Relationship Finder

Is my cousin's child my niece or nephew?

No. Your cousin's child is not your niece; they are your first cousin once removed. They are one generation below you, and their great-grandparents are your grandparents.

6.25% shared DNA on average. Real amounts vary.

Diagram: how your cousin's child is related to youYouParentGrandparentscommon ancestorsAunt/uncleFirst cousinFirst cousin onceremovedthem

you them common ancestors double line: marriage

“Niece” and “nephew” mean the children of your brothers and sisters (or of your spouse's siblings). Your cousin's child is on a different branch of the tree.

“Second cousin” is wrong too. Second cousins are the same generation. Your cousin's child is one generation below you, which makes them your first cousin once removed.

How we worked it out

Follow the chain one step at a time:

  1. Your cousin: first cousin (2 up, 2 down)
  2. Your cousin's child: first cousin once removed (2 up, 3 down)

Your grandparents are their great-grandparents: they are your common ancestors.

They are one generation below you.

Count the generations to your common ancestors: 2 up from you, 3 down to them. The cousin number is one less than the smaller count (2), so first cousin. The counts differ by 1, so once removed.

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    Related questions

    Is my cousin's child my second cousin?
    No. Your cousin's child is your first cousin once removed. Your cousin's child is a second cousin to your own children.
    Why do some families say niece anyway?
    Because “first cousin once removed” is a mouthful, many families use aunt/uncle and niece/nephew loosely for any older or younger relative. It's a courtesy title, not the genealogical term.

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