Baby Naming

General Name Discussion
1

After ten years of infertility, my husband and I are finally expecting a baby. I am obsessed with names and have had lists for years, but now that we are talking about an actual baby it seems difficult! I am only about seven weeks so we don’t know what we’re having yet, but I will probably obsess over names up until the birth. Here’s what I have so far. I would love thoughts and/or suggestions.

Girls

Addilee or Addalee with nickname [name_f]Addi[/name_f]: This has family significance but I know the [name_f]Addie[/name_f] variations are rampant so I am unsure.

[name_f]Aria[/name_f]: [name_u]Love[/name_u] the musical meaning and the Italian meaning “[name_f]Air[/name_f]” but see it is up to number 23 now. Hear this is due to Pretty [name_m]Little[/name_m] Liars (never watched it and don’t really know if the association is okay)

[name_f]Eliana[/name_f]: This was THE NAME for us for the first five or so years of trying. We aren’t sure anymore because it feels like there is a lot of pain and sadness associated with the name as we tried and failed to become parents.

Kelvey: I read it in a book as a teenager and never quite could let it go. It is made up, though.

[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]: My husband’s favorite, not really high on my list.

Edited to Add Zoe/Zoey: Not sure how I missed this one but it is pretty high on my husband’s list and I love it, too.

Boys

[name_u]Chandler[/name_u]: Probably will be the name unless we come up with a new one, because my husband doesn’t like my top choice, which is…

[name_m]Nash[/name_m]: Not my hubby’s favorite, I have loved it for about two solid years.

Other names that were on our list but can’t be used anymore because of various friends and family using them:

[name_f]Adelyn[/name_f]
[name_f]Brenna[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilah[/name_f]
[name_f]Layla[/name_f]
[name_f]Lydia[/name_f]

[name_u]Jace[/name_u]
[name_m]Levi[/name_m]
[name_u]Parker[/name_u]

Our last name is super common/popular.

2

Congratulations!!

For a girl, I’d definitely go with [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] (or [name_f]Zoey[/name_f], but I prefer [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]). It sounds like one you both love, having a similar feel to [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] for him but also fitting with your style, and it means ‘Life’ - how perfect!

For boys names, if you both like [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] it’s nice, but there’s no reason not to keep looking.
[name_m]How[/name_m] about:
[name_m]Brooks[/name_m]
[name_m]Cassius[/name_m]
Cripsin
[name_m]Ferris[/name_m]
[name_m]Fisher[/name_m]

3

Congratulations :slight_smile:

I adore [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], and I agree that it could be a great match! It does have the two spellings though, so if that bothers you, maybe…

[name_f]Chloe[/name_f] - Similar to both [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] and [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f].

[name_f]Juliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Liliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Liana[/name_f]
…all are variations of [name_f]Liliana[/name_f]. [name_f]Liliana[/name_f] and [name_f]Liana[/name_f] are similar to both [name_f]Lilah[/name_f] and [name_f]Lydia[/name_f], as well. [name_m]Just[/name_m] thought I would suggest it. If you are not comfortable with these, no problem.

[name_f]Arielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Arianne[/name_f]
…alternatives to the popular [name_f]Aria[/name_f].

[name_u]Kelsey[/name_u]
[name_u]Keely[/name_u]
…possible alternatives to Kelvey?

[name_f]Brynn[/name_f]
[name_f]Briella[/name_f]
…similar to [name_f]Breanna[/name_f].

[name_f]Bria[/name_f] - This is my favorite idea for you. It means vigor & liveliness. (Similar to [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], meaning life.) Also, it has a similar rhythm to [name_f]Aria[/name_f] and [name_f]Lilah[/name_f]. In my opinion, [name_f]Bria[/name_f] is charming and upbeat. I think it could stand alone, or be a nickname for [name_f]Briella[/name_f] (see above). I love that it is unique, but has a familiar feel.

Other girl names you may like ~
[name_f]Adela[/name_f]
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Gemma[/name_f]
[name_f]Sienna[/name_f]
[name_u]Piper[/name_u]

I think Chandler Nash would be really nice! I also like @maerad’s ideas of Brooks and Cassian.

You still have a while until you need to decide, so enjoy the process. We are always happy to offer more suggestions. You have great style, and your baby will have a beautiful name :slight_smile:

4

CONGRATULATIONS! A baby is always something to celebrate, and I think your long journey to parenthood makes this time all the more special for you.

