See the results of this poll: Is it wrong to name my girl the same as my sister’s dog?
Respondents: 71 (This poll is closed)
- yes! don’t do it! : 39 (55%)
- neh, it’s a great name: 32 (45%)
My sister in law named her dog my name shortly before my husband and I were married and I hated it! It was part of the 5 names that was on the dog’s papers. She liked it the best of the 5 and thought it was so cute that her puppy had my name. I was apauled, and it kept me away from their home for a long time. Also, when I was pregnant with my first child, my Mother-in-law named her dog the name we chose for a girl. Thankfully we had a boy, but it ruined my girl choice forever… 
I have a brand new girls list going now…
[name_f]Every[/name_f] human name has been used for dogs and cats.
I fail to see the problem.
Think of it as a way to honor the dog!
It would be sort of weird. But if you really love the name [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], I think you should go for it.
I would consider it, no problem… But yes it’s one of the reasons I avoid human names for pets usually. I had a dog named [name_u]Max[/name_u] and have considered it as a nn for a future son, for example. If it’s really a name you love, and you don’t mind the inevitable, “[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] the dog or [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] the kid??” line then why not 
One last consideration, is the dog’s owner sane? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think she’d get looney if you had a baby (jealousy/envy) or somehow want the attention? If so she might make it much more difficult than it needs to be, including telling people that you must have named the baby after her dog, etc…
Your child is going to be around for a lot longer than the dog.
Think to yourself, would you want to be named after a dog? Would you want to tell people that you were named after a dog? We’re not talking about a random dog in the neighborhood. We’re talking about a dog that belongs to her aunt, who you said she’ll see frequently. I would be absolutely appalled and pissed as hell at my parents if they named me after a dog. I think it’s a horrible idea. With all the names in the world, you don’t have another one that you like?
I am so glad you asked this question! I am an animal lover as well as a name lover, so of course I’ve used several lovely names on animals and always wondered if that rendered the name useless for a future child.
But really, how many people actually remember the names of other people’s pets? Also, your daughter will be around a lot longer than the dog. It’s a sad fact but its true.
If you truly are in love with this name and know its the one, then I see no problem. [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] is a beautiful name. It’s really just up to what you’re comfortable with.
My uncle was given the same name as a dog in the family. 60 years later and people still mention that he was “named after the dog.”
I have four pets all with human names I can’t like [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] because of our cat [name_m]Tommy[/name_m] or [name_f]Gemma[/name_f] because of my dog [name_f]Gemma[/name_f]. I think its fine as [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] is an established name its not like naming your daughter spot after the dog. And if its an issue she can always be [name_u]Penny[/name_u] or [name_f]Poppy[/name_f]
She wouldn’t be named “after” the dog, though.
If I loved a name for my child, truly loved it more than anything else, I wouldn’t care who or what else had that name. As someone mentioned, your child is going to be around for a lot longer than the dog.
I may be the odd one out though, I don’t see names as “off limits” just because they were used by family, friends, whatever. I just don’t think it matters. I had a close friend name her son the same (unusual) name we chose for ours, and I was flattered. They happen to live far away, but even if they lived next door I would fail to see the big deal.
Having the same name as a human is different though. I wouldn’t care about that either. But to have a dog who’s very close to the family (the baby’s aunt’s dog) have the same name? I wouldn’t like that at all. And I wouldn’t like anyone else thinking/knowing I was named after the dog.
It’s not like you are naming your child in honour of the dog! (Although even that wouldn’t be so bad… the author C.S. [name_m]Lewis[/name_m] took on the nickname [name_m]Jack[/name_m] after his childhood dog!) When I was little, I actually knew more dogs than people who shared my name. :rolleyes: It was never an issue.
When my mom was pregnant with my brother, they loved the name [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m], but it was also the name of my grandparents’ cat at the time. In the end they both absolutely loved the name, so they named him [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] anyways. My grandparents were a little surprised, but it was never a big deal. The cat is long gone now, but my grandma still affectionately refers to my brother as [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] the boy. I think it’s adorable
My nephew has the same name as his grandmothers dog (the dog passed about a year after his birth). He wasn’t named after the dog, but the dog and him were named after the same people. His great grandfathers had a standing joke and they called each other by that name, and so the dog got named that, and since the grandfathers have both passed, his mum thought it was a good way to honour her grandfathers (it’s not a silly name or anything, it’s quite lovely). It’s never mentioned he shared the same name as the dog, but perhaps that’s because it has family significance.
Would your [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] be called by a nickname, or is the dog? In which case for example, your daughter could be [name_u]Penny[/name_u] or [name_f]Nellie[/name_f] while she is little (and the dog is around) and the dog is [name_f]Penelope[/name_f].
Honestly, i think its fine. It might be different if the name in question was really whimisical and quirky, like [name_f]Peaches[/name_f] or [name_m]Zeus[/name_m], then everyone might only associate with your sister’s dog. But [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] is fine, as long as you are fine with it. Also, not wanting to be insensitive or anything, but dogs aren’t around forever…just saying.
Great insights everyone! Thankfully my sister actually supports the idea. She herself mentioned that the dog probably won’t live past my baby’s toddler years. She suggested using a nick name…
As others have mentioned, we would not be naming AFTER my sisters dog. And if she did have to claim a name sake, my great aunts name was penelope. But I am concerned about the teasing between her cousins as she ages…
I think it would be weird.
We really like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] as well, and one my husband’s best friends got a dog and named her [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]. Now that we are expecting a girl, we are avoiding the name. We are currently considering [name_f]Calliope[/name_f] instead? Not the same, I know. 
They said we could use it, and I think you [i]could[i] but if the dog is young, I think I might avoid it because your child’s entire youth will be shared with the dog, most likely.