Family Conflict Over Baby Name

Question

My husband is in the Army and has been for 15 years so that means we have lived all over the world. Well we hav been trying for years to have another baby, the last time I was pregnant we told everyone the names we had picked (Matthew for boy and Alexandria for girl), I lost the baby. The next year My husbands brother had a baby with his girlfriend and named his son Matthew...I am pregnant again and still want to use the name Matthew. We live 1700 miles away from his brother and havent seen him since 2004. Well his brother called the other day screaming and yelling telling us that we wrong and it wasnt fair to his child for us to name our baby Matthew. I know there are thousands of other names but we are set on Matthew. Do you think I am wrong?

Answer 1

You are not wrong.

Simple - you chose that name before, and it is a good name for a boy.

What right does this brother have to dictate to you - the parents to be - what you can or cannot name your child?

(Just be reasonable and don`t give him a name he can be bullied over later, ok?)

So, if you and your husband - as mother and father to be - decide on Matthew, then he will be Matthew - that is the end to that.

Are you sure it`ll be a boy though, because a girl named Matthew would raise some eyebrows ;)

Answer 2

I think that you are well within your rights to name your son whatever you please. However maybe you could consider whether or not you are doing it because you were mad at him when he stole your name initially. Another thing to keep in mind is whether or not you want to give your son a name that is causing you emotional turmoil?  

Answer 3

That's ridiculous, I'm sorry! Who your brother thinks he is? It was wrong of him to name his baby Matthew to begin with!!! Don't even worry about what your brother thinks.  

Answer 4

You can control this situation by naming the baby whatever you want

Answer 5

If you lived closer, it could be a problem.  

I would make sure the middle name is very different. Then the family can put the name on the family tree, and know the difference easily.

Answer 6

You can name your baby whatever you'd like... I would not even worry about what your brother-in-law thinks.

Answer 7

not certain why this is such an issue with the brother.  Many male children are named the same within the family i.e. Paul, Paul, Jr., Paul III (Tres, Trey) etc . . .

I do have an idea on how to solve this  . . . use Matthew as the middle name and come up with a fantastic first name.  Or Matthew as the first name and a fantastic middle name.

What you and your husband name your baby is your business only.  Good luck - and let us know what you decide