We had our 20-week scan today and baby #2 is another girl!
We’ve been torn between three girl names since we started brainstorming: [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], [name_f]Lina[/name_f] (LEE-nuh), and [name_f]Thea[/name_f] (THEE-uh). Big sister’s name is [name_f]Ada[/name_f] [name_u]Marie[/name_u], so we wanted a name with a similar vintage vibe that is short and relatively easy to pronounce/spell.
Stylistically, I think all three choices go well with [name_f]Ada[/name_f]. Right now, we think [name_f]Lina[/name_f] is maybe our top choice, but we’re not fully settled. I always appreciate the feedback from Berries.
Here are some of our thoughts on each.
[name_f]Zelda[/name_f]
We love the meaning and how old-fashioned it is, like [name_f]Ada[/name_f]. Out of the 3, it’s the easiest to pronounce/spell since there aren’t any variations of the name (at least that I’m aware of). However, it’s also the spunkiest choice of the 3 and we’re not sure if we’re brave enough to use it. And while we don’t mind the video game association, it will be hard to separate the name from the games.
[name_f]Lina[/name_f]
We love the meaning and to us, it sounds like the perfect blend of spunk and sweet. Out of the 3, it sounds the best with [name_f]Ada[/name_f] (to me). It’s easy to spell and say, but we’re also aware that it may get misspelled or mispronounced with the other variations. There is a family member on DH’s tree with the name [name_f]Lena[/name_f] too, which is neat.
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]
It’s a very sweet-sounding name and we think it’s unique like [name_f]Ada[/name_f] (although seems to be getting more popular). Meaning-wise it’s okay; we like the meanings of [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] or [name_f]Theodora[/name_f] more than the meaning of just [name_f]Thea[/name_f], but we don’t want to use either long-forms of the name. We also think with the variations of spelling and pronunciation it’s the hardest of the 3 to say/spell, and that the TH sound would be harder for a toddler to say (we liked how easy it was for [name_f]Ada[/name_f] to learn to say and spell her name).
We’re also still discussing middle names if anyone has a good suggestion.
Personally, I’m not a fan of [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] or [name_f]Lina[/name_f]. [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] is too associated with the video game, and I have personal problems with the name [name_f]Lina[/name_f], but I think [name_f]Thea[/name_f] is really pretty and goes amazingly with [name_f]Ada[/name_f]
I love [name_f]Lina[/name_f] and I think she’ll love it too!
[name_f]Lina[/name_f] [name_f]Clarisse[/name_f]
[name_f]Lina[/name_f] [name_f]Angelique[/name_f]
[name_f]Lina[/name_f] [name_f]Violette[/name_f]
[name_f]Lina[/name_f] [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f]
[name_f]Lina[/name_f] [name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_f]Lina[/name_f] [name_f]Blythe[/name_f]
I’d go [name_f]Thea[/name_f] or [name_f]Lina[/name_f] for you. [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] is utterly fabulous but it is more on the “brave” side compared with your general sweet, spunky traditional style, plus with the -da ending I think it sounds a tad close to [name_f]Ada[/name_f].
[name_f]Thea[/name_f] feels like a natural sister for [name_f]Ada[/name_f]. [name_u]Strong[/name_u], compact, feminine and familiar without being overused.
[name_f]Lina[/name_f] feels more international and a little more nicknamey, but it’s clean and chic and pretty and a great match for [name_f]Ada[/name_f] in terms of sound and vibe.
[name_f]Ada[/name_f] [name_u]Marie[/name_u] is a beautiful name and you have a lovely, can’t-go-wrong short list for her little sister! [name_f]Lina[/name_f] is my personal favorite from your list–I absolutely love it for all the qualities you mentioned. I agree that the spelling/pronunciation could occasionally be an issue, but on the flip side, it works great across a lot of languages. I also really like [name_f]Thea[/name_f] and I think it sounds like a very natural sister for [name_f]Ada[/name_f]. I like [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], too, but it does give me a bit of a different vibe and I’m stuck on the matching “da” endings for some reason. So I’ll vote [name_f]Lina[/name_f], then [name_f]Thea[/name_f], then [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], with the disclaimer that they’re all great choices!
Totally love Zelda in style and spunk but I don’t like how it rhymes with Ada.
Lina is lovely but a bit plain for me compared to Zelda.
Thea is super sweet. Almost too similar to Ada for me, but without Ada’s spunk.
So tough! If you don’t mind the rhyme, I’d say be brave and go with Zelda!
(I’m also picking a girls name and Ada is one of our top choices. We’ve talked about Zelda too! I’m day dreaming of a sister Ivy if we went with Ada)
Middle name ideas, considering Ada Marie has a very traditional middle:
Zelda Rose
Lina Isabelle
Thea Grace
Personally, I think [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] is too close to [name_f]Ada[/name_f] to work. [name_f]My[/name_f] favorite of your choices is [name_f]Lina[/name_f] (and it sounds like it might be your favorite as well.)
I prefer [name_f]Thea[/name_f], and I think it goes the best with [name_f]Ada[/name_f]. [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] is fine, it just reminds me too much of the video game character. I don’t like [name_f]Lina[/name_f], I don’t really know why though.
I so love [name_f]Ada[/name_f] and [name_f]Lina[/name_f] together! I definitely prefer [name_f]Lena[/name_f] as it is more intuitive for me, but either way that names are great together
Thanks for all the thoughtful responses and lovely middle name recommendations!!
I hadn’t really picked up on the rhymey [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] and [name_f]Ada[/name_f] combo! More and more, [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] is looking to be the lowest on our list. I think we’re just not quite brave enough to use it ourselves, but I hope to meet a little [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] someday!
Right now, we think [name_f]Lina[/name_f] is the front runner! Thanks to everyone for your feedback!
