Neighbors and the Name Game!

Tell Jakey's mom that imitation is the number form of flattery. She may be annoyed but tell her life is too short. She should feel flattered that her son's nickname is so cool that others want it for their children as well. Life is too short to get upset about the little things. Good luck and take care!

I think they both need to get a life. My daughter is in a phase where she adds -y to the end of EVERYTHING, so if this is what Blakey has done, then so what. I see the similarity, but goodness the names are different and many parents add that ending to their child's name when they are young. I think I may tell them that it is normal to add that ending to a childs name and instead of being insulted you should be honored that they liked what you did with his name and did it to their own child's name.

Just laugh it off and say oh boy I'm staying out of this one. Keep it light and fun and stay out of it.
Tammy

Sounds like these two moms, especially Jake's, need a wakey wakey call to grow up. I don't see a big deal with Blake's mom. Who knows for sure if it's a copy cat thing? And so what if it is? It's an affectionate thing for the boys at this particular age.

Keep out of it. Don't take sides. If one or both press you about it, state your case, and if you think the entire thing is dumb, then say so. Not that they're adding the 'y' to their kids' names, but that it's turned into a ridiculous issue.

Seriously.. NEITHER boy is going to want to be called Blakey or Jakey when they get to school age. Moot point. If they start calling them those names, family and friends will use them long past when the boys are comfortable with it. Like my nephew James was called Jimmy from 0-7 until he decided he didn't like it and wanted to be called James. By then it was so natural to call him Jimmy that some people still do.

I would just stay out of it, its no big deal. My neighbor next door and across the street and I all had babies within a month of each other. At the time none of us really talked, but after the babies were born we started talking, all of us named our children names that start with M. all coincidence, sometimes people need to grow up there are more important things in life than names

I'd stay out of it if I were in your shoes. It sounds petty.

M.

Uh...tell Jakey's Mom to grow up...for pete's sake it's not like Blakes name is really Bartholomew and they decided to call him Blakey for short just to spite Jakey's Mom.

Good gravy.

Oh my gosh, no, I didn't see where that was going - really? Sorry that they are wasting time on something so little and then bringing you in. What a waste of time and energy!

I would just state simply - "I really want to stay out of it. Can we talk about something else?"

Or some other simple little phrase that states your wish to be removed and brings the focus on to something else.

Good Luck!

N. I don't think there is anything to be objective about! So many names are similar and even if your neighbor did choose a similar sounding name (it's not even the same), who cares? I think Jacob's mom is being completely unreasonable - she should celebrate the arrival of a precious baby. I would keep completely out if it, avoid the subject and refuse to discuss it - the first mom is being petty but people are strange! - good luck - Alison

Hi N.! I am sorry that you are in the middle of this! And it's not a silly question at all. You should tell both mom's that you posted this question and that one poster (me!) laughed until I had to run to the bathroom!!! That's how ridiculous THEY are!

My friend and I once got together with our kids at the park and we were sitting at a picnic table when our sons came up to get a drink. We SIMULTANEOUSLY said "Hi Sweets" to our respective sons and then cracked up that we had the same special endearments for our kids. No hard feelings at all.

Let Jakey's mom know that she didn't invent adding a "y" on the end of a name and that it's a natural progression for MANY names.

Good luck!

From reading this, I cannot help but wonder if there is a better way to spend one's energy and day than blaming a new mother for coming up with a name.

We have a newly adopted dog - his name is Riley. It wasn't until after we changed his name from Bandit to Riley that we learned the neighbor two doors down had a dog with same name! Did we plan it? NO! It was a name we liked and it fit. Just like when we name our kids - we see what names fit together and then when that little arrival makes the appearance, you decide. (I had two names in reserve for my son and the one felt better to me.).

I think "Jakey's" mom needs to get over her issues and understand that a name is a name - no one has rights to own them and that name is more common than she realizes. (And I know of a few Blake's/Blakey's).

There is so much more to life than to worry over a name and whom had it first.

Oh, my son's name is Andrew but we short-formed it to "Drew" (I am not fond of the name Andy at all!). We also do the 'ey' sound as it stands on Drew for Drewey. It's a mom thing, especially when they are so small. It's another term of endearment.

Jakey's mom is nuts if she thinks there is 'copying' going on. If she presses you for support---and you can't stay out of the middle---you may want to "gently" (because she seems a little temperamental/dramatic) remind her that putting "ey/ee-sound" at the end of ANY name...especially on a baby...is absolutely expected. Seriously, she needs to relax...they are new parents and feeling all giddy, of course they are going to call him Blakey. Crazy.

Jacob and Blake are not even close to being the same name! Jacob's mom needs to grow up! I would stay out if it if I were you. What a stupid thing to be upset about!

