They didn’t quite put it that way but it sure sounded like that to me. Four years ago when my daugther [name]Maia[/name] was born I got comments like…“Oh I have a dog named [name]Maya[/name]” or “My daugther-in-law was so surprised when I told her that you named your baby [name]Maia[/name] because she said it was her cat’s name” (that jewel of a comment was from an aunt whom I thought I loved - after she saw my daughter). I haven’t gotten that kind of comments since but I remember vivdly the pain I felt thinking the beloved name for my adored daugther was flawed. Now that we will be trying in 2013 for another child and looking at names again I find myself attracted to names such as [name]Cleo[/name] and/or [name]Clea[/name]. I really like short and easy to pronounce names from Greek origin.
Have any of you had the unpleasant comment that your new baby had a dog or cat’s name and how did you react? If you told the name before your baby’s birth were you persuaded to change name?
I suppose it does not help that my best friend since childhood had a dog named [name]Cleo[/name] whom she loved. I suppose she would make a comment too. Sigh…I suppose I can always call a daugther a longer name.
We were going to go with [name]Daisy[/name] for our daughter. I was so happy to find the name until… I remembered it was my childhood best friend’s dogs name. Sigh. Now she’s [name]Charlotte[/name]. I love her name but I will probably use [name]Daisy[/name] if we have a second daughter despite the dog connection. My name is [name]Shannon[/name] and I have a friend who had a dog named [name]Shannon[/name] when we were younger. It never really phased me. That’s why we would use [name]Daisy[/name] for the next girl.
Well, short and easy to pronounce are very common traits for animal names.
I doubt there’s a name out there that hasn’t been used for an animal at one time or another.
There are some names that fall into that problem more often though. [name]Max[/name], [name]Charlie[/name], [name]Gus[/name], [name]Jack[/name], [name]Toby[/name], [name]Bella[/name], [name]Lucy[/name], [name]Daisy[/name], [name]Molly[/name], [name]Maggie[/name], [name]Chloe[/name], [name]Sadie[/name], [name]Sophie[/name], [name]Lola[/name]
I honestly think it’s only a problem if the name you pick has a definitely animal feel. If it’s a normal people name that’s just used for animals occasionally I wouldn’t worry about it.
My cousin just named her son [name]Duke[/name], which sounds very doggy to me, but I’d never say anything about it—seems more a problem that those people were really rude to you than that there was anything wrong with the name.
[name]Molly[/name] was definitely going to be my name for a while there. It fit all the qualities I was looking for. It was a familiar name not used by many young ones today, Irish, cute and I could see a baby or adult being name [name]Molly[/name]. Unfortunately, after I set myself on [name]Molly[/name] I started to see it was not just for babies and adults… but dogs as well! There were many dogs named [name]Molly[/name] around us and even when I tried to shrug it off people would tell me it was a dog name- ughh! In the end my husband vetoed [name]Molly[/name]. I liked to think that if not for him, I would have used it anyway (despite the dog thing) but who knows!
[name]Maia[/name] is DEFINITELY a girl’s name. A pretty name for a human that does not scream dog to me at all. I’d even go as far to call it an odd choice for a dog, so I wouldn’t worry about that choice.
I think [name]Maia[/name] and [name]Cleo[/name] would be darling. [name]Cleo[/name] is probably a common used name for cats, so I’m sure you’ll hear that. However, keep in mind that these names all started for us humans! I wish that people would stop using pretty girl names for their animals and stick to “Rascal, Sparky, or Fido” but if you can’t beat them- ignore them!
When I was pregnant with our first child we had chosen [name]Candice[/name] (nn [name]Candi[/name]) for a girl. Well, we had a boy but planned to use the girl’s name for our second child. We got pregnant again within three years and since we already had a girl’s name just focused on a boy’s name. Then 30 weeks into my pregnancy, my sister-in-law got a female doberman puppy and named her [name]Candy[/name]. I cried my eyes our for days. I couldn’t believe that someone so close to us would do this on purpose. Maybe she just wasn’t thinking. My husband finally convinced me to sit down with him and choose another girl’s name. I had always been set on [name]Candice[/name] for a girl because it was my great grandmother’s mn and I always loved it. We did decided on a new girls name, [name]Francesca[/name], if we had a girl. Well, we had another boy, who we wouldn’t trade for the world! Over the past year, my mother-in-law got a little full-blooded french poodle who’s name on his certificate was Francoise’ and they called him [name]Franny[/name] (a boy)! I could not believe this was happening…was it total ignorance or irony? Now, my second name choice can not be used either. I don’t know if we’ll get pregnant again, but if we do I will not tell anyone my girl’s name choice, that’s for sure.
