We’re expecting a girl in [name_f]October[/name_f] and have been getting a lot of negative feedback about our name options, that they’re too weird to actually use on a child. We want to use names that mean a lot to us rather than just names we like, and we’d prefer something a little bit different, though not too out there.
We’ve thrown a lot of names around over the last few months but at the minute we’re leaning towards one of:
[name_f]Caira[/name_f] - pronounced [name_m]Ky[/name_m]-rah - My husband and I went on our honeymoon to [name_u]Cairo[/name_u], [name_u]Egypt[/name_u]. As [name_u]Cairo[/name_u] is pronounced [name_m]Ky[/name_m]-ro, by changing the last letter to an A gives the same pronunciation as the already established girls’ name [name_f]Kyra[/name_f], but with a spelling that is more meaningful to us.
[name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] - this honours grandparents named [name_f]Anne[/name_f] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] ([name_f]Elise[/name_f] is a short form of [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f], a variant spelling of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]). We’re getting comments that the spelling is too complicated.
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] - honours my husband’s late father [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]. Bonus points for my maiden name starting with Th, as well.
Marsa - pronounced [name_f]Mar[/name_f]-suh - honours [name_m]Marcel[/name_m], a childhood friend of my husband’s who died of cancer. We looked at other feminisations of his name but decided we liked this one best.
Pegwin - honours my mother, [name_f]Peggy[/name_f] and his grandmother [name_f]Winifred[/name_f].
Our surname is my username, if that makes any difference to you, and we have no middle name picked yet either.
We would pronounce [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] like [name_f]Anna[/name_f]-lease, not with an A on the end. I know some of the others might seem made up but we’re ok with that, we like the sound and the look of them and also what they mean to us.
Actually, I thought every names (except Pegwin) are fine. I love [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] the most, then [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f], then Marsa (prefer [name_f]Marsha[/name_f]). [name_f]Caira[/name_f] is pretty I do think it will confuse people, so I prefer it in the mn spot.
Thanks. We couldn’t use an [name_u]Alex[/name_u] name to honour him as my husband’s brother has already got in there with that one already. We had [name_m]Xander[/name_m] on our boy list before we knew we were expecting a girl and as soon as I saw the name [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] in a baby name book I knew it had to go on our list.
Pegwin was my husband’s idea. He likes the name [name_f]Gwen[/name_f], but none of the longer versions have any meaning to us and I don’t particularly care for them anyway. Pegwin was a way of combining two family names to give the [name_u]Gwin[/name_u]/[name_f]Gwen[/name_f] sound so he can have his little [name_f]Gwen[/name_f]. I never thought about it sounding like a pet pig, but I can sort of see what you mean.
[name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] and [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] are fine names. The remaining options aren’t really “names” to me. While I appreciate the sentiment behind them, they lack depth and history for first names. They would make quirky mn choices. If you honeymooned in [name_u]Cairo[/name_u], then use [name_u]Cairo[/name_u] or [name_u]Egypt[/name_u] (like singer [name_f]Alicia[/name_f] [name_m]Keys[/name_m] did). Many people would mispronounce [name_f]Caira[/name_f] as “cay-ruh” and that would be a hassle. Marsa sounds like the planet with an “a” stuck on the end of it. Written out, it looks like a misspelling of [name_f]Marsha[/name_f]/[name_f]Marcia[/name_f]. Pegwin is too cutesy for a grown woman and we do spend most of our lives as adults.
I like unusual, yet practical names. Pegwin is cute but sounds incompatible with hudson and could get called pigwin. I like [name_f]Caira[/name_f] well enough and think even cooler would be [name_u]Cairo[/name_u] for a boy but nevermind and thank you for a cool boys name idea. I love french names and [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] is great and goes with the surname fine.
In the end, keep in mind that it’s your child who will have the name. A name that is easy to make fun of or very very difficult to pronounce is just not a great idea no matter how much you love it. I have had to nix some glorious and unusual sounding names in my quest and feel your pain but once you name your child the name will very likely become your favorite name in the world because it identifies your bebe.
I really disagree with the previous poster. I think Marsa has history becuase YOU have history and it is chosen based on your history. I have zero doubts that this is a name already in use in some countries also. Ethnic sounding names, especially short and sweet like Marsa and [name_f]Caira[/name_f], are fine. There are very few foolproof names but that doesn’t mean everyone should be called jenny.
I adore [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] - this spelling is my favorite and I don’t think it’s that difficult. I would also pronounce it anna-lease. I think it’s beautiful. I’m not too keen on any of the others.
