Help, my husband wants "Rachel"

General Name Discussion
1

…not that there’s anything WRONG with that.

But I lean towards the extreme with baby names. 4 of my other five kids have very unusual names, the most normal among them being [name]Bronwen[/name] for my oldest daughter. (nickname: [name]Buffy[/name]). I worry that a really normal name will stand out, and I’m also really selfish and was hoping this would be my chance to have a [name]Seraphina[/name] or a [name]Dove[/name]-[name]Isabeau[/name].

So, yes, I’m the one carrying this baby; yes, I’m the baby name addict and my husband barely tolerates baby names; but if this next baby is a girl, it will be Daughter #4 and he has always, always, always loved the name [name]Rachel[/name].

Help?

He objects to [name]Raquel[/name], [name]Rakel[/name], or [name]Rachelle[/name].

No [name]Ray[/name]/[name]Rae[/name] because my dad is a [name]Ray[/name] and lives nearby, and we agreed a long time ago that while it’s sweet to name a kid after a living relative, it’s weird to say “I’m going to change [name]Ray[/name]'s diaper” as though said older relative were having some incontinence issues.

He [name]MAY[/name] allow Relle/[name]Rella[/name]/Relly as a nickname.

Suggestions? Comments? What y’all think of the [name]Rella[/name] solution?

2

That’s interesting because [name]Rachel[/name] was on our list for our daughter [name]Laura[/name]. My husband chose [name]Laura[/name]. No matter what name I suggested he only wanted [name]Laura[/name]. I finally gave in because he is adopted and an only child with two parents who were only children. So he has very few relatives. I have a ton of relatives. Plus my father didn’t like my name and I hated that. For me it was very healing to let my husband choose our daughter’s name. I chose her middle name. Most posters have heard this story already, but I don’t think you have so I wrote it again. I think [name]Rachel[/name] is a very pretty name although it is slightly dated. If my husband loved it that much, I would be willing to name my daughter [name]Rachel[/name] even nowadays. Of course it would be easy for our family to get away with the name [name]Rachel[/name] because we live in L.A., and I think it has been less popular here than in many other parts of the country.

3

You could also share your concerns with your husband that [name]Rachel[/name] will stick out amongst your other children, or you could tell him that [name]Rachel[/name] is still too close to your father’s name. Using [name]Rachel[/name] as a middle name is another option, too.

I think it’s important that you both love whatever name you choose for your child, so maybe you could find a name you both adore.

I do like [name]Rella[/name], but what about [name]Rafaela[/name]/[name]Rafaella[/name]/Raphaella?

4

Here’s a low-handed but valid argument: Since [name]Rachel[/name] was very popular in the 80s and early 90s, but started to dip ten years ago, people will always assume that your [name]Rachel[/name] is significantly older than she is. Not a great name image to bestow on a child.

