My husband’s cousin had a baby a couple days ago and just announced the name: [name]Tessa[/name] [name]Morgan[/name] LN. I absolutely love it–[name]Tessa[/name]. It was one of our top choices for our DD when she was born but we used a different name in the end. ([name]Morgan[/name] is the cousin’s maiden name–nice touch.) Anyway, I’m not upset or anything; I know we could still use it if we had another girl (not even sure if we’ll have another!). I just found myself with a tiny bit of sadness that she used it, a little bit of name-jealousy bc I think it’s perfect. Of course, I’m thrilled for her. Probably part of the feelings come from not even being sure if we’ll have a third baby; sometimes I want another (ok, most of the time!), other times I think we can’t afford another, etc.
Anyone else ever had these mixed feelings for a friend/family member over a name? I’m not talking about name-stealing, really; no one even knew [name]Tessa[/name] was a top name for us. [name]Just[/name] coincidental settling on a name you really loved and kind of cherished. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone here!!
Yep - [name]Nora[/name] / [name]Norah[/name]. [name]Love[/name] it, and not only is it getting more popular in general, but 2 friends and 1 relative have used it in the last year. Plus an [name]Eleanor[/name]. Very sad. Probably would have been our top pick actually had I gotten pregnant sooner.
I’ve definitely felt that way. My sister used our top boy name choice (which we have had picked out since before we were married) for her second son’s middle name. She didn’t know, though, as we never discussed it with anyone. We’re still going to use it if we ever have a boy, since it’s only his middle name. I worry it might upset my sister if we do, but that name has a lot of significance to my husband and me. My husband said if she makes a fuss about it, he’ll tell her it’s a family name and we have to use it for traditions sake.
My best friend also decided to name her daughter something that rhymes with my daughter’s name (my daughter was 6 months old when hers was born). She calls her by a nickname that sounds almost exactly like my daughter’s name (replaces the M sound with the N sound). It doesn’t really bother me that much, but it’s kind of weird. I was a little taken aback when she announced the name, though, because she told everyone at her baby shower that they were deciding between two completely different names (one of which was gorgeous and I would use it myself someday if I didn’t already have a family member with that name). She had also told me previously that her boyfriend didn’t really care for the name she ultimately chose. I actually thought they must have broken up after she announced the name because she had said the baby was going to have a hyphenated last name, but she ended up with just her mom’s. The whole situation was just weird. She really should have kept it to herself until the baby was born because a lot of people were confused and disappointed.
I knew some berries would be able to relate and make me feel a little better. BTW, she has an older daughter named [name]Lila[/name] [name]Justine[/name] (her DH is [name]Justin[/name]). I think [name]Lila[/name] [name]Justine[/name] and [name]Tessa[/name] [name]Morgan[/name] go together so nicely.
Yes… I often get a mixed pang of happiness/sadness when I hear of someone using a name from my long (and mostly unofficial) list!
My cousin used our Grandmothers name (jean) for her daughters middle, and shortly after my sister in law used my husbands Granny’s name ([name]June[/name]) for their daughter. [name]Even[/name] though this was way before we were even thinking about kids, I remember feeling a bit jealous that they’d gotten in first!
Recently a girl in town chose [name]Zanna[/name] for her daughter which I have always loved and never expected to hear on real life baby when my husband vetoed it. So wasn’t even on official list but in someways makes it harder to hear used on another baby… But rationally thinking I’m glad somebody got to use it as it was never going to be me
When my friend called her daughter [name]Polly[/name] I felt happy she’d chosen such a sweet name, but also some degree of name envy… [name]Even[/name] though I probably never would have ever used that name as it doesn’t fit with my children’s names anyway… But still that pang… Anyhow, it’s a gorgeous name for a gorgeous girl and I now love that I get to hear and say the name on regular basis, even if not for my own child
Another close friend chose [name]Levi[/name] for their son, forever crossing it off our list… I felt quite sad and had (have!) definite name jealousy as this was one we would have used and was actually pregnant with my son at the time. Another friend with great taste
When a friend of a friend named their boy [name]Arlo[/name] I felt a bit sad/happy. I love that name. Then another acquaintance used it just a few months later, closely followed by a celebrity using it for their daughter… I felt mostly sad as three occurrences in a short space was enough to cross it off the list for me. But part of me is still happy that such a cool name is becoming more popular.
