Baby name mental block? Help!

General Name Discussion
1

I love baby names (obviously of I’m on this site :grinning:), but I’m expecting baby number 3 and just feel totally uncommitted to anything at this point. I’m only 11 weeks along, so I know I have plenty of time but I’ve walked away from it for a few weeks and still feel nothing. It makes me sad that I’m not enjoying the process this time and I’m nervous I’ll choose the wrong name if I leave it to the last minute. DS #1 is named after a dear friend who served and died in the marines and my husband’s grandpa who he was very close with. DS #2 is named after my hubby’s other grandpa and his dad. We won’t find out gender, but none of our family names really thrill me but I feel bad not using a meaningful tribute name on the third baby after the precedent has been set. Sons are [name_m]Grant[/name_m] [name_m]Leonard[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m] ([name_m]Will[/name_m]) [name_m]Daniel[/name_m].

Boy names we’ve considered:

  • [name_u]Beau[/name_u] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m] (middle after my dad)
  • [name_m]Davis[/name_m] [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] (my maiden name and hubbys name but I don’t know if I love [name_m]Davis[/name_m]. I really like the idea of it but love one syllable names and am not fond of shortening to [name_m]Dave[/name_m])
  • [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m] (middle after dad)

Girl names we’ve considered:

  • [name_f]Mae[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] (hubbys aunt and my mom but is it too wispy? Is it strong enough or blah?)
  • [name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] (middle after my mom. [name_f]Claire[/name_f] was girl choice for first two and now doesn’t feel fresh anymore after carrying it around for 4 years on the back burner)
  • [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] (middle after mom)
  • [name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] (same)

My beloved godmother is [name_f]Susan[/name_f] and I would honor her in the middle with a second daughter if we end up having two but I don’t love that as a first name. I definitely want to honor my mom if it’s a girl. Using another form of [name_f]Susan[/name_f] feels like a stretch.

Any advice on choosing or on feeling excited about about the process three babies in?

Thanks!

2

i love [name_f]Mae[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] and [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]

3

No advice on how to feel enthused about names again, unfortunately. I’m currently 12+1 and it’s as if as soon as I found out that I’ll be naming a baby for real, names began to bore me and stress me out, which is the opposite of normal.

From the names you’ve already got listed, my favourite for a boy is [name_u]Beau[/name_u] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]. It’s my favourite combo in terms of sound and flow, and I think [name_m]Grant[/name_m], [name_m]William[/name_m], and [name_u]Beau[/name_u] work well together. I also like the fact that [name_m]Gregory[/name_m] is after your dad as it seems only fair to use his name after using your DH’s fathers name for [name_m]Will[/name_m]'s. (Of course this is just based on what you’ve said - I understand family situations can be quite varied.)

As for the girls, my favourite combo in terms of flow and sound would have to be [name_f]Mae[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f], though I think [name_f]Claire[/name_f] works best with brother’s [name_m]Grant[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m].

Some suggestions…

[name_m]Grant[/name_m], [name_m]William[/name_m], and…
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Katie[/name_f]
[name_f]Anne[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Joanna[/name_f]
[name_f]Celeste[/name_f]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f]
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f]
[name_f]Hattie[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmy[/name_f]
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
[name_f]Emma[/name_f]
[name_f]Aida[/name_f]/[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Ella[/name_f]
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Sophie[/name_f]
[name_f]Hannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Anna[/name_f]
[name_u]Harper[/name_u]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Faye[/name_f]
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Sarah[/name_f]

[name_m]Felix[/name_m]
[name_m]Peter[/name_m]
[name_u]Dean[/name_u]
[name_u]James[/name_u]
[name_m]Ross[/name_m]
[name_m]Patrick[/name_m]
[name_m]Forrest[/name_m]
[name_u]Reid[/name_u]
[name_u]Spencer[/name_u]
[name_m]Jack[/name_m]
[name_u]Jay[/name_u]
[name_m]Henry[/name_m]
[name_u]Rudy[/name_u]
[name_m]Quentin[/name_m]
[name_m]Leo[/name_m]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u]
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m]
[name_u]Campbell[/name_u]
[name_u]Noah[/name_u]
[name_m]Russell[/name_m]
[name_m]Charles[/name_m]
[name_m]Levi[/name_m]
[name_u]Finn[/name_u]
[name_m]Luke[/name_m]
[name_u]Quinn[/name_u]
[name_m]Isaac[/name_m]
[name_u]Max[/name_u]
[name_u]Ray[/name_u]

Congratulations and good luck! :slight_smile:

4

My favorites with [name_m]Grant[/name_m] and [name_m]Will[/name_m] are [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m] and [name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f].

[name_u]Beau[/name_u] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]- [name_u]Beau[/name_u] feels insubstantial to me.
[name_m]Davis[/name_m] [name_m]Matthew[/name_m]- I like [name_m]Davis[/name_m] fine (although paired with [name_m]Grant[/name_m] I start to sense a Civil War generals theme, haha), but think you should stick with a single syllable since that’s what you really prefer. Also think it’s better to honor grandpa than Dad with the middle.
[name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]- I like this best.

[name_f]Mae[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]- pretty but I feel like [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] sounds better (bit of course you want the honor name in the middle). [name_f]Mae[/name_f] seems to fade next to [name_m]Grant[/name_m] and [name_m]Will[/name_m]. ( I think because [name_m]Grant[/name_m] and [name_m]Will[/name_m] are common nouns/verbs I start to think “may” and it does seem flimsy…)
[name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]- my favorite. I know names can start to lose their shine, but [name_f]Claire[/name_f] is timeless and I think it sounds strong next to [name_m]Grant[/name_m] and [name_m]Will[/name_m]. It has a lovely meaning, and I think it will become “bright and clear” to you again.
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]- [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] is beautiful but seems out of step with your taste for tailored names.
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]- pretty but I prefer [name_f]Claire[/name_f].

