We have a 3yo cousin who lives in another country, we haven’t been there since just before he was born. We love his name and always have, it is actually a name we considered for our first son. Is it ok to use his name or a variation of it if bub Im currently pregnant with is a boy?
I think so. Maybe double check with your relatives and make sure you’re not going to be starting any feuds, but I don’t see the problem with it.
Possibly. I would at least mention it to the other parents, if they are close-ish relatives. Tell them that you’re considering it (pointing out that you had considered it for your first) and just see what they have to say about it. If they don’t care, than it’s a total non-issue that you don’t need to worry about. If they do, as long as you don’t “ask permission”, even if they don’t Like it, if it’s not something that would cause family drama, I’d still consider using it. And, it’s better that they know it’s a possibility, if they’re close members of the family. They could be upset if they found out that you had already used the name, after the fact…but could have gotten used to the idea if they knew it was a possibility (and maybe even grew to like the idea). If they’re not close family, I wouldn’t think twice about it at all. Also depends on how common/uncommon the name is.
The answers kind of point to the problem here: There’s no simple yes or no answer. If you’re not close, go ahead. If using the name without talking to them would cause huge family drama, better talk. But if you talk to them, even if you don’t SEEM to be asking permission, you kind of are, because if they say they don’t want you to use the name, what are you going to do then?
I think if you talk to them – and it’s obviously the considerate thing to do if you have any kind of relationship with them – then you need to be willing to abide by their wishes in your choice of a name. And if you don’t talk to them, you need to be ready to deal with them being upset because that could happen and it may be reasonable. We certainly have a lot of visitors to Nameberry on the opposite end of this quandry, even when they don’t tell the other people how hurt or angry they are at what they see as namenapping!