I think name envy is pretty common when you have similar taste to your friends/family! Obviously there is a limit to the number if children we can have/name ourselves but it can be hard ‘letting go’ of the ones that have a special place in our hearts
Yes… I often get a mixed pang of happiness/sadness when someone I know uses a name from my long (and mostly unofficial) list!
My cousin used our Grandmothers name (jean) for her daughters middle, and shortly after my sister in law used my husbands Granny’s name ([name]June[/name]) for their daughter. [name]Even[/name] though this was way before we were even thinking about kids, I remember feeling a bit jealous that they’d gotten in first!
Recently a girl in town chose [name]Zanna[/name] for her daughter which I have always loved and never expected to hear on real life baby when my husband vetoed it. So wasn’t on official list but in someways makes it harder to hear used on another baby… But rationally thinking I’m glad somebody got to use it as it was never going to be me
When my friend called her daughter [name]Polly[/name] I felt happy she’d chosen such a sweet name, but also some degree of name envy… [name]Even[/name] though I probably never would have ever used that name as it doesn’t fit with my children’s names anyway… But still that pang… Anyhow, it’s a gorgeous name for a gorgeous girl and I love my friends taste
Another close friend chose [name]Levi[/name] for their son, forever crossing it off our list… I felt quite sad and had (have!) definite name jealousy as this was one we would have used and was actually pregnant with my son at the time. Another friend with great taste
When a friend of a friend named their boy [name]Arlo[/name] I felt a bit sad/happy. I love that name. Then another acquaintance used it just a few months later, closely followed by a celebrity using it for their daughter… I felt mostly sad as three occurrences in a short space was enough to cross it off the list for me. But part of me is still happy that such a cool name is becoming more popular.
I think name envy is pretty common when you have similar taste to your friends/family! Obviously there is a limit to the number if children we can have/name ourselves but it can be hard ‘letting go’ of the ones that have a special place in our hearts
Not so much name envy, but quite the opposite. My taste is very different than most of my friends and my cousins who are having children at this time. So I am riddled usually with name disappointment because I’ll get excited to hear the new baby’s name and then it’s either really plain for me or very tryndee (this occurs more often than the other).
Though I expect when I finally have my kids they’ll think I’m on another planet with what we choose. Oh well!
No, but mostly because I’m a sixteen year old, who is not ready for kids! But my aunt, has chosen one of my favorite names to her second daughter - [name]Victoria[/name], I love that name, but I don’t think I’d have used it myself. Her other daughter is [name]Sophia[/name], which is Greek and I love Greek names. I’m really happy on her and her fiances behalf. ^^
My sister named her oldest daughter after our Dad (4 years before I had my son). I am not sure I would have used the name but I was jealous I didn’t have the option to consider it.
I had a really intense moment of name jealously when a not-close-friend who is in some of the same circles as me named her son [name]Isaiah[/name] [name]Jacob[/name]. [name]Isaiah[/name] was one of my top boy’s names for a while there and [name]Jacob[/name] is my husband’s mn, so I’ve thought about using it as a mn for that, even though it’s so popular.
There was a lot of emotional stuff going on at the time, as we were ttc and hadn’t yet, and she was in a situation where having a baby was a very inconvenient accident. So there was some plain ol’ jealousy mixed with my name jealousy! She’s not a close enough friend that it would rule out [name]Isaiah[/name] to be used for us in the future, but hearing it on a new baby boy made it less special and made me realize it was actually more popular than I was hoping. ([name]One[/name] other acquaintance also had an [name]Isaiah[/name] in the past year. So one could be a chance, but two in one year definitely becomes a trend!)
I’ve since moved on, but [name]Isaiah[/name] is still one of those “I would totally use it if it didn’t feel too popular right now,” like [name]Elijah[/name], [name]Judah[/name], and [name]Jacob[/name]. So there’s still a sense of sadness/wistfulness about it.
It’s just nice to know others relate, even though rationally I realize there’s no reason to be sad or jealous, in this case; I mean, I could still use the name on a future daughter, if I so desired. Unlike another situation where my [name]SIL[/name] stole my girl name verbatim without a single word (ever) about it. It took me awhile to get over it, but then, she is a crazy person (seriously) so there’s that…
BTW, she has an older daughter named [name]Lila[/name] [name]Justine[/name] (her DH is [name]Justin[/name]). I think [name]Lila[/name] [name]Justine[/name] and [name]Tessa[/name] [name]Morgan[/name] go together so nicely.