Soooo one of our favourite boy’s names is [name_m]Hugo[/name_m]. We are expecting our third little boy in [name_u]July[/name_u], with brothers [name_m]Eli[/name_m] & [name_m]Oscar[/name_m]. I feel like [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] fits so well, and as much as I like other names, we keep coming back to [name_m]Hugo[/name_m]. The one problem: [name_m]Oscar[/name_m]'s little bunny, much beloved from birth and carted everywhere with us, is named [name_m]Hugo[/name_m], and everyone knows it! Friends, family, and both sons call this adored bunny by his name and he is literally under [name_m]Oscar[/name_m]'s arm everywhere we go! Would it be weird to name their new little brother the same name as O’s bunny? :-? Or is there a great way to start to change bunny’s name in a natural way before [name_u]July[/name_u]?
Another favourite boy’s name is [name_m]Angus[/name_m]… the name of [name_m]Eli[/name_m]'s special stuffed sheep. Why did we give such cute names to their toys?!?
Eeeehhhh. I think you’ve shot yourself in the foot. If the stuffed animal friends had fallen by the wayside, out of use and no longer favorite, then I’d say go for it. So… in a year or two or three, those names would probably feel a little freer to use. As for just now, while those names are in constant use, I’d say it’s a no-go. Get your creative juices flowing and see what you can come up with, and leave the bunny and the sheep to their names.
We have a much beloved doll [name_f]Lulu[/name_f] and this doll has been the favorite of 4 of my kids. [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] is very much still on my list. I don’t think it matters one bit.
[name_m]How[/name_m] old are your boys? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think you could get away with saying “hey [name_m]Oscar[/name_m] let’s talk about your bunny. I love his name, [name_m]Hugo[/name_m]. Daddy and I were thinking of using that name for your little brother. But we don’t want your bunny to be confused… what do you think of calling your bunny [name_m]George[/name_m] from now on?”
I love the name [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] and honestly don’t know what I’d do in hour situation… good luck!!
[name_m]Oscar[/name_m] is only 20 months and already the little bro, meaning [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] [name_f]Bunny[/name_f] is pretty much the only toy that’s just his. I think we’ll try to find something else and let him have his special animal, but man I love that name!!!
Maybe [name_m]Oscar[/name_m] would have fun picking another name that he loves for his bunny, or after explaining that [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] is a perfect name for his baby brother, he may well agree to Jugo, Zugo, or the likes. A fun game maybe, and a little celebration party for the newly named bunny. I don’t like to see you discard a name you love for a real child if there is a way around it. Good luck!
I don’t think it’s a problem. I actually think that’s kind of cute. My niece was named for a doll her mother had as a child (her whole family recognized the doll’s name and no one thought twice about it). My daughter’s favorite toys are called [name_u]Kit[/name_u] and [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]. I think my daughter would be tickled pink if we used either name for baby #2.
You mentioned your son is 20 months and baby isn’t due until [name_u]July[/name_u]. As a last resort you can wait and see if it still feels like your name stealing from the bunny by this summer. I hate for you not to use a name you love when your boys might find it sweet to use such a familiar name on the baby.
Something else that could be at play here (although you may totally disagree) is that because the name [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] is already in use and kinda off the table, it has become [name_m]WAY[/name_m] more desirable to you? A friend in my wider circle used a name that’s been on my ‘I like but not my favourite names’ list for ages, and now the choice to use it has been taken away I’m a little gutted I’ll never be able to use it and find myself thinking how it’s actually the perfect name.
I’m not saying that [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] isn’t your perfect name (it is a lovely dashing name!) but there might be a bit of that ‘wanting what you can’t have’-ness fuelling the absolute love for the name, and the fact that you’ve probably said it a million times and it fits into the flow of your household.
I personally think you’ll be fine to use it, if you really do love it and it fits the little man when he arrives, you may get a few odd comments from friends and family at the start but years down the line and forever more it will just be a great family story. The beloved teddy bear called [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] that came first and then the beloved little brother that followed.
Maybe give yourself full permission to use it now, sit with the idea that there’s no reason not to use it and that it is a totally open option for you (to get rid of any wanting what you can’t have feelings) and if in the summer when baby arrives you still 100% love it (or [name_m]Angus[/name_m] which is also an excellent name) I’d say go for it. In three years time when [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] the bear gets discarded for [name_u]Terry[/name_u] the Truck or something you may be kicking yourself about not going for it. Alternatively if you allow yourself the right to use it but get to the birth and decide actually you don’t love it as much as you thought, another name will be there that fits.
Good luck, as long as you do what feels right to you I don’t think you can go wrong!
[name_f]Edit[/name_f]: Sorry, bunny not teddy bear!
PS. A quick though about changing [name_f]Bunny[/name_f]'s name - if you do go with [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] for baby, from the outset (or even from now on if you decide 100% to use the name) you could could him ‘[name_u]Baby[/name_u] [name_m]Hugo[/name_m]’ and the bunny ‘[name_f]Bunny[/name_f] [name_m]Hugo[/name_m]’ to avoid confusion for your sons at the start. As time goes on [name_u]Baby[/name_u] [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] could be phased into just [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] and [name_f]Bunny[/name_f] [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] could eventually just become [name_f]Bunny[/name_f] or something like Bunnygo. Obviously it would have to feel right for your family but I think it could work.
Some friends of mine had a similar situation with their daughter’s name - elder sister had a toy called [name_f]Noa[/name_f], never parted with it (there were actually multiple Noas so that if it got left at grandma’s the toy could ‘fly home’). They realised they loved the name for their next daughter. They chose not to use it and went with another name they loved just as much. But I don’t think that’s the only way to do it.
[name_m]Hugo[/name_m] is so handsome and it does fit nicely. Personally I would keep [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] on the table but also keep looking, you still have a few months and it might be the case that you stumble upon something else you love as much.
This is exactly what I was going to suggest! Call them baby [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] and [name_f]Bunny[/name_f] [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] as a possibility but keep looking for names in the meantime and see if you fall in love with something else
I would find a different name. As middle child your son is going to have a hard enough time feeling special (he won’t be the oldest, he won’t be the youngest, etc…). There is a chance he would delighted with a [name_f]Bunny[/name_f] [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] and [name_u]Baby[/name_u] [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] but maybe he would feel like he has “lost” something special. Feelings of being replaced are hard enough on young kids.
Have you considered using just [name_m]Hugh[/name_m] for the baby? Or if you just aren’t in love with it, I don’t think [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] is that big of a deal if there is absolutely nothing else you like as much
I think we’ll try to find something else and let him have his special animal, but man I love that name!!!