BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Baby Names So confused!! Can you have dibs on a baby name?

Hi, I am new here, and I am curious about a name choice I have. My dh's grandmother passed away recently, and she was very close with my family/children. We would love to use her name as our baby's (if a girl) due this summer. However, I've heard dh's younger brother say casually he wanted to use the name. Mind you, he is neither in a relationship, or looking for one, he's 27 y/o. Do you think it would be awful to use the name? We don't want to share with anyone until baby is due regardless of name we choose. Or can you really call dibs on a name for all eternity? I feel a little selfish saying first come first serve, but yet, what if he never marries/or has a daughter? What do you think?

There is no social protocol about baby naming. People and families make up rules such as placing dibs on a name.

It is family courtesy to take into account everyone's wishes but the reality is that families can name babies the same name. Gosh, look at George Foreman who named all of his sons "George" or how we have four Dorothys in our family.

You can't avoid duplicate names, especially with the in-laws. That's how we have three Franks and one Frankie.

I think it is a compliment to have others like your baby's name and give it to their own loved ones. My daughter is dismayed that so many other share her name but I tell her that it is a beloved name. It is far better to share your name with others than have your own particular but hideous name.

Your DH's brother can use the name but grant a very unique middle name to distinguish between your child and his. Besides, I think grandmother would feel doubly blessed if she had two great-grandchildren named after her.

Just to be sure there won't be any family drama come the time you make your announcement, let DH drop a bug in his ear that he thinks it would be great if they BOTH named their children after her. But, neither of you might have a girl so don't make a huge deal out of this.

Why are people making a big deal out of things like that? It is your and your partner's baby not anyone else so you both are the people who decides what the name will be! If that man or anyone else is mad at the name you both have picked for your child then they can go to hell because it is not their business. You cannot stop living your life just in case somebody else is bothered or may be bothered by it, especially since almost everyone is offended over anything these days!

I agree, Nancy, with all of your statements.

Aren't there bigger problems in the world to be concerned about?

Small people turn small things into big problems.
Big people turn big problems into small things.

There sure are bigger problems to be concerned about! This is one of the main reasons why almost nothing gets done, the majority of human beings are focusing on things that are not important while important things are ignored. And most people will apologize when they haven't done anything wrong at all, it's crazy. Just like you see lots of people getting together just to censor or ban something then right where they live they know about a child getting beat every day by his or her parents and these same people just ignore it. It is very frustrating!

elbert dicosta is a good option.

OMGosh! You wouldn't believe the number of girls named Jane in our family - started because great-grandmas on both sides were named Jane and then it multiplied into the next 2 generations ...