'I would start calling her kid Charlie 2': New mom names newborn the same name as sister's 4-year-old dog, demands sister change the dog's name

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jan 21, 2025 11:00 AM EST

A good dog name isn't easy to decide on. It needs to be cute, catchy, easy to nickname (because you know that's what you're going to end up calling them anyway), and at least somewhat meaningful. There are a few solid classics, for sure. I know so many dogs (and cats, for that matter) named Ollie or Oliver. It checks all the boxes. I also know many animals named Bella. Same reason. Dog names are just as important as human names. They're also practically important since they need to recognize it in order to follow commands. If a dog doesn't know their name, then how are you supposed to get them to stop chewing the curtains when you're sitting on the other side of the room? 

What happens, though, when a dog and a human share a name? Surely the human gets priority, but what if the dog is older? Will it be too confusing for both of them?

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10455340288
    via Picsea

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • That's what happened in this story, where a mother named her newborn son the same name as her sister's dog (her furry nephew, if you will). But was it reasonable of her to ask her sister to change the dog's name? Read on for the story and see what you think.

  • 02

    AITA for refusing to "demote" my dog after my sister gave her baby the same name?

    I (26F) have a dog named Charlie. Charlie is a golden retriever I adopted four years ago, and he's my best buddy. My sister, Emily (29F), recently had her first child- a baby boy. She and her husband named him... Charlie.
    via u/diivinexxjuicy
  • 03
    At first, I thought it was funny and didn't really think much of it. But then Emily pulled me aside during a family gathering and said it was "confusing and disrespectful" for me to keep calling my dog Charlie now that her son has the same name. She asked me to rename my dog.
    via u/diivinexxjuicy
  • 04
    I told her no. Charlie has been his name for four years; he knows it, responds to it, and it's on all his paperwork. Changing it would be weird for him (and for me). She got really upset and said it's not fair for her son to "share" a name with a dog, especially in family settings. She thinks it'll lead to jokes and confusion as her son grows up.
    via u/diivinexxjuicy
  • 05
    My parents have weighed in, and while my dad says it's ridiculous to expect me to change my dog's name, my mom says I should "just consider it" to keep the peace. Now Emily's barely speaking to me, and a few family members think I'm being stubborn. I have no idea how I am in the wrong here. The worlds gone crazy.
    via u/diivinexxjuicy
  • 06
    I love my dog, and I didn't name him to spite anyone. I also think it's not my fault they chose a name already in use in the family. AITA?
    via u/diivinexxjuicy
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10455340800
    via Unsplash+ (Kateryna Hliznitsova)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 08

    Some commenters offered up solutions for the conundrum.

    . Glory-of-the-80s · 5h ago There was a post years ago about a guy who had a cat named Nigel and his sister (or roommate?) started dating someone named Nigel so they called the cat Nigel and the guy Human Nigel.
    via u/diivinexxjuicy
  • 09
    Tishers 5h ago Suggest that she changes her son's name to Spot or Rover.
    via u/Tishers
  • 10
    BulbasaurRanch • 5h ago I would start calling her kid Charlie 2. Her request is absurd. No rational person would ask that.
    via u/BulbasaurRanch
  • 11
    primordial_chaos_... • 5h ago Your dog was Charlie first I'd never change the name, and if dear sis keeps on giving too much grief, I'd start telling people at gatherings that sis named nephew after your doggo
    via u/primordial_chaos_007
  • 12
    Wonderpants_uk • 5h ago "You were named after a dog?! Hahahahahahaha!!"
    via u/Wonderpants_uk
  • 13
    StarsBear75063 • 5h ago Mom: "Just consider it." You: "Absolutely, I will." [Five second pause] You: "Ummmmmm. Still no".
    via u/StarsBear75063
  • 14
    Professional-Poet176 • 5h ago The dog came before the baby and your sister can still name her son "Charles" and go by some other nickname. If she doesn't want her son to be confused with the dog she could just name him something else.
    via u/Professional-Poet176
  • 15
    Boomer050882 5h ago Charlie the dog is already "Charlie". It shouldn't be a big deal. Baby Charlie doesn't care, only the parents do. If it was a problem, they could have easily prevented it. You NTA.
    via u/Boomer050882
  • 16
    Deb_elf 5h ago NTA. And I'm so sick of people burning family members for the golden child in the name of "keeping the peace." No. You didn't disrupt the peace so you get a pass. Tell Charlie (your precious. pup) I said hi
    via u/Deb_elf
  • 17
    CoolRanchBaby • 5h ago Is your sister always this entitled? Obviously NTA.
    via u/CoolRanchBaby
  • 18
    Effective-Award-8... . 5h ago If Emily is barely speaking to you then the problem solves itself.
    via u/Effective-Award-8898
  • 19
    Forestdusk • 2h ago NTA. It's your dog, and he had the name first. It's not your job to fix it by confusing your dog.
    via u/Forestdusk
  • 20
    itchybitchytwitchy • 5h ago Reddit update in 5 years: "AITAH? Whenever i call my dog, Charlie, for a treat, my nephew comes running" Imao
    via u/itchybitchytwitchy
  • 21
    IVIrLurker 5h ago NTA. You didn't name your dog after the kid, so it's not 'disrespectful' to the kid at all. If anyone complains, tell them to go pester your sister, asking her why she named her kid after your dog.
    via u/IVIrLurker
  • 22
    Honestly, the dog may pass away before the kid gets old enough to be confused, and if the good boy is still around, the kid would probably think it's cool to have a dog that shares the same name.
    via u/IVIrLurker
  • 23
    sarchj1 4h ago My parents had a dog names Sam. 5 years later my sister had a boy and named him Sam. We would joke about it. Sam chewed up the newspaper. Sam the dog or Sam the baby? Sam took his first steps. Sam the dog or Sam the baby? My nephew is in his 20's and I still call him Sam the baby.
    via u/sarchj1
  • 24
    Affectionate_Pay7... .5h ago NTA If your sister didn't want her son to be called the same name as a dog she probably shouldn't have given him the same name as the dog
    via u/Affectionate_Pay7395
  • 25
    TheKittenHasClaws . 5h ago Why did your sister name her child after your dog when she now wants you to change your dog's name? lol. NTA. Your sister needs to stop being so daft. There are literally thousands of names she could have chosen from. This is on her. Not you.
    via u/TheKittenHasClaws

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funny names long term relationship aita baby baby names pregnancy dog names pregnancy announcement kids relationship-drama relationships couples names baby name pregnant pet names Reddit naming nicknames name children
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