One of my readers recently told me that she’s expecting multiples. She already has a set of twins, each with an R-name, so she’s wondering: should the second set of multiples get R-names as well?
My first instinct was to write back and say “no.” Here’s why:
- Experts say that multiples ought to have distinctly different names.
- Giving each kid his or her own unique first initial makes it easier to label belongings (toys, backpacks, sports equipment).
- The kids already have a surname in common, so there’s no need to match other parts of the name as well.
That said, I do realize that many people like name patterns, and that breaking out of an established pattern could be difficult.
What would you suggest?
[Update: The poll is closed now. The final tally was: 69 votes for “no” (the R-name pattern should not continue), 17 votes for “yes” (the R-name pattern should continue).]
Please tell us why you voted the way you did in the comments.
I don’t mind a sibset with the same initials, as long as the names are different enough.
Something like Rebecca, Robert, and Ruth is very different from Romy, Rory, and Roxy.
That’s a lot of Rs. Maybe use a different initial for the 2nd set, if they feel compelled to match somehow.
I didn’t realize that I had a “thing” for R names until the birth if my daughter Rauri. She has 2 older four-legged furry siblings, Rebel and Riley (and an older deceased furry brother Roby). Now I am constantly using the wrong names telling Rebel to get out of the spoon drawer or yelling at Rauri to stop barking. And r’s are just simply hard for a child to say. Rauri (age 2) calls herself Wo-wee. But I don’t regret my decision on my choice of names. I just like R’s.
Would pick a different initial but if the first two have matching initials I might also have the second two having matching initials to be fair and consistent. Just not R.
Or I might mirror-initial the second batch, like J.Z. and Z.J.
Normally my only “match” is similar syllable count (I think Jane and Alexandrina feels unbalanced) and I feel that way for siblings in general not just a twin thing, but with the precedent set I would have to nod to it in some way.
My sister and I both had B names. We just stuck in middle initials to differentiate on labeled stuff.
I liked the idea of names that sort of match, but I didn’t want the same initials for my boys, so I went with two different names that end in -an and called it done.
Maybe name the new babies Sara and Seth as a way of going up the alphabet because S comes after R.