Our DD is 2 weeks old and we can’t decide on a name. We’ve added the name [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] to our short list. We love it but it is the name of a friend’s 2 y/o daughter. I worked with this friend in 2001 and have not lived in the same city as her in over 10 years so our children wouldn’ be spending much time together. I visit her when I’m in town seeing my family several times per year but otherwise we aren’t in close touch. Is it a faux pas to use the same name when there are tons of names out there? I’m not inclined to ask her what she thinks in the event she would feel I’m ‘taking’ her name. Any insight or similar experiences? my uncle named his son the same name as my brother a while back and my mom said she wasn’t offended since no one can claim it, even though the cousins now have the same name.
While no one owns a name, I think its best if you ask your friend about it. You wouldn’t want to potentially jeopardize a friendship over this.
Since you are not in frequent contact with your friend and she lives in another town, I think it is fine. You could ask her, but I wouldn’t worry about it in this case. It would be different if your kids saw each other frequently.
I agree with Mrs_Anton_Yelchin1990. I do believe that you should ask your friend how they would feel about you using this name, though if they are offended you are ‘taking’ their name I would feel they aren’t a true friend. My friend and I bounce names off one another all the time, we have different naming styles, so we find it divine when we like the same name. 
If I loved it enough I would, even if it was my best friend, they both would have different last names. I don’t see why you couldn’t. I would tell them though and see what they think, but none the less I’d use it.
If it’s the only name you can agree on, I would definitely ask your friend, but gauge her reaction carefully. I doubt she’d feel like stealing but it might not sit well with her. Explain that you love it, have always admired it, and you can’t find another name that fits.
I think “name stealing” is only a big deal when people are both pregnant at the same time, and are in close contact. If you still worked with this person, and she had said over and over again that she wanted [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] and then you gave birth first and named your daughter [name_f]Fiona[/name_f], then yes, it’d be name stealing. In this case, you simply love the same name, and the girls will hardly see each other anyway. I think maybe name stealing is such a big deal because pregnancy hormones are raging and one momma feels like she got robbed. Whenever my own mother, my sisters that have children, or my friends with children meet another mom with a child with the same name, they sort of bond over it.
If you talk to your friend, be prepared if she says NO. If you want to do it anyway, I wouldn’t ask.
I would say talk to your friend as well. She will probably just be really happy that someone else loves the name enough to use it as well!
Of course you can.
I think it might depend on what kind of friendship you have. If she’s one of your best frienrds and you talk on the phone every week and such, you probably should ask her first. But, you said she’s a former co-worker, which makes me think maybe it’s a more casual kind a friendship. If you just, lets say, send each other [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] cards and get together for coffee when you’re in town and that’s it, I don’t think you’re any more obligated to her than any other acquaintance. [name_f]One[/name_f] of my former co-workers/facebook friend recently had a daughter and named her [name_f]Clara[/name_f]. I love that name, and if it was the name that my husband and I both wanted, I wouldn’t hesitate to use it if we ever have another daughter, and I wouldn’t ask her permission first and I don’t think she would expect me to. [name_m]Just[/name_m] because we happened to work together at one point and stayed in touch doesn’t mean her choices have to have an impact on my choices. On the other hand, if my best friend since childhood used a name I loved, I feel I’d owe it to her to at least explain myself if I were going to use the name, and I probably wouldn’t use it if she didn’t want me to.
I think you would be fine to use it! I’d mention it to her, but I can’t see it being an issue. Perhaps [name_f]Finola[/name_f] might appeal to you as well?
We were really hoping to use a family name ( [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] or [name_f]Anna[/name_f] ) for our daughter and a close friend has daughters with variants on these names. We talked to them and they were 100% in agreement to use the name we wanted to name our child and not worry about it. I couldn’t get past it though and chose a name that was further from her kids names but uber popular!
Ask her and see what she thinks. Maybe it would be easier if you put yourself in that situation how would you feel if a friend or family member used the name you used for your child. suggestion: [name_f]Leona[/name_f] congrats
I would ask first but, it really depends how you truly feel on the name. I wouldn’t want to bring it up if perhaps you’re not absolutely certain this is “the name” or at least a top contender. If you do choose to ask her I would explain how much you admire the name.