You have been so wonderfully helpful to me on this board, and in response to a couple of my posts in the past months, you helped me think about my new daughter’s name. I am currently 1 day overdue with her and miwife says any day now. I was deciding between [name]Mirabel[/name], [name]Mira[/name] and [name]Rose[/name] and have pretty much decided that her name will be [name]Mira[/name] [name]Carys[/name]. [name]Blair[/name] (“kashed22”) suggested the mn [name]Carys[/name] - for some reason that name had been off my radar screen but the moment I read it I got tears in my eyes and felt it was perfect. Well now I find myself being more and more drawn to perhaps using [name]Carys[/name] as her first name.
What are your opinions between [name]Mira[/name] and [name]Carys[/name]? Issues I am considering are:
My name is [name]Claire[/name] and does [name]Carys[/name] (with American accent of “care-iss” sound too much like [name]Claire[/name]?)
[name]Will[/name] she end up having to explain her name all the time in the US because it is unusual, and a bit harder to pronounce at first sight? (I wouldn’t have thought so but already several freinds have said they first read it as “carries” - which surprises me but that’s what they’ve said).
My 1st daughteer’s name is [name]Fiona[/name] [name]Violet[/name] and I think either [name]Mira[/name] or [name]Carys[/name] sound lovely with [name]Fiona[/name], but what do you think, is one better than the other?
Thank you again for your opinions. (In particular to [name]Blair[/name] for your wonderful suggestion of [name]Carys[/name]!)
Congratulations on your any-day-now baby girl! My first impression of [name]Mira[/name] [name]Carys[/name] is that the flow is off. If you were to use [name]Mira[/name] I think you would need a longer middle name. Two syllables for both names (especially with the addition that your last name is also two syllables) really throws me off. When comparing [name]Mira[/name] and [name]Carys[/name] I definitely prefer [name]Carys[/name]. I’m not a personal fan of [name]Mira[/name]. Plus with daughter [name]Fiona[/name], [name]Carys[/name] is absolutely stunning! I also this [name]Carys[/name] “McGraw” is much prettier than [name]Mira[/name] “McGraw.” I don’t think that Ckaire and [name]Carys[/name] are too close, nor can I imagine you having pronunciation issues. With [name]Michael[/name] [name]Douglas[/name]'s daughter [name]Carys[/name] the name isn’t completely unknown to those outside the “naming” community. [name]Do[/name] you have any ideas for a middle name if you used [name]Carys[/name]? With [name]Fiona[/name] [name]Violet[/name] I though [name]Carys[/name] [name]Adelaide[/name] would be lovely.
@jackiet - all of your input is very well taken! I agree that three 2-syallable names for fn, mn, and ln are not ideal but nonetheless out of all my considerations liked [name]Mira[/name] [name]Carys[/name] the best. I do like your suggestion of [name]Carys[/name] [name]Adelaide[/name] (also like [name]Adeline[/name]). Many other mn’s I like do not go well with [name]Carys[/name] (for example [name]Beatrice[/name], [name]Selene[/name], [name]Catherine[/name], [name]Camille[/name]). So I’d take suggestions for mn! Of course I could use [name]Rose[/name] which has always been a strong contender for fn, but as a mn I don’t like how over-used it is.
@namehunter: I think the pronounciation issus would be amplified by using [name]Cerys[/name] (I almost want to read this as see-riss or say-riss). I pronounce [name]Carys[/name] as rhyming with [name]Paris[/name], but do understand the British prononuciation has a soft ‘a’ sound.
OH, I don’t think you can go wrong with either name! [name]Both[/name] are beautiful and match well with [name]Fiona[/name] in my opinion.
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Mirabel[/name] would be fabulous.
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Mira[/name] doesn’t flow as well but if you love it more than [name]Mirabel[/name], go for it!
You could name her [name]Mirabel[/name] [name]Carys[/name] and use [name]Mira[/name] as a nn. I know a darling little [name]Mirabelle[/name] that mostly goes by [name]Mira[/name].
The flow of [name]Mirabel[/name] [name]Carys[/name] is nice. And - I like the alliteration.