5

If your husband loves [name]Rachel[/name], maybe he would also like:
[name]Veronica[/name] nn [name]Vera[/name] - to me this has a similar feel. Sounds strong and there’s an “r” in it. [name]Veronica[/name] is one of my favorites!
[name]Dinah[/name] - biblical and cool
[name]Miriam[/name] nn [name]Miri[/name] - ditto
[name]Naomi[/name] - ditto, my husband loves this name, but I don’t care for it. If he had wanted to use this name I just wouldn’t have gone for it. But I know it’s a very pretty name to most people. I don’t know why I don’t like it. Maybe too many vowels for me.
[name]Carmen[/name] - this name has an “r” in it and sounds very strong to me. I love [name]Carmen[/name] a lot.
[name]Laura[/name] - It’s a classic, and now I really love it. It’s gorgeous!
[name]Marin[/name] - I’ve been really liking this name lately. It has a strong sound, and there’s that “r” again. Doesn’t end in an “a”, the same as [name]Rachel[/name]. I think it is distinctive for a girl’s name not to end in an “a”, a “y”, or an “ie”.
[name]Hollis[/name] - I have been suggesting this a lot lately. But I think it’s a great name.
[name]Honor[/name] - virtue name
[name]Chloe[/name] - this is a biblical name, but it isn’t from the Old Testament. It’s Greek.
[name]Anna[/name] - has a classic, no nonsense feeling. Nice and short. But I don’t think you would like it. Too simple, maybe you would like [name]Anneliese[/name] and then you could call her [name]Anna[/name] for short sometimes.
[name]Iris[/name] - on hipster list, but I just love it!
[name]Tabitha[/name] - means gazelle. [name]Rachel[/name] means ewe. Slightly similar animals that both love to graze. [name]Both[/name] are peaceful animals anyway. Biblical name.
[name]Frances[/name] nn [name]Francie[/name] - I just love this name! I am crazy about it. My husband hates it of course.
[name]Paloma[/name] - means dove. Peaceful like [name]Rachel[/name]'s meaning.
[name]Georgia[/name] - on the hipster list in case it matters. So pretty.
[name]Persia[/name] - just thought I’d throw it out there.
[name]Susannah[/name] nn [name]Sanna[/name] - Biblical and of course I love it since my name is [name]Susan[/name].
[name]Christina[/name] - it is a bit dated, but really it’s timeless. I don’t really like it though for nowadays. Sounds too conservative.
[name]Charlotte[/name] - this name reminds me a lot of [name]Rachel[/name]. It’s two syllables and it has the “r”, the “l”, and the “ch” in it. It is a soft “ch” sound though. It does have the word harlot in the middle of it, if that bothers you. [name]Charlotte[/name] is a gorgeous name!
[name]Clara[/name] - so gorgeous, one of my very favorite names.
[name]Alice[/name] - ditto. I am wild about [name]Alice[/name].

6

Thanks for the time you guys put into replying! :slight_smile:

I’ve gone over all those names before–[name]Raphaela[/name], which I love; [name]Tabitha[/name], [name]Honor[/name] (that one’s been on my short list for 7 years), [name]Dove[/name], etc.

I mean we have talked about baby names for hours and hour and hours. I’ve been pregnant a lot and addicted to names a lotter. :slight_smile:

He is okay with [name]Laura[/name] and [name]Clara[/name]. [name]Tabitha[/name] and [name]Dinah[/name] he feels are iffy (I know, I love 'em too). He likes [name]Seraphina[/name], especially because I love it so much; no matter how much I love Sunniva, he feels that’s a no-go.

But he really. really. really. loves [name]Rachel[/name]. And it has to be [name]Rachel[/name]. Maybe [name]Rachael[/name]. But never anything but the one, the only, [name]Rachel[/name].

Me, I have to admit that I don’t like the -aitch sound in it. One of my best friends is named [name]Rachel[/name], and it is a lovely name for her, but I still have Tourette’s of the mind where every time I hear “[name]Rachel[/name]” a little voice whispers “Raunchy”.

I told my husband this, gently, and he shrugged and said, “Okay, let’s just not have more kids.”

:stuck_out_tongue:

So…I’m glad to know you guys think [name]Rella[/name] sounds okay. I have broached having [name]Rachel[/name] as the middle name, and he’s very MEH about it, like, “Okay, I understand I mean less to you than the baby name addiction does.”

And…just to point out how very selfish I am…we HAVE had three other daughters already, named [name]Bronwen[/name], Hilani and [name]Sakura[/name]. No Rachels yet. Poor hubby.

So I may just have to live with a Raunchy. I am clinging to the “[name]Rella[/name]” rope as a way of talking my selfish self into it. If you guys think [name]Rella[/name] sunds okay (imagine how cute poking their tummy and telling them it’s their “Relly button” :smiley: ) then I think I can persuade myself.

7

I do really love the name [name]Rachel[/name] or [name]Rachael[/name] even if it is a little dated. It is lovely!

