My [name]BIL[/name] and [name]SIL[/name] just moved back home last week because they are also having a baby girl, due just three weeks after us. This weekend my [name]SIL[/name] told me what their top name pick is: [name]Matilda[/name], nicknamed [name]Mattie[/name]. Our top name pick is [name]Magdalena[/name], nicknamed [name]Maggie[/name]. [name]Do[/name] you think these names are too close for cousins to have?
I know the full names themselves are different enough that it’s no problem, and I think [name]Magdalena[/name]/[name]Matilda[/name] sound like a cute cousin-set. But [name]Maggie[/name]/[name]Mattie[/name] sound really similar… too similar in my mind. I am not sure if such similar nicknames for cousins would be a good thing or just confusing. (This is the only cousin our daughter will have.) Our second name choice right now is [name]Elena[/name], so I was thinking of maybe switching to that, but I don’t know. I kind of envision our daughter as [name]Maggie[/name] already in my head because I’ve been calling her that (just to my husband) for awhile.
What do you all think? Are these names/nicknames too similar? Would you choose a different name because of it?
I don’t see a problem with it, but that is just me. Since they are different names I would still use [name]Magdalena[/name]. I think you should stick with the name, it is lovely. Of course if you get sick of the similarity between [name]Maggie[/name] and [name]Mattie[/name], you go always call her [name]Lena[/name] or [name]Magda[/name]. I like those more than [name]Maggie[/name] but it all depends on what you like.
I don’t think it matters. You could call her something different like [name]Magda[/name] when she’s around [name]Mattie[/name], but [name]Maggie[/name] everywhere else.
I have a cousin who’s about two months younger than me named [name]Melissa[/name] and my name is [name]Marisa[/name] which is super similar, but there’s never been any issue or confusion or anything. I also know two little girls that are cousins named [name]Madison[/name] and [name]Madelynn[/name] and they’ve never really had problems either and their families are very close and spend lots of time together. I think [name]Mattie[/name] and [name]Maggie[/name] as cousins is really cute, actually, and with them being so close in age it might be something cute for them to bond over.
Stick with your first choice. They are similar but it’s not like the full names are too similar. You never know, your dd could end up going by [name]Lena[/name] or by her full name once she gets into school, and her cousin may prefer [name]Tillie[/name] or her own full name, and all the worry would be for naught.
I think it is ok. You could call them by their full names when they are together. I wouldn’t change the name if you really loved/set on it! Good luck :).
There is no such thing as too close for cousins. Rhyming nicknames should not disqualify your favorite name. You can always call them by different nicknames or their full names if it becomes an issue.