What is my cousin's child to me?
Your first cousin's child is your first cousin once removed. They are not your second cousin; your own children and your cousin's children are second cousins to each other.
- Shared ancestor
- 2 generations up from you
- They call you
- their first cousin once removed
- Average shared DNA
- ≈ 6.25%
- Cousin number · removed
- 1 · 1
Quick answers for the whole branch
Your first cousin's child: first cousin once removed. Your first cousin's grandchild: first cousin twice removed. Your second cousin's child: second cousin once removed. Your second cousin's grandchild: second cousin twice removed.
Notice the pattern: going down a generation on their side keeps the cousin number and adds one "removed".
What they call you
The term works both ways, so your cousin's child also calls you their first cousin once removed. In many families children simply say "aunt" or "uncle" to a parent's cousin as a courtesy title, which is fine; it is just not the genealogical term.
Check your own relative
Not sure this is the right term? Enter your actual connection.
Find the most recent ancestor you both descend from, then say how each of you is connected to them.
- They call you
- their first cousin once removed
- Expected shared DNA
- ≈ 6.25%
- Degree (civil / canon)
- 5 / 3
Why a first cousin once removed?
You share grandparents. You are 2 generations below them; the other person is 3 generations below them.
The cousin number comes from whoever is closer to the shared ancestor: 2 generations down, minus 1 = first cousin.
The gap between your two generation counts (3 − 2) is 1, so you are once removed.
Questions people ask
Is my cousin's child my niece or nephew?
Not technically. Nieces and nephews are your siblings' children. Your cousin's child is your first cousin once removed, though many families use "niece" or "nephew" informally.
What are my kids and my cousin's kids to each other?
Second cousins.