Mom-to-Be Shares Name She'll Use for Baby Girl. Then Family Accuses Her of 'Stealing' It from Someone Else
While she doesn't view the similar names as "a big deal," some of her family members do, and have said "that they feel like I 'stole their baby name' "
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Parents with newborn baby in stock photoA woman says her family is arguing that she shouldn't use the name she chose for her soon-to-be-born child, because it's too similar to the name of a distant relative.
In a post on Reddit, the anonymous, 29-year-old woman writes that she and her husband are expecting their first baby in June, and recently decided on a name: Gwendolyn Rose.
"However, a second cousin of mine has 3 babies," she adds in the post. "His middle child’s name is Gwenyth."
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But the two aren't close — figuratively or literally, with the woman adding that they "live in different states." Plus, she has "only met the first born of his 3 children in 2019."
"That was the last time I saw him, his wife or his family and really we only share a pair of aunt/uncle (by marriage, not blood) and they do not frequent our family gatherings," she adds.
While she doesn't view the similar names as "a big deal," some of her family members do, and have said "that they feel like I 'stole their baby name.' "
"Obviously the natural nickname for both babies would be Gwen. However considering their baby is 4 and I have never met her I honestly didn’t factor it into my choice and Gwendolyn is the literal only baby name my husband and I can agree on," she adds.
She continues: "Considering this is not a close family member I see beyond social media, would I be the a------ if I used a name that is similar to my second cousins babies name?"
Related: Woman Refuses to Change Baby Name After Sister Argues It 'Clashes' with Hers
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Other Reddit users also don't see the big deal in selecting a similar name, with one writing, "No one will ever be confused by two nearly unrelated children having the same first name."
Added another: "Given the distance in your relationship with this cousin and the fact that you rarely see or interact with their family, it’s unreasonable for anyone to claim you “stole” the name. Gwendolyn and Gwenyth, while similar, are distinct names, and it’s not uncommon for extended family members to share or have similar names. As long as you and your husband love the name, that’s what matters most. It’s your baby, and you have every right to choose a name that feels right for your family."
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