We are choosing a girls name; Husband originally wanted Emily, I wanted Mary-Kate. Both got vetoed and we’ve come up with a short list we agree on. thoughts on the following:
Lauren (sister-in-law’s name)
Cara (my name is Keri, worried too similar)
Addison (too popular for me, husband loves)
Avery (too popular for me, husband loves)
Parker (step son always reminds us of Peter Parker)
Lakelynn (mouthful to say)
Out of these my favorite is [name_u]Parker[/name_u].
Maybe you would like [name_u]Emery[/name_u], [name_u]Emerson[/name_u] or [name_f]Adeline[/name_f]?
I think [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] would be a nice middle but I wouldn’t use it as a first so your kid gets their own name, ya know?
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] is beautiful but pretty close to [name_f]Keri[/name_f] so I would eliminate it. Maybe [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]? [name_f]Carina[/name_f]?
[name_u]Addison[/name_u] is pretty but you find it too popular. [name_u]Avery[/name_u] is the same. [name_u]Emory[/name_u] or [name_u]Emerson[/name_u] could be a little more fresh depending on where you are.
[name_u]Parker[/name_u] is cute- and I don’t think [name_m]Peter[/name_m] [name_u]Parker[/name_u] is a bad association, is it? Does stepson not like the association?
[name_f]Lakelynn[/name_f] is a mouthful, I would agree, and a bit of a hassle to spell. You might like [name_u]Linden[/name_u] instead. I also feel like Lindsay/Lindsey might fit your styles and I don’t think it’s super popular these days.
Lauren-It’s a nice name. It doesn’t sparkle, but it’s not bad. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like that it’d be the same name as your SIL? It’s nice to honor her if you’re close. Maybe a bit confusing. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband has a cousin named [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] who is often called [name_f]Lulu[/name_f] as a nn by her family. That would be cute!
Cara-Another nice, not super exciting to me, but perfectly good name. I do think that it’s too close to [name_f]Keri[/name_f] though.
Addison-Yeah, way popular. Especially [name_f]Addie[/name_f] if you add in the billions of Adelyns.
Avery-Way too popular & trendy, I’d agree.
Parker-That’s funny about [name_m]Peter[/name_m] [name_u]Parker[/name_u]. I don’t think that it’s a bad association, but I do think that it’s way too masculine.
Lakelynn-Yeah, it’s a bit of a mouthful. I like the vibe of it…maybe just [name_u]Lake[/name_u]?
[name_f]Lauren[/name_f] I’d save for a middle personally so that she isn’t sharing a first name with her aunt.
[name_f]Cara[/name_f] is really nice. It’s quite similar to [name_f]Keri[/name_f] but I don’t necessarily think that’s a problem. I totally get it, I tend to avoid certain names even if I like them if I think they’re too similar to mine or my partner’s name, but in a situation where we’re struggling to agree on a name I’d probably be more flexible on the similarities. Maybe [name_f]Clara[/name_f] would sound a little more distinct?
[name_u]Addison[/name_u] is another I would consider for the middle spot, only because you don’t seem very enthusiastic about it but as you said, your partner really loves it. In that instance the middle spot can be a good compromise.
I get the apprehension with popular names where [name_u]Avery[/name_u] is concerned, but I don’t know that I’d let popularity be a total dealbreaker here. Again, you’re struggling to find something you both like. [name_f]Emily[/name_f] which was previously on the table is slightly higher on the popularity charts than [name_u]Avery[/name_u] even. While Mary-Kate as a compound isn’t used that much both [name_f]Mary[/name_f] and [name_f]Kate[/name_f] are very familiar and somewhat common names. Still as a top 20 name I get that [name_u]Avery[/name_u] is really pushing it. Maybe check more localized popularity stats to see if it’s actually as common of a name where you live or not. Social security popularity charts, in addition to the national top 1000, also post the top 100 for each individual state!
[name_u]Parker[/name_u] seems like a strong option for you. It’s just barely inside the top 100 nationally, so familiar and fairly popular but not too popular, and I see no mention of any cons. I’ll admit the reasoning for it’s placement on the list was a little confusing, but if you both really like it this might be the one.
Agree with you that [name_f]Lakelynn[/name_f] is a mouthful, I don’t much like it visually either.
Overall from your current list of mutually liked names I feel like [name_u]Parker[/name_u] and [name_f]Cara[/name_f] are the strongest contenders.