
Baby name expert shares you 'can't' name baby same as family or friends
A baby name expert has shared the baby name faux pas you should try to avoid. However, some disagreed and urged others to "use the name you love".
Colleen Slagen, who posts on Instagram as @namingbebe, shared that sometimes parents feel as though "the grass is greener," and they want "the one name" that they "can't have". But why can't you have the name you want? Awkwardness can often occur if monikers clash with others around you.
Colleen said you may ditch names if they've been used by other family members – joking "your mother-in-law's dog or your best friend already used it". She then asked people what the names are they "love but can't use".
After feedback from her followers, Colleen then shared alternative names to Charlotte, Ava, August, Maxwell, and Riley.
Charlotte
If you like Charlotte, which is "classic, elegant and nicknamable," but feel like you can't use it, she recommended Margot, saying she thinks it's "the new Charlotte".
She also said you could try Collette, Juliet, or even Lisette. She then recommended Cecilia, because "it's classic, but not overdone and still has a spunky nickname option in Cece".
Colleen continued: "I would also put Eloise and Vivienne in the Charlotte bucket".
Ava
Next, if Ava isn't a name you can use, she said Vera, Veda, Isla and Mila can work too as they "have a very similar vibe".
"For some vintage options, I love Ada and Etta, and if you wanna go less common, I love Neve, Tova, and Pia," she recommended.
August
Colleen shared that August is a "gentle heartthrob" name, which has similarities to options like Ellis, Callum, Sawyer, Milo, and Everett.
She added: "I also like Jasper as an alternative."
Maxwell
Maxwell was next on her list, which the expert describes as having a "classic but cool" vibe. She believes Malcom has a similar energy as you can shorten it to Malc.
"Beckham, call him Beck, Calvin, call him Cal," she mused, also sharing Casey and Frederick could work as an alternative for Maxwell.
Riley
Lastly, Riley "for a girl" was on the list of names that have become very common in recent years.
Should you avoid baby names if they've already been used by friends or family?
If you have your heart set on a name, we think you should go for it! In the comments, people said you should be able to use whichever name you prefer.
One wrote: "USE. THE. NAME. YOU. LOVE!!!! Who cares if your friend or cousin named their baby that. There are trillions of people on the planet, there are bound to be multiples of the same name".
Another mum-to-be said: "I'm having a Charlotte Mae this summer. I decided I don't care if Charlotte is popular. I've wanted a daughter named that since I was little. I'm 40 now, so... Her nickname is Lottie."
Somebody else penned: "This is so fascinating to hear about having names you 'can't use'. I love hearing different perspectives! My sister-in-law and I both have the same name in the number one spot for a boy, and our mother-in-law is pretty elated at thinking that she might have two grandsons with the same name someday.
"It's really not a big deal at all for either me or the sister-in-law, nor for anyone else in the family. Love these new recommendations in general as alternatives though!"

