Help me feel better about not using my lifelong favorite

Girl Names
1

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] Berries,
Since I was in high school, I wanted to have a daughter named [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]. When I met my husband, he had a grandma [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] so we thought it was a given.

I’m a name nerd and he has strong and particular opinions about names (well everything really;) too. We came to the compromise that he could name our son and I would choose his middle name, and I could name our daughter and he could choose her middle name. When I was pregnant, I started second-guessing [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] and also fell in love with the name [name_f]Willa[/name_f]. As the pregnancy progressed, I felt more and more strongly that her name was [name_f]Willa[/name_f]. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband chose her middle name, [name_u]Everly[/name_u], and we both felt good and resolved about our choice.

Now that she’s 4 months old, I don’t regret the name [name_f]Willa[/name_f] at all. It suits her perfectly and I love it more than ever. But lately I’ve been sad about never getting to use [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]. We’ve agreed [name_f]Willa[/name_f] is our last baby. I wish I’d pushed harder for [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] rather than [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_u]Everly[/name_u]. The other day I even raised the possibility of changing her name to [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u], but it was a hard no for my husband.

Is there a way for me to feel better about this or am I going to regret not using [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] forever??

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Maybe they’ll always be a little feeling of sadness that you didn’t use [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] but I think the older your daughter gets, the more you’ll be glad she’s a [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_u]Everly[/name_u] -that will be her name and it will be as precious as [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] for her sake.

[name_u]Ruby[/name_u] will probably always be in your heart, but I think it’s okay just to hold it there and know that you love it even without using it.

(And it might not be for you, but [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] could always be a name for a future pet?)

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Hi there! I’m not a parent yet, so I can’t imagine how difficult it must be naming a baby. I’m glad you at least love the name Willa (which is gorgeous!) But I agree with @Greyblue in the sense that maybe you can use it for a beloved pet?

There’s also a slight possibility that your daughter might want to have a little Ruby herself someday, in honor of you :purple_heart:

Not sure how realistic this next option would be for you and your husband, but I would raise the question of maybe giving her 2 middles? Willa Everly Ruby & Willa Ruby Everly sound so lovely as well.

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