If you've ever called your child by their younger sibling's name, don't worry. These types of confusions are very common and interesting for the way our brains process relationships, memory, and emotions.
Imagine: you're holding your baby and suddenly you call him, for example, by his little sister's name. It seems strange to you, maybe you even feel a little guilty: how could I be getting my child's name wrong?
Name confusion often occurs when we call someone by the name of another person we are emotionally close to, especially within the same category — like family members, close friends, or pets. According to psychologists, this is a completely normal “slip” of the brain, not a sign of forgetfulness or confusion. In fact, it’s a reflection of the way our brains associate names with feelings and roles, not just faces.
Our brains don’t file names in alphabetical order. Instead, they group them by emotional importance and relationship similarity. So, if you raised your little sibling—fed them, bathed them, put them to sleep, protected them—there’s a good chance your brain put their name in the “people I care about and love the most.” When your child was born, he or she was added to the same “emotional folder.”
In those moments when you're taking care of a child, your brain simply goes to the closest, most familiar place. And sometimes, the first name that comes to mind is your sibling's.
For first-borns, especially when there is a large age gap with younger siblings, this pattern is even more common. Many first-borns take on a caretaker role for younger siblings, especially when help is needed in the family.
Mixing up your child's name with your sibling's isn't a sign that you're confused or not paying enough attention. On the contrary, it's a testament to how powerful and complex our relationships can be. It shows that your early caregiving experiences shaped who you are today, and your brain keeps those connections alive.