With two gorgeous names, maybe you want to wait until you meet her and see which you prefer? Does your dh have a preference? I was never one to wait…I don’t think it would make it easier for me to choose, but many others say it does!
I have a daughter named [name]Matilda[/name] and my own name is [name]Melissa[/name]. I think that is similar to your situation of [name]Clair[/name] and [name]Carys[/name]. I don’t see them as being too similar.
As far as pronunciation…the general public can butcher pronunciation on almost any name! Over all, I think most people will read it correctly.
My vote:
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Mirabel[/name]
OR
[name]Mirabel[/name] [name]Carys[/name] nn [name]Mira[/name]
I might slightly prefer [name]Carys[/name] with [name]Fiona[/name].
Ooh I really love [name]Carys[/name]. I do hear you on the prn issue, but I also like it better with [name]Fiona[/name]. I think this name is getting a little more well-known in the US, like the name [name]Isla[/name], which is a pronunciation issue here too, so it may not be as much of a problem down the road. [name]Mira[/name] is a very nice name, but I personally like [name]Carys[/name] quite a bit more.
1- No, I don’t think [name]Carys[/name] is too close to [name]Claire[/name].
2-I think that initially, she may have to repeat her name, but I don’t think it will be a difficult name to carry. My daughter is [name]Willow[/name], and I’m surprised all the time when people ask me to repeat it! Some people will know the name and how it’s pronounced, and some won’t. That’s the case with virtually any name, no matter how uncommon, or ‘normal’ we think it is!
3-I think [name]Fiona[/name] and [name]Carys[/name] works a lot better than [name]Fiona[/name] and [name]Mira[/name] (although, I do like that name). I can’t really explain why. Maybe that they just do a better job complementing each other.
So, to sum up (haha)- I think [name]Carys[/name] would make a beautiful first name to go with big sister [name]Fiona[/name] [name]Violet[/name]. I love the suggestion of [name]Carys[/name] [name]Mirabel[/name], and since you mentioned [name]Rose[/name], I was thinking [name]Carys[/name] [name]Rosalie[/name] would be really pretty!
Good luck over the next few days! I hope you have a smooth delivery, and I hope you’ll let us all know what you decide on for her name.
[name]Carys[/name] is a beautiful name and would be a wonderful fn with sister [name]Fiona[/name]. I think, since you’ve had such a strong reaction to the name, its definitely worth considering it as a first name. I agree with a pp that [name]Carys[/name] [name]Mirabelle[/name] is absolutely stunning, and I like [name]Carys[/name] [name]Rose[/name] as well. It is an unusual name, and she might have to spell it for people now and then, but I don’t think that will be too problematic because its short and sweet and very easy to remember. And, no, I don’t think its too much like [name]Claire[/name].
Ultimately, you’ll know when you see her I’m sure, and its good to have a couple of options. Good luck! Looking forward to seeing your final decision in the birth announcements!
I’m a single mama by choice (planned single motherhood) so no DH to consider. Which has it’s pluses (choice is all mine) but also among the minuses is needing interested people to discuss the issue with. So thank you for your advice!
I think perhaps one of the issues with [name]Fiona[/name] and [name]Mira[/name] as siblings is that the names have such similar sounds, and so possibly more “matchy” than “complementary.” I read a poster comment in a post about sibsets that she thought people made too much of a big deal out of sibsets and making sure sibling names “go” together, considering most of their lives they’ll be considered as individuals rather than so-and-so’s sibling. I agree with that comment. Meanwhile, I also agree that [name]Fiona[/name] and [name]Carys[/name] sound really stunning together and [name]Fiona[/name] and [name]Mira[/name] are just fine but perhaps a lot of the same i-a sounds.
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Mirabel[/name] is nice.
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Adeline[/name] a consideration.
With an unusual name like [name]Carys[/name] I’m drawn to using a more well-known mn, so mroe suggestions certainly welcomed.
Thanks so much - this is a great way to pass my time while having pre-labor contractions!
I prefer [name]Carys[/name] to [name]Mira[/name], especially with [name]Fiona[/name]. [name]Every[/name] other child in her generation will have a relatively uncommon name that needs to be repeated, so I definitely would not worry about that. I also love the name [name]Cara[/name], which is another one for you to consider.
