Due in August, Need Help Deciding on Feminine Name

Girl Names
1

DH and I are due with our first, a girl, in [name_u]August[/name_u]. I have loved names all my life, but am finding it so hard to pick the perfect one now that it’s really happening! Many of the names I used to love feel stale to me now, but in general I prefer long, feminine, more classic names, and would love for the name to have a cute nickname option as well. We have several names we like, and I was hoping to get some opinions, especially with regard to spelling preferences, on both given names and nicknames.

First name options we both like:

[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] (pronounced Mad-uh-lynn or Mad-uh-lehn, either is fine as long as it’s not Mad-uh-line as in “stand in line”); nn [name_f]Maddie[/name_f]/[name_f]Maddy[/name_f]/[name_f]Maddi[/name_f]
[name_f]Emilia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Emmy[/name_f]/[name_f]Emmi[/name_f]/[name_f]Emmie[/name_f]
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]/[name_f]Elaina[/name_f] nn [name_u]Laney[/name_u]/[name_f]Lainey[/name_f]
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f]/[name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] (especially conflicted about choosing a spelling for this name); nn [name_f]Annie[/name_f] and/or [name_f]Belle[/name_f]

I also like (but he doesn’t):
Rosabel nn [name_f]Rosie[/name_f]

He likes (but I’m not crazy about):
[name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] nn [name_f]Annie[/name_f]

Middle name options:

[name_u]Winter[/name_u]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_u]Jo[/name_u]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]/[name_f]Ivie[/name_f] (how my great-grandmother spelled it, though I think I prefer [name_f]Ivy[/name_f])

With regard to middle names, I’m having some trouble. [name_f]My[/name_f] middle name (as well as my mother’s middle name) is [name_u]Jo[/name_u], and I feel some family pressure to pass it on. However, I do not love the name, and I feel its simple, up-beat style doesn’t mesh very well with the full first names I like (though it often sounds cute with the nickname options). I love the mental image [name_u]Winter[/name_u] conjures as a middle name; but, my first name is [name_f]Summer[/name_f]. I can’t decide if I think giving her [name_u]Winter[/name_u] for a middle name would be too gimick-y, or if it would be a neat connection we would share. Finally, using [name_f]Rose[/name_f] as a middle name might also be an issue, as my husband’s sister gave it as a middle name to her infant daughter. The girls won’t likely grow up near each other, but I’m worried I would offend my [name_m]SIL[/name_m] by using [name_f]Rose[/name_f] also.

If you’ve read all this, thanks! I would appreciate any comments or advice, and would love to hear your favorite combo!

2

I love all of your names and don’t think you could go far wrong with any of them :slight_smile:

The first name that sprung to my mind when reading your post, which could perhaps be another option for you, was [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]. It’s a long, feminine, elegant and beautiful name with lots of nn possibilities such as [name_f]Gen[/name_f], [name_f]Genie[/name_f], [name_f]Genny[/name_f], [name_f]Eve[/name_f], [name_f]Evie[/name_f], [name_f]Vivi[/name_f]… I think it’s perfect :slight_smile:
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] is another of my favourites and seems to fit the bill too. I love the nn [name_f]Vivi[/name_f], so cute!

As for mn’s [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] would be stunning! If you’re worried about [name_m]SIL[/name_m]'s reaction perhaps speak to her about using it first. As it’s only a mn I don’t think it should cause too much of a problem. Lots of people have mn [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and remember, no-one owns a name!

I personally wouldn’t use [name_u]Winter[/name_u]. As she will be born in the height of [name_f]Summer[/name_f] I think it may be a bit weird, but that’s just my opinion!

[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t use [name_u]Jo[/name_u] if you don’t love it.

I love [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]! With that spelling too. I think it would sound lovely as a mn to any of your choices :slight_smile: I think it may be a bit -v heavy with [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] or [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] though!

Other pretty shorter mn ideas:

[name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Mae[/name_f]/[name_f]May[/name_f]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Faye[/name_f]
[name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
Esmé
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Elsa[/name_f]

Good luck!

3

[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] – love this spelling (will also have less “line” incidents) and think this is a lovely name, though I’m not personally much a fan of [name_f]Maddie[/name_f].
[name_f]Emilia[/name_f] – NMS but I like the nn spelling [name_f]Emme[/name_f], though you could just have it [name_f]Emi[/name_f].
[name_f]Elena[/name_f] – prefer this spelling, though [name_f]Elaina[/name_f] will eliminate any pronunciation issues. [name_u]Laney[/name_u] is an okay nickname. Prefer [name_f]Elle[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f] though those are both crazy popular or even, possibly, [name_u]Lee[/name_u]. I know a couple girls named / nicknamed [name_u]Lee[/name_u] and find it lovely.
[name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] – this spelling. [name_f]Annie[/name_f] or [name_f]Belle[/name_f] are both great nn.

