Help updating grandparents' names for baby?

Girl Names
1

Hello, all!
My husband and I are expecting a baby girl at the end of February, and are having a tough time with a name. We had a name for a boy all picked out, but when we found it it was a girl we realized we’re in a bit of trouble. We’d love to give her a family name but are having a difficult time, given our options. I’d love any suggestions!

Here is what we have to work with. I’m listing both male and female names, in case inspiration strikes.

[name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] [I like [name_f]Antonia[/name_f], but he doesn’t. Also, this particular grandmother has many namesakes, and my husband feels like it’s getting tired in our family. Still, if I come up with something good, he might acquiesce :)]
[name_f]Priscilla[/name_f]
[name_f]Magdalene[/name_f]
[name_f]Muriel[/name_f]
[name_f]Mary[/name_f]
[name_u]Natale