[name_m]Long[/name_m] time lurker here on Nameberry. After 3 years of trying with my husband, we are now 30 weeks along with twins! We’re getting very close to the finish like, but are still so undecided on what to name our long awaited bundles of joy.
My favourite name has always been [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], all my dolls were named [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] (according to my mother) and when I got my first horse, I named her [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]. My beloved [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] got very sick and passed away 3 years ago. It’s my favourite name to date, and I can’t imagine not having a daughter called [name_f]Maggie[/name_f].
My husband likes the name, he just thinks that it’s a little odd that I’d “want to name my child after a deceased horse” - do you? It’s been my absolute favourite for such a long time. He says he just feels a little odd about our future daughter bearing the same name as a dead animal.
This might sound over the top, but I’m really just looking for some straight out, honest opinions that won’t come from family or friends!
Ahhh!!! Someone who’s on the same [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] crazed train as I am!!!
If you’re worried, you could always use a longer form - [name_f]Margot[/name_f], [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] etc. If you want to call her [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], call her [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]. You’ve got an affinity with the name, at the end of the day it’s your choice what you name your child. Go for it, if you like it!
The only way I think it would be odd is if the name was a very typical pet name. Like Fido might be a little weird if there was a dead Fido dog in your past. But that’s really just personal taste. I don’t like Fido (or [name_m]Rufus[/name_m] or [name_f]Sadie[/name_f]) but others might.
For typical names, like [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] (love it, btw!), I don’t see anything wrong with it. It doesn’t seem weird at all. I had a dog called [name_u]Sam[/name_u] and [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] is definitely on my list. I didn’t even think of it as being connected with a dead pet. If you like the name, you like the name. My personal preference would be to use a longer form and use [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] as the nn, but I think [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] can also stand on it’s own as well.
Go for it! My mother was obsessed with the name [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], and I ended up with it as a middle name, since she felt it would be wrong to give me the same first name as two parakeets and her late car. It ended up getting bumped into the first name position anyway, because I can’t stand my first name, and I don’t mind that it was a pet name before it was my name- it actually makes for a pretty cool story.
Only if it’s not weird for both of you. When you think of the name [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], what comes to mind first? Consider your parents also… If your or your husband firstly think of your horse and not a future daughter then the name could be too tied to that pet.
It could be fine - you don’t want to introduce sweet little [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] to a cousin, maybe, who says ‘oh, like you’re horse?’
It might be find if you both love it, but long term pet names tend to have an everlasting memory.
Hm, it’s an interesting question. I think you should use the name if you love it, but if you’re not sure, and there’s another name you love, go with the other name. I think since you named all your dolls [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], it’s not as weird as if it had been just your horse. Can you see yourself telling your daughter one day “I loved the name [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] my whole life - I named my dolls [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], I named a horse [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], and then I finally got to name you [name_f]Maggie[/name_f].” It’s less weird than saying, “I like the name [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], it was my horses name, and so I decided to call you [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] too!”
[name_m]Long[/name_m] story short, if you love it, go for it.
If you can’t imagine not having a daughter named [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], I say go for it. Like previous posters have mentioned, I think how you frame it up will be important. I loved what someone said about mentioning everything you’ve named [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], not just the horse. I’m sure some people in your family will reference the horse when you announce the name, but I’d like to think that they would soon think of [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] your daughter vs. [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] the horse, especially since the horse is deceased.
I don’t see a problem with it, really! Actually I’m in the same boat. My Quarter Horse mare, who is the axis around which my world spins, is named [name_f]Sirena[/name_f] - yet I love the name [name_f]Serene[/name_f], probably as a middle. I intend to use it, and if my daughter asks, I’ll just explain that I loved the name and the mare who bore it before her was far more than just a dumb, easily forgotten animal. I don’t think your daughter would be bothered by it - she might even think it’s an interesting connection to your past.
Thanks everyone for the really positive responses. Family connections to Maggie shouldn’t be too much of a problem for us, I grew up in Australia but now live in the US with DH, so his family doesn’t really know about my gorgeous horse!
