We have been agonizing over what to name our new baby girl. We would like a name that is strong, beautiful and classy, lively and spirited, timeless not trendy, uncommon but recognizable, and not too “out there.” We would like a name that is good for a baby, teen, and adult.
1.) Josephine (I love the nn Joey).
Middle name Louisa (can call her “Joey Lou” for fun), Faith, Tessa, Margot. I grew up watching Dawson’s Creek and am biased toward this name. I love how it is often associated with strong women. It is classic, powerful, elegant. My concerns about this first name is that people may call her Josie, which I do not like. Other concerns are that since our surname is a common male name, that it will sound too masculine or basic when paired together… “Joey Th.omas.” Which is why I feel the middle name needs to be extremely feminine. Is the name too boring?
2.) Faye.
Middle name Magnolia, Margot, Francesca, Margaret. I think it is beautiful, classy, simple.
It reminds me of Liv Tyler’s character from the movie “That Thing You Do.” My concerns are that there are different spellings, she may have to correct people often or even get confused for Faith.
Other concerns are spanish-speakers may associate with ugly(?). Also, I do not like the whimsical association with fairies. Is the name too ethereal or cutesy?
Please help! Surname is Th.omas. Big brother’s name is L0gan.
Looking at your descriptions of both names I think [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is your preferred choice. You have less flaws surrounding [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and the way you talk about [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] feels more positive. I think [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is just more in keeping with what you want with a name. Whereas [name_f]Faye[/name_f] seems to have a lot more flaws for you. I think [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] ‘Joey Lou’ definitely takes away anyway masculine concerns the name may have for you. Furthermore [name_m]Joey[/name_m] isn’t exclusively masculine so I do not find [name_m]Joey[/name_m] Th0mas too masculine nor is [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] Th0mas. I just find the name very classic with a southern [name_f]Belle[/name_f] flair especially paired with L0g@n.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] feels like the better choice for you. Yes, she might get [name_f]Josie[/name_f] but if she introduces herself as [name_m]Joey[/name_m] or [name_f]Jo[/name_f], people are more likely to use that.
I like [name_f]Faye[/name_f], but the whimsical associations are quite strong tbh
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is my all-time top 5 name among a very long list of beloved names. I love [name_f]Faye[/name_f] names too but I would choose [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] Th0mas for sure. It’s beautiful and I don’t think the other three middle names flow as well to your last name. Besides [name_m]Joey[/name_m] (which I think is really sweet including with your last name)/ Joey-Lou, and noting you’re not keen on [name_f]Josie[/name_f], you’ve also got Sephy, [name_f]Posie[/name_f], and Phina among others.
As a wildcard, I also think [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] Mary-Faye Th0mas would be beautiful, if you want to keep [name_f]Faye[/name_f] in there.
Since [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] has so many other nickname options you should be able to keep other people from defaulting to [name_f]Josie[/name_f] if they’re told she goes by Joey/Phina/Effie/etc. up front but there’s always the chance she decides that she wants to be [name_f]Josie[/name_f] herself. If that’s a possibility you could be ok with then this is a great pick for you, it has the exact vibes you’re looking for.
The [name_f]Faye[/name_f] spelling is the least whimsical, most strong, and I’m pretty sure most common of the spelling options so that’s a good way to go for this name. Some correcting may be needed but at least its nice and short so won’t be too annoying to spell out. It does sound similar to [name_f]Faith[/name_f] so it may get misheard sometimes. The fairy association is strong to me but not in an overwhelming or bad way. To elaborate, my moodboard for [name_f]Faye[/name_f] doesn’t have anything remotely fairy related on it because the feel of the name doesn’t really say “fairies” to me but I am aware of the connection and it adds to my positive feelings towards the name because for me its a good association. [name_f]Faye[/name_f], especially with this spelling, still gives me the exact same kind of strong and classy feeling that [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] does. The [name_f]Fae[/name_f] spelling has a much more ethereal feel and does bring to mind more direct fairy imagery (and [name_f]Fay[/name_f] is in the middle of the two, still strong like [name_f]Faye[/name_f] but also a bit ethereal because of [name_m]Morgan[/name_m] le [name_f]Fay[/name_f] from the [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] legends, more sorceress vibes that fairies though so not as whimsical as Fae) but if I heard someone was called “Fay” I would assume it was spelled [name_f]Faye[/name_f] and my initial impression would be the more strong and classic feel I get from that spelling.
