I am due next month and keep going back and forth on middle names. We are set on a first name which has special meaning for us, [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] nickname [name_f]Rosie[/name_f].
All of our kids have family connected names for the first and middles and we have honored each side of our family. I am torn between [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Julia[/name_f] (Julia is my mom’s first name) and [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] (Louise is MIL and grandmother middle).
Which do you think goes best with siblings [name_m]Hudson[/name_m] [name_m]Brock[/name_m], [name_f]Anne[/name_f] “McCall” and [name_m]Truman[/name_m] [name_m]Jesse[/name_m] and flows and sounds better together? Last name is a short common one syllable last name.
Thanks!
Personal fan of [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] because I feel like it flows well. I feel like [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] or even [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] [name_f]Lou[/name_f] as a nickname is also so cute! But [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Julia[/name_f] is also a lovely option for sure.
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For three kids so far which middle evens out so each side is honored the same?
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I prefer [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Julia[/name_f] of the two, though [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Julissa[/name_f] or [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Lula[/name_f] could work as an honour without going too forced.
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A great question and both pretty evenly, so I’m more concerned with what sounds and flows better together and fits best with other sibling names!
Both flow beautifully and you can’t make a mistake with either so I would choose as @Alix2016 suggested and choose the name that balances the family honour names equally.
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I’m my heart goes to [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] [name_f]Lou[/name_f] / [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Lou[/name_f] ! I think that would be just too sweet.
I do love Thevsignificant [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Julia[/name_f] . And the meaning behind the name
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I like [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]!
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Absolutely love [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] 
I really love Louis3 + Juli@ I think both names are beautiful however leaning towards the idea of [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] [name_f]Lou[/name_f] for a more southern [name_f]Belle[/name_f] flair which works nicely with your sibling set.
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I would go Julia if your mum hasn’t had a mention before and b/c presumably the last name comes from your husband’s side. I also like the three syllable into a one syllable, and the lyrical & lighter quality about the name. You could use Rosie (and Romy) generally - and then Rosie-Jay & Rosalie / Rosalia as household nicknames to tie in the middle. (How important is it to honour your mother? And would she be cool if MIL honoured?)
That said, Rosemary Louise is more familiar and rolls off the tongue a little easier, and gives you Rosie-Lou. It looks a tad more cohesive on its own and stylistically with your set. I also like that it doesn’t repeat the j of Jesse but that is really getting finicky. Less finicky, if your last name is Sm*th, or an S last name, Julia is a better flow. In other words, it does depend on last name!
Another option is Louisa as a smoosh of Louise and Julia. But not sure your mum would take that as an honour!? I like the rhythm of Louisa with a one syllable last name.
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[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] noticeably edges out imo. It does flows better. Stylistically matches imo. Also its less when you count syllables which then makes it vibe more with the minimal syllable names of your other children. Plus like others I instantly noticed and loved [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] [name_f]Lou[/name_f]
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This is so helpful, thank you so much!
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They’re both pretty. Do you have a more surname/modern option to go with classic [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]? That seems like it would be more balanced like the other kid’s names.
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Oh yay! I was just thinking about you the other day and wondering if you’d made a decision. [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] is so lovely and I’ve grown to love her with your other kiddos’ names!
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Julia[/name_f] is my slight preference, but I love both! All the best!
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I agree with a bit of a more modern surname in the middle would match the siblings better, however with these being our last baby we really want to use one of the family names of my mom or MIL specifically in the middle spot!
You’ve been on this journey since the beginning!! That is what I’m leaning toward I think, my final concern has just been about the flow and sibling fit! Thank you so much for all of your wonderful feedback and encouragement from the start! 
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Rosemary Louise is my preference! Sweet, simple and classic but Rosie Lou feels fresh too
quick thought
though Rosemary Lou or Rosemary Jules came to mind to match the vibe of McCall, Truman, and Hudson 
but that’s not necessary since it’s a family name
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[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] sounds better! Prefer the 3 syllable paired with a 2 syllable name 
My instinct goes immediately towards [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Julia[/name_f]. I was a big fan of [name_f]Julia[/name_f] when you were considering it as a first name. I really like the cleaner, tailored feel of it which I also get from [name_f]Anne[/name_f].
I would also be more moved to use your mum’s name as I assume your family uses your husband’s surname. [name_m]The[/name_m] use of someone’s first name also feels more significant as an honour name compared to someone’s middle name.
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] works well together since it flows in a more predictable way with the 3-2 syllable pattern. But I do find [name_f]Louise[/name_f] more expected as a middle in general, as well as with [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]. [name_f]Julia[/name_f] is less expected, not near the level of McCall but I find it more refreshing. [name_m]The[/name_m] 3-3 syllable pattern of [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Julia[/name_f] sounds nice because they don’t have the same rhythm, and [name_f]Julia[/name_f] sounds quite uplifting next to a 1 syllable surname.
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Lou[/name_f], [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] [name_f]Lou[/name_f], [name_f]Marylou[/name_f] are all sweet established nicknames but I think [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Julia[/name_f] could lead to some more distinctive nicknames to go with McCall ‘Mackie’. E.g. [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_m]Jay[/name_m], [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_m]Jules[/name_m], [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f].
I think if your sons had very traditional middles names like [name_m]James[/name_m], [name_m]John[/name_m], [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] then [name_f]Louise[/name_f] would be the most cohesive pick, but your middle names are not expected so from that perspective I like [name_f]Julia[/name_f] best too.
Again, all the best with your final decision!
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I really appreciate your incredibly thoughtful and thorough reply and you hit on so many of the things that I’ve been thinking about but you explained so much better than I’ve been able to articulate. I think seeing all those things I’ve been thinking about written out together has helped me feel more confident in Rosemary Julia being the right choice for us personally. Thank you so much for all of your thoughtful wisdom since the beginning, it’s helped me so much!
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