'My Sister Thinks I Stole Her Baby Name, And I Think It's Ridiculous'

Two pregnant sisters have had a nasty falling out, after both decided to name their babies after a beloved family member. But who is in the right here?

A 30-year-old first time mum says she and her husband had been struggling with infertility for years, and were overjoyed to finally fall pregnant five months ago. And in a beautiful coincidence, her 24-year-old sister is also pregnant, with her second child.

“When I found out I was pregnant I decided to wait until I was three months along before telling anyone in case I lost the baby,” the mum-to-be explained on reddit.

“Luckily our daughter seems to be perfectly healthy and my husband and I are excited to be parents for the first time after trying to convince for so long.

“The only problem is my sister Annie. My sister got pregnant a few weeks after I told my family about my pregnancy and I was happy that our kids would get to be so close growing up. So my husband and I were thinking of baby names and we both liked the name Molly, which happens to be my grandmother’s middle name.”

“My mum recently threw my sister and I a baby shower (we had a joint one) where I told her what we planned to name our daughter. She seemed surprised and told me that Annie was going to use that name. I told my mum that it was unfortunate but Annie had plenty of time to come up with another name. She begged me to pick another name since Annie had her heart set on Molly.”

The issue became a sticking point, with the first-time-mum explaining that she wouldn’t budge and intended on using the name Molly.

“I ended up leaving the party early to avoid causing a scene. After the party my sister called me and yelled at me for trying to steal a name that I knew meant a lot to her (she’s very close to our grandparents). I suggested that Annie could use one of the other names that start with M, like Millie, Miriam, Melanie etc.

“After that Annie and I decided to meet up for lunch to talk things over. But things got heated when I refused to change what I was gonna call my daughter. Annie cussed at me and left the restaurant which I thought was immature.”

The mum-to-be says she’s been calling her unborn daughter Molly for months and she’s attached to the name, and her sister doesn’t even know if she’s having a girl.

“It feels wrong to choose another. I only implied that my sister should choose another name in response to my mother telling me I should change my baby’s name. Annie is welcome to also name her baby Molly but I won’t change my baby’s name.

“Annie’s first child was a girl that she named Jessica. If the name Molly was as important to her as people are making out, why didn’t she name her first daughter Molly? I think this whole situation is ridiculous. She can’t claim a name when she might not even have a girl. So am I the a**hole?”

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

49 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 26 Nov 2024
    12:17 pm
I do think its best NOT to mention to anyone what you wish to call your child and that way you dont get into these situations. If you had remained quiet perhaps your sister would have found she was having a boy and none of this would have been an issue

- - Sklh said
  - 15 May 2023
    9:57 pm
You’re nor the a hole for all the reasons you’ve mentioned. Hopefully time will calm your sister. Or she’ll have a son!

- - mom492462 said
  - 28 Feb 2023
    1:26 pm
Sucks they had a falling out over a name they both coincidentally liked.
Got yourselves a real dilemma there

- - snazzy007 said
  - 18 Jan 2023
    12:15 pm
People are being so silly these days can some one please see sense

- - rovermum said
  - 16 Jan 2023
    9:52 am
This is so terrible and unfortunate and the Mum should not take sides. It is interesting to the sister having a second child and agree she could have named her first Molly if so set on it. Funny if they both have boys.

- - Mum.of.2. said
  - 11 Jan 2023
    9:37 pm
So sad they had a falling out over this! The names should’ve been kept to themselves to avoid the fight..and I guess they could both use the name if they loved it that much!

- - Witskers said
  - 07 Jan 2023
    11:30 pm
Keep the name to your self until the little one arrives. What drama.

- - welshmummy said
  - 04 Jan 2023
    10:11 pm
So sad if the sisters fall out over a name. Hope they sorted out.

- - mom462038 said
  - 03 Jan 2023
    12:04 pm
Best to keep name choices to yourself I think and hope those close to you don’t nab it first

- - mustangsachy said
  - 03 Jan 2023
    9:15 am
Yikes! I don’t think it would be such a bad thing for cousins to be named the same thing. I think people take the sacred naming thing a bit OTT.

- - NicolaL said
  - 02 Jan 2023
    11:09 am
Oh dear I was in the same situation expecting my third child and my older sister was having her first. Neither of us knew what we were having. I mentioned to my Mum the name James if it was a boy and she was shocked as my sister had told her she was going to use James if it was a boy. My Mum kept quiet and I had my son James and my Sister had a girl so no drama. Maybe Mum should have kept quiet!

- - Jessica said
  - 01 Jan 2023
    8:00 am
This is why I never tell anyone our baby’s name until they’re born! A name is for life so you need to name them something you want not something someone else wants.

- - Debra Marr said
  - 31 Dec 2022
    7:36 pm
I feel if the sister had liked the name so much she should have named her 1st daughter Molly and as it states the 2nd sister is yet to know the sex of her unborn child. Perhaps a compromise, the sister that has waited so long to get pregnant calls her little girl Molly and if the 2nd sister has a girl then use Molly as a middle name.
- mom160270 replied
  
  01 Jan 2023 , 1:32 pm
  I agree with your comment.
- - BellaB said
  - 30 Dec 2022
    6:52 pm
I do hope they sort it out and don’t let it fester.

- - alyise_ said
  - 30 Dec 2022
    11:38 am
nah but nobody owns names, I get it would be tricky but this is something I feel is not needed

- - GemmaLaurenMary said
  - 29 Dec 2022
    11:53 pm
It really hard being in this situation. I genuinely feel for you ????

- - MummaD said
  - 28 Dec 2022
    1:41 pm
I would have thought if the sister loved the name so much you would have used it the first time round?

- - mom468034 said
  - 28 Dec 2022
    12:06 pm
It’s a good point, that if the name was so important to your sister, why didnt she call her first born daughter Molly, however, if you both like the name, both use it. Also, as a side point, once you actually meet your baby girl you may decide Molly is not the name that best matches her? Whatever you decide, is it really worth falling out over? Your mum must be pretty devastated that the people she loves most are divided by a name.

- - mom465794 said
  - 24 Dec 2022
    10:54 pm
Just name them both Molly

- - Mom466555 said
  - 24 Dec 2022
    3:36 pm
Hope you guys can sort this out. Maybe your sister will have a boy