HI Swistle,
Wondering if you could put up a poll with the question “Does Ronan and Julia sound too similar to Romeo and Juliet?”
Yes, I would still use the sibling name set
Yes, I would NOT use that sibling name set
No, I would use the sibling name set
Yes, I would just say “Julia and Ronan” instead of “Ronan and Julia”You can obviously change any wording you see fit! Julia is our top girl name and Ronan is a contender for a baby boy. It hit me as I said them together that it sounds way too similar to Romeo and Juliet and it would personally stop me from using that sibling set. I am curious what others think?
Thanks!
I can’t do a poll, but I can do a free-form-answer comments section!
If I were choosing the options, I would probably go for more like:
• Yes, but I still think it makes a good sibling-name set
• Yes, and I don’t think it works as a sibling-name set
• Yes, but I think it’s entirely fixed by saying “Julia and Ronan”
• No, I don’t think of Romeo and Juliet
I’m currently working on a postgrad degree in Shakespeare, my research is heavily focused on Romeo and Juliet at the moment…and I couldn’t guess what the issue was with those two names when I saw the title of this post. I’d say you’re fine.
No- I didn’t notice the issue before reading the post.
Totally fine to use. I would never make that connection.
I personally immediately thought of
Julia Roberts and Ronan Keating.
In particular the movie Notting Hill.
Julia stars in it, but Ronan’s song ‘When you say nothing at all’ was the icon movie song.
I didn’t think of Romeo and Juliet. Haha. Not sure if this helps.
No, I don’t think of Romeo and Juliet.
And chances are very high that you’ll change your name preferences if and when number 2 comes along, so I say choose what you love, what works with what you have now, and let the rest work out later.
• Yes, but I think it’s entirely fixed by saying “Julia and Ronan”
I might feel like the cadence was familiar, but I didn’t make the connection.
And I think it is fine to say “Julia and Ronan” to lessen any connection you might hear.
But I do have a Juliet, and it is misheard as Julia pretty regularly. Just one data point FYI.
I think Julia and Ronan would be okay association-wise, although they strike me as somewhat different styles.
This!
I read the title and my first thought was “what’s wrong with that pairing?”. I had to read further to learn the “problem”. I’d say it’s a non-issue whether you say Ronan and Juliet or Juliet and Ronan.
When I read it, I do not see the connection at all.
When I hear it, I do.
I don’t think it would stop me if those were my favorite names and my partner’s favorite names and we have already jumped through all the hoops to come this agreement. It’s not a dealbreaker. It’s just similar-sounding.
Wow, I’m surprised reading the other answers. For me the connection was immediately obvious and off-putting. I would not use them together.
In print, it seems a non-issue. But I do hear it when said aloud, though. I agree that a Julia and Ronan wouldn’t bring it to mind at all. But if they were my favourite names, I don’t think it would hold me back from using them!
Maybe if it was actually Juliet and Ronan or Roman, I may pause. But Julia and Ronan are both too far from that set. And the chance of having your boy and girl, and wanting both names for them when they’re born, are wild cards too. Although I do get overthinking things. I did the same when I was naming my kids and now I look back realizing how much of a stretch some of dealbreakers were. Maybe decide which name you love more and if it’s the opposite sex have a list of runner-ups?
No, I did not see a connection. But I’m not sure I would use them as siblings as they seem entirely separate styles.
I did not immediately notice the connection. Now that I do, I think saying Julia’s name first solves your potential issue.
I misread the title as Romeo and Juliet. So yeah, to me one rules the other out and I’m quite surprised to be in the minority with this opinion! It feels more problematic then other couple-adjust names, like Charle and Diane or Bunny and Cal. Maybe it bothers me because of Romao and Juliet laws? If you really wanted to use both together, I’d only ever introduce them as Julia and Ronan.
When I first read “Ronan and Julia” in the title, I felt like it just didn’t quite sound right and I didn’t like it as a sibling pair, but it wasn’t immediately obvious why. When I kept reading your question, I was like, “Oh, THAT’S what it reminds me of! It does sound kind of like an off-brand Romeo and Juliet!”
