Hi all! I’ve posted before but we are still in a dilemma with our girl name. Originally we loved Caroline but there is a somewhat close connection to the family who just named their baby girl Caroline recently and I’m not sure I want that association all the time. That was my number 1 pick for years if we ever had a girl. However, a lot of people are also mispronouncing it as “Carolyn” that I work with. I’ve had to correct 4 or 5 people about the pronunciation and I never thought that would be an issue!
Now we are pondering the name Lorelei. I would love to nn her Lola but my MIL associated that with the song from decades ago and I’m not a fan of that. Even though I don’t think anyone in this baby’s generation would have the same association. We also like the nn Lyla as well. So we are in a predicament with all this.
Do we go with our original plan and stick with sweet, classic Caroline? I’ll just continue to correct people on pronunciation. Or do we choose the pretty, mysterious Lorelei and use a fun and sweet nn? What are everyone’s thoughts?
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] definitely has timelessness on its side, so it’s got my vote. The pronunciation thing might be an issue, but I don’t think you’d completely avoid it with [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f], either. You don’t love the [name_f]Lola[/name_f] song association, but with [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] you’d probably get “Gilmore Girls” references, too, so that’s something to consider. I think [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] has such history and staying power that there’s not one overwhelming association.
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] is definitely timeless and pretty. I’m not super worried about associations just because I know it will be a different generation but its just something else to consider. However, I think your right about there not being one overwhelming association with the name [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]. It’s a toughy!
I’m very worried about that because I truly do not like the pronunciation of “Carol-Lynne”. To me, they are two distinct names but I’ve had so many people mix it up that I’m worried about it!
I’ve always loved the name [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f], but I have a niece named [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] and she’s made me love that name more! [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] is more unexpected, but Caroline’s so lovely and classic.
I like both I prefer [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f]. Maybe you’d like [name_f]Coraline[/name_f], [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] / [name_f]Celia[/name_f], or [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f].
ehhh, I have a cousin named [name_f]Cora[/name_f] so I wouldn’t want something that close and I’m not loving [name_f]Celia[/name_f] or [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]. [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is just a tad too popular but a beautiful name!
Im also shocked that [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] would ever be mispronounced like [name_f]Carolyn[/name_f]!
Id stick with [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] I think. [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] is exciting and unique but would definitely face mispronunciation too and nn [name_f]Lori[/name_f] is definitely the most likely.
I don’t personally love Lorelei’s “meaning” even though the origin is cool.
Also the [name_m]Gilmore[/name_m] girls connection is strong.
I’d definitely switch to [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] with a close family connection using it. Plus it’s way less popular, I think way less pronunciation issues & the nicknames are darling!
I love [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] That’s a beautiful way to get a lot of the sounds of [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] (the ro-lye in the middle) with a more unique, stand-out, but still timeless name. Plus, no pronunciation errors that I can think of. [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] is such an intuitive and creative nickname! I love it! That’d be my pick, personally, given your worries and loves for both names. (I’ve also never seen [name_m]Gilmore[/name_m] Girls, so I don’t have any strong associations to the name. I’ve heard of [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_m]Gilmore[/name_m], but as far as I know, she’s a nice connection anyhow!)
About the song: there is a song with my daughter’s middle name, honestly couldn’t say that name without having the song in mind. It’s my MIL’s name and it was important for my husband to include it so, fine.
The thing is, now, I don’t think of the song as much, and nobody ever made a remark.
I have a few Carolines in my life and for some resin, I find the name a bit cold and out of sync when attached to a real person. I like [name_f]Carrie[/name_f], but not so much [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] (good news is they get their name pronounced correctly - think most get that the “Lyn” version would make it “Linn”). I would use [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] etc over [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] - though I can see it is a very smart, go-getter name and will age very well!
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] is more playful/whimsical. It’s possibly too sing-songy for me but it is a very happy-making and sweet name!
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] !! So so pretty, would love to see it appreciated more. I do like [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] too, but it just doesn’t sparkle as much as the other
I adore both of these names. Not even sure I can pick a favorite—I think [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] wins for me, by the smallest margin.
I’ve never heard of a [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] who pronounced their name [name_f]Carolyn[/name_f], so I’m surprised you’ve gotten that mispronunciation so many times!
I think of “Lola” and “Copacabana” for [name_f]Lola[/name_f], so it does feel very musical to me. [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] is a sweet nickname.
That’s a beautiful way to get a lot of the sounds of [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] (the ro-lye in the middle) with a more unique, stand-out, but still timeless name. Plus, no pronunciation errors that I can think of. [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] is such an intuitive and creative nickname! I love it! That’d be my pick, personally, given your worries and loves for both names. (I’ve also never seen [name_m]Gilmore[/name_m] Girls, so I don’t have any strong associations to the name. I’ve heard of [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_m]Gilmore[/name_m], but as far as I know, she’s a nice connection anyhow!)