That being said, a longer form might just be what we need, so she can choose what she likes but I can always have her as my Maggie. At the moment I really like Margot, Magali or Magdalena. Please keep feedback coming!!
I love the idea of going with a longer, “formal” name and keeping the nickname [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]. It’s a name you’ve given to things you love, so I think it’s acceptable, especially if you change it up a little. I think whichever form you use really depends on the surname, but my favorites are [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f], [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] and [name_f]Magdalena[/name_f].
It’s a little weird. I don’t think I’d like learning that my mom gave me a name she’s used repeatedly. It would feel like my name was generic rather than thoughtfully selected just for me. If you must go with [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] then you need to be very, very careful how you frame it. For instance, ‘I’ve always dreamed of a daughter named [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]. When I was little I named everything [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]- my dolls & even my horse!’
As for names with the [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] nn, how about
[name_f]Magda[/name_f]
Magna
[name_f]Magdala[/name_f]
Or, you could go with fn/mn combos that can get you [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], like:
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] [name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_u]Morgan[/name_u] [name_f]Agatha[/name_f]
[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] [name_u]Grey[/name_u]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f] [name_f]Gabriella[/name_f]
[name_f]Marie[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
Thanks everyone a lot for your help. After talking with DH today, he’s agreed that we can have our little [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]. She’s looking more and more like a [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] now, though.
Really loving [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] at the moment for our boy, too, and I think [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_u]Theo[/name_u] is a good progression from [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] and [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]! Can’t believe how quickly this has happened, wish I’d started posting sooner!
One great thing about [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] is that if there is ever a time anyone gets tired of [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], there are so many other intuitive nicknames to choose from. [name_f]Nola[/name_f], [name_f]Lola[/name_f], [name_f]Lia[/name_f], [name_f]Meg[/name_f]…Not that I think you’ll get tired of it considering how much you love [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]. But if your husband isn’t 100% sold, all the extra nn’s are a good selling point.
[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] and [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] sound absolutely perfect! [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_u]Theo[/name_u] sound great too.
I see no problem with the horse connection either, if you have loved a name forever there is a good chance you will give it to something other than your firstborn along the way! When you are young you don’t often think of saving all your best names for your kids.
I know a [name_m]Louie[/name_m] who’s mum and dad had a cat named [name_m]Louie[/name_m] and when the baby came along they could think of no more perfect name than that. I remember thinking fair enough, it is a great name when they told me.
I think it’s fine, it’s a nice sentimental touch. If you can’t imagine having a daughter and not naming her [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], then don’t let a horse stop you. I like the idea of a longer name with [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] as the nn. [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] and [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] nn [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_u]Theo[/name_u] is amazing, congrats on finding your names!
I think I’ve found our combos! Hopefully I’ll be able to introduce you all to [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] [name_f]Adele[/name_f] ([name_f]Maggie[/name_f]) and [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_m]Solomon[/name_m] ([name_u]Theo[/name_u]). I had I quick word to DH last night, he seems on board with [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f].
I shopped around for other middles e.g. [name_f]Belle[/name_f], [name_f]Juliette[/name_f] and [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] but [name_f]Adele[/name_f] seemed to really complete it for me. [name_u]Theo[/name_u]'s middle name, [name_m]Solomon[/name_m], means peace. Both my father ([name_m]Humphrey[/name_m]) and DH’s grandfather ([name_m]Frederick[/name_m]) share names that include peace, so it’s a bit of a roundabout way of honouring those two men.
DH has been workshopping some names of his own too apparently, we’re going to talk all things baby names over some dinner this evening, I’ll keep you all posted!
Beautiful names! I might be a little biased, seeing that [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] are my number one names for kids. Funny that you’re using [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], I too often contemplate [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], switching it with [name_m]Edward[/name_m]. I’d still have a [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] with the option of having a [name_u]Theo[/name_u] too! I think the names are beautiful, hope it all works out for you!
Well… DH isn’t as keen on [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] as I thought. He thinks it’s too flowery, so we are again back to square one.
He did suggest some names, I am rather fond of his suggestion of [name_f]Margot[/name_f] [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] and [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] [name_m]Rafferty[/name_m]. Thoughts? I may make a poll in a new thread to make it easier.