[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone,
My husband and I are pregnant with our first child. We do not know the sex. We have a few names picked that we like but I’m so uncertain about them. There’s a lot of pressure in naming a child!
Our current extremely short list of contenders are:
[name_f]Evelina[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Viviana[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] [name_u]Blaise[/name_u]
My reservations:
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I like [name_f]Evelina[/name_f]. I think it’s a beautiful name and it was my [name_f]Nonna[/name_f]'s (favorite grandma who passed away). It would be extra special to name our daughter after her since we are currently living in her old home. However, I’m worried with [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] being so popular that [name_f]Evelina[/name_f] just sounds like [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] trying to be unique. I’m also a bit worried that they sound too similar and she’ll have 3 other people with similar names in her Kindergarten class.
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[name_f]Viviana[/name_f] I really like but my husband has a cousin with this name (and same last name). We rarely ever see her since she lives in another state but the few times I’ve brought the name up with family the immediate response is (oh like cousin [name_f]Viviana[/name_f]). I think it’s making my husband less fond of the name.
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[name_u]Blaise[/name_u] I like as a middle name. It’s a name that’s not often used. My husband’s church growing up was St. [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] and [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] is his confirmation name so there is a cool connection there. However, I’m nervous it sounds too “trendy”- like [name_u]Blaze[/name_u]. It’s obviously not spelled the same and is a legitimate name with heritage but does it sound too trendy all the same?
Considerations:
In analyzing the names that my husband and I have liked so far, I’ve noticed a few trends. For girl names, we tend to like softer, longer, more feminine names. For boy names, masculine but still sweet. We like names that can be easily recognizable but not super common. I’ve noticed that we gravitate towards /v/, /z/ and vowel sounds. Our last name is Valdez so I think I like the ever so slight alliteration or sound continuity without sounding too gimmicky. I’m Italian and my husband is Mexican so we’ve taken some inspiration from Latin sounding names. Additionally, Latino names that are super popular but not nameberry/census popular we try to stay away from since they are popular in our circle of family/colleagues. Finally, some of my husband’s family are Spanish only speakers so names don’t have to be Latin in origin but should be easily pronounceable by both native English and native Spanish speakers.
Questions:
- Is [name_f]Evelina[/name_f] useable? Is it too close to [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]?
- Is [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] useable? [name_m]Will[/name_m] having a relative with the same name take away it’s special connection with the child?
- Does [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] sound too trendy?
- What are some other name suggestions?
Thank you for your help! And thank you for reading this long post. It’s so hard naming a baby. You want the name to be as perfect as they are.
- I think [name_f]Evelina[/name_f] is definitely usable. It doesn’t strike me as a creative twist on [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]. She may be in class with an [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u], so that’s just something to think about. I personally don’t find this to be a deal breaker.
- This one is tough because if the shared name factor is already bothering your husband, do you think this will get better or worse over time? Personally I think she’s far enough away (geographically and in the family tree) that soon people will just think of your [name_f]Viviana[/name_f]/[name_f]Vivi[/name_f]/[name_f]Viv[/name_f]/V without connecting her to the cousin. I also love [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] if you want a slightly different option.
- Spelled [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] I don’t think it sounds trendy and I love the subtle connection to your husband. Spelled [name_u]Blaze[/name_u], I’d group it with [name_m]Maverick[/name_m]/[name_u]Legend[/name_u]/etc but [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] is more polished and I say the -z sound slightly softer when I see it spelled [name_u]Blaise[/name_u].
Suggestions:
[name_f]Eliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Orianna[/name_f]
[name_f]Araminta[/name_f]
[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f]
[name_f]Astoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Delphine[/name_f]
[name_f]Francesca[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_f]Thessaly[/name_f]
[name_f]Marcella[/name_f]
[name_m]Dominic[/name_m]
[name_m]Asher[/name_m]
[name_u]Tristan[/name_u]
[name_u]Dorian[/name_u]
[name_m]Finnian[/name_m]
[name_m]Lucien[/name_m]
[name_m]Dalton[/name_m]
[name_m]Killian[/name_m]
[name_m]Vaughn[/name_m]
But it sounds like you’ve probably found your names already!
1) Is*[name_f]Evelina[/name_f]useable? Is it too close to[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]?
[name_f]Evelina[/name_f] is lovely -delicate without being soft, elegant and pretty but distinctive. It has a very different vibe and feel from [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] to me. I think it’s usable
2) Is*[name_f]Viviana[/name_f]useable?[name_m]Will[/name_m]*having a relative with the same name take away it’s special connection with the child?
