Ashley vs. Alyssa/Elissa vs. _____

It is still early in my pregnancy, but my husband and I have been bantering back and forth on names…We’re pretty set if it’s a boy, but at a loss if it is a girl.

We know we want to use the middle name [name]June[/name], and so far the “list” that we have in common looks like this

[name]Alyssa[/name] (though I prefer [name]Elissa[/name])
[name]Ashley[/name]
[name]Samantha[/name]

I have a MUCH longer list, but he doesn’t like most of them. He says nothing “goes” with his last name…which starts with an “M” and is 4 syllables and polish, ending in -icz (sounds like “itch”).

Does anyone have any other suggestions that “go” with [name]June[/name] as a middle name??

Thanks!

Well, from your list, as it stands, [name]Samantha[/name] [name]June[/name] gets my vote.

But [name]June[/name] is sweet and goes with lots of names! With your long, Polish surname, I’d probably go with something shorter:

[name]Lily[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Lucy[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Alice[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Mary[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Ruby[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Zara[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Iris[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Vera[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Cora[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Esme[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Anna[/name] [name]June[/name]

But I have a 3 syllable, Scottish, girls name/surname and saddled my girl with a double set of middles as well as a 9 letter first name! And it works for all of us (her included). So, along those lines:

[name]Matilda[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Vivien[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Cecilia[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Clarissa[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Cecily[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Daphne[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Viola[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Lydia[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Flora[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Georgia[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Helena[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Miriam[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Coralie[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Evelyn[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Violet[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Margaret[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Annabel[/name] [name]June[/name]

[name]Hope[/name] that helps!

What about…

[name]Eliza[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Alicia[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Serena[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Selena[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Sienna[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Amaya[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Calista[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Sierra[/name] [name]June[/name]

I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Cecelia[/name], [name]Eliza[/name] and [name]Serena[/name]…they are at the top of my list…but my husband has nixed them all…

If it helps, my list is something like this
[name]Eliza[/name]
[name]Serena[/name]
[name]Natalie[/name]
[name]Caroline[/name]
[name]Cecelia[/name]
[name]Elissa[/name]
[name]Lucy[/name]
[name]Gabriella[/name]
[name]Callie[/name]

Thanks again for any suggestions!!

My favorite of your top three is [name]Alyssa[/name]. Here’s why:

  1. [name]Ashley[/name]'s very cute, but more tied to the 1980s than most of what else you’re considering, so worth reconsidering. It’s also less feminine than most of the rest of your taste.

  2. [name]Alyssa[/name]'s a bit in the same 1980s boat, actually, but not nearly as much because it wasn’t as heavily used, and being floral, it has some meaning outside and more staying power as a first name (of course, [name]Ashley[/name] has been around a long time as a surname, and I’m not trying to knock that). [name]Alyssa[/name] [name]June[/name] is nice to me because the meaning alludes to “spring flower.” [name]Lovely[/name]! I just really like it for you. [name]Elissa[/name] is a nice spelling, it has a different history and maybe a slightly different prn? I like it nearly as much as [name]Alyssa[/name], really the only thing making it lower is I just worry everyone would hear it and spell [name]Alyssa[/name], although then it’s more timeless to balance that out! If that doesn’t concern you that much (no name is perfect), use it!

  3. [name]Samantha[/name] [name]June[/name] is really nice too, again ever so slightly 80s but more history than [name]Ashley[/name] still, really kind of in the non-overused 80s boat with [name]Alyssa[/name]. I like it quite well, I just think it’s a little long for your long last name if that is a concern to you as you imply.

It’s interesting: most of the names you like follow a pattern: they have a sibilant sound (s, z, sh), a liquid sound (l, r) and 2-3 vowel sounds.

I love it when names are good fits with last names, but don’t think it’s a requirement or anything. Maybe your husband can find some flexibility. Fingers crossed.

