A woman says she was left in “complete shock” after discovering the name her sister-in-law chose for her newborn daughter — a name strikingly similar to her own child’s.
Sharing her story on the parenting forum Mumsnet, the woman explained that her brother and sister-in-law “practically named the baby the same as my [7-year-old] daughter.”
“I’m talking really close — think Grace/Gracie, Sophia/Sophie, Rose/Rosie, Isabel/Isabella, Ella/Ellie,” she wrote, choosing not to disclose the actual names in order to protect her family’s privacy.
Her reaction? “My face said it all.”
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Two relatives with a baby (stock image).
Although she described the newborn as “my beautiful niece,” the woman still can’t believe the baby’s parents would choose a name so similar.
“I’m not even mad, just really confused,” she admitted, adding that she would never do this. “Like my husband’s nephew is Theo and we liked Leo, but we thought that’s too close so moved on to other names.”
“My family’s reaction probably should have been better, but I was in complete shock when they told her name,” she recalled of initially being flabbergasted. “I wasn’t rude, but my face said it all!”
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A woman picking a baby name (stock image).
The woman noted that her daughter is even a bit confused by the name. “My mom is now laughing about having to list her grandchildren and say two with practically identical names,” she wrote.
Hundreds of Mumsnet users gave their two cents about the situation.
“Unless they live round the corner and your kids are constantly going to get mixed up when people are talking about them, then let it go,” one reader suggested. “You can reframe this. Be flattered they like the same sooooooo much they couldn’t give up and move one. Try taking it a compliment.”
Many people agreed, with another person replying, “I think it’s okay and best to just move on from it, unless they start copy-catting you on multiple things, to a point where it seems creepy.”