We are trying to come up with a girl name for our second daughter. We are still pretty early on so we have several months to figure this out. The only name that I adore right now is [name]Ruby[/name]. Unfortunately, my husband’s cousin chose this name four years ago. We see them about once a year but their moms are sisters who talk to each other at least once a week. I know that I would be upset if they used our daughter’s name. Please tell me that [name]Ruby[/name] is “off limits” so I can get on with trying to find another name that I love as much. I would also love suggestions of other names that have the same creativity and spunk as [name]Ruby[/name]. This little girl would be the younger sister of [name]Autumn[/name] [name]Grace[/name].
[name]Ruby[/name] is off limits!! 
Jk. I do think it would cause problems if you did use it, though.
Here’s some names that I think are spunky!
[name]Briar[/name]
[name]Piper[/name]
[name]Sage[/name]
[name]Lark[/name]
[name]Izzy[/name]
[name]Lucy[/name]
Absolutely off limits. It’s not even a question. Sorry. [name]How[/name] about:
[name]Gemma[/name]
[name]Hadley[/name]
[name]Quilla[/name]
[name]Skyla[/name]
[name]Lilou[/name]
[name]Olea[/name]
Tanza
[name]Remy[/name]
I personally would feel uncomfortable to use [name]Ruby[/name] in that situation. Honestly, I think the fact that anyone has to ask “if this is off limits” means it’s off limits. You wouldn’t have to ask if it wasn’t, but that’s just my opinion.
Some suggestions:
[name]Scarlet[/name]
[name]Lucy[/name]
[name]Maisie[/name]
[name]Opal[/name]
[name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Lacey[/name]
[name]Rose[/name]
[name]Nina[/name]
[name]Mina[/name]
[name]Nora[/name]
[name]Luna[/name]
[name]Iris[/name]
What about [name]Hazel[/name], [name]Cora[/name], [name]Molly[/name], [name]Darcy[/name], [name]June[/name], [name]Ruth[/name] or [name]Eliza[/name]?
I would say if your moms weren’t close then it would be fine, but because they are then it’s a no.
[name]Wren[/name]
[name]Tess[/name]
[name]Sadie[/name]
[name]Sabrina[/name]
[name]Poppy[/name]
[name]Mercy[/name]
[name]Presley[/name]
[name]Piper[/name]
[name]Lilah[/name]
[name]Rowena[/name]
It would be awkward, sorry! You could use is as middle name though, I think.
[name]How[/name] about:
[name]Skyler[/name] nn [name]Skye[/name]
[name]Danica[/name]
[name]Violet[/name]
[name]Lake[/name]
[name]Ione[/name] or [name]Iona[/name]
[name]Thalia[/name]
[name]Annika[/name]
[name]Isolde[/name]
[name]Sienna[/name]
[name]Millie[/name]
[name]Scarlett[/name]
[name]Isla[/name]
[name]Ruby[/name] would be off-limits for me in that scenario. I guess it depends where you are though. [name]Ruby[/name] is in the Top 10 here so it would be less weird to have two in a small circle than if it were uncommon.
But popularity has also killed most of its impression of spunk for me, so talk about mixed blessing.
[name]Autumn[/name] and [name]Ruby[/name] both feel warm “red” names to me, vibrant and crisp. Some others like that (to me):
[name]Ember[/name]
Fiametta
[name]Tansy[/name] - I like the powerful meaning “immortal” combined with the sweet sound and flower background.
[name]Zara[/name]
[name]Saffron[/name]
[name]Briar[/name] - Another nature name. Half thorn-bush, half Sleeping Beauty.
[name]Roxy[/name] - I really like it best as a NN, but [name]Roxy[/name] reminds me of the good parts of [name]Ruby[/name], the saucy early-20th C. saloon girl. I’d probably use it as short for [name]Raquel[/name]/[name]Raquela[/name]/[name]Roxana[/name]/Roxelana than alone though.
[name]Emerald[/name] - Strong jewel tone, far less common name than [name]Ruby[/name]. [name]Autumn[/name] and [name]Emerald[/name] go oddly well together to my ear.
[name]Hazel[/name] - [name]Green[/name] and misty. Nature name. A strong, hardy plant.
If it was me (I know its not I’m just free-associating) some combos I’d like:
[name]Autumn[/name] [name]Grace[/name] & [name]Emerald[/name] [name]Blythe[/name]
[name]Autumn[/name] [name]Grace[/name] & [name]Raquel[/name] ‘[name]Roxy[/name]’ [name]Fern[/name]
[name]Autumn[/name] [name]Grace[/name] & [name]Tansy[/name] [name]Faith[/name]
[name]Autumn[/name] [name]Grace[/name] & [name]Ember[/name] [name]Rue[/name] - Have you considered using [name]Rue[/name] or [name]Rae[/name] as a middle name for a different first name? [name]Rue[/name] has a mix of meanings, there’s the ‘regret’ one but its also a plant, one of its other names is herb-of-grace.
[name]Autumn[/name] [name]Grace[/name] & [name]Hazel[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
I admit though that I like [name]Emerald[/name] & [name]Opal[/name] (and maybe [name]Peridot[/name]) more than [name]Ruby[/name]. But I think a LOT of people like [name]Ruby[/name] best. 
I don’t see why the name is off limits. It’s a second cousin. You love the name. Your daughter will have this name for her entire life. Everyone will get over it. Your loyalty should be to your daughter. Not a cousin. Give your daughter the name you love for her, and don’t look back. If you don’t name her [name]Ruby[/name], you are choosing a cousin over your daughter.
