It can be really difficult to pick a name for your child, and it requires a lot of thought. When it comes to choosing a baby name, there are many factors you need to consider. Parents will look at what nicknames can be made from the moniker they've chosen, as well as what initials their child will have - as they'll want to avoid making a rude word when the name is abbreviated.
It might go without saying that you also need to check what names are already in use by close family members, but one new dad didn't get that memo. A mum has expressed her frustration at the name her cousin chose for his new-born daughter, as he made one massive mistake – by giving her the same name as his cousin's child.
The mum explained in a post on Reddit that her cousin hasn't just given his child the same first name but also the same middle name. They also share a last name through their family, so now both children have exactly the same name. She wrote: "I still can't believe this happened. My cousin gave his baby the exact same first and middle name as my daughter. We share a last name, so it's literally the same exact name. We live in the same area, so I can already imagine how confusing this will be, especially when they start school. They're more than a full year apart, but still.".
The woman went on to say the situation is made even more bizarre because her cousin has been the victim of a very similar name issue throughout his life. She said another family member has a name that is just "one letter" different from her cousin's, which has caused "confusion" for years.
She added: "You'd think he'd get why this isn't ideal. For example, it would be similar if his name was Brian and my other aunt named her boy Brion. I don't even know what to say. It's not like I own the name, but I would have never expected this. It's too late now, and I know their baby's name isn't about me, but I guess I'm here just to vent.".
Commenters on the post were largely on the mum's side. While most admitted that no one "owns" a name, they said it was slightly different when the entirety of the moniker is exactly the same - as it could cause confusion at school, doctor's appointments, and any other official documents.
One person said: "I'm usually firmly in the 'nobody owns a name' camp, but yes, giving a child the same first, middle and last name as a relative of a similar age who lives in the area is 100% beyond the pale." Another added: "This is crazy. He had a full year to come up with a different name. You definitely had dibs, given that your child was alive for a year before his child was born.".
