I have been debating several names lately and [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is one of them.
I decided that despite the fact it’s popular I like the nn [name_f]Lottie[/name_f] and it has a family link.
One of DHs workmates just had a baby- found out today they called her [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f].
Does that make it off limits? It’s a small workplace- I don’t really see them by DH does.
I’m finding picking a name so hard- as a teacher I know so many children (which means some names are tainted forever), relatives kids, friends kids, work friends kids… all the names I like seem ‘taken’. I’d like something known but not used by someone I know- which seems impossible.
I think it depends on how popular [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is where you live. It’s the number 1 or 2 girls name in Australia at the moment so based on that fact alone there’s no way they could say you copied them. If it’s not so popular then I guess they would feel like maybe you made their ‘unusual’ name less unusual.
Most people I know with daughters named [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] use the nn [name_u]Charlie[/name_u], so if they have a [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] “[name_u]Charlie[/name_u]” and you have a [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] “[name_f]Lottie[/name_f]” then there’s even less reason to think of the name as off limits.
I don’t think colleagues with daughters with the same name is enough of a reason to not use a name you love. You’ll have your [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] for life - you never know how long your husband and other [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]'s mum/dad will work together.
We’re in [name_m]Oz[/name_m] too- so yes, [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is pretty popular here in our local area.
Good thinking- you’re right… who knows how long they’ll work together.
Frankly, this is a non-issue. [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is a classic, well-known name and the other couple doesn’t own it. If they worried about their daughter sharing her name they would have picked something more unusual.
The fact that it’s a family name for you makes this point even more obvious.
I personally would consider a name completely off limits if my brother or one of my bf’s sisters had used it for their child.
And would try and avoid a name (first names only) if:
a) One of my first cousins had used it.
b) A close friend that lives near to us had used it.
c) A living member of our immediate families was named it.
Otherwise, anything’s fair game in my opinion. I would even consider breaking those latter rules if it seemed like the one perfect name and nothing else could be agreed on. Names of colleagues’ children wouldn’t even be on the radar for me. Whatever you choose (unless you go super unusual), at some point you’re going to meet another child with that name. It’s no big deal.
I don’t think [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is off-limits at all. It’s pretty difficult to find names not used by anyone you know if you include acquaintances and colleagues. Personally, I wouldn’t use a name if my siblings used it first, as well as cousins that I see regularly. Ditto for close friends. You never know how long your husband will be working with this person, and I’d hate for you to lose a name that you love because of someone who likely won’t be in your life for a long time.
If it were a really rare name, I might pause for a second, but [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is fairly popular with a long history of use, so I’d definitely keep it on the list.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] echoing what pps have said: [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is a classic; you can’t really copy it; I would only consider a name off-limits if it was used by siblings or close friends for their own children, or if a living family member already had the name (but only for first names - middle names are free range, as far as I’m concerned). Co-workers wouldn’t be a consideration for me.
Personally I don’t think any name is ever off limits in any circumstances (bold I know!) But if no-one used a name that was already used by someone else then we’d all be having to make up completely new names every time a little one was born - where does the madness end?! And why should you not use a name you absolutely love (and always have!) just because your brother/sister/cousin/friend/coworker liked it too? All it means is you have similar taste. I’d take it as a compliment that someone loves your child’s name as much as you do. Honestly, it’s entirely down to personal preferences - what bothers you and what you can or can’t live with. Everyone’s view will be different. But what I would say is a lot of people will say don’t use it - give your child it’s own identity. And to that I’d say, remember, a name doesn’t define a person. Their personality, actions and who they are inside defines them. Not their name. So use the one you love!
Maybe if they’d named their new daughter [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] [name_f]Circe[/name_f] and you wanted to use that too then you’d have a problem - but I don’t think anybody can ‘claim’ a name like [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] that is both popular and classic.