I don’t know how long it would have taken me to make the connection on my own if I encountered these siblings in real life – years, maybe – but my initial reaction was (mildly!!) negative. I don’t think it’s enough of a problem to avoid the names if you love them! “Julia and Ronan” sounds fine to me.
Everyone will say the sibling set in the order they know the kids (ie Ronans friends parents will start with Ronan.) or the order they were born. So how you say the sibling names won’t be how everyone says it.
I think that if Ronan is just a contender I’d pick another name.
Exactly! As a parent you pretty much always start with the oldest child, so if you had Ronan first, you would be signing Christmas cards as Parents Names, Ronan & Julia. And good point about other families just going with the one kid they know the best.
Yes, too close.
Yes, but I think it’s entirely fixed by saying “Julia and Ronan”
• Yes, but I still think it makes a good sibling-name set.
I saw the post title on BlueSky: “Baby Naming Issue: Ronan and Julia” then clicked through. I had a vague thought that they do sound similar to Romeo and Juliet. But I also think that’s fine. I guess I would pause more if it were twins being named Ronan & Julia. Since then the names are more closely connected and often used together in a way that doesn’t happen with different-aged siblings – like birth announcements, birthday party invites, graduation time.
It would also be less of an issue if you had a girl first and then a boy. So it would be Julia & Ronan.
No, I would use the sibling name set. I see no problem with this sibset.
I didn’t hear a connection until I really paused to think about it.
If this were a poll, my answer would be:
“Yes, but I think it’s entirely fixed by saying “Julia and Ronan”
Yes, and I don’t think this works as a sibling set. Ronan is so definitely Irish in origin that it seems a little odd to pair it with Julia. If Julia is your number one choice, maybe take a look at Latin origin names to find a pair. If you love the name Ronan more, then you could look at Gaelic names to find a good pair.
For example: Julia and Felix, Julia and Oliver, or Julia and Roman!
Alternately: Ronan and Eva (I’ve gone for the simple spelling!) or Ronan and Cara, Ronan and Fiona.
All the best!
Did not notice.
Totally fixed with Julia and Ronan anyway.
I opened the post and saw the question before I read the title so I didn’t get a unbiased moment to see if it occurred to me first, but I do think changing the order you usually say the names would eliminate the issue, if there even was one.
I didn’t make the connection until you suggested Romeo and Juliet and now my head keeps going Ronan and Juliet, lol.
it’s fine as a sibset & yes, i probably would go with Julia & Ronan more often than not
Written out I don’t see an issue but I do hear it a bit when saying it outloud. I would just say Julia and Ronan.
I have a 20-year-old Ronan, and we have been very good family friends with a local family who has a Julia since the two of them were in kindergarten. I have heard “Julia and Ronan / Ronan and Julia” countless times over the last 15 years and literally NEVER thought of Romeo and Juliet, FWIW. (And I was an English Lit major in college as well.)
When I asked my husband, he said: two amazing names, but one really Irish sounding (Ronan) and one really classic, British (Julia). So not a perfect match (he mentioned nothing about Romeo and Juliet until I told him and he felt like it wasn’t a big deal)
For me, I adore both names and think you should use them!
I don’t think it’s an issue. If Ronan were three syllables, then maybe it’d be more obvious, but with it only being two syllables, it’s really not similar to Romeo.
Sidenote: there are sisters at my daughter’s daycare named Anna and Eve. And I’d think “those names sound good together; almost familiar-sounding,” and I realized what’s familiar-sounding about them is it sounds kind of like Adam and Eve. And I wonder if the parents picked up on that before they named them, or after, and if so, does it bother them?
I thought of Anna and Elsa!
I didn’t notice any connection. Perhaps if one of the names were either Romeo or Juliet, that would be less than ideal. Ronan and Julia seem like a great sibling set.
I didn’t notice any connection either!
Would using the names Ronan and Julianna be an option if you aren’t convinced by the group responses here?
Didn’t notice the issue at all! Said it out loud several times until I could hear the connection; still don’t see it as an issue. Use ’em if you love ’em!
No, I did not think of Romeo and Juliette at all. Use the names you like. They are lovely!
I never would have made the connection to Romeo and Juliet and still can’t, even once it’s pointed out. I don’t think they are at all similar. I’d use them as a sibling set without a second thought.