Genevieve's Out - Is Rosalie, Eloise, Lyra, or something else in?

Well, the naming journey is becoming a bit more real–we’re expecting!

Pretty much immediately upon seeing that positive test, my husband turned to me and said, “I HATE [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f], I’m sorry, I was really just placating you but now that it might be used on an actual human, well, we just can’t.”

Ugh! [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] has been my top name for a few years now, hugely because I love the combination [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]. [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] is important to us and will almost certainly be in the middle name spot for our first daughter. We’ve considered it as a first name, and I’d go for it except DH isn’t really in love with it as a first name (he’s afraid of teasing potential in that it sounds close to “liar.”)

Anyway, his top name is [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] nn [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]. We ARE lucky in that our girl naming style is quite similar, I think. I like [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] but don’t love it. I could see using it on a second daughter, maybe–it sounds more “younger child” to me, which probably doesn’t make a lot of sense! I also don’t love that it’s in the top 100 here in Australia. I’d really like less common names, having grown up as an [name_f]Emily[/name_f] myself. AND I don’t really like the sound of [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] – too much L!

Our next choice is [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] nn [name_f]Rosie[/name_f], which I think is my husband’s [name_f]Eloise[/name_f]–he likes it, but doesn’t love it. With no hope of [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f], this is my second choice. For me it does come with the problem of [name_f]Rose[/name_f] being in the top 100 in Australia, undoubtedly there are people on my FB friends’ list who will jump to the Twilight reference (grr), and [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] does feel like it has too much “L” again.

Basically, we are open to suggestions! I’ll leave a list below of other girls names we like but don’t necessarily love. [name_f]Do[/name_f] any of those sound particularly good with [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]? Can you think of any others that we might like that I can throw at my husband? I feel like I’ve been through every name with him! What do you think of potentially using [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] as a first name, and if you would, are there any names on our list (or that you’d think we’d like) that you think would make a good sibset for any future children?

Sorry for so many questions!! We’re only 4 weeks today and I’m already feeling so much pressure to find a perfect name for an actual little human. It’s funny how things change when naming becomes real!

Other Names We Like:

[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] (another of my husband’s top faves)
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] (DH - I don’t like it and it’s hugely popular here)
[name_f]Aria[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f]
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_f]Thea[/name_f] (except our top choice for a boy is [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] nn [name_u]Theo[/name_u]!)
[name_f]Willow[/name_f]

I think [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] is definitely usable as a fn! I also love it, it was between [name_f]Coraline[/name_f] and [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] for my first daughter’s mn. We would use it this time but our tentative fn is [name_f]Freya[/name_f] and I don’t like the repeating ‘a’ endings. From the others on your list I really, really love [name_f]Felicity[/name_f]! [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] would be so gorgeous! I also like [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] but not sure how that works in Australia, if the city poses a problem. I think [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is lovely but agree it is too popular. I think [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] is to ‘L’ heavy with [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]. [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] works but just isn’t as exciting to me as [name_f]Felicity[/name_f]. Same with [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f]. Congrats on your pregnancy and good luck deciding!

My husband did the same thing to me, except it was in the delivery room! I’d been in love with a name for years and he leaned in and told me he hated the name. Gah! Any other time and I might have had a good counter argument. Luckily we had a good second choice. I think most of your names have too much “L” and “A” to sound good with [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]. [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] sounds best with it to me. Darling name, although I’m having trouble coming up with a nickname.

Congratulations.
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] is not a favorite of mine but you must be disappointed.Sorry
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] is lovely -
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]?
[name_u]Love[/name_u] -
[name_f]Aria[/name_f]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f]
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_f]Willow[/name_f]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] -I have always liked this but ‘you’ have to love it , yes? :slight_smile:
I think you share my love of /l/ sound names.
Unfortunately they don’t all go together.

I like [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f], but I agree that it’s got too much “L” in it.

Other suggestions:

[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_u]Marion[/name_u] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Nathalie[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]

FWIW, I think I prefer the flow of [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] and [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] to [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] and [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]. I wouldn’t worry too much about teasing… kids are kids, they find ways to tease no matter what and will eventually outgrow it.