Girls

Addilee or Addalee with nickname [name_f]Addi[/name_f]- I like that this name has family significance to you. [name_f]Addie[/name_f] and variants are very popular, as are similar sounding names like [name_u]Ari[/name_u], Madi, and [name_u]Abby[/name_u]. That said, it’s still a great name. I’m partial to the [name_f]Adelie[/name_f] spelling.

[name_f]Aria[/name_f]: I don’t know much about Pretty [name_m]Little[/name_m] Liars, but I don’t think it should be a problem considering [name_f]Aria[/name_f]'s popularity. If popularity is a concern for you, you’ll have to rethink most of your girl’s list, but if you’re not worried, keep it as is.

[name_f]Eliana[/name_f]: I think that’s a great reason to drop this name.

Kelvey: Could be a great middle with a fun story!

[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]: Aside from Kelvey, it’s the least common name on your list. It’s very quirky!

[name_f]Zoe[/name_f]/[name_f]Zoey[/name_f]: I like this one for its meaning- “life.”

Boys
[name_u]Chandler[/name_u]- sounds like the winner at the moment, but if you’re not in love, it may be worth looking for other names.

[name_m]Nash[/name_m]- I like this one! Thoughts on a formal name that can be shortened to [name_m]Nash[/name_m]? It might get your husband on board. I like [name_m]Nashua[/name_m].

With a very common last name, I personally would go for a rarer first name. Some other ideas you may like:
[name_u]Beck[/name_u]/[name_m]Beckett[/name_m]/[name_m]Beckham[/name_m]
[name_m]Preston[/name_m]
[name_u]Walker[/name_u]
[name_u]Ashton[/name_u]
[name_m]Asher[/name_m]
[name_u]Brady[/name_u]
[name_u]Easton[/name_u]
[name_m]Callum[/name_m]
[name_m]Lachlan[/name_m]
[name_m]Wilder[/name_m]
[name_m]Weston[/name_m]

[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ariadne[/name_f]
[name_f]Adela[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeva[/name_f]
[name_f]Thalia[/name_f]
[name_f]Asha[/name_f] (means “hope” or “wish,” which I think is fitting for this long-awaited child)
[name_f]Vita[/name_f] (means “life”)
[name_f]Nadia[/name_f] (“hope”)
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] (“dawn”)

5

I love [name_f]Eliana[/name_f] from your list. But if you think it is too associated with your painful journey, it is an understandable reason to drop it. My next favorite of your options would be [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]. And it sounds like both you and your husband love it!

Some more girls options:
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
[name_f]Cosima[/name_f]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f]
[name_u]Eden[/name_u]
[name_f]Ella[/name_f]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] (I like the rainbow meaning of this to symbolize the beauty after your difficult time)
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f]
[name_f]Lena[/name_f]
[name_f]Liliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Luna[/name_f]
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f]
[name_f]Poppy[/name_f]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Sophie[/name_f]
[name_u]Vivian[/name_u]
[name_f]Zara[/name_f]
[name_u]Zola[/name_u] (possible nn [name_f]Zoe[/name_f])

To me [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] and [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] are both SOO associated with Friends that I would never use them. [name_m]Levi[/name_m] is my favorite of your boy’s options.

Some more ideas:
[name_m]Archer[/name_m]
[name_m]Atticus[/name_m]
[name_u]Elias[/name_u]
[name_u]Elliott[/name_u]
[name_m]Greyson[/name_m]
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m]
[name_m]Miles[/name_m]/[name_m]Milo[/name_m]
[name_u]Nico[/name_u]
[name_m]Otis[/name_m]
[name_u]Owen[/name_u]
[name_m]Reuben[/name_m]
[name_m]Ronan[/name_m]
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]
[name_u]Sawyer[/name_u]
[name_m]Silas[/name_m]
[name_u]Theo[/name_u]

6

Congratulations! I’m so happy for you! :slight_smile: I’ve been told that it will be very difficult for me to have children, so I can imagine how exciting this must be for you!

Addilee or Addalee ([name_f]Addi[/name_f]): Family associations are always nice. If you’re not sure about the nickname [name_f]Addi[/name_f] or its associations, you could always use this as a middle to still honor your family.

[name_f]Aria[/name_f]: One of my favorites too. I first heard it used on Pretty [name_m]Little[/name_m] Liars. I don’t have a problem with the association, but if I were you, I’d read up on the character before choosing this name just to make sure you’re okay with it.

[name_f]Eliana[/name_f]: It’s a very pretty name, but if you associate it with hard times, you may want to use a variant. However, it’s also possible that naming your daughter this will replace the negative connotation with a positive one. You may want to test it out for a little while before the baby comes to see how it feels.

