I do appreciate the continued comments on my other board, but many of those names have since been eliminated so I wanted to give you berries an update. (One you will be quite happy to hear I think).
For those who may not have been a part of the long long list I posted before, the main topic of conversation was that the only name my DH loves is [name]Fox[/name]. I like [name]Fox[/name] just fine, and it’s not too difficult to imagine calling my child [name]Fox[/name], but it’s not a name I wanted as a first name. I agree with many of you that the teasing potential is too great, and especially feared not being able to find a good sibset with #2 (as I am determined there will be a #2).
SO! I talked to DH again and he has agreed to [name]Fox[/name] as a middle name! I think it is a great compromise.
His top favorite for a girl was [name]Arizona[/name] which I HATED, and he is now in love with [name]Aurora[/name]. I also love [name]Aurora[/name]. It’s actually one of my favorite names for a girl. The meaning is lovely, as is the Sleeping Beauty connection, but once again I just couldn’t fully picture it as a first name. It’s just…too much! Not to mention that my family completely mushes the pronunciation. Once again though DH has agreed to [name]Aurora[/name] as a middle name which is a perfect compromise. That way we can have the name we both love included, but family will rarely use the full name so the pronunciation won’t cause a problem.
It feels great to have made so much progress, even if that progress is a bit backwards than the usual way. I’m still holding some hope that DH will loosen up a little bit and let me have 2 middle names. I would love middle for a boy: [name]Edward[/name] [name]Fox[/name] and middle for a girl: [name]Aurora[/name] [name]Faye[/name] to add family significants.
Speaking of [name]Edward[/name] though, that’s where I need some [name]Berry[/name] opinions! My FIL’s middle name is [name]Edward[/name], as is my father’s first name. I really really want it included in the name if the baby is a boy. Since I probably won’t be able to talk DH into 2 middles, I am considering [name]Edward[/name] as a first name. So here is the question…how do you berries feel about using the first name for your child of someone who is still alive? My father goes my [name]Ed[/name], [name]Eddie[/name], or [name]Edward[/name] depending on who he’s talking to, but me and DH like [name]Ted[/name]. Is it still too close? Would you use the name and surprise the family member with the honor, or should I ask permission first?
I am flying home this coming week and depending on what you berries think will be bringing this up to my dad (and mom) to see what he says while I’m there. I feel like it will be less of an issue for FIL since it’s his middle, and the inlaws have not seen ANY of my list, so I’m not sure I will bring it up to them while i’m home or not (unless you guys think I should lol).
[name]Eli[/name] [name]Edward[/name] [name]Fox[/name]
[name]Annabelle[/name] [name]Aurora[/name] [name]Faye[/name]
I really like [name]Edward[/name] [name]Fox[/name]. Nice to have a modern, funky name paired with the classic [name]Edward[/name].
As far as etiquette goes, I think asking permission would be the best course of action, but only if it’s the name you’re sure you’d like to use. [name]Don[/name]'t ask if you can use his name if you don’t end up doing so! That could lead to some serious hurt.
I don’t like to use other people’s names outright, but I may be in the minority. It’s not so bad if the last name is different. In researching my family tree, my great grandmother’s brother has four generations of descendants who bear his identical name, and I can’t keep them straight!
I prefer to use a variation, as my cousin did. My aunt’s name is [name]Katherine[/name] and she goes by [name]Kay[/name], so to honor her, my cousin named her daughter [name]Kayla[/name]. I’ve been thinking of honoring my father, [name]Alfred[/name], who goes by [name]Al[/name], with the name [name]Alanna[/name], if I have a girl someday. Maybe another “[name]Ed[/name]” name could be used as a variation? There’s tons of them, [name]Edison[/name], [name]Edmund[/name], [name]Edgar[/name], [name]Edwin[/name], for example.
I think naming your son [name]Edward[/name] to honor your dad is a lovely gesture, and using [name]Ted[/name] is enough to distinguish between the two, imo, especially since it is the grandfather and grandson, not father and son. I agree with pp that if you bring it up with him, you should be sure you will use it. I think a surprise might be nice though - my daughter’s middle name is after my grandfather and he and my family were all touched when we announced her name at birth. Or if you’re unsure, maybe float the idea with your mom? [name]Edward[/name] [name]Fox[/name] nn [name]Ted[/name] is very handsome!
Thank you all for reading through my gigantic ramble and giving me some great suggestions!
ajwoolf - I laughed when I saw your combos. I had both of them on a possibilities list a while back until DH shot down [name]Eli[/name] and informed me of his hate for double middle names! So needless to say I love them, but DH not so much lol 
kelloggs - This is going to sound terribly insensitive, but mentioning it, then not using it causing hurt feelings never crossed my mind. My dad is a quiet man most of the time, and I couldn’t really see him caring too much about names, but this is going to be his grandbaby afterall so I am so glad you brought that to my attention! The last thing I would want to do is hurt his feelings.
Penguin - The last name will be different, as will the middle name. I like the idea of using a similar name (which is what I hope to do for a girl). I adore [name]Edmund[/name], but just couldn’t get it past DH! I think the ONLY reason he is ok with [name]Edward[/name] is because it is the exact same name that both grandfathers carry.
gwensmom - I welcome any and all opinions, because they often reveal things I would not have thought of, but I must admit I was truly hoping someone would reply like you did. If we were only using the name in the middle, or if the name we were using was only the grandfathers’ middle (like it is for my FIL), then we probably would leave it a surprise. It’s only the fact that we are considering it as a first name and it’s my dad’s first name that made me iffy about the surprise. I like the idea of running it just by my mom first, and probably my sis as well. It also gave me the idea to maybe lump it in with the other family name we are considering and get a general opinion of both at the same time without saying we are seriously considering either of them.