Gamble or play it safe?

I guess I’ll get right to the point:D. I’m considering giving my son due soon my dad’s first name as his middle because it’s easy and sounds nice. My dad died when I was 16, so it would be a nice memorial too. The problem is that I’ve sort of set my heart on naming a daughter after my dad. It just feels more special to me, plus I have several ways to name a daughter after my dad that I really love and that my husband agrees to and loves some of them.

[name_m]Alas[/name_m], I may never have a daughter as one more child is the limit, and even that is not guaranteed. I feel like if I’m just being difficult as this boy has been difficult to name already, and [name_m]Anthony[/name_m] works so nicely in the middle, but I would be sad to have a daughter and not get to name her after my dad. I’ve already abandoned naming a future daughter [name_f]Leona[/name_f] since this baby will be [name_u]Lee[/name_u], and that was a long time favorite. So what should I do, gamble that I might have a daughter and have to find a new middle name for my son, or play it safe and be finished naming this boy?

Could you not save the name and use it for the next child whether you have a girl or boy? That way you have a chance to use the names you really love for a girl, but can still honour your Dad if you have a boy, using the name you are thinking of using now?

[name_m]How[/name_m] similar are the names? Would you be using the girl one as a fn or a mn? Would it matter if your children had matchy mn/fn or mn/mn?

I have ideas for using a first name, middle name or initials after my dad for a daughter. I just feel like naming two kids after the same person would be overboard for me personally even though it’s a very special connection. I could also name another son after him instead, but the conundrum is that it has been really hard to name this boy and it might be a lot of trouble to think of another middle name especially since [name_u]Lee[/name_u] is hard to pair with middles. I’m running out of time, too, and my husband isn’t too excited about talking middles with me anymore.

I would personally go ahead and use the name [name_u]Lee[/name_u] [name_m]Anthony[/name_m]. It’s handsome, classic and I don’t meet too many little boys named [name_u]Lee[/name_u]. The thing is even if you are planning on having a third it is not a guarantee that you will have a third baby. So the question that you need to ask yourself is if this ends up being your last child would you be okay not having a baby with a name to honor your father?

Take it from someone who is half of a couple dealing with ttc for two years with no luck… Life happens. [name_u]Baby[/name_u] #3 may never happen. If you’re blessed with baby #3, you’re not guaranteed a girl. If it’s important to honor your dad, use the name now.

My mom regrets that she never named one of her kids after her dad. I’ll be doing it for her if I ever have #2. I’m not usually a fan of boys-names-on-girls, but I will use it as a middle either way if we’re blessed with #2! I’m grateful I pestered my husband into using my grandmother’s name for our one and only’s middle… and he absolutely couldn’t stand her middle. He knew how important it was to me, so he let me have my way! :wink:

You say [name_f]Leona[/name_f] is a longtime favorite so are you settling for [name_u]Lee[/name_u] as a male alternative? I see it’s not in your sig of favorite names. If I’m wrong & you love [name_u]Lee[/name_u] then disregard. Have you considered [name_m]Anton[/name_m]? [name_m]Anders[/name_m]? [name_m]Anson[/name_m]?

On one hand I agree on not “saving” names since no one knows what the future holds. On the other, if I really love a name I don’t want to settle. I’d rather not use it than regret that I used it in a way that I don’t love.

I think it depends on how many other girl names you fall in love with. Start looking for girl names, if you find more than five you could see yourself using should you have a baby girl one day, give your dad’s name to your son. If you can’t I would recommend waiting to see if you have a girl. This way you have no regrets if you do have a daughter.