I also like [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] a lot.

[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f]! But [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] isn’t great.
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] - Sounds like you’ve already ruled this out. It’s a nice name, but very common.
[name_f]Aria[/name_f] - [name_f]Aria[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] doesn’t work.
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] - [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] works. I’m personally not a huge fan of [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] though. Plus there’s a city in Australia called [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], so would that be weird? [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Adeline[/name_f]? [name_f]Adelie[/name_f]? [name_f]Edeline[/name_f]? [name_u]Eden[/name_u]?
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] - [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] is very sweet. The problem with [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] is that there’s no nn - unless you like [name_f]Flick[/name_f], Fizzy or Lissy.
[name_f]Clara[/name_f] - [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] doesn’t work either - which is too bad because I adore [name_f]Clara[/name_f]. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]? or [name_u]Cassidy[/name_u], [name_f]Camille[/name_f], [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] or [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]?
[name_f]Elena[/name_f] - I don’t like [name_f]Elena[/name_f], nor do I like [name_f]Elena[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], [name_f]Elsie[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], or [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]?
[name_f]Thea[/name_f] (except our top choice for a boy is [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] nn [name_u]Theo[/name_u]!) - I really like [name_f]Thea[/name_f], but if [name_u]Theo[/name_u]'s your boys name (and your sure you’re husband likes it - haha) then I would cross [name_f]Thea[/name_f] off. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Tessa[/name_f]? I think [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] & [name_u]Theo[/name_u] are fair enough apart they could work for siblings. [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] or [name_f]Theresa[/name_f]?
[name_f]Willow[/name_f] - [name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] is very L heavy. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], [name_f]Fiona[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], [name_f]Autumn[/name_f], or [name_f]Summer[/name_f]?

Other ideas: try out namehunter! Here are some ideas I found from it:
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] - I really like this!
[name_f]Violet[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] - The L’s don’t bother me at all here.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Adeline[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Madeline[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Olive[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]

My favs from your list:

[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Eloise[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f]

Suggestions:

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Camille[/name_f]

[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] is totally usable as a first name! I actually really like [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f]. Some other [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] combos that I can think of are…
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Katherine[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Sonnet[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]

[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] is GORGEOUS, if your husband can agree to it. Congrats again!! :slight_smile:

[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] is definitely useable as a first name! Some combo’s are…

[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_u]Indigo[/name_u]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] (or [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f])
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Summer[/name_f]

Oh wow, you all are awesome! Thank you for all of the suggestions!

@bettina2 - You must have been so mad! I would have pulled the birth card and told him he didn’t get a say so late in the game! :wink:

I would use [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] as a first name in a heartbeat. I’m working on DH – he usually shoots it down immediately, but yesterday he was saying “Yeah, it IS pretty…” so, I guess we’ll see. I also love the combos [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] and [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f]!

[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] is really growing on me, too, actually. This was a name DH suggested at some point and I always liked it, except as several of you pointed out the lack of good nickname options! But this baby is due [name_u]January[/name_u] 3, so close to [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] and the [name_m]New[/name_m] Year, and I think [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] is so appropriate for a baby born around this time. I’ll mention it again to DH to see if he still likes it.

Re: [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], yeah, we probably wouldn’t use it because of the city! Same goes for [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], which someone suggested ([name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] too!). I think we’d consider them for middles maybe. [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]? [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Matilda[/name_f]? Hmm…

I agree that most of my names are too L-heavy for [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]. I think it’s so funny that we gravitate toward these, especially as we like meaningful middles and many family names we’d use for future children’s middles are “L” names too. So frustrating. :wink:

I really like the suggestions of:

[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]
[name_f]Adeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f]
[name_f]Madeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]

Thanks again everyone! I’ll have to run these by DH and see what he thinks.

[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f], nn [name_m]Felix[/name_m] is adorable!

[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]

[name_f]Celeste[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Athena[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]

[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] is a cute middle name… not a first.
So the combo I liked best out of your list is [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] & [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f].
Some suggestions I have are:
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] (Alternative to your husbands [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f])
[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] (Alternative to [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f])