'Rude' mum-to-be criticised for 'copying' her best friend's baby name

Some may say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but one mum-to-be has seemingly taken it a step too far with plans to call her unborn child a strikingly similar name to her best friend’s newborn.

While her pal picked out the name ‘Lilian’ for her baby girl, the expectant mother has admitted to toying with calling her own daughter ‘Lilia,’ which is basically the former name sans the final letter, ‘n’.

The woman took to Mumsnet to ask whether it would be a faux pas to choose almost the same name as her BFF, and the response she got wasn’t exactly expected.

“I have a feeling I am being unreasonable but I just want to check. My friend recently had a baby girl and I’m currently 39 weeks pregnant,” she wrote in the post.

“I hadn’t decided my baby girl name to use but recently I love a particular name that happens to be very similar to hers (her daughter is Lillian and I like the name Lilia),” she went on.

“Do you think it would be unreasonable for me to use this name? She picked first and it’s not exactly a name I had my heart set on from the start so I worry it might ruffle some feathers,” she wondered.

“Fingers crossed I have a boy and I won’t have to worry!” she added.

Is it ok to ‘copy’ someone else’s baby name?

Her query sparked great debate on the site, with some users suggesting she shouldn’t worry, while others called the decision “rude”.

“Your friend doesn't own the name Lillian of course but won't you feel a bit of a berk when you tell her you've given your child basically the same name as her darling daughter? I know I would,” said one.

“My sister named her eldest the same male version of younger sister child. They fell out. I wouldn’t do it. It’s quite rude,” said another.

“I think they are too close, anyone that knows you both will probably think you are a weird stalker!” added a third.

Others were of the opinion that the name was fair game.

“Use it, she doesn’t own it. Multiple people have the same name in the world,” one argued.

“If you’re good friends, I would just run it by her - but really I would hope she wouldn’t mind,” suggested another.

Others still tried to steer the woman away from the name altogether by noting that Lilia was a popular brand of sanitary products in the 1950s.

Additional reporting by Lauren Clark.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com

Want more lifestyle and celebrity news? Follow Yahoo Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Or sign up to our daily newsletter here.