Overall, I’d say you sound more excited and positive about [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] so if you could be ok with her picking [name_f]Josie[/name_f] herself later on I would go with that. If you really really hate [name_f]Josie[/name_f] and would not be ok using it if she wanted you to then I would probably go for [name_f]Faye[/name_f]. The fairy association exists but my immediate thought when I hear [name_f]Faye[/name_f] isn’t whimsical flower fairies dancing in the moonlight, it’s a smart, confident woman kicking butt in some sort of serious profession like a lawyer or entrepreneur or something. Between the alternate spellings and the similar sound to [name_f]Faith[/name_f] there will probably be a need for occasional corrections but spelling out four letters shouldn’t be too frustrating.
I love [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] she’s on my list!
I think for either name if people say [name_f]Josie[/name_f] or faith just correct them and say no thanks this is her name/ what we call her.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] has so many nickname possibilities I love it !
I wanted to use [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] for nn [name_f]Sophie[/name_f].
But I’m digging [name_m]Joey[/name_m] I love a girl name with some masculinity to it and a boys with some femininity.
I’ve also heard posey as a nn — not sure where they got it but another option.
For [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] do you have any family names of women that felt empowering to you? Maybe you could use one of those to go with [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] as well
For [name_f]Faye[/name_f] I love your option of magnolia that is such a pretty name.
I will also suggest [name_f]Faye[/name_f] [name_f]Mikayla[/name_f] / [name_f]Mikaela[/name_f]. I love the name [name_f]Mikaela[/name_f] [name_m]Thomas[/name_m]. It seems both masculine and feminine with nn of [name_m]Mack[/name_m] or Kay/e just like [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] with nn joey
I love these names and your reasonings behind them!
I love [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]! It has a such a literary feel to me! (Louisa [name_f]May[/name_f] [name_m]Alcott[/name_m] wrote [name_m]Little[/name_m] Women, which has a main character named [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] nn Jo) While I personally don’t love the nickname [name_m]Joey[/name_m] on a girl, I think it could be really cute and unexpected. [name_m]Joey[/name_m] [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] would also give be some pause, but since the full first name is [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] (super feminine) I think it would be fine. [name_m]Joey[/name_m] [name_f]Lou[/name_f] is also very sweet!
I like [name_f]Faye[/name_f] better. It’s so ethereal and feminine. I immediately think of fairies. I prefer [name_f]Fae[/name_f] and [name_f]Fay[/name_f], but [name_f]Faye[/name_f] is nice, too. Don’t worry, [name_f]Faye[/name_f] is the most common spelling, there won’t be many spelling issues. I don’t think the Spanish word is similar to [name_f]Faye[/name_f] at all.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is nice, but I dislike [name_m]Joey[/name_m]. There are so many middle aged and older men named [name_m]Joey[/name_m] around, I just have a hard time picturing it on a little girl. But if you love it, you should choose it!
I love both names. I particularly like [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] for it’s [name_m]Little[/name_m] Women connection, but I strongly prefer [name_f]Josie[/name_f] to [name_m]Joey[/name_m].
I would go with [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]. It’s lovely.
I think [name_f]Faye[/name_f] is a gorgeous, unexpected choice. [name_f]Faye[/name_f] [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] is a magnificent idea. However, I feel that you’re leaning towards [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is timeless and elegant. It offers you multiple nickname options. You may also like [name_f]Jo[/name_f], [name_f]Effie[/name_f], Phine, [name_f]Jojo[/name_f], Inny, or others. [name_f]My[/name_f] favorite middle name for [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Margot[/name_f]. [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Faith[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] would be beautiful combinations, too. What about [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Faye[/name_f]?
I love both names, but I would vote for [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. I agree with you that it just feels so elegant, yet approachable. I also love the nickname [name_m]Joey[/name_m]. [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Margot[/name_f] gets my vote!
