See the results of this poll: Which name description would you choose?
Respondents: 138 (This poll is closed)
- Family Meaning : 21 (14%)
- Heart Warming : 71 (46%)
- Original Dream: 63 (41%)
I can see your dilemma, but ultimately I’d go with #2 for this reason:
This name is sweet and full of joy to me… it warms my heart to think of calling our baby girl by this name.
That’s the holy grail right there.
Best of luck!
Are you doing a middle name? You could do double middle name, you know.
I personally would go with the original dream, option #3! It’s a longtime love and it sounds like this will be your only chance to ever use it. 
Second choice would be option #2!
I think you have beautifully described your dilemma. I tossed between 2 and 3 in the end, and chose 2.
It sounds like you can’t go wrong. Personally, I’d go with the name that warms your heart. If it inspires such sweet feelings in you, that name sounds like a winner.
Absolutely number 2. Hands down.
Why can’t you use all three? Two middle names aren’t uncommon.
The birth parents are adding two middle names and my husband doesn’t want her to have more than three names so we are limited to choosing one.
Extremely torn between 1 and 3. Using a family name as a middle has brought me a lot of happiness; that said, there is an argument to be made for fulfilling the dream. I would toss a coin between the various options, and when the winner is revealed, analyze how you feel about its victory. Were you secretly hoping another option would win? Go with that one.
You make a strong case for all three options. I used meaningful family names as middles, so I understand the draw to do so. And maybe it would be especially sweet for an adopted child to share a family name. However, ultimately family’s family and the amount of love will be the same, and since there are so many ways to make ties to loved ones (Grammie loves to paint, too! Great Auntie’s favorite color is also yello!), I’d reluctantly let go of this one.
Choice three almost won me over. The fulfillment of a decade-long dream is significant. But the thing about dreams, and the journey we’re led on in their pursuit, is that changes us. You’re not the same people that you were when this child was just a hope; you’ve lived and grieved and grown significantly in ten years, I imagine. And while you’re nostolgic for a name that’s been with you the whole time, it’s possible that choice three is the name of the journey and choice two is actually the name of your daughter- “we figured she was this, until we happily realized she was THIS.”
All that being said, your description of the choice three name intrigues me; can you delay naming her a bit and get a feel for which of the names seems to best suit her?
You’re putting enough thought into this that whatever name you choose is sure to lovely and perfect. Best wishes!
Sounds to me like #1 or #2 have the most compelling arguments.
We had always planned on having a large family and had no trouble getting pregnant with our first, so secondary infertility really caught me off guard. Now that we are expecting our second years later and knowing it may be our last, I have found myself really regretting not getting more honor name in for our first and struggling with limiting it for this one.
But as the previous poster mentioned, that description of name #2 making your heart sing and being something you look forward to hearing and saying is practically the most compelling argument one could make.
As far as unfortunate rhymes, kids will come up with anything and everything, so trying to avoid that is not worth it, unless it’s REALLY bad. I think you should choose your dream name. It’s nice to pass on a family name, but your dream of parenthood is finally happening, and you should use the name you [name_u]LOVE[/name_u].
I agree with bjoy. Normally, I like to include an honor name, but all of your choices sound great. I think that you will know which one is right when you see her sweet little face, though. If that doesn’t work, I voted for option 2.
What a sweet dilemma. I was torn between 2 and 3, but chose 3 in the end.
[name_m]Will[/name_m] you let us know what the names options were once you decide? 
I think the family meaning would be lovely as it honours lots of people and doesn’t have negative rhyming options. I also think 2 would be great as katinka quoted ‘it warms my heart to think of calling a baby girl by this name’. And number 3 would be really nice too as it was your original dream! I can really see the dilemma you have here and I ended up voting for 1, but now even I’m unsure! I think option 2 would be great! Good luck, I hope you find the perfect name and that everything runs smoothly
Your child will have important family names from her birth parents. It feels like the best gift you can give your daughter is a name that looks to the future and makes your heart sing. From the descriptions you have provided, that would be name #2. It’s quite normal for your favorite names to change over time, and that’s OK. Yes, you will mourn 2 names, and this is only 1 of many difficult parenting decisions to come. It’s never easy. Congratulations on the arrival of your new baby!
Stuck between 2 and 3, but I went with 3 because you said “to us, it would be the fulfillment of a dream… Our first and only chance to use it.” What a special gift to pass on to your daughter - a 10 year journey, a name you’ve loved since the beginning, coming full circle into your arms. A name that survived that long journey, just like your desire for a daughter. To me, it’s a testament of lasting love, hope, and determination - which I think is a special reminder to you and your husband about what you’ve weathered together and what you’ve gained, your happy ending, and also an incredibly important message for an adopted child to hear, even if that message comes much later in life.
Much love and luck to you ” What a choice!
I originally voted for comfort before I read but now I have I changed my mind. Since this will be your only daughter I feel you should go with your dream. You only get one chance and I think you should go for it. I wish you good luck with the baby.
[name_m]How[/name_m] meaningful is the family name to you? Does it truly embody people and memories that make a smile light up on your face every time you think about them? If that’s the case - as it would be for me - I think you should go with the family name.
Another factor to take into consideration is how big the gap between the extent you love the three names is. If number 2 is the only one you absolutely love deep down, then you have to choose that one. However, if you really love them all, it’s more complicated, and I’d be more in favour of option 1 or option 3.
If I understand correctly and she’s an adopted baby, it would be really valuable for her name to connect her to her new family. Similarly, it would be meaningful for her to know that she is the child her parents always dreamed for, and so got the name they longed to give a daughter from the very beginning.