Rosabel isn’t my favorite [name_f]Rose[/name_f] name. I prefer [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Annaliese[/name_f] – dislike this.

In regard to [name_f]Rose[/name_f] as a middle name. It love it. It’s definitely a “filler” middle name which I think means you can use it without worry that your [name_m]SIL[/name_m] did as well. It’s an incredibly common middle name. Might be another thing if it was something like [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] – then it might seem a little copy-cattish but that said if you’re not around each other a whole lot then it shouldn’t matter.

I like [name_u]Winter[/name_u] as a middle name and while a little cutesy with you being [name_f]Summer[/name_f], I like the connection (now if you wanted her first name to be [name_u]Winter[/name_u], it might be a bit much :slight_smile: ). That said, if you have another girl I’d want to continue the trend in some way. So that’s something to keep in mind.

[name_f]Elena[/name_f] [name_u]Winter[/name_u]
[name_f]Emilia[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]

4

[name_f]Annabel[/name_f] is my favourite from your list spelled this way.
Some other cute option you may like.
[name_f]Amabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Anoushka[/name_f]
[name_f]Anouk[/name_f]
[name_f]Anais[/name_f]

[name_f]Elena[/name_f] would be my second choice but I’m not such a fan of [name_f]Lainey[/name_f]. [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], [name_f]Leni[/name_f] or [name_f]Nellie[/name_f] would be my preference!
Other similar suggestions:
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Eloise[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonora[/name_f]

I can see your middle name conundrum!
I agree with you about [name_u]Jo[/name_u] though perhaps [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] would be a good option. It’s feminine yet it would still carry the [name_u]Jo[/name_u] tradition! [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is very pretty.
I also like [name_f]ANnabel[/name_f] [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] and the you still have the famy connection.
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f] [name_u]Winter[/name_u] is stunning (my favourite) and I actually really like the seasonal connection to your name. It’s subtle as it’s in the middle spot.
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] I prefer upfront as it is so overused in the middle spot! I would go with one of your other options especially as your niece has this as a middle name!

5

I like [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] [name_u]Jo[/name_u]([name_f]Maddy[/name_f] [name_u]Jo[/name_u]), [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] [name_u]Jo[/name_u]([name_f]Emmy[/name_f] [name_u]Jo[/name_u]), [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] [name_u]Jo[/name_u]([name_f]Annie[/name_f] [name_u]Jo[/name_u])…I had [name_f]Annabel[/name_f]/le on my list at one point and had the same spelling dilemma but then hubby vetoed it and that was that lol…
I also like [name_f]Elaina[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and don’t think the MN thing is a big deal
I also love the suggestion of [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] nn [name_f]Evie[/name_f]!
I like winter but wouldn’t use it as she will be born in [name_u]August[/name_u] although that may not matter to you :slight_smile:

6

I also thought of the above suggestion of [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] for a middle name to honor the [name_u]Jo[/name_u] but complete it. I also think you could use [name_f]Johanna[/name_f] quite easily. For a bit more of a stretch, I think [name_f]Joy[/name_f] nods to the tradition. It’s less in style, but [name_f]Jolene[/name_f] has some appeal and is another option.

I agree that [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is such a common middle (and, it’s a middle name to begin with) that it’s probably not too offensive to use it. I would just ask the sister in law if you are really worried. It’s not like your sister in law named her daughter Rosabel, and now you’re about to name her Rosabel.

All of the names you like are nice but [name_f]Annabel[/name_f]/[name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] stands out as really combining [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] and Rosabel. I prefer the [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] spelling but only vaguely. [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] is perfectly fine. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you both like [name_f]Anna[/name_f]-[name_f]Rose[/name_f]? Seems like it might fit your taste too. Which spelling might depend on the middle. If you go short, maybe longer [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] is nice - [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]. If you go long, maybe shorter [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] - [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f].

If you use [name_f]Elena[/name_f] I’d go with that spelling.

7

[name_f]Elena[/name_f] is on the top of my list. I’ve always spelled it this way, but I like [name_f]Elaina[/name_f] also. I think it works well with all of the middle name options you listed ([name_f]Elena[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Elena[/name_f] [name_u]Jo[/name_u], [name_f]Elena[/name_f] [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]).