Would this be weird?

General Name Discussion
1

When someone else posts a question like this I usually have a strong opinion about it, but now I have to make a decision myself I’m not sure… :stuck_out_tongue:

DH and I were discussing middle names for baby number two (still not pregnant yet). One of the names we’re seriously considering as a middle name is [name_m]Mattias[/name_m] for a boy and [name_f]Mattea[/name_f] for a girl. We both love the names and its meaning, but they’re not honoring.
Problem is, I work in a hospital, and our leading surgeon and head of department is called [name_m]Matthias[/name_m]. We’re not a big team, our team consists of about 10 people. He’s not just my boss, or my co-worker, we get along very well and talk to each other about personal things. I wouldn’t say we’re friends, we don’t meet outside of work except for team building activities. Would it be weird to give our child the middle name [name_m]Mattias[/name_m] or [name_f]Mattea[/name_f] in this situation?

2

I don’t think so. It’s a name you love, and it just happens to be the name of your boss. If your boss was named something else you’d still like the name [name_m]Matthias[/name_m]. Besides, nothing says he’ll be your boss forever.

3

I might mention that his name is one of your favorite names. I have a close male friend named [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] and we’ve seriously considered it as a middle name for a future son. I don’t think there’s anything weird about it. He might be more flattered than anything else. I had a friend growing up who told me [name_f]Laurel[/name_f] was one of her favorite names and wanted to name a daughter that someday (my name is laurel). I never thought it was weird.

4

I don’t think so. It isn’t exactly the same name. Is there a situation where you would tell him your child’s middle name/he would know it?

5

He’d definitely know it, since we’ll put baby’s middle name on the birth announcement card, like we did with our son.

6

Maybe just let him know before the baby is born. Casually bring up that you’ve been thinking about baby names and that one of your favorite middle names is really similar to his name. I dont think it’s too big a deal, you might not work with this person for a long time and after all it’s just a middle name.

7

Not at all! If you like the name then use it!

8

It might raise a few eyebrows and it might elicit some jokes about your boss being the godfather or something. I would bring it up with your boss beforehand so 1) he doesn’t get the wrong impression that you’re somehow trying to honor him through your baby, and 2) he doesn’t feel uncomfortable because of that.

9

That’s what I’d be worried about most, that would make him uncomfortable. And I’m pretty sure it would. Not because he doesn’t like the idea as such, but he’s one of the most modest people I’ve ever met, and he’d be terribly uncomfortable.

10

I think you could head this off by pro-actively offering an alternative explanation-- and just about anything would do–for why you chose the name. [name_m]Just[/name_m] play up the “what a nice coincidence!” thing and you should be fine.