Kelvey: Not one that I personally like, but I like the trend of naming a child after a character from something you like, especially a rare name like this one.

[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]: I always associate this with Friends, but it could be a cute name.

[name_f]Zoe[/name_f]/[name_f]Zoey[/name_f]: Pretty trendy right now, so I’m not sure how you feel about that. But it is a nice name.

[name_u]Chandler[/name_u]: Surprisingly I don’t associate this one with Friends, haha :slight_smile: I personally like this name for both a boy or a girl.

[name_m]Nash[/name_m]: One of my favorites lately. If your husband doesn’t like it, maybe you’d like Nashville shortened to [name_m]Nash[/name_m]? I personally don’t like that option, but it could work.

You may also consider using a name that has a meaning like “hope” or “miracle” or “love” considering how much you wanted this baby. You can try behindthename.com and search names by their meaning.

If you’re really not sure about a name or considering one in particular, I’d recommend talking to or about your baby and using that name for a short time to test it out.

Good luck to you and your husband!

7

I randomly stumbled upon this post searching for the name Kelvey actually, and thought I would update! We learned at 20 weeks that our baby was a girl. At that point we had the names narrowed to [name_f]Elliana[/name_f], [name_f]Aria[/name_f], and [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]. I didn’t love [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] but we both loved [name_f]Evie[/name_f] (E.V.) as a nickname and [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] was the closest we could agree on. When we found out she was a girl, my husband vetoed [name_f]Aria[/name_f] and I vetoed [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]. We landed on [name_f]Elliana[/name_f] [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] so that we could use her initials, E.V. to call her [name_f]Evie[/name_f].

Four days later my pregnancy got super crazy, and I went on bedrest at home…and then at 23 weeks, was admitted to the hospital with my cervix at zero. The doctors, nurses, and specialists fully expected for our baby to be born within 24 hours. They told me that when she was born, they would weigh her, and if she wasn’t big enough to save, they would hand her to me until she was gone. That day I told my husband I wanted a name set in stone and that it couldn’t be [name_f]Elliana[/name_f] because it was too attached to all of the bad things we had already been through with infertility. We both agreed we loved [name_f]Evie[/name_f] as a nickname so we chose in that moment [name_f]Evelynn[/name_f] [name_f]Victoria[/name_f]. We had planned for [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] with one n, but in that moment the double nn felt right.

[name_m]Long[/name_m] story short, long hospital stay, then long bedrest at home, and our [name_f]Evelynn[/name_f] [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] was born at 37 weeks. She is now a spunky, curly-haired two year old. We are over the moon in love with her, and the sadness and the fear and the unknowns were so worth every minute we get with this little girl.

Sometimes I wish we had used [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] as her first name, but overall her name suits her.

8

Congratulations, it’s so lovely to have an update! :slight_smile: [name_f]Evelynn[/name_f] [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] is wonderful.

9

I love [name_f]Eliana[/name_f], and don’t give it up now! Why should it signal sadness when it could signal new life? It’s kind of like redemption, if you know what I mean! I also like [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] and [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f].

10

Congrats!
My favorite from your girls list would have to be [name_f]Aria[/name_f]. I’ve never seen Pretty [name_m]Little[/name_m] Liars but I have seen Game of Thrones and [name_u]Arya[/name_u] is a popular character. It’s not a bad association at all (in my opinion).
It seems tho that Addilee/Addalee has the most significance to you. [name_f]Addi[/name_f] is lovely and is very sweet.

[name_u]Chandler[/name_u] isn’t my favorite, all I can think is the character from Friends. I much prefer [name_m]Nash[/name_m]. It’s modern, cool, and very strong. I also really like [name_m]Levi[/name_m] and [name_u]Jace[/name_u]!

Other name you might like:
[name_f]Arabella[/name_f]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Mila[/name_f]/Meela
[name_f]Harlow[/name_f]
[name_f]Aveline[/name_f]

[name_m]Wyatt[/name_m]
[name_m]Asher[/name_m]
[name_m]Ryder[/name_m]
[name_u]Hudson[/name_u]
[name_m]Ezra[/name_m]
[name_m]Holden[/name_m]
[name_m]Chance[/name_m]
[name_m]Colt[/name_m]
[name_u]Beau[/name_u]
[name_m]Zane[/name_m]
[name_m]Brooks[/name_m]

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps :slight_smile:

11

@magicofordinarydays Congratulations on your beautifully named [name_f]Evie[/name_f]! What a wonderful update, thank you so much for coming back and sharing it with us. Wishing you all well for the future.