[name]Just[/name] think about that. You have a name you love for your daughter. Your gift to her. And you’re not going to give it to her?
Thank you for the suggestions everyone! Yeah I was pretty sure that I couldn’t use [name]Ruby[/name], but it’s hard to let it go when you love a name so much. I’m going to have to look at some of these suggestons… I especially like [name]Scarlett[/name], [name]Saffron[/name], [name]Sadie[/name], [name]Lucy[/name], [name]Millie[/name] and [name]Maisie[/name]. My name is [name]Rachel[/name], and I have never really liked it because it is so common. So I am definitely looking for something more creative and unique. So most traditional names are out. I am personally a very creative person, and I definitely want my daughter’s name to reflect that. I think that’s why I like my first daughter’s name so much… I can picture the warmth and crispness, cinammon and pumpkin spices of the [name]Autumn[/name] season. I think I would really want to have a similarly appealing picture in my mind when I think of my second daughter’s name.
And that’s how you explain it. “It was the only name I adored, and it’s the name I felt belonged to her. I couldn’t walk away from that. I know it’s not ideal, but I hope you can understand that when you feel a name belongs to your child, you have to go with it.”
And toss in a compliment on her taste in names. Or whatever.
What about using [name]Ruby[/name] as a middle name?
I’d never use the same name as one of my cousins but I know it works in some families. If you wouldn’t like someone to use your daughter’s name, I’d avoid using [name]Ruby[/name]. If, in a few months and it’s closer to baby time, you still feel such a strong attachment to the name, I’d talk to the cousin and see if she was okay with using it.
Some suggestions:
[name]Cora[/name]/[name]Coral[/name]/[name]Coralie[/name]
[name]Amity[/name]
[name]Zinnia[/name]
[name]Sage[/name]
[name]June[/name]
[name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Violet[/name]
[name]Jade[/name]
[name]Daisy[/name]
No not really, i would be more concerned about it being a popular name for dogs.
It seems like you’ve already decided the fate of [name]Ruby[/name]. Here are some names that remind me of ruby:
[name]Annika[/name]
[name]Opal[/name]
[name]Gemma[/name]
[name]Lily[/name]/[name]Lila[/name]
[name]Stella[/name]
[name]Livia[/name]
[name]Josie[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name]
[name]Penelope[/name] “[name]Penny[/name]”
[name]Lucy[/name]
[name]Mina[/name]
Oh no, not really. I am always open to being told that I can go ahead and use it. In fact, riva’s comments have made me think that it might actually be possible. If I think of my own family, I don’t even really know my second cousins. I do think it would be awkward and plan to spend a lot of my pregnancy coming up with another name that I adore as much, but I just might choose my daughter over my husband’s cousin, if it comes down to it.
You said yourself you’d be upset if they’d used your daughters name, so I don’t think you should do it.
[name]Billie[/name]
[name]Bonnie[/name]
[name]Cara[/name]
[name]Cassia[/name]
[name]Chloe[/name]
[name]Claire[/name]
[name]Clio[/name]
[name]Daphne[/name]
[name]Dawn[/name]
[name]Elodie[/name]
[name]Elsa[/name]
[name]Erin[/name]
[name]Gaia[/name]
[name]Ines[/name]
[name]Jenny[/name]
[name]Joy[/name]
[name]Juno[/name]
[name]Kitty[/name]
[name]Lyra[/name]
[name]Maia[/name]
[name]Mira[/name]
[name]Nell[/name]
[name]Peony[/name]
[name]Phoebe[/name]
[name]Polly[/name]
[name]Sally[/name]
[name]Tara[/name]
[name]Vera[/name]
[name]Zita[/name]
[name]Zoe[/name]
[name]Zora[/name]
I think it’s fine. Really. You said you’d feel weird if they used your name but how long would that last? Maybe a week? Then you’d move on and hardly ever think of it again. I honestly don’t think you are close enough. And the moms who are sisters won’t care at all. In fact, they might enjoy each having a granddaughter with such a great name. We used a name of my husbands first cousin. The age difference was 18 years. There’s a big one and little one when the family is together. The older one with the name loves having a younger cousin with the name. It endears them to each other. Then just last year, my cousin used the same name for her child. I do not care even the slightest bit. Your [name]Ruby[/name]'s will have a connection that will make them friends even if they only see each other once a year. I don’t think having the same name as someone is as big a deal as many people on nameberry think. Good luck!
My sister wanted to name her second child [name]Vivian[/name], which was the name of our cousin’s little girl; we see our cousin and family more than a few times each year. My sister called our cousin to see if she would mind, and our cousin and her daughter were thrilled that she would want to use the same name. She did end up naming her little girl [name]Vivian[/name], and it fits her perfectly.
You coluld always ask your husband’s cousin how they feel about it…
Oh, and also, I think it’s kind of rare to have one name that you really love, just one. I think you are lucky to know that name. I think you should use it.
And like kellyosheim said, there’s a good chance that your husbands cousin will be flattered that you want to use the same name. And Her [name]Ruby[/name] will most definitely love it. I know my daughter would love it if a younger second cousin had the same name as her.
I wouldn’t consider that name off-limits and I am not going to lie to make you feel better about it. I would ask them if it would upset them if you chose the same name. If they say yes, then it is truly off-limits and there is no way you can use it. If they say that you can use it, then use it! Until you ask them, it is not truly off limits.