Nameberries ! I need your help, so I am definitely naming my first born [name_u]Arizona[/name_u] for personal and symbolic reasons, plus I just love the name and all the possible nicknames that come with it that exude totally different personalities based on the character of my little one - Airy, [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f], [name_u]Zoe[/name_u], Izzi, Rizzo, [name_f]Ona[/name_f], [name_u]Ari[/name_u], [name_f]Airi[/name_f], etc etc. However, my husband is also obsessed with naming our son [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] - again for personal, symbolic, as well as sound reasons with the nickname [name_u]Nix[/name_u].
Although there is great meaningful significance behind these two names, especially together, but I also don’t want to be an issue for two siblings to be named [name_u]Arizona[/name_u] and [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] - two place names that are very much connected, but what do you think?
We are very alternative and artistic and live in a big city in Europe, but I still want to make sure this is “too out there” that it will cause problems for the kids. I think if they both go by nicknames such as Airy and [name_u]Nix[/name_u] it would not be a problem, but can’t guarantee that nicknames stick.
Also I would give them more traditional middle names, for example
[name_u]Arizona[/name_u] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_u]Montgomery[/name_u]
[name_u]Arizona[/name_u] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] & [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_u]Sylvester[/name_u]
[name_u]Arizona[/name_u] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] & [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_u]Izar[/name_u]
[name_u]Arizona[/name_u] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] & [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_m]Ilyas[/name_m]
[name_u]Arizona[/name_u] [name_f]Faye[/name_f] & [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_u]Elliot[/name_u]
Thank you guys for your kind and insightful thoughts !
I don’t really think it’s a big deal if you don’t live in the US. It would be a big no if you did because they are so obviously connected. I’m in the UK and I wouldn’t do it personally, but because [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] is a name that is widely used anyway then it doesn’t seem to be as obvious as if it were something like [name_u]Memphis[/name_u] and [name_u]Tennessee[/name_u].
For me I wouldn’t have [name_u]Arizona[/name_u] & [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] in the same sibling set it’s a bit like having [name_u]Rome[/name_u] & [name_f]Sicily[/name_f] in the same sibling set I feel it’s a bit location heavy. However the other part of me also recognises that [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] is a well used name that people choose without any desire to connect to [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]. I also see that both names have lots of meaning to you and it is such a privilege to name a child so I wouldn’t want you to loose out on a meaningful name. I think if it was me I would have either [name_u]Arizona[/name_u] or [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] as a middle name. [name_f]My[/name_f] immediate thought was [name_u]Arizona[/name_u] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_u]Maverick[/name_u] [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]. I think [name_u]Maverick[/name_u] would be gorgeous with [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] in the middle name slot and as [name_u]Arizona[/name_u] sister.
Yes I was also hoping that since [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] is not “solely” a location name, but is also mythological with a great history it might pass. Also, nickname [name_u]Nix[/name_u] would remove the location heaviness. Thank you for your opinion !
I also thought about having [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] in the middlename position, but husband really loves the name and nickname [name_u]Nix[/name_u]. But maybe his nickname can still be [name_u]Nix[/name_u] pulled from his middle name. Then maybe it would be [name_u]Atlas[/name_u] [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] nn [name_u]Nix[/name_u] for example.
Although, we really do love [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] as a first name…
I do think it’s too much - they’re obviously connected. While I think people’s first thoughts would be [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u], their immediate second thought would be [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u], [name_u]Arizona[/name_u]. I think [name_u]Nix[/name_u] is an unfortunate nickname - it means “nothing”, and sounds like the plural of nick - as in, a cut on your finger.
For what it’s worth, I like [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] as a given name much more than I like [name_u]Arizona[/name_u].
i personally find it cheesy and i don’t like it for real siblings. I agree that phoenix would work in the middle spot. perhaps he could go by both his first name and then nix as a cute nickname?
People will definitely notice and comment on it but so what? I doubt any one is going to dwell on it and even more people won’t say anything or notice.
I would think it was done deliberately - as in, both named after US places - but they sound different enough, and hold their own so I think they could work.