I agreed with rkrd. I like them all, actually, and think that if they have meaning to you than they’re great options. I would reserve Marsa for a middle name just because it’s a little more complicated (she’ll be called [name_f]Marsha[/name_f] by everyone and constantly have to correct). [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] is beautiful, in my opinion. She may have to pronounce/spell this one as well, but I think that it makes sense and will easily be understood. The advantage to names like yours (including [name_f]Caira[/name_f] and [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]) is that they’re unique without being bizarre or looking made up. The logic is there. My name is [name_f]Kaleigh[/name_f], and I always appreciated that it wasn’t spelled traditionally ([name_f]Kaylee[/name_f]), but was still spelled in a way that made sense to people once I told them what it was. It doesn’t seem like a “yoo-nique” name, but still has the advantages of setting her apart.
Pegwin sounds a little “piggy” to me. You could always go with Winnipeg, a city name that also contains both of your Mother’s names? I don’t think [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] or [name_u]Gwin[/name_u] would be too far a stretch on the nick-name front. Or, as [name_f]Peggy[/name_f] is short for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], you could extend the namesake there–Maregwin/Marigwen maybe? Or save [name_m]Garret[/name_m] for a boy.
If you intend to call her [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] (my preferred spelling), though, then it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of Pegwin, since she’ll likely never use it. Although I think just naming her [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] would be honor enough, provided you explain to your Mom/[name_f]MIL[/name_f] where the thought originated from.
I, too, love [name_f]Annelise[/name_f] and [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]–such strong, romantic names! Pegwin sounds too much like penguin–cute, certainly, but perhaps too cute.
I love [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f], I have never liked [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] (I love [name_f]Anna[/name_f] and I like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], particularly [name_f]Betsy[/name_f]), the others I’m not really that fond of.
The only one I have concerns about is Pegwin…like others, I do get the piggish vibe, and I also think of penguins and pigeons. I love the sentiment behind the name and the way you are willing to get creative to find a compromise, but I’d suggest letting this one go in favor of a more workable option. I do think [name_f]Caira[/name_f] is cute, and I don’t get “[name_m]Mars[/name_m]-with-an-a” from Marsa at all…although I admit, I did just type it “[name_f]Marsha[/name_f]” and have to correct myself I have a definite favorite in [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] (which I also pronounce [name_f]Ann[/name_f]-a-leese). I know a girl by this name and she’s fabulous, plus I think the name itself is very elegant and classic with a twist. [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] sounds pretty perfect for you though…she’s meaningful to you, as well as echoing the short and spunky vibe of [name_f]Caira[/name_f] and Marsa. You could even use [name_u]Cairo[/name_u] as a middle despite the -o ending. Other cities like [name_u]Paris[/name_u], [name_u]London[/name_u], and [name_u]Milan[/name_u] are used as names, why not [name_u]Cairo[/name_u]? [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] [name_u]Cairo[/name_u] [name_u]Hudson[/name_u] is particularly adorable.
[name_f]Caira[/name_f] - This is fine, though I agree with a previous poster that [name_u]Cairo[/name_u] would make a superb middle. [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] [name_u]Cairo[/name_u] is pretty fantastic!
[name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] - The spelling is perfect, and it’s a gorgeous name. By far my favorite. For a simpler option, [name_f]Ann[/name_f]-[name_f]Elise[/name_f] as a double first would be rather cute.
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] - It’s not the same name as [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], but it is a nice nod in his direction. A fine name–unusual, but elegant.
Marsa - I’m indifferent to it. It’s fine, I prefer [name_f]Marcia[/name_f] or Marcelline.
Pegwin - I strongly recommend avoiding this one. [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_u]Wynne[/name_u] would honor both and give your husband his [name_f]Gwen[/name_f].
I have a definite favorite in [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] (which I also pronounce [name_f]Ann[/name_f]-a-leese). I know a girl by this name and she’s fabulous, plus I think the name itself is very elegant and classic with a twist. [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] sounds pretty perfect for you though…she’s meaningful to you, as well as echoing the short and spunky vibe of [name_f]Caira[/name_f] and Marsa. You could even use [name_u]Cairo[/name_u] as a middle despite the -o ending. Other cities like [name_u]Paris[/name_u], [name_u]London[/name_u], and [name_u]Milan[/name_u] are used as names, why not [name_u]Cairo[/name_u]? [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] [name_u]Cairo[/name_u] [name_u]Hudson[/name_u] is particularly adorable.