Ha! That's funny! They just need to find the humor in it. It's ridiculous to be upset at something so unimportant. I guess maybe try to lead them to see the humor in it. It's so common to add the "ie" at the end of a name. I don't think anyone copied anyone. It's just natural. Good luck!

Sounds ridiculous. My advice is to STAY OUT OF IT. Very high school-ish. ...No, more like elementary-ish.
The names are different. So what if the family nicknames sound similar!! Your neighbor with "Jakey" needs to grow up!!

Stay out of it or if you must say something, tell them to grow up a bit. :)

Isn't disturbing when you feel like the adults act like they are in middle school all over again! Your doing the right thing staying out of thier little spat. I'm sure there is more than just a name thing with those two. If they talk about the other one in front of you remind them that you are friends with both and a lot of people say thier kids names like that when they are little. My son is Zack & sometimes called Zacky. No copying done. No big deal. Much more important things to worry about. Stay strong & stand your ground. Good luck!

My thoughts are to call each child by their given names, i.e. Jacob and Blake. If one of the moms makes a negative comment you could just say it's totally natural for moms to shorten the names and put an E sound at the end of the name when they're speaking affectionately to their child. Yeah, I agree with your idea staying out of it. You might need to say how you like each of them and don't want to get stuck in the middle. Best of luck, S.

Wow seriously? I feel bad for those kids there parents have immature issues. I f I were you I would def stay away from them.

They need to grow up! I have a son named Aiden & my nephew's middle name is Cadyn, which they thought of because of Aiden. Who cares? It's just a name!

Stay out of it. The whole thing is silly.

This is the definition if a "desperate housewife"! Most moms add "y" to many words when our kids are young. Look at the horsey! Want to pet the doggy? Time to brush your teethy-weethy!
The bottom line is, who cares if she is copying? Will she silently curse all the women who named their sons Jacob, or refer to them as "Jakey?"
If anything she should take it was a compliment.
Now, for fun, add a "y" to the end of your sons name:)

N.; wow i would stay right out of it, and in fact what mom does not put ie at the end of their little name, john=johnnie, even alan becomes alie, or my son is nathan, you dont say nathanie, so you say nathy, if people want to get hurt by what someone names their son, it appears they are looking for a way out of a relationship, and its not your place to get in between the wars of neighbors, and of course you will be the one to suffer from it, maybe you can start to call your child with the ie at the end of it,be freinds with both and stay out of their fight, if they ask for your help, you can simply say i dont know, and keep yourself out of someone else fight, its hard to be in the middle as you are, but dont really get in the middle of it, be freinds with both and dont talk negative about the one to the other, just enjoy life and be a good example to both of them, D. s

Just stay out of it! If asked directly, tell them you think it's a petty thing to be fighting about but don't say anything else.

I have a Jacob and we called him Jakers for a long time just because there are lots of Jacobs and lots of Jakes. It sounds kind of like neither mom wants to give in, but you might want to suggest some alternative nicknames for the boys just to get them past this!

First of all, it is not anyone elses business what you call your own kid---and to be mad at someone else because you think they are copying....silly. I am the parent of college age children now, but I do remember the pettiness and competitiveness of some young and/or new parents. Rise above it all and ignore the immaturity.

I have had something similiar to this before. The only thing you can do to not get both or either neighbor upset with you is to remain neutral.

I think it silly because the mother of Jacob should be flattered, but still understand why she is upset.

You could always call the new baby Blakey BOY add the boy to the end of it and you will be surprised how this will catch on and then his nick name will be Blakey Boy instead of just Blakey and sounds a bit different.

Maybe that will passify Jakey's mommy.

HOpe that helps.

B.

I have a Braeden and a Graham. We call them Brady and Grammy most of the time. I once had a coworker who also had a Brayden (9 months older than mine) and when she had her second, a girl, she named her Madalyn...my favorite girls name, which I still plan on using should I ever get the chance. Neither one of us was ever offended that we both love the same names. It was flattering.

It's not like your neighbors named their kids the exact same thing anyway. Jacob and Blake aren't really THAT similar. Thay just both happen to have similar retractions when it comes to nicknames. Really, they need to get over it. You're just neighbors! Besides, the boys will probably never notice, if they are even still living next to each other when they are old enough to understand.

Tell the two ladies to grow up!! Why ave soemthing so small ruin a friendship because the one is upset wi her own stuff and taking it out on the other. Tell the one with the issue about it that they need to get over it. You feel they shouldn't ruin thee friendship also tell her you don't want to be in the middle of it to talk tosomeon else about it.

Wow, N., I feel bad that you a subjected this. Tell Jakey's mom that she needs to get over it, seriously. There are more important things in the world to worry about. And for goodness sake, those poor boys! How badly they will get teased in elementary school when their friends hear their moms call them "Blakey" and "Jakey." Good luck!