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
6 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Georgia Toffolo slammed over her ‘controversial' wedding tips for 2025 brides – from £2 flowers to DIY cake
GEORGIA Toffolo has been slammed for insulting local businesses after sharing her "controversial" wedding tips for 2025 brides. The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, tired the knot with Brewdog founder James Watt, 42, in March and won praise from fans for the low-key celebrations - despite their huge wealth. 3 Georgia Toffolo and James Watt tied the knot at a ceremony in Aberdeenshire Credit: Instagram/Georgia Toffolo 3 The couple had a very low-key ceremony Credit: PA 3 Toff shared some of her 'controversial' wedding tips on social media Credit: Instagram While Toff is thought to be a millionaire many times over herself thanks to reality TV and presenting work, James is said to have a net worth of more than £250million. But the TV beauty has now been accused of "ruffling feathers" after urging brides to ditch florists and cake makers in favour of £2 supermarket flowers and DIY sweet treats. In an Instagram post accompanying a video of her intimate wedding ceremony, Toff said: "Controversial? Maybe. Honest? 100%. Pieces of REAL advice I'd give to a 2025 bride." She insisted that wedding cakes are a "complete waste of money" while flowers are "overpriced and overrated". Revealing her money-saving alternatives, she added: "We had the children bake ours [cake] that morning. No fancy tiers, no overpriced price tag. Just made with pure love. Best decision ever. "I [also] grabbed daffodils straight out of the vase on our kitchen table, and you know what? They were perfect. £2 from the supermarket and not a single florist in sight." Her Instagram video, shared with her 1.8million followers, quickly racked up 1.5million views. But some people were left fuming that her tips seemingly urged people to snub "hard-working and talented" local vendors. One said: "Whilst the sentiment of your post is spot on; 'your day, your way', I do think you have slightly missed the mark here. "Especially describing floristry and wedding cakes as overpriced and not necessary. Both professions are very female founder heavy & I think it's a real shame to use your platform to describe the incredibly hard work and talent-driven work of those women as overpriced and unnecessary. BrewDog's James Watt & fiance Toff branded 'unbearable' after latest confession "Your DIY wedding is beautiful because that's what you wanted, but let's not diminish the incredible talent, skill and hard work of the women within the wedding industry." A second blasted: "So instead of spending a few quid of our vast wealth to support local, female-led businesses, I am instead going to tell my almost 2 million followers that what they do is pointless and they're charging too much for their art and skill. "Considering what you charge for an hours appearance, tell me, who is pointless and overpriced here…?" A third chimed in: "As an influencer and privileged person, she has tripped up on this one… this has ruffled more than industry leaders' feathers." A fourth echoed: "I feel like you can say this as you have the privilege of experiencing luxury at any given time, for the absolute majority of people their wedding day is the one day in a lifetime when they may choose to spend a little extra to experience the finer things in life." And a fifth agreed: "You have the benefit of choice and grew up extremely privileged, for most couples their wedding day is the only time they can afford and save for that level of luxury." The I'm a Celebrity winner went on to claim that couples shouldn't spend the morning apart on their wedding day, and the guest list should be small as it's "not a networking event". She also hit out at child-free weddings and insisted that children "add magic, not mess" and said there's "no need for a three-course meal". Toff rounded off her wedding guide by concluding: "You don't have to change your surname Tradition is optional, your identity isn't." And many social media users, despite the backlash, praised her for low-key wedding decisions. One said: "I've said it once and will say it again. Please please never change. You are a breath of fresh air and so on point with outlook on life." "Love this Georgia Toffolo, well said. Weddings are about individuality and not about 'rules'", added someone else. A third wrote: "Totally agree!! You both look so happy and content that's what it's all about!" "I absolutely could not love this more", cried a fourth. Meanwhile, a fifth added: "Good for you Georgia! Agree with everything you said. Yours sounded just perfect." Guests received just 48 hours' notice of the surprise nuptials where Toff and James' spaniel, Monty, acted as ring bearer. The couple, who started dating in 2023, 'eloped' after a ceremony which took place in a small church in the coastal village where fewer than 600 people live. James's two daughters from his previous marriage to illustrator Johanna Basford were bridesmaids in Gardenstown, Aberdeenshire.


Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Netflix fans 'completely hooked' on 'rare gem' crime thriller rising in charts
Netflix revenge thriller is a surprise entry in the top ten To Kill A Monkey trailer Netflix fans are 'completely hooked' on a 'rare gem' of a crime thriller that is rising in the charts. Nigerian produced English language series To Kill A Monkey was only just added to the platform late last week. At the time of writing, it has risen to the become the sixth most watched title on the service among UK subscribers. This is quite an achievement considering very little information was shared about it ahead of its debut. It was created, written and directed by African filmmaker Kemi Adetiba, who hails from Lagos where the show is set. According to the synopsis, the eight-part drama follows a struggling father, enticed into the lucrative world of cyber crime and ends up faces a moral minefield where every choice leads him to greater compromises. Many fans have shared their thoughts and recommendations online. One posted: "I think this is the best Nigerian series I have seen in a very long time. There are more than 1001 lessons to learn from this packed series. At some point, you will wish the series will never end." Another added: "The title of this series caught my eye. I decided to watch a little of the first episode to see how it was. I am completely hooked! From the first scene, the acting and story line is riveting! I binged all episodes in two nights." Meanwhile, someone else shared on IMDB: "A rare gem that offers a refreshing dose of realism. Unlike many others that feel like stitched-up fiction or just another cash grab, this one gets it right. The acting is believable, the storyline is consistent, and the cast delivers with heart. You can tell the team cared deeply about what they were creating-there's passion, attention to detail, and an honest effort to reflect real life." One viewer claimed: "Amazing acting and the storyline is explosive. I was on the edge of my seat every episode." While another replied: "I'm sorry the acting in To Kill A Monkey is phenomenal. These are actors! This is what you get when you cast people who have acted on stage. This is good!" Adetiba has already shared a message of thanks on Instagram to thank for the support and viewers the show has received so far. Clearly pleased with the impact the title is having on Netflix, she wrote: "To Kill A Monkey is unlike anything I've ever done. It was a crazy risk to take, but it was a story I strongly felt I needed to tell – no gloss, no theatrics, no grandiose characters to hide behind. Just a raw, human story about real people with real struggles, trying to navigate impossible choices." She continued: "On behalf of the entire TKAM team – thank you. For watching. For talking. For caring. For showing up in the most powerful way possible. We're humbled…We're overwhelmed by the love…We're grateful beyond words."


Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
BBC Morning Live's Helen Skelton pays tribute to co-star as she 'wraps up' new project
Morning Live star Helen Skelton had some warm words for her Channel 5 co-star as she shared a gushy tribute post that he has since responded to Morning Live star Helen Skelton has took to Instagram with a joyful post to pay tribute to her beloved co-star while confirming to fans she'd be taking a brief break. The TV star, who is mum to three adorable children Louis, Ernie and Elsie, has been so busy with filming commitments that she's vowed to "switch off" her phone as she returns to her family life. It's clearly been a hectic period for the former Strictly star, with many projects in the pipeline, including her newest on-screen adventure alongside former BBC Breakfast star Dan Walker. The pair have been dazzling their loyal legion of fans with their show Yorkshire Great and Small with Dan and Helen - which is still available to stream on My5. Much to the delight of fans Helen had good news to also share, announcing that her show with Dan had been greenlit for a another series and would be returning the channel in September. Announcing the joyful information, she took to Instagram with an slew of happy snaps alongside the Channel 5 newsreader, while paying tribute to Dan, the crew and confirmed filming had now finished. Helen told her followers: "That's a WRAP… Snatched a load of afternoons to wander around Yorkshire with this legend. Met some epic people. Ate some sensational food. Celebrated some stunning landscapes that hopefully give you some ideas for adventures. Laughed A LOT." The Morning Live host confirmed: "Series starts @channel5_tv in September," and offered up some kind words: "Thanks to the hardest working man in the game for always making me belly laugh @mrdanwalker at the most ridiculous things. "Thanks to a crew who have become family over the last few years and for humouring our self proclaimed glorious nonsense." She signed off the post, adding: "Phone and shoes off for the foreseeable," alerting her fans that she would be taking a well deserved break for the time being. Helen's co-star, Dan was quick to respond to her post, pointing out a major detail before any misconceptions were formed. In the abundance of pictures shared, one image saw the pair cosied up outside what appeared to be some kind of castle or church. Dispelling rumours before they even began to swirl, Dan replied: "Just for clarity… the last photo is not a wedding snap. Thank you my friend for so many fun afternoons. You are a wonderful human to be around." Fans appeared to be too elated over the happy news that their show would be returning to screens and appeared to not even notice the last snap of the pack. Racing to the post, masses joined in with celebration: One person penned: "Dynamic duo are back." Another online user beamed: "Love this programme look forward to it," as a third stated: "Fantastic can't wait to view it," while a fourth wrote: "You two are a good partnership, always a pleasure to watch."