5

I wanted to add that I don’t think [name_f]Sue[/name_f], [name_f]Susanne[/name_f], or [name_f]Susanna[/name_f] would be a stretch to honor [name_f]Susan[/name_f].

6

You have some really excellent names to choose from. [name_m]Gregory[/name_m] and [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] sound so perfect as middle names! I especially like [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m] and [name_f]Claire[/name_f] or [name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f].

Sometimes waiting is the best solution. You feel “meh” now but when you’re further along the naming spark will reignite.

Another solution is to go elsewhere for inspiration. Search you and your SO’s history as a couple to find meaningful names important to your family. Look at your passions and interests for inspiration. Maybe your blah-ness is from lack of sufficient choices where you’re currently looking. My brothers both have family names and I’m named after a location that was important to my dad as a child–i never felt left out for not have a family first name; in fact, I always preferred my naming story!

7

My favourites for you are:

[name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]
[name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_f]Susannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_f]Susannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Susannah[/name_f]

[name_m]Gregory[/name_m], [name_m]Matthew[/name_m], or [name_m]Davis[/name_m] in the middle spot would be nice, but I’m not sure about a first name.

8

My favorites are [name_f]Mae[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] and [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]. I know a toddler [name_f]Mae[/name_f], a young adult [name_f]Mae[/name_f], and a great-grandma [name_f]Mae[/name_f], and they all rock it. I don’t think it is a “wispy” name, I think it’s a little sassy. [name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] is also nice. [name_m]Clark[/name_m] has a similar buttoned-up, southern feel to [name_m]Grant[/name_m] for me. As for getting excited about names, maybe it would help to find out the gender so it is less overwhelming? Also you do have plenty of time.

[name_m]Cole[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]
[name_u]Dean[/name_u] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]
[name_m]Lucas[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]
[name_m]Miles[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]
[name_m]Nathan[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]
[name_u]Reed[/name_u] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]
[name_m]Rhett[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]
[name_u]Rhys[/name_u] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]
[name_u]Wade[/name_u] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]

[name_f]Audrey[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]
[name_u]Blair[/name_u] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]
[name_f]Camille[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] nn [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Sophie[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]
[name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]

9

Thank you all! I feel better after having read your responses. This gave me some fresh thoughts outside my head and I feel ok with giving the perfect name some more time to click. [name_f]Happy[/name_f] thanksgiving!

10

[name_f]Happy[/name_f] Thanksgiving :slight_smile:

I think allowing yourself more time to think & search sounds great!

My two cents ~

• I absolutely love [name_m]Clark[/name_m], and [name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Gregory[/name_m] is wonderful.
• Maybe [name_m]Davies[/name_m] instead of [name_m]Davis[/name_m]? I would also suggest [name_m]Davy[/name_m] as a nn, if you are not feeling [name_m]Dave[/name_m].
• [name_u]Beau[/name_u] is fabulous! I really like some of the longer [name_u]Bo[/name_u]- options too, like [name_m]Bowen[/name_m] and [name_m]Bowman[/name_m].
• [name_u]Finn[/name_u], [name_u]Flynn[/name_u], and [name_u]Beck[/name_u] come to mind for you. Short, bouncy names that still have a strong, classic feel.

• I think [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is gorgeous, but if it feels too insubstantial, what about a longer name like [name_f]Maren[/name_f], [name_f]Marigold[/name_f], [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f], etc? Oh, also I wanted to mention that I do not think it would be too odd to give your next child two middles, especially if you want to honor both [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] and [name_f]Susan[/name_f]. Something like…

o [name_f]Maren[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] [name_f]Susan[/name_f] ([name_f]Mae[/name_f])
o [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] [name_f]Susan[/name_f] ([name_f]Mae[/name_f])
o [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] [name_f]Susan[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] ([name_f]Mae[/name_f])

• [name_f]Claire[/name_f] is beautiful! I am sorry it doesn’t feel so fresh or exciting anymore. Perhaps a combo like [name_f]Clarion[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] [name_f]Susan[/name_f] ([name_f]Claire[/name_f]) would help spice it up?
• I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the idea of [name_m]Grant[/name_m], [name_m]Will[/name_m], and [name_u]Jules[/name_u], so [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] seems like a fabulous option!
• Oh, but I adore [name_f]Rose[/name_f] with your set too! As I am sure you know, there are tons and tons of [name_f]Rose[/name_f]- names, so you have plenty of choices if you want to elaborate it that way. [name_f]Roselle[/name_f] is a variation I am finding especially pretty atm. [name_f]Rosa[/name_f] could work too!
• I know you didn’t want to alter [name_f]Susan[/name_f], but maybe you would be open to varying [name_f]Pamela[/name_f]? If so, I think [name_f]Mela[/name_f] and [name_f]Pomeline[/name_f] would be worth considering.
• A few more random suggestions ~ [name_f]Joy[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f], [name_f]Joy[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] [name_f]Susan[/name_f], [name_f]Joy[/name_f] [name_f]Susan[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] & [name_f]Eira[/name_f] [name_f]Susan[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f], [name_f]Eira[/name_f] [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] [name_f]Susan[/name_f], etc.