So I am close to both “Amy” and her cousin “Sarah” (switch names for privacy)
[name_f]Sarah[/name_f] has a baby boy names [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] goes by [name_m]Nate[/name_m]. Who is only a few months old.
[name_f]Amy[/name_f] is pregnant and wants to use [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] goes by [name_u]Neil[/name_u]. When her baby is born she really wants to name him [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] after a friend that passed away a few years ago and it is also a family name on her fathers side. (Sarah is Amy’s cousin on her mothers side)
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any advice that I can passed along to [name_f]Amy[/name_f] in regards of the name [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] on her boy?
Oo unsolicited advice…. Yeah tell her that sounds lovely! [name_u]Neil[/name_u] is very cool 
She asked me to post on my account so her cousin couldn’t find it and get advise for her
With the meaning behind the names, the different nicknames and with each cousin most likely having a different surname, it certainly wouldn’t be an issue… in fact it would be quite nice. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if only the first two are true, it is a worthwhile name for each cousin to give to their respective sons.
What are her concerns exactly? If she’s worried about her cousin’s reaction she could run it by her but I don’t think its necessary really since [name_m]Nate[/name_m] and [name_u]Neil[/name_u] are very distinct. And not very closely related honestly.
I think it depends on how close the cousins are. [name_u]Will[/name_u] their children spend a lot of time together? If so then I personally wouldn’t give them the same name, even with the intention of different nicknames, simply because a nickname is just that. What if it doesn’t stick? [name_u]Or[/name_u] what if in the future he chooses not to go by that? I have multiple nephews with similar sounding names and it’s already confusing enough, I can’t imagine if they had the exact same name. If she intends to call him [name_u]Neil[/name_u] why not just name him [name_u]Neil[/name_u]? On the other hand, if they aren’t super close then it would be ok.
She doesn’t know my account or that I even have one
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I’m not entirely certain what advice [name_f]Amy[/name_f] is looking for. Is she concerned about her cousins reaction to the babies sharing the same name?
She could always run it be [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] if she’s that concerned about a negative reaction. However, where this name is supposed to be some sort of honor I dont see it being any kind of issue** Another possibility is to use Nathaniels middle name instead. [name_u]Or[/name_u] use [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] as the middle. Bit where its various nicknames I really dont think its an issue still regardless of how close or not close [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] and [name_f]Amy[/name_f] are.
I think it’s fine since it’s an honour name and he’ll have a different nickname
I think that it would be fine, though I do think that [name_f]Amy[/name_f] should talk to [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] about it before the baby is born. Not to ask for permission necessarily, just so that [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] isn’t surprised about the name, and so she knows the reason [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] is meaningful to [name_f]Amy[/name_f] and her intentions to use another nickname.
I would make sure that the Nathaniels have distinct middle names with different middle initials. [name_f]Amy[/name_f] may want to give her [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] a short middle so that they can easily use both as needed.
I have cousins who share a name, and it never was really an issue. We just use their middle names if we need to.
I love the name [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m], by the way!!