Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

So I have always loved the name Layla (big Eric Clapton fan when I was little). Hubby also likes this name, and there are very few names we agree on. We will be having our second child, a girl, next month.

The problem is, I have a younger cousin (step cousin but I've known since I was in 1st grade, not close... big family- I have 30 cousins, and a ton of "second" cousins) who has a five year old daughter named Layla.

As we live 400 miles away, and the cousin is on my step-mother's side, I see that family at most once every few years.

Hubby thinks it's fine, if we decide to name our baby Layla too. The older Layla would be our baby's third (step) cousin, (or something to that affect).

Although I still love the name, I'm conflicted on whether it would be weird to have two children in the same family with the same name... I need some opinions. I'd love it if you could please answer the poll or comment back with your thoughts.

TIA!

Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

I always say if you love a name, use it!! This cousin is distant so don't even think twice. It is so hard to pick a name it would be a shame to not use one you love AND that you and your DH agree on! That in itself is always a challenge!!

ETA: in my family there are two cousins with the name Nicholas and every other boy is named Joseph. My Aunt's siblings each have a son named Daniel after their grandfather.... there are literally like three of them I think and they are all first cousins and see each other all of the time.

Message edited 6/10/2013 6:47:59 AM.

Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

I agree with Gina! If you love a name, use it!!! There are too many people in this world for you to come up with a name that no one has and it seems like a lot of family to try and find a name no one has in the family alone.

I come from a BIG Italian family and so does DH. In both of our families the boy names are about one of 4 different names...John, Frank, Nicholas, or Joseph. We're naming our son John Niklas (it's the Swedish spelling of Nicholas).

Don't worry about what other people name their children. It's a VERY distant cousin who you see every now and then. I say go for it!

Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

I had DD in Dec 2007 and my cousin delivered in January 2008 and named her DD the same thing. At first I was a little annoyed because I was like "out of all of the names; the very next month she named her Dd--------" . As soon as we found out I was preggo we had a boy name and girl name picked to where the whole family knew while I was preggo what we would name him/her.

Now I won't reveal the name until delivery.

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

YES! Without a question I would do it! It's a beautiful name!

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

Yes! The family seems removed enough that it wouldn't matter. I actually have a cousin and a distant cousin with the same names as each other...and I didn't realize it for literally about 20 years!

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

My cousin and I are both named Shannon and we are a year apart. (Not to mention we are both pregnant and due 4 days apart )

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

Yes, definitely use it if you love it. Our DS #2 will have the same name as one of my cousins. When you have a large family it becomes difficult to avoid reusing a name.

Oh I love the name Layla. It was on our list of girl's names.

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

I would use the name. It would be a different story maybe if you lived near one another or saw each other a lot more often. But like another poster said, there are so many friends, family, and acquaintances you know, that's it's hard not to use a name that someone else you know has. I think it really comes down to how close you are with the person and it sounds like your not, so I say go for it!

Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

I would absolutely use it!! You see them so infrequently, and as time goes by I'm sure it will be even less and less--then you'll be kicking yourself for not using the name you loved.

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

My 2nd cousin, we I see fairly often has a son with the same name as DS. It is a family name for me and my DH and we always loved it so we used it, my older cousin has the same name as me, it was my moms favorite name and she used it anyway. Honestly a 2nd cousin is not a reason not to use a name IMO

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

I would use it in this situation.

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

I have a 2nd cousin with the same name as me. Never bothered me- I don't know if it bothered my mom (It's my dad's cousin's daughter) she is probably 8 years younger than me.

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

I would def use it!

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

I also love the name Layla! Unfortunately, my uncle had a dog with that name (he's also a big Clapton fan) so I could never use it. I think you should absolutely use it, especially since you hardly ever see the other relative.

ETA- My parents loved the name Christopher but my mom wouldn't use it because her half sister had a son named Chris so they made it my brother's middle name instead. In my 27 years of living I think I've met that Christopher once! Now she says she should have used the name.

Message edited 6/10/2013 12:51:25 PM.

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

Umm.. yeah lol.

Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

I voted before I looked at the post. I was thinking this was a first cousin you were very close with and in that case, I personally wouldn't choose the same name. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but the question was "would you" and I wouldn't. But now seeing that you are not close with the cousin, I think that totally changes things.

I think when it comes down to it, If it's a name you absolutely love and have to have, don't let anything keep you from using that name. You may have family members make comments for choosing a repeat name but its not about anyone else.

Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

In your case absolutely, In my case no.

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

I say go for it.

Re: Question regarding names, please help (with poll)

Thank you so much everyone for responding. I appreciate all your comments and poll responses!