I have been in love with this name since I was a kid watching [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] (the movie with the cute dog.)
But… one of my cousins has a wife named [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f]. If I chose this name I don’t think it would be accepted well and people would think she’s named after her. It’s slightly heartbreaking because I would totally use it if that wasn’t the case!
I have a son named [name_m]Marshall[/name_m].
[name_m]Marshall[/name_m] and [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] sound so cute together as a sibset to me.
I love the meaning of [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] - tranquil (calm and free from disturbance)
Its popularity falls just outside of the top 200 which puts it in that sweet spot of known but not overused.
Could you do [name_f]Shae[/name_f] or [name_f]Shyla[/name_f] or [name_f]Shannon[/name_f] or something else Sh-- initial instead? [name_m]Even[/name_m] [name_f]Cheyenne[/name_f]?
I also love [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] but can’t use it lol.
Here are some similar choices with the same meaning:
S o l o m o n (my son’s name )
[name_m]Shalom[/name_m]
[name_m]Salem[/name_m]
[name_f]Salome[/name_f]
I wouldn’t give up my fave for a cousin/cousin’s wife. I have a big family and have a couple of cousins who have called their kids the same name even though we see each other a lot, and one of my cousins called her daughter the name of a cousin (which is even closer). No one minds! It’s all clear who is who. But if it really would be too hard, maybe one of the Sh names above, or [name_f]Cleo[/name_f], [name_f]Harlow[/name_f], [name_f]Marlowe[/name_f] (too close to Marshall?), [name_f]Meadow[/name_f], [name_f]Chloe[/name_f], [name_f]Zoe[/name_f].
Good idea, I should look into names specifically with that sound because i’m starting to realize I gravitate towards it! Those names a great, I wish I loved them more than [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] though.
Marshall and Shiloh really are such a cute pair! I love that they share the -sh-!
How close are you to said cousin and his wife? My SIL just named her daughter the same name as her cousin’s wife! Granted, it’s the name Lily, so much more common than Shiloh, but still the same name. It may or may not be too strange depending on how close you are to them. Another thing I would point out is that it might seem strange now, but also… how many of your parents’ cousins do you know? I’ve only met a handful of my parents’ cousins, especially their spouses! Your daughter might not know the other Shiloh when she’s older, even if she’ll see them sometimes when she’s little.
I know you said to talk you down, but this is what I got
Everyone who feels they can’t use a name always secretly wants someone to justify them using it! Fair point! They don’t come to every family event but occasionally we see them. Maybe once a year. I could see them not seeing each other much at all as she gets older… hmm… If I go for it i’ll have to be unapologetic
Yes, you will! Especially since you have loved the name forever, I think it would be fine. It could easily be something as simple as, “Her name is [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] [middle name], which is a name I’ve dreamed of using since I was kid .”
A lot of people end up marrying people with the same name as another relative (my dad’s sister and my mom are both Michelle; also, my uncle and his wife’s brother are both Jeff). Sometimes repeated names just happen on accident anyway, and people just adapt. Now, I will say that if you had a brother married to a [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] or you already had a niece with the same name, it would probably be too close for me. But my personal rule is that a cousin’s kids and a cousin’s spouse is far enough removed from my child to deter me from using the same name. As families grow, the extended families are seen much less often! I could name a couple of mom’s cousins, but I don’t know what most of them look like. I don’t even think I know the names of any of my dad’s cousins.
This is tough! I think most people still consider [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] quite unusual, which makes it harder to brush off as a coincidence. Are you worried people will be genuinely offended or just awkward? If the latter, it seems usable to me if you’re 100% committed to it and willing to deal with some awkwardness upon initial announcement. That said, I personally would be still trying to find another name I loved and use [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] only if nothing else could possibly compare.
Oh gosh that’s really hard!! I hope you find another name you love equally if you don’t think you’ll be able to use [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f]
Here are some suggestions I think work with [name_m]Marshall[/name_m] and are similar to [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] (either sounds, letters, meanings or vibes)
[name_m]Ah[/name_m], it feels perfect despite the fact it’s already in use in your family - that is a shame how close are you and your family to the cousin and his wife? is it a case that most people in your life will immediately associate it with your cousin’s wife?
Maybe mentioning it to someone in your family just to get the, ‘what?! like cousin’s wife???’ might help you ‘talk yourself down’ from it?
From someone else who comes from a large family…I would use it. I would definitely inform them, and probably explain its been your #1 forever. But I would 100% unapologetically use it. [name_f]My[/name_f] cousins named their daughter my name (1st and middle) without it being an honor name, they just liked the name. They did tell me before naming them. And I wasnt offended or weirded out by it. I dont personally hang out with my cousins child very often. I do see my cousins and their family, and holidays and reunions as our families are pretty close, but their child and I are in different social circles if that makes sense.
(Just a PS This name has also been on my list since reading [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] in 5th grade!)
I have to agree with a lot of the prior responses–I don’t think you should let your cousin’s wife’s name be a dealbreaker! You mentioned going for it unapologetically, which I love. It’s your kid. You pick the name you love the most, regardless of who else wears it. All that being said, if you still want to go in another direction, here are a few ideas that have the same energy to me and/or have a similar meaning:
A bit more out there, but I’m really into the name [name_f]Halcyon[/name_f], which is associated with peace! [name_m]Marshall[/name_m] and [name_f]Hally[/name_f] sound so cute together!
)
I love the peaceful names.
Fair point! They don’t come to every family event but occasionally we see them. Maybe once a year. I could see them not seeing each other much at all as she gets older… hmm… If I go for it i’ll have to be unapologetic
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how close are you and your family to the cousin and his wife? is it a case that most people in your life will immediately associate it with your cousin’s wife?