When considering a sibset how close is too close. I don’t mean in terms of names like, for example, [name_m]Brian[/name_m] and [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] etc. I was think more along the lines of using variations of names, like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and [name_f]Isabella[/name_f].
I don’t really think that anyone would notice, berries being the exception.
I am especially wondering about this in terms of middle names. DH and I are considering [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] as a mn for a boy. But we have also short listed [name_f]Alessandra[/name_f] as a mn for a girl. Is this too much, considering they probably wouldn’t use their middles very often (presuming we have more than one child, of course).
I would rather use names from a different root. [name_m]Leopold[/name_m] and [name_f]Leonor[/name_f], while redundant, do not bother me. [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] do grate on my nerves… but then again, I know they’re from the same root, but many people don’t know.
So, I wouldn’t use [name_f]Alessandra[/name_f] and [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] as first names… even as middle names it seems strange, but one as a first name and one as a middle would probably get me on board- it separates them a little more.
I have to say, I wouldn’t nix either name if you love them both. No sense knocking off a great name that you love when it’s all hypothetical
I worked with a woman who was from a family of all girls. All of their middle names rhymed, while their firsts were all distinct from each other. Honestly, it was kinda cute and a sweet cohesive sibset. It’s totally doable for middle names. [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] don’t sound matchy to anyone but a berry. And since we’re dealing with hypothetical kids, if you give birth to ___ [name_f]Alessandra[/name_f] first, you may end up finding a totally different, less matchy name for a middle in the future. Nobody asks for anything beyond your middle initial 90% of the time anyway. If you love the names, keep them on your short list!
I actually realized the other day that my older sister’s name is a variation of my younger sister’s name. I don’t want to write their names here, but think along the lines of [name_f]Luna[/name_f] and [name_f]Lu[/name_f]ciana (I know these are not actually related, but it was the best example I could come up with. The names start/end with the same letters and the shorter name was originally a pet form of the longer name). I honestly don’t see any problems with it. I think [name_f]Alessandra[/name_f] and [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] are a bit too close as first names, but totally fine as middle names.
My younger sister has a middle name that is a variation of my middle name. It doesn’t really bother us but I often joke that she “stole” my name. However she was named by her mother without any input of our father.
I personally wouldn’t use them together on my own children because I would see it as losing out an opportunity to use another name I loved. However on someone else’s kids and especially in the middle, most people won’t know. So if you love them both, go for it.
For middles I don’t think it’s a big deal. I did go to school with a [name_m]Justin[/name_m] and [name_f]Justina[/name_f] who were a year apart and it just made me think “really? The parents couldn’t think of anything else?”
