues between siblings’ or parents’ names, only those who know your extended family would know about [name_f]Eve[/name_f]'s connection to your late cousin [name_m]Adam[/name_m].
Thanks namefan and wittyusername103, I guess if it becomes a serious contender I’ll think about bringing it up to my Aunt and Uncle. I’m trying to think of how I’d even approach it. It’s not that I don’t want them to be reminded of their son, they love talking about him and keeping his memory alive. I guess I just don’t want a name that is so closely associated with another name that is already “taken” in the family. Which makes me wonder if I’d consider it if [name_m]Adam[/name_m] was still alive…
I don’t think it’s an issue. Losing a child is no joke, but [name_m]Adam[/name_m] is in no way an uncommon name. They’re just as likely to hear it randomly on the street.
Having an adverse reaction just because you used a name that’s sometimes associated with another strikes me as unreasonable and dramatic. If asking their permission will help clear up any doubts about [name_f]Eve[/name_f], then go ahead, but otherwise I personally think you’re putting too much thought into something that most people would see as innocuous or might not even make the connection with immediately.