In the list below I notice some overlap with pps…sorry if you’ve already rejected the names but maybe it’s interesting to see what several people come up with:

What about:

[name]Eliza[/name] -> [name]Elise[/name], [name]Elizabeth[/name]/[name]Elisabeth[/name]. [name]Elise[/name] (usually uh-LEASE in English I think but plausibly uh-[name]LEE[/name]-za/uh-[name]LEE[/name]-sa like in Europe) has a very European feel to go with your last name…you might just go with [name]Elissa[/name] though! [name]Elizabeth[/name]/[name]Elisabeth[/name] is a long name, of course, but is such a classic it almost doesn’t feel long. It’s also very internationally useable so nice with your last name. It has that th from [name]Samantha[/name]. [name]Eliza[/name] and [name]Elissa[/name]/[name]Elisa[/name] could both be nicknames for it depending on spelling (or not). It’s lovely with [name]June[/name]: [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]June[/name]/[name]Elisabeth[/name] [name]June[/name]!

[name]Serena[/name] --> [name]Selena[/name], [name]Helena[/name]/[name]Elena[/name], [name]Irena[/name]/[name]Irina[/name]. [name]Selena[/name] means moon. Very pretty. Too close to [name]Serena[/name] for him? nn [name]Lena[/name] is lovely and very European. [name]Helena[/name]/[name]Elena[/name]? Means light, like [name]Lucy[/name] you like, nn [name]Lena[/name] again. [name]Irena[/name]? Means peace, lovely. I know two Eastern European heritage women with this name and they both like having it. One is EYE-reena and one is IR-eena.

[name]Natalie[/name] --> [name]Natalia[/name], [name]Naomi[/name], [name]Dahlia[/name], [name]Talia[/name], [name]Nerissa[/name], [name]Nerida[/name].
[name]Caroline[/name] --> [name]Carolina[/name], [name]Charlotte[/name], [name]Cara[/name], [name]Carla[/name].
[name]Cecelia[/name]/[name]Cecilia[/name] --> [name]Celia[/name], [name]Selena[/name], [name]Lydia[/name], [name]Felicia[/name], [name]Letitia[/name], [name]Cecily[/name], [name]Amelia[/name], [name]Emilia[/name], [name]Camelia[/name], [name]Cynthia[/name]
[name]Elissa[/name]/[name]Alyssa[/name] --> [name]Azalea[/name], [name]Melissa[/name], [name]Alice[/name], [name]Alicia[/name], [name]Iris[/name]
[name]Lucy[/name] --> [name]Lucia[/name]? Much more international than [name]Lucy[/name] to go with Polish last name, does that help your husband? nn Sia is cute. [name]Lucia[/name] [name]June[/name] is a little bit on the -oo-side, but I think it works. [name]Louisa[/name]? [name]Zoe[/name]?
[name]Gabriella[/name] --> [name]Daniela[/name], [name]Michaela[/name] (often prn short i first mi-KELL-a, but I’m sure there are other prns). I knew a [name]Daniela[/name], she was [name]German[/name], it was a lovely name, and it seems plausible with a Polish name to my ear?
[name]Callie[/name] – [name]Calla[/name], [name]Calista[/name], [name]Calandra[/name], [name]Chloe[/name]
[name]Samantha[/name] --> [name]Diana[/name], [name]Amanda[/name], [name]Miranda[/name], [name]Cassandra[/name], [name]Alexandra[/name]

Hmm…a few more with the sounds you like or close…
[name]Celeste[/name]
[name]Selah[/name]
[name]Sarah[/name]
[name]Rose[/name]/[name]Rosa[/name]/[name]Rosalie[/name]/[name]Rosemary[/name]
[name]Roxana[/name]
[name]Theresa[/name]/[name]Teresa[/name]
[name]Marissa[/name]
[name]Carissa[/name]
[name]Melissa[/name]
[name]Susannah[/name]
[name]Sophia[/name]
[name]Zara[/name]

Best wishes!

What about [name]Alice[/name], [name]Elise[/name]/[name]Alyse[/name]/[name]Alyce[/name], or [name]Annelise[/name]/[name]Annalise[/name]? They are semi-similar to the other compromise names but maybe more your style.