The other day, my sister told me she was going to use one of my favorite baby names for a girl if she had one (in the near future, before I will). I was of course very excited for her, and also that the name would stay “in the family” in a sense and someone would get to use it, considering it wasn’t one of my three top girl’s names (in my signature) and I’m not planning on having more than three kids. Still, it makes me a bit sad that I’ll never get to use it as a middle or otherwise. What if it was the perfect name? Has this happened to any of you? Did you feel sad about it? Or is it something someone should just get over?
I don’t see why you couldn’t use it as a middle name. I understand not a first name, since cousins with the same name could get confusing, but I wouldn’t mind if my siblings gave their child a middle name that I used for my child.
It’s probably much harder in theory than in reality.
Meaning, when you think about it now, it’s sad, since ‘one of your names’ is lost. When the new little one comes, you’ll delight in loving an actual child with such a great name. It may be even better because it will be your own niece/nephew! (You’ll be using his/her name tons. Amazing aunties do that.)
When it’s your turn, you’ll have your kids, and use the other names you love. Isn’t this great - even more names that you love in your own family.
Congrats!
@flamingo That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling, thank you! I was a bit sad initally but I’m just glad her children will get such beautiful names.
I agree with this - especially since it is a family name.
I agree with all of the previous posters but I’d also like to point out that a gorgeous name you love in theory may be different from a name you’d actually use in practice, when you’re actually pregnant. I think it’s entirely possible for your sister to have a daughter, name her that name (for the example, say it’s [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]) and then a couple years down the road when you’re ready to have kids or pregnant, you may not even feel like you wish you could use the name. Maybe after two or three years (or whatever it may be) the name [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] will just make you think of your lovely niece and that connection between her and the name might be so strong you wouldn’t even consider using it for your own daughter. Right now when you think of the name you might be envisioning your own little girl with the name, but once there’s a real baby involved, the association will likely quickly change. Maybe not, but in my experience it can sometimes be different once there’s a living, breathing child with the name and the feelings of “mourning” over losing the name can be completely obscured by feelings of love of the new little one.
It’s hard. My favourite name for a boy was [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] for a long time but now my niece is called [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. People tell me that I can still use [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] but it’s far too close for me. She did know that [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] was my favourite name but I’d never stop her using a name she like loved. [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] is far too popular for me to use now.
[name_u]Jesse[/name_u] was (and I still love it) one of my favourite names but now my sister loves that too. She also told me that she wanted to use [name_m]Archie[/name_m] for her new baby if it was a boy (thank god she’s a girl) which is my favourite name [name_u]EVER[/name_u]! I think if she would ever use it, I’d make my displeasure known as she knows that it’s been my favourite for years.
Sometimes you have to get over it, sometimes you can’t.