I adore [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] but I’ll be honest, having a relative with the same name would certainly detract from it’s appeal for me and I think the fact your husband is put off would rule it out for me
Does*[name_u]Blaise[/name_u]*sound too trendy?
On one hand, yes, [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] sounds trendy and new but the spelling gives it a kind of softness, and sleekness that stops it being overly trendy
- What are some other name suggestions?
Apologises if these aren’t quite right, but some that sprung to mind:
[name_f]Lavinia[/name_f]
[name_f]Leandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Ginevra[/name_f]
[name_f]Leona[/name_f]
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f]
[name_u]Asa[/name_u]
[name_m]Josiah[/name_m]
[name_m]Linus[/name_m]
[name_m]Caius[/name_m]
[name_m]Raphael[/name_m]
[name_f]Evelina[/name_f]- beautiful name, sounds like an Italian variation of [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] and I love that it honors someone important to you.
[name_f]Viviana[/name_f]- I wouldn’t do it, especially because it’s not a common name, or a family name that’s been used over generations. People are already connecting the name to the cousin and even if you dont see her that often in this age of technology families are usually still very connected and I think you will get those “oh like cousin [name_f]Viviana[/name_f]” comments for years if not your daughters whole life.
[name_u]Blaise[/name_u]- I dont think it matters how you spell it, most of the time other people wont see it written only heard out loud and it will be heard as [name_u]Blaze[/name_u]. Personally that wouldn’t bother me, its a cool sound and I really like the personal connection for your husband. I would just keep in mind that most people will automatically think of the word and wont know of its history as a name.
I think [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] is perfect and pays a nice tribute to your husband
[name_f]Evelina[/name_f]: Is this [name_f]Eve[/name_f]-[name_f]Lina[/name_f] or EV-[name_f]EL[/name_f]-[name_f]Lina[/name_f] ? I cant get passed the strong EVIL sound
[name_f]Viviana[/name_f] - i agree with previous poster
Other ideas
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Valdez “[name_f]Eve[/name_f]”
[name_f]Lourdes[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Valdez “[name_f]Lola[/name_f]”
[name_f]Rosalind[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f] Valdez “[name_f]Rosa[/name_f]” “[name_f]Indie[/name_f]”
[name_f]Raquel[/name_f] [name_f]Eva[/name_f] Valdez
[name_f]Annora[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Valdez “[name_f]Nora[/name_f]” “[name_f]Anna[/name_f]”
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Valdez
[name_f]Adrienne[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Valdez
[name_f]Zeta[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Valdez
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Valdez
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f] Valdez
[name_f]Leona[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Valdez
[name_f]Liora[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f] Valdez
[name_f]Luciana[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Valdez “[name_m]Leo[/name_m]” “[name_f]Lucy[/name_f]”
[name_f]Arabella[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Valdez “[name_u]Ari[/name_u]” “[name_f]Bella[/name_f]”
[name_f]Camila[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Valdez “[name_f]Mila[/name_f]”
[name_f]Delia[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Valdez
I like your list
I wouldn’t use a name another family member has named their child, I personally would not like if someone did that in our family. Especially if they share the same surnane. Similar is fine but not the exact same name. I mean that’s just me though. But I really wouldn’t like it. I do feel like a child should have their own name, I would avoid all living relatives and close friend regarding the first name.
EVelina is lovely and not too close , though it is similar… and it doesn’t matter anyway if you love it though. Lovely and different enough from her cousins name.
I think your boys name is a keeper, middle name is perfect, I think you’re ready for a boy!
I’ll suggest some girls names in case …
Arabella
Augustana
Daniella
Dorathea / Dorothea
Evangelina ! Evangeline
Felicity
Georgiana
Hannalore
Josephina
Magdalena
Magnolia
Rosalina !
Theadora
Willamina
Thank you all for your help, encouragement, and suggestions. I truly appreciate it. I think [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] is officially off the list. I just had to mentally morn it. I want my baby’s name to be his/her own. I’ve really enjoyed a lot of the suggestions. Thank you again!
@wilkie8709 [name_f]Evelina[/name_f] is pronounced EH-vuh-lEE-nuh. It’s an Italian name that sounds a bit like the US pronunciation of [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] and the name [name_f]Lena[/name_f] squished together.