I wouldn’t if you live in the USA, especially within the western half of the US. I wouldn’t use the names together if you are likely to go to [name_u]Arizona[/name_u] at all.
If you live outside the USA, then I don’t think it would be as big a deal. It might come up in geography lessons though, so I would be wary.
People willl notice and probably ask about it. (Maybe less so in Europe than the US) But it doesnt have any negative connections. So they’re both connected but, so what? Its just some odd little quirk, and quite honestly I think if the names are meaningful to you thats whats most important. Your kiddos are going to be living their own lives. They’re not going to be a “set” forever, so I say go with the names you love!
They sound great together, but I wouldn’t use them for siblings. Two place names would be okay, but one that is within the other… to me that’s too much. And although [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] also has the mythological connection, being next to [name_u]Arizona[/name_u] overrides that connection, and it sounds like a city, not a creature, to me. Putting one of them in the middle would help somewhat, but maybe you could also find a compromise, like having a first that lends to the nickname and a middle with the symbolic connection?
Go for it! I can’t imagine that’d be front-of-mind for people in Europe anyway. But if anyone asks you can say you just liked those names
The little kids’ version of Highlights magazine has a recurring cartoon with a character named [name_u]Arizona[/name_u] I always thought it was cute. Her younger siblings are [name_u]Indie[/name_u] (Indiana) and [name_u]Tex[/name_u] (Texas)
I like the names but wouldn’t use both if I had a daughter and son. I think it’ll add to tween/teen rivalry - “I’m the capital of you!”, “you only exist because of me!”, and potentially smutty comments which probably says more about me having five brothers growing up, but there could be some gross comments made about [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] being “in” [name_u]Arizona[/name_u] (). So I wouldn’t use both. I think it’s OK to use another location name, I just wouldn’t do such closely connected ones. It’s already pretty intense being a sibling sometimes so no need to add to that!
I think in situations like this, how much it will bother you to explain why you chose those names to others is what needs to be considered most. You have meaningful ties to both names. [name_f]Do[/name_f] those ties outweigh the potential headaches? You’ve got enough comments here to see what reactions will likely be. If you love them enough to deal with the reactions and headaches then go for it. If not, then it’s probably better to use one or the other as a middle name.
[name_f]My[/name_f] son’s name is [name_m]Benton[/name_m] which is a not so great town in the state where we live. However, it’s also my husband’s great grandfather’s name and the name of the man who originated the idea of the Appalachian [name_m]Trail[/name_m]. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband has strong ties to the Smokies which made him love the name even more. When I was a kid, my favorite boy name was [name_u]Benjamin[/name_u]. All of this came together to make the crappy town in our state not matter so much. We do occasionally explain why we chose his name, but once people hear the why they are very understanding. The why does matter.
It’s a little weird, especially if you introduce them as [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] & [name_u]Arizona[/name_u], instead of [name_u]Arizona[/name_u] & [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u].
Also just would like to point out the [name_u]Nix[/name_u], is a very common lice treatment.
If those are the names you love, I would say go for it!
[name_f]My[/name_f] biggest hesitation would be if you ended up having a 3rd kid, you may feel pressure to give them a name that is linked closely to their siblings’. In that event, here are some ideas:
[name_f]Sedona[/name_f], Tuscon, [name_f]Sonora[/name_f], [name_u]Canyon[/name_u], [name_u]Copper[/name_u], Havasu, [name_f]Valley[/name_f]
For Arizona’s middle name, I like [name_f]Rose[/name_f] or [name_f]Jane[/name_f] from your list. I also like [name_u]Jade[/name_u], [name_f]Claire[/name_f], [name_f]Hope[/name_f], [name_f]Belle[/name_f], and [name_f]Liv[/name_f].
For Phoenix’s middle name, I like [name_u]Montgomery[/name_u] and [name_u]Elliot[/name_u] from your list.
I always thought it was cute. Her younger siblings are [name_u]Indie[/name_u] (Indiana) and [name_u]Tex[/name_u] (Texas)
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