Kids having same or very similar names to cousins?

amother

Bubblegum

Wed, Dec 04 2024, 8:56 am

Its common. Naming after the same relative...
But you cant even plan for this stuff because...

I know somebody who has three daughters in law, and they are called Rochel!
and I know somebody who has four sons in law and they are all called Moshe or Moishy! its hilarious!

amother

Firethorn

Wed, Dec 04 2024, 9:11 am

Is it common? Yes
Is it always rosy? No.

When names are so similar, sometimes kids end up getting compared to each other inadvertently.
‘Rivky made some beautiful artwork - no not that Rivky, the other Rivky’
‘I LOVE chaim’s new shoes. The monsey chaim’ (Lakewood Chaim looks down at his shoes and sighs)
Also, I have heard adjectives getting added on which could end up being hurtful (such as big ahuva and small ahuva - when they Are same age but one is dainty and one athletically built)
Or Eli straight hair and Eli curly (where Eli curly struggles with messy peyos and wishes his were straight like the other Eli…)

That said , when there is a ‘family name’ to give, I try to at least ensure that there is a big enough age gap to avoid the comparisons.

amother

White

Wed, Dec 04 2024, 9:16 am

My kid has the same name as their cousin. My other one is jealous when the family gets together. Their is this special bond these kids feel to the family. Not only that but its cute that sine of the next generation has children with that name also.

Your name may be common among cousins but what about in the world out their. My kids know lots of "Sara cohens" and I have many contacts with "Sara cohens" it has its pluses and minus. I would just give a name that you feel a connection to,rather a very commen name-then such a uncommon name that kids will made fun of.

amother

IndianRed

Wed, Dec 04 2024, 9:20 am

I'm Heimish Ashkenazi and my great grandfather passed away around 15 years ago, we were all very close to him and admired him allot. every family who had a boy since then gave his name if they could. were up to a very significant number of descendants with that name by now BH. many have the same last name as well. they mostly all attend the same Cheder so the cheder has like 7 kids with the exact same first and last name plus many more with the same first name. I never found it strange because its very common in our circles.

amother

Turquoise ↓

Wed, Dec 04 2024, 9:21 am

We are proud to give family names, these are the people who with their mesirus nefesh, sweat and tears made it possible for us to be created.

↑ Ruchel

Wed, Dec 04 2024, 9:21 am

amother Turquoise wrote:

We are proud to give family names, these are the people who with their mesirus nefesh, sweat and tears made it possible for us to be created.

THANKS

amother

Bone

Wed, Dec 04 2024, 9:23 am

If it bothers you then just pick names you like to add and call them by that. My siblings have been just using names they like.

amother

↑ Turquoise

Wed, Dec 04 2024, 9:23 am

Met a woman at pta. She told me her baby’s name is Moshe rabbeinu. Ah, with such a combination of first and last name we are certainly related. With a little Jewish geography, we figured it out.

amother

↑ Cornsilk

Wed, Dec 04 2024, 9:38 am

amother Turquoise wrote:

Met a woman at pta. She told me her baby’s name is Moshe rabbeinu. Ah, with such a combination of first and last name we are certainly related. With a little Jewish geography, we figured it out.

If your serious I'd like to meet her. I know someone else with that name

amother

Wisteria

Wed, Dec 04 2024, 8:56 pm

[quote="synthy"]I think it’s the cutest thing when cousins have the same name. Unless they literally have the same first and last name and are the same grade, then it gets awkward if they’re in school together.

that happened to me they were in the same school same grade but parallel class
not even named after the same people. I once got a phone call from the school about my son except they mixed up and were calling about my nephew

amother

Slategray

Wed, Dec 04 2024, 9:04 pm

At my daughters wedding, the hall manager asked for a copy of the seating plan in-case there was a missing seating card or two. He was amused by
-Michal Shwartz Monsey
-Michal Shwartz Lkw 32nd street
-Michal Shwartz Lkw 54th street
-Michal Shwartz Flatbush and
-Michy Shwartz (whew!)

And don't get me started on receiving my neices report card, or my sils getting my daughter's dentention mite Very Happy

↑ Hashem_Yaazor

Wed, Dec 04 2024, 10:15 pm

My son had 4 (I think!) of the same name in his grade, all named for the same person so they were called firstname streetname instead of firstname lastname. The 2 who lived on the same street went by house number instead.

amother

Tomato

Sun, Dec 08 2024, 6:24 pm

I personally wouldn't do the exact same first name. Similar is ok.

Rochel* was our grandmother and we were all happy to name for her. We have niece named Rochel, and one of our daughter's middle name is Rochel so her first name distinguishes it. Another niece of his also has her middle name and her first name also distinguishes.

I do have several nieces who all have the same middle name after a different grandmother, but they all have distinct first names.

One of my kids has the same name as one of my cousins, but we used it as a middle name. But there is rarely any confusion, because of the generation gap and less family overlap.

amother

Hyssop

Sun, Dec 08 2024, 6:30 pm

I don't find it weird when they are named after family members, but I do find it a little uncomfortable when it's not. My last two kids, not named family names, both got cousins with the same name just a few weeks later. I probably shouldn't care at all, but to be honest it does bother me a bit.

amother

Powderblue

Sun, Dec 08 2024, 6:36 pm

I teach in a sefardi school and have students with the same first and last name. it can get confusing.
this year in 9th grade, two girls (cousins) with same first and last (same grade but different classes). the school uses a middle initial (or mom's first name as initial) to differentiate when two kids have the same name.