ANY name in the world can be a pet’s name. Any name. I’ve known cats and dogs called [name]Patrick[/name], [name]Lila[/name], [name]Rory[/name], [name]Abigail[/name], [name]Susan[/name], [name]Zoe[/name], [name]Jeremiah[/name], [name]Charles[/name] (not [name]Charlie[/name], [name]Charles[/name]), [name]Betty[/name] … the list goes on. [name]Jennifer[/name] [name]Garner[/name] at one point had a dog named [name]Martha[/name] [name]Stewart[/name]! There was some Yahoo story the other day saying the most popular names for dogs in the U.S. are [name]Bella[/name] and [name]Max[/name]. Now think how many children there are who answer to those names. I’m assuming their parents aren’t going to flip out since they apparently chose a gasp “dog” name for their beloved offspring. They’re nice names - people choose names for their pets that they like/love and that they won’t mind yelling 1,393 times a day. (Similar to how you would choose a child’s name!) And I don’t see why, if a name like [name]Molly[/name] or [name]Lucy[/name] or [name]Max[/name] or [name]Sadie[/name] is often given to dogs, that that’s a bad thing - all it means is that a lot of people obviously like those names.
PS - I knew a [name]Molly[/name] who was regularly complimented on her name.
There’s also a dog named [name]Henry[/name] and a cat named [name]Tess[/name] in our family, two names that I see pop up quite a bit on here. So you just never know.
[name]Maia[/name] does not scream dog and even if it did, I wouldn’t let that bother you, it’s not exactly an insult - people love their animals lol. [name]Maia[/name] is beautiful!
A couple at my church named their new daughter [name]Molly[/name] last year and a couple months later another couple got a dog and named her [name]Molly[/name] as well. Yes, they were friends, and our church is small enough that a lot of people knew both girl and dog had been named [name]Molly[/name]. A few people found it strange at first but no one was offended, not even [name]Molly[/name]'s parents or owners. So I don’t think you need to worry- if your daughter’s name happens to be common for dogs that’s not bad or offensive in any way!
It’s been popular for a while to name your animals human names.
My mother’s dog is named [name]Sophie[/name]. My dog is named [name]Penelope[/name]. I don’t think either of those are dog names.
I think people just got tired of Shorty, Spot, and Fido over and over again.
I don’t think it’s a big deal at all. A few years ago my sister-in-law named her son [name]Benjamin[/name], despite the fact our family has a dog named [name]Benny[/name]. She brought up the connection right away and said with a smile “we named our baby after your dog,” to which I replied “well I’ve always loved that name.” Its has never really been mentioned again, except for the fact three year old [name]Ben[/name] loves the dog with his same name. I think the only reason not to use [name]Cleo[/name] is if it will bother you.
A lot of the animals I known have “people” names. My dog is Flapjack “[name]Jack[/name]”, my bf’s cat is [name]Elaine[/name] “Elainey”, my sister’s dog is Miss [name]Aria[/name] “[name]Missy[/name]” and a cousin recently named her dog after her deceased mother, [name]Roxy[/name]. Which also happens to be my mom’s name.
I wouldn’t let it stop me unless it was a name of a pet I owned. I will never have a son named [name]Jack[/name] because then I feel the connection is too much. However a friend has a dog named [name]Josie[/name]. [name]Josephine[/name] is gorgeous and the nn [name]Josie[/name] is great. I wouldn’t let it stop me
I got by [name]Lucy[/name], and I can’t even tell you how many dogs I’ve heard of named [name]Lucy[/name]. I’ve never had anyone say directly to me, “You have a dog name” but I’ve heard many-a-comment in passing about how [name]Lucy[/name] is a dog name… doesn’t bother me in the slightest. [name]Lucy[/name] is MY name, and I love it. I really don’t care if I come across 20 dogs named [name]Lucy[/name]. If I were named Snoopy, then I’d be pissed at my parents, but [name]Lucy[/name] and ([name]Maia[/name]) is nothing to get bent out of shape over.
