We really like the name [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] as an option for naming our baby girl due later this year, but I realised not long ago that our niece is named “[name_f]Indie[/name_f] [name_f]Isobel[/name_f]”.
I actually forgot her middle name is [name_f]Isobel[/name_f] as they always refer to her as [name_f]Indie[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]. We would spell it [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and would use the nickname “[name_f]Izzie[/name_f]” as that is what we really like about that name, we just think it’s nice to have the full name [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] for adult life and job interviews etc. I have always thought that what our immediate family called their children was off limits, and I would never use a first name, but do you think it would be ok to use our neice’s middle name as a first name.
I really would not recommend doing that. A child’s name can be very meaningful to parents and I know if a family member reused one of my kids names I would be quite upset. I likely wouldn’t tell them and I don’t know if I would know how to tell them it wasn’t ok to do if they asked me if it was… Is there any other name that izzy would be a good nn for that you like?
I think it should be fine, since they are cousins and not siblings. The girls might like the tie. I actually have a cousin named [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] who goes by [name_f]Katie[/name_f], and my middle name is [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] (I’m older). My aunt recently told me it never even occurred to her. I would still ask the parents if it would bother though. People are touchier about these thing nowadays!
What I would find more problematic is how similar [name_f]Izzie[/name_f] and [name_f]Indie[/name_f] are.
Im sure it would be fine but personally I’d have a quick chat with the family before going ahead with it just to see if they mind, you wouldn’t want to cause offence I upset them.
In my family, we do this sort of thing a lot and it’s a nice way to connect all the extended family members. But it probably depends a lot on how they react — even if they don’t mind, it could cause hard feelings if it were a surprise to them.
[name_f]Isabella[/name_f] might make it better, but if [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] is your true favorite (coming from someone who has loved [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] best for more than six years now!), I would ask them. Honestly, my impression is that in the real world outside of Nameberry, this is nowhere near as big of an issue as it seems on Nameberry. Then again, I come from a family where there’s AT LEAST six living Johns/Johnnys/Jacks, and you could probably double that if you went back a generation or two! My dad and his cousin are both [name_m]John[/name_m]. And I could have ended up with the same FN as my cousin, if I had been a boy ([name_u]Michael[/name_u]). And my sister shares her mn with at least one cousin. [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] nn [name_u]Izzy[/name_u]/[name_u]Issy[/name_u]/[name_f]Izzie[/name_f] is adorable. I’m obviously biased, but just ask.
If you want something really different from [name_f]Indie[/name_f] [name_f]Isobel[/name_f], I would suggest [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]/[name_u]Eloise[/name_u]/[name_f]Eloisa[/name_f], [name_f]Isadora[/name_f], or even [name_f]Isabeau[/name_f]. I would honestly ask about [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], though. Or if not ask, at least talk to them and say, “Hey, we just wanted to warn you, because we don’t want to blindside you (in case you think it’d be something that would cause offense), but we’re naming our little girl [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] “[name_f]Izzie[/name_f]” when she arrives.” At least something to let them know you considered their feelings.
I would ask them, but it’s not even the exact same name (It’s not like you are naming her [name_f]Isobel[/name_f]), so I don’t think there is a problem here. I actually agree with the previous poster, this is more a Nameberry problem than a real life problem. I share my name with two cousins (I’m the older, btw) and their parents never ever even asked mine if it was ok to use it and my parents didn’t take offense on that. I think it would be nice of you to ask them, but I don’t see how it would be a problem.
I think it’s absolutely fine to use. No one owns a name. I can see how they could be upset if you used the same first name, but I think using a nieces middle name is a non issue.
I would ask, or at least give them a heads up, but since it’s not her first name (and [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] isn’t an uncommon name), I think it’s completely fine. You’re not even using the same spelling and, as I said, [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] is pretty common. I personally prefer [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] over [name_f]Isabella[/name_f].
I think it’s fine to do it, as long as your family think the same. In a way, if you gave them the same spelling, it might make your niece feel special as she grows up (her cousin being named after her), rather than you ‘tried not to steal her name’!
Otherwise, [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] would be a good ‘[name_f]Izzie[/name_f]’ option, whilst still sounding full and respectable if needed. Some more interesting options might be [name_f]Isabetta[/name_f], [name_f]Izora[/name_f], [name_f]Izola[/name_f] or [name_f]Iselle[/name_f].
My childhood nickname was [name_f]Lily[/name_f] (not too sure where it came from [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]?) and everyone used to call me [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f] and my niece was named [name_f]Lily[/name_f]-[name_f]May[/name_f] when most of my family still called me it - so from that I don’t see how [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] can be a problem from a middle name, especially as it is a different spelling. I do like that you’re planning to use the [name_f]Izzie[/name_f], whilst your niece uses the [name_f]Belle[/name_f] - its almost like they make the full name together and I think that’s cute. [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] could be a better, more distinctive option though.
I would ask them, but I honestly don’t think it would be an issue. I wouldn’t have cared if my sisters used one of my girls middles as a first for their daughter.
I’m so pleasantly surprised at how many people think it’s not a big deal!
I avoid or try to avoid all first and middle names of any family or friends…and it makes it SO hard to choose!
I’m trying to imagine if a sibling of mine or dh used my dds middle name how I would feel…I think if they asked first “we think ----- is such a beautiful name and plan to use it as a first name for our dd. wanted to run it past you” I would feel honored. If however, they used the name & never mentioned it I might feel awkward like either they forgot about my daughters name or were being a bit…sneaky maybe? That may not be the right word…the point is I think if you tell them/ask them it’s a great choice!
Good luck!
I think it really depends on the family. My dad’s side of the family has multiple people sharing a name as either a middle or a first, but most of them have different last names so it doesn’t matter. On my mom’s side, it would matter, as people care a lot about names and choosing a special name for their children. That said, [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]/[name_f]Isobel[/name_f] is a commonly heard name, not as if you are trying to use [name_f]Talullah[/name_f] or [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] or [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] or something really obscure. I thought of one other [name_f]Izzie[/name_f] variant I haven’t seen yet unless I missed it–[name_f]Isannah[/name_f].
I think it is unacceptable to use your niece’s middle name as a name for your daughter unless it is the name of a mutual relative eg if your daughter and your niece are both the granddaughter of and named after an [name_f]Isabel[/name_f]. However, if you are determined to use [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] for your daughter, I would consult the parents of your niece and the rest of the family to find out how they feel about it.
Hmm, just realized that I don’t even know my nieces middle name. So If my husband and I end up having a girl it’s possible (but unlikely) that I could unintentionally end up using her middle name. If someone in my family used my sons middle name I wouldn’t care. It’s common and I picked his name mostly because I liked the way it sounded. I want my future kids to have middle names that are personally meaningful to my husband and I. I chickened out on doing the same with my son but I would care if it was a name like that. I think since you know the name you should at least ask, even if it’s just to inquire why they chose it.
I think it’s fine given that it’s her middle name which doesn’t get mentioned much anyway. It would be best to run it by her parents first though - to give them the heads up