We’ve really hit a difficult spot with naming our baby. I had a friend who I actually originally bonded with over baby names - we met and she loved my kids names, I loved hers. They all had a similar feel - almost like they’d work as one big sibling set. We soon realised we had the same 2 favourite names picked out for a potential next boy too! We didn’t hang out regularly, and when my little boy was born I used one of the names without thinking. A little while later she named her little boy something really similar, not the exact same, but with the same nickname. Ie [name_m]Luc[/name_m] / [name_u]Luca[/name_u] - both called [name_m]Luc[/name_m]. I didn’t mind, you like what you like. Plus it was technically a different name anyway, and not the rarest, so It’s to be expected that there’ll be more. The issue now is that we do hang out more, and the name we’ve got picked out for our next baby (the one that was always second on my list) is the middle name she gave her boy. I guess she decided to use both favourites at once 
”. It’s been on our list for years, our family are almost expecting us to use it, and I think she knows the back story - but I feel really weird about using it. It’s not a particularly unusual name - top 200, and the more DH and I think about it, the more we love it and feel it suits our sibset and us perfectly. We can’t agree on another name. Should I broach the subject with her and see what she thinks? Should I just use it as a first for my next Bub? Should I NOT use it? We discussed the name many, many times in our ‘I [name_u]LOvE[/name_u] this name’ conversations over the years, before her baby was born, so it’s been no secret i love it. I just feel caught in quite a conundrum! WWYD?
Personally, I think you should just use it because
A) She only used it as a middle. Sure, a having a middle that sounds nice with your first name is great and all, but middle names are rarely used
B) You have strong emotional ties to the name and I feel like you would regret not using it
I’m sure your friend will understand
Good luck!
Agree with above!
I don’t think there’s a problem, but I think she’d be one of the first people to understand considering you’re both name lovers & have bonded over this fact - plus you have already discussed what you both like.
Use it!
You love the name, and she only used it as middle.
I’d possibly say something to her, but thats up to you
I agree with everyone else. If she only used it as a middle name for her son and she already knows you love it, plus you have strong ties with the name, I think you should use it. It personally would not bother me in the slightest if you were my friend. My best friend, on the other hand, would probably be upset about it. It really depends on the person whether or not using the name could be an issue and I think it’s up to you whether you talk to her first about it as you know her and we don’t. I could see the conversation going either way.
Oh, definitely use it! It’s the one you love and there is nothing wrong with that! I think that she would be understanding, if you were to bring it up to her. It sounds like she wouldn’t mind, given your history.