Use what you love, and until you write “[name]Rolly[/name]” on the birth certificate, don’t worry about it
Apparently there was a huge shemozzle when my mom announced my name back in the day, as it turned out my paternal aunt had a cat also named [name]Mandy[/name]. My paternal grandmother insisted my mom change my namec called it an animal name, etc… My parents dismissed her as rude and ridiculous. I stayed [name]Amanda[/name] nn [name]Mandy[/name], and have never been traumatized in the slightest by knowing there used to be a cat with the same name! (Now, getting my name constantly mistaken for [name]Mindy[/name], that was annoying!)
I think as people have transitioned from working animals (herding dogs, barn cats, etc) to house pets we have started treating them more and more like kids - how many childless or empty nest couples do you know who refer to their pets as their kids? I don’t think that’s a problem per se, but it means lots of respectable human names getting used for animals too. Which is fine! But it is silly to say because someone used a human name for their pet it is suddenly off-limits. The people who said what they did about your daughter’s lovely name were being rude and thoughtless.
We have had pets named [name]Beth[/name], [name]Hector[/name], [name]Charlie[/name], [name]Theodore[/name] (nn [name]Teddy[/name]), [name]Kingsley[/name], etc, and I have met babies with all these names and never been tempted once to say anything beyond what a cool/lovely/perfect-for-your-kid name! We’ve also had pets named Ducky, [name]Ziggy[/name], Lady, Tuffy, Patches, etc… And while those do say pet name to me, I still wouldn’t be so rude as to call someone out on it. My husband’s cousin’s daughter is named Rowdy [name]Michelle[/name], called Rowdy, and I personally don’t approve… But again, we name our babies, they name theirs!
Animals can be named anything. I know animals named [name]Molly[/name], [name]Wilhelmina[/name], [name]Wanda[/name], [name]William[/name] and [name]Casey[/name] - all of which are names I would associate with a person before I would an animal. [name]Maia[/name] is a fine name (as well as having my favorite spelling!).
And I thought that [name]Penelope[/name] would be a safe name that wouldn’t be used on a pet lol! It’s actually the other name I was considering. I guess I am really out of the loop when it comes to pet names considering I haven’t had a dog in 20 years. Thanks
I’ve heard of Irish Setters having my Irish name, [name]Tara[/name].
Whenever we’re at a dog park my poor husband is looking this way and that as everyone is yelling his name, [name]Max[/name]. It’s slightly annoying but he does just fine in life.
I would guess that pretty much any name you choose will belong to a cat or a dog somewhere or a mean person that someone you know once knew. And sadly a lot of people don’t have the social graces to keep that info to themselves when meeting a new baby! I wouldn’t let that stop me from using a name that I love & find child appropriate. I would take a moment to consider why the name is associated with pets. Is it too playful or sing-songy or cutesy? If not go ahead and use it.
Also the people who mention they know a dog by that name probably aren’t trying to be hurtful to you.
I love spunky, short and sweet names! Yes, people do use them commonly for their pets but who cares. [name]Maia[/name] does not make me think of a pet At All. [name]Cleo[/name] does make me think of the dog in the [name]Clifford[/name] series books and movies though.
I happen to love Greek names too! My daughter is [name]Phoebe[/name] and if I ever had another girl, I’d name her [name]Daphne[/name].
Good luck!
I have a daughter named [name]Molly[/name]. She’s 4 1/2 and [name]Molly[/name] is a very popular dog’s name, and she actually gets kind of excited when she meets a dog named [name]Molly[/name]. I don’t think it’s a big deal. I also have a daughter named [name]Lucy[/name] so I obviously like the same names that people often give to their pets.
I have a dog named [name]Oscar[/name] and I had someone once get offended that I had a dog with the same name as him. But people like to give their pets human names. I don’t think it’s the other way around and that people are giving their kids pet names.
Lol, I had sister dogs growing up named [name]Molly[/name] and [name]Lucy[/name] - I still love them and would consider them both for a future daughter. In fact, the only dog I had that DIDN’T have a “human” name was Chaos, so that’s a very good point - their dogs with human names not humans with dog names. If you named your kid Barky or something…I could see the issue, but [name]Maia[/name], no way.