If you stick with [name]Mira[/name], I would definitely recommend [name]Mirabel[/name], nn [name]Mira[/name]. The reason I say this is that her name will otherwise regularly be mispronounced as [name]Myra[/name] (pronounced MY-ra).
Right, lets try and take your mind off those pre-labour twinges! Some suggestions off the top of my head for a MN for [name]Carys[/name]. I’ll tried to stay relatively classic for balance:
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Amelia[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Delilah[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Eugenia[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Evangeline[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Felicity[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Francesca[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Isadora[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Lillian[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Louella[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Louisa[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Madeline[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Matilda[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Penelope[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Rosalie[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Rosemary[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Seraphina[/name]
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Susannah[/name]
No I don’t think it is too close to [name]Claire[/name] at all.
Yes, the fact is that in the US she will have to explain how to pronounce her name all the time. I’m just being honest. Us Nameberries are much more savvy than the average American on names. This is not necessarily a reason to not name her this, I’m just giving you an honest opinion.
My only advice is to be very careful about last minute name changes. The hormones got to me and I almost changed mine last minute. You need to go with the name you have always wanted and has been in the back of your mind always to name your daughter. Not a last minute whimsical change. Unless you have very, very strong feelings. Then go for it. What name will you most regret not using?
You’ve just stated my main problem. I’ve never found a name that I think “YES, this is it, it is PERFECT!” I think I just tend towards indecisiveness. My first daughter was 4 days old by the time I forced myself to choose, and even then I second-guessed myself about it for awhile. But in a short time, [name]Fiona[/name]'s name just fit her and I’ve been very happy with my choice. I expect that I’ll be just fine with whatever name I choose for this child (I mean, I do like all my main choices!. I just wish I could have that knowledge that I have found the perfect name, before I actually bestow her with it!
What draws me to [name]Carys[/name] is that the moment I read it I had a gut feeling of “love it!” which is very, very rare for me. (And even [name]Mira[/name]/[name]Mirabel[/name] did not have that immediate effect on me).
The good news is that you haven’t given birth. When you see your baby, it may help that she looks like a [name]Carys[/name] or a [name]Mira[/name]. [name]Both[/name] are beautiful and you may regret either if you choose the other. C’est la vie! If you have an ‘I love it’ moment with [name]Carys[/name], but didn’t with [name]Mira[/name] that says a lot. I like using one as a middle, then if you have regrets, you can still have the option to call her the other.
I vote for [name]Carys[/name] with [name]Mira[/name], [name]Mirabelle[/name], or a flowery middle to match [name]Fiona[/name]'s [name]Violet[/name] mn, though I may be more obsessed with flower names than you!
I like [name]Carys[/name] a lot. [name]Even[/name] more so with your daughters name. A lot of children have different names now. I don’t think it is a big deal to have to correct pronunciation now and then.
I like
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Rosalie[/name] McGrath
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Juliet[/name] McGrath-my favorite
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Blossom[/name] McGrath
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Ivy[/name] McGrath
[name]Carys[/name] [name]Fantine[/name] McGrath_ this might be my other favorite the meaning being LOVED [name]BABY[/name]
i know you like [name]Selene[/name] and this has a similar sound- [name]Fantine[/name] is French for infant/Childlike and the mother of [name]Cosette[/name] in [name]Les[/name] Miserables so is literary. It’s the name of my white [name]Little[/name] chihuahua, but had I not used it I would have kept for middle baby name. i also love [name]Selene[/name] and wanted [name]Cara[/name] [name]Selene[/name] then realized it sounded like Kerosene:(
I don’t think [name]Carys[/name] sounds too much like [name]Claire[/name].
I don’t think pronunciation will be an issue. As far as the name being unusual goes, there are so many kids out there with unusual names right now that I do not think it will be an issue.
Personally I prefer [name]Mirabel[/name] [name]Carys[/name] nn [name]Mira[/name] or [name]Carys[/name] [name]Mirabel[/name] with [name]Fiona[/name] [name]Violet[/name].
