Vent

[taradt]

So we named our little boy Kienan and now I am getting the cold shoulder from family(and they think I should change my son's name) that his name is too close to his cousins (Kiaran). I do realize the names are close but we live 3000+ miles apart and see them, what maybe a week every year.

Am I wrong to be upset by this or do they have a valid point.

tara

[SummerTwilight]

Give me a break! They have no right to be mad. He is your child, he is already named so too bad and you can't claim a name and anything with similar letters when you name a child. They should be flattered that you picked something similar.
When my cousin (boy) was named Akim (Arabic) I was flattered cause I thought it was after my name Kim, which it wasn't. I liked the name Natalie but avoided it cause the nickname Natty seemed too close to my neice Maddie. But my sister wouldn't care if I DID pick it and she is only an hour away!
They will get over it. Sorry for the unneccesary stress though!:

[Ary99]

Argh, people can be too ridiculous for words! This is a time to celebrate the birth of your beautiful baby, not nitpik over name similarities. Blow it off and keep focusing on your little one. It's hard, I *know* because we chose an unusual name for DS#1 and some people clearly thought it was an off the wall decision. I cried, but it was my first lesson in realizing, "Hey, I'm the mom here and this is *my* child, not yours and I can make whatever decisions about him I want to regardless of what your opinion is." Be strong, because you will encounter this again as a mother, not about names but about other choices you make that don't mesh with what others do. I'm really sorry they are being so selfish (and that's what it is).

Enjoy Kienan, who will wear the name you gave him proudly.

[hajenkatt]

I think your family is taking this too far. It sounds like if you had named your son with ANY 'K' name they would have said it was too close. Enjoy the great name you picked out, and let them pout.

[phoebemommy]

That is so silly. It's a very pretty name, and why do they care? Because they might get confused over a consonant sound? Is that the biggest thing they have to worry about?

My baby's name is Spike, and we took some flack for it from family. I think their biggest problem was that they'd have to tell their friends and be embarrassed -- it didn't matter that we really like the name and are pro. My impulse was to get all huffy, but DH told me just to chill, and everyone has eventually come around to being nice about it. Just stick to your guns. They'll have to chill out if they know what's good for them.

[mrs rockstar]

They're being ridiculous...but that's what families do. It's a wonderful name and you chose it for a reason, so ignore them. I can't wait until my baby sister hears that I am using our other sister's middle name for the baby's middle name...I just found out she plans on doing the same thing for her as of yet unconceived (she's still in college and just daydreaming) child. I know all hell is going to break loose. Families

[veganf]

Too similar to a relative's name 3000 miles away!! hahaha

I'd always wanted to name a son Ryan...and I did...despite the fact that he has a cousin named Ryan, a cousin names Brian, and an uncle Brian, who live about 40 minutes away. No one complained one bit.

[KT&Munchkin]

PUH-Lease

Give me a break. Seriously. They just need to learn to deal. I have 2 cousins, 1 named Liana and the other Alaina. It confused my grandfather sometimes, but they are 2 very distinct people that too lived 3,000 miles apart. They will learn to love his name with time!

[momof3sweeties]

Unbelievable rude people. : I would NOT change my baby's name. Tough on the similarity. I had names picked out for my kids years before they were born. My niece has a very similar name to my dd's...but I knew when I had a girl what I wanted it the name to be and had no plans on changing it. My dh's office lady had a granddaughter born months before my dd was born and had the name I was planning. I was in no way going to change the name. We spell it differently anyway and the lady doesn't work there anymore anyway. Fast forward 5 years and another employee his wife had a little girl and named it the same name as my dd. It's fine...with family I realize that can be different but if it is family you see once a year...whatever!!! They are being so rude by even mentioning it. Just ignore them!!!!!

[radiogirlgr]

You know what amazes me? When people, family, friends, etc. think that they have some kind of say in birthing, naming, raising a child. I have read so many threads this pregnancy on this board and on another I belong to about family members and friends being rude, unsupportive, and even ANGRY if they don't agree with the choices that mom has made for her child. It aggravates me to no end!!! The ones that get me the most are the people who assume that they have the 'right' or just 'presume' that they will be in attendance at the delivery-without being asked. Then they throw a fit when they're not included. Rrrrr. Okay, there, that was my vent on your vent. LOL!

Anyhow, I LOVE the name you have chosen-truly. We actually haven't chosen a name for our DS2 yet, and I am going to mention Kieran to DH tonight.... Don't even consider changing your child's name! I can't believe your family is acting this way. Sheesh. I agree with the others-they will get over it.

[Bay Area Babe]

That is just dumb. They're similiar but not even the same and even if they were SO WHAT. I can't believe that they want you to change it - as if they had a say.

When my SIL found out we were pregnant she decided to tell me over IM names that she had already claimed. I told her basically that while I had no desire over those particular names, that first come first served. They've had 2.5 more years to pop out a kid than we have anyway. Some people just like to think they can control everything around them.

Side note - we're thinking of naming our son the same first name my DH's 30+ year old cousin, not because of him, but because we like the name and what it means.

[Sailmom]

Oh puleeze!

Everyone in my husbands family is named Micheal. There are so many Mike's, Big Micheal's, Mikey's, Little Micheals etc that I just know if we go to a family reunion, I really don't have to work hard to remember their names. Two similar names? Really, give me a break! Shake it off, Mama and enjoy your baby!

[taradt]

Thank you ladies.

I feel much better about it now and realize it is their issue not mine. Usually I am great at brushing off their advice/opinions but this one really hit me hard, guess that is what happens a couple of days postpartum.

It was also nice to hear of other families with similar names. In a few months I am sure none of this will matter anymore

tara