Multiple children with same meaning?

Would you ever use 2 different names that are derived from the same name? Do you know of examples of names that are derived from the same thing and why you would/wouldn’t use on 2 siblings?

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I wouldn’t use names derived from the same name (ex: [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] & [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]), but I would use names that have the same meaning with different origins (ex: [name_f]Anna[/name_f] & [name_f]Grace[/name_f]). The former is not a true issue; it would just bother me as a name nerd. :slightly_smiling_face:

I know siblings named [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] & [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] and [name_u]James[/name_u] & [name_m]Jacob[/name_m], but I doubt most people notice the connection.

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I’d avoid variants of the same name, but same meanings + different origins wouldn’t be a huge issue for me :slight_smile:

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I think having the same meaning is fine! It’s a nice connection for siblings, even.

I go back and forth on using variants as siblings. I don’t like the idea of it as a name nerd, but if they’re different enough in sound I doubt many people would notice, anyway. Like, I wouldn’t use [name_m]Anthony[/name_m] and [name_u]Antonia[/name_u], but something like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] is fine to me. [name_f]My[/name_f] personal challenge is going to be deciding between [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] some day, I think the matching initials makes them a little too close.

But [name_m]Mads[/name_m] and Thiess seems fine to me, especially if they’re middles or one is a middle and one is a first.

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I think using names with the same meaning for siblings is fine. I wouldn’t use two variations of the same name, unless they happen to sound completely different from each other. Technically, [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] and [name_f]Greta[/name_f] are two derivatives of the same name, but most people aren’t going to know that. I think [name_m]Mads[/name_m] and Thiess sound different enough to be usable for brothers.

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I had that suggested to me because my daughter’s name means lion. I didn’t continue that trend but I could’ve used [name_u]Ari[/name_u], [name_f]Arielle[/name_f], [name_f]Leonora[/name_f], [name_f]Leonie[/name_f], León, [name_m]Leo[/name_m], llewyn, [name_m]Lev[/name_m], [name_m]Leander[/name_m], etc. It would be fun but a little limiting. I do think it would be a nice, subtle connection, particularly for twins.

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I don’t think it matters as long as the sounds are different enough.

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I think as long as the names are distinct from one another in terms of sound, I think it’s fine.

I agree with this. I also think it matters whether it’s obvious or well known that they are variations of the same name. For example, I know @katinka posted recently asking whether [name_f]Helena[/name_f] as a middle and [name_f]Nell[/name_f] as a first are too much in a sibset. For me I see that sort of situation as fine!

However siblings named [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_m]Charles[/name_m] or [name_f]Alexa[/name_f] and [name_m]Xander[/name_m] less so

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I’m still torn on that! :grimacing:

[name_f]My[/name_f] general rule would be:

If the name meanings happen to be the same but derivation is totally different, that’s fine and could even me a nice touch subtly connecting siblings.

But variants of the same root name would definitely be out for first names for siblings for me. I think there’s more wiggle room for middle names, or one first and one middle, but I’d still prefer in theory not to double up.

But as @Kipperbo1 said, some connected names are way more obvious than others. [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] are obviously from the same root name and therefore too close, but it’s only name nerds who would twig that sisters [name_f]Isobel[/name_f] and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] technically have the “same name”.

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I’m agreeing with the majority here. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband and I have discussed that if we were to use [name_m]Seamus[/name_m] for a son, it wouldn’t necessarily rule out [name_u]James[/name_u] as a middle name at some future point, they’re so different. Though [name_m]Seamus[/name_m] and [name_u]James[/name_u] as first names for brothers would bother me.

I would not use names derived from the same name. It bugs me when I see it in the wild if it’s names I recognize. I’ve known sibsets of [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] & [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] & [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], and even [name_m]Henry[/name_m] & [name_m]Harrison[/name_m] — those all bother me. But realistically I know that’s a name nerd thing, since the names sound different enough that I’m sure no one is confused.

I also know an [name_f]Anna[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]. Because I’m a nerd and know the meaning of [name_f]Anna[/name_f], I see her name as “grace-grace”! I wouldn’t intentionally use two names with the same meaning in the same combo. But again, that’s a nerd problem.

The names you mentioned are unusual enough that I wouldn’t know they were both derived from [name_m]Matthias[/name_m], so I wouldn’t be bothered. :slight_smile:

Your choices are cool.

Jane and [name_m]John[/name_m] (plus their many many variants) have the same meaning. It’s not really a big issue for me; unless one child was [name_m]John[/name_m] 1 and sibling is [name_m]John[/name_m] 2.

Mary is another name that comes to mind - a few meanings out there so there’s not one consistent idea. If you named a child [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Mia[/name_f] or [name_f]Mariam[/name_f] - I would just think you liked the letter m.

I think having the similar meanings is fine because many people don’t pay attention to meanings. I personally would try to give siblings names that aren’t too similar. I suppose some names can be an acception. Behindthename.com shows variations. For example: [name_u]Evan[/name_u] is said to come from [name_m]John[/name_m] and