When you and your friends start having families at the same time, it can be a lovely shared experience. However, things can get complicated when it comes to name choice. Does it matter when friends and family members choose names you would like for your own children?
One parent has taken to Mumsnet over her struggles with the decision of what to name her child.
After finding it difficult to settle on a name after her friend used her intended choice of name ‘Joshua’ for her own child just a few weeks later, Mumsnet user ‘Mammy99’ turned to the discussion forum to make her choice.
After her partner suggested an alternative of Josiah ‘as a compromise’ for a first name, ‘Mammy99’ said she was thinking of the name Josiah Joshua.
The name was chosen as ‘a compromise’ to avoid confusion when her close friend chose ‘Joshua’, the first name she was originally considering.
However, most responses rejected this new name, with one humorously noting ‘it sounds like that brand with the same name twice that I just can't remember. Joseph Joseph maybe?’
Many fellow parents on the website agreed that she should go through with naming her child her first and preferred choice of ‘Joshua’. Users commented ‘What does it matter if your friends' son has the same name?’ and encouraged her to ‘Go with Joshua for first name. You obviously love it and it is a lovely name.’
One parent considered it from another point of view, assuring the mum: 'If I was your friend I wouldn't mind at all.’
The popularity of the name Joshua was also mentioned, citing ‘it's a pretty popular name’, and to ‘just go with Joshua, it's popular enough to get away with it.’
In her response to the comments, ‘Mammy 99’ was amazed and surprised by the reaction she received and said: "I didn’t expect so many responses so quickly-thank you!"
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