8

My mom’s name is [name]Rachel[/name] and loves her name, and I’m 21 and I love the name as well. Relly or [name]Rella[/name] is very cute. I also don’t think that [name]Rachel[/name] is one of those names that can be dated. Although it got super popular, it is kind of like [name]Sarah[/name]…biblical and classic and can’t really have a total time stamp on it even when overused because it has always been used. I know three Rachels: My mom, someone my age, and a baby. They all work well to me. I think that your husband has been amazing about names so far (my boyfriend rejects most of the names I like because they are too out there). Although [name]Rachel[/name]'s name will not be as unique as the other girls, she will have something special that she will love, having her daddy’s favorite name in the whole world :slight_smile: If you do decide to go with [name]Rachel[/name], you should work on coming totally to terms with it so that you don’t resent hubby for it at all…he will appreciate it so so much.

also, I really like [name]Rachel[/name] [name]Seraphina[/name]…so pretty!

9

That’s so true–he HAS been remarkably nice about names for our kids so far. Very willing to compromise.

Thanks for telling me about liking [name]Rachel[/name].

This tells me I need to just get over myself and look at the positives here. You’re right–how special for a kid to grow up, knowing their name is their Daddy’s favorite.

Thanks again.

10

i love the name rachel… and actually i know quite a few people named rachel and they are all lovely. rachel seraphina IS beautiful :]

11

i love the name rachel… and actually i know quite a few people named rachel and they are all lovely. rachel seraphina IS beautiful :]

12

i agree that [name]Rachel[/name] [name]Seraphina[/name] is very nice, and who really knows what her nn will be? [name]Buffy[/name] from [name]Bronwen[/name] might not be the first thing you might have planned for a nn? Nicknames seem to have a life of their own… And from what you have said it seems like something very important to your relationship with your husband… good luck!

13

I think this is a really good point and, my and nameberry’s comments about [name]Rachel[/name]'s fashion standing aside, a name that has family meaning or that one parent loves really transcends all of that in ways that are much more important.

14

I agree, and based on how easy it is for me to lose perspective and get selfish, it’s a point that can stand to be made a lot more often. :slight_smile:

15

Honestly, I love the name [name]Rachel[/name]. (Although, this answer will be biased since it is my name.)
It doesn’t sound raunchy to me, or whatever. But, [name]Rella[/name] is a really cute nickname!
I have dozens of made up nicknames, my main ones being [name]Rae[/name] and Rach.

16

I agree that [name]Rachel[/name] is in the [name]Sarah[/name] category–timeless. It’s a fine name, not one that I get excited about but it’s hard to go wrong with it. Your nickname options sound very cute, too.

17

Me too! It’s a sweet classic and I think compromising by including a more exotic middle name you [name]LOVE[/name] is a nice idea.

18

My grandmother gave birth to 10 children. My grandfather picked the name’s for nine of them. My 52 year old aunt still talks about the fact that she was only child named by my grandmother. It can be a very meaningful gift to both your newest daughter and your husband, but if you don’t like [name]Rachel[/name], I mean REALLY don’t like it, you definitely have the right to veto. I personally am not a fan of [name]Rachel[/name] as I have yet to meet a nice one (no offense to all the [name]Rachel[/name]'s of the world).

19

[name]Rachel[/name] is a pretty name! I think you should let your husband pick the name this time, seeing as he let you pick the names of the previous children. I think you will grow to love it and it will mean a lot to him. I agree that you should be able to pick an exotic middle name as a compromise. :slight_smile:

20

I think [name]Rachel[/name] is beautiful. When I hear it I think about [name]Jennifer[/name] Aniston’s “[name]Rachel[/name]” but except for that I think it is a queenly name which goes well with the others. I love the name [name]Sakura[/name]. I have tried to get my husband to like it but no… and since we’re having a delivery suprice, we’ll have to wait until this summer to know what it will be.

Good luck!