My husband and I are expecting a baby girl (our first) on [name_u]August[/name_u] 8th. I think we have it narrowed down to three names:
[name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Judith[/name_f]
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_m]Beach[/name_m]
The first name is my mother’s name and his mother’s name. What I like about this name is that it has the most sentimental meaning. Also, while neither [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] or [name_f]Judith[/name_f] is popular right now (I did not want a trendy name at all!) I think they are both lovely names that may come back around again somewhat in a few decades. The things I worry about the names are that she might find her name too old fashioned without being “classic” (such as [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] or [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]) or that it might be confusing to call our daughter the same name as my mom. Both my sister’s sons are named after my father (his first and middle names) so family names tend to be very important in our clan.
The second name is inspired by my uncle [name_m]Phillip[/name_m] who passed away last year. One of each of our grandmothers is a [name_f]Louise[/name_f]. I like [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] because it is not common in the United States but is not too off the wall. I think it is a beautiful name as well. My worries with this name is that [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] would be confusing for some people who have never heard it in the US, or that people would think she is named after [name_f]Pippa[/name_f] Middleton.
The third name, [name_f]Alice[/name_f], is just a name I have always loved. [name_m]Beach[/name_m] is my maiden name. I like that [name_f]Alice[/name_f] is a classic name that is not currently too trendy and I always loved the [name_m]Lewis[/name_m] [name_u]Carroll[/name_u] stories as a child. My worries with this name are that first, it doesn’t have as much personal meaning to it as the others, and second, that it appears to be on a strong rise of late.
So, what do you think? Should we go with a family name, a family-inspired name, or an original name?
I think each of the names has sweet meaning, even [name_f]Alice[/name_f] being a book you love and your maiden name. Your maiden name will honor your whole family.
[name_m]How[/name_m] often do you see your mom? Does she go by her full name? Would you use a NN for the baby? If you see her every week and she goes by her FN, I’d at least use a nn. But [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Judith[/name_f] is my favorite of your combos.
I don’t see any reason not to use any of them, so it’s going to be a tough choice!
I think [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] is beautiful and unique. [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_m]Beach[/name_m] is nice, too. I love [name_f]Judith[/name_f], but I think [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] is really dated and I can’t really separate it from the at least 5 Marilyns I know in their 60’s.
I’m in a similar boat. I love names. There are many ‘original’ names that have captured my heart. Plus, my stubborn independence keeps rearing its head saying I should be able to name my children whatever I want. But family names are important to my husband. He really really wants to name his first born after himself or his father in some way (even if it’s a girl) and he likes the idea of using our names/family names for our other children as well. Basically, I waiver back and forth between agreeing with him and wanting to blaze my own trail.
Back to you, I think you may run into a similar problem that I see, which is that if you are planning on having more children, then I would feel guilty naming one but not all of my children after a namesake or having a ‘family’ tie in. So if I agreed for my husband to name our firstborn after him, I’d feel even more compelled to keep the trend going for any future children. That may restrict options too much for you.
Some ideas may be to give each child an ‘original’ name and give them a ‘family’ middle name… like you did with [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_m]Beach[/name_m]. Or you could do [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Judith[/name_f] and have two middles so in case you don’t have any more daughters, you wouldn’t leave a grandmother out.
Anyway, just something to think about. And my favorite of your options is [name_f]Phillipa[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]
[name_u]Love[/name_u] love love [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Judith[/name_f], and I think [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] is absolutely ready for her comeback!
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] is also beautiful, but a bit more formal [name_f]IMO[/name_f]. I would expect her to be from an upper-crust British family or something similar. [name_f]Pippa[/name_f] is a sweet nickname though and I don’t think of [name_f]Pippa[/name_f] Middleton, personally.
I really like the name [name_f]Alice[/name_f] and I like the idea of using your maiden name, but I wonder if [name_m]Beach[/name_m] would be better suited for a boy’s middle name as it sort of sounds like ‘b*tch’ when said quickly? Or maybe a name that means beach instead? But then again in the middle place it’s not a huge deal.
I agree with @leadmythoughts, they are all lovely and meaningful so I don’t think you can go wrong.
All your choices are great! I love the name [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] so I’d vote for [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Judith[/name_f], but I also like the significance of [name_f]Phillipa[/name_f] and [name_f]Louise[/name_f]. And I’m a huge [name_f]Alice[/name_f] fan too. Go with the name that feels right. I’d wait until you meet her to choose. My vote is [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Judith[/name_f]!
I like [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Judith[/name_f] the best of your combos, though they’re all lovely. My favorite suggestion, though, is to do [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Judith[/name_f], which allows you to have the best of both worlds with using an original name and having family ties! I wouldn’t worry too much about the name being old fashioned, though it might be a bit confusing for your mom and daughter to have the same name. [name_f]Mari[/name_f] or MJ could work as differentiating nicknames.
I love both [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Judith[/name_f] and [name_f]Alice[/name_f] beach.
Could you do 2 middles?
[name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Judith[/name_f] alice?
[name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] beach?
[name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]?
[name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]
[name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_m]Beach[/name_m]
They all sound lovely to me!
[name_f]Alice[/name_f] is growing in popularity but it’s so precious.
[name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] is very striking and so uncommon…would you use A nn to help with any confusion? [name_u]Riley[/name_u] may work?
Oh [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_m]Beach[/name_m] all the way! That is just beautiful. It sounds like it has meaning to you but only you know if it is enough, or if you would prefer something more. Personally I think using [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Judith[/name_f] may be a little confusing. Totally my opinion and i dont mean to offend…i think it is lovely to honour family but I do think it is also nice for people to have their own identity. I think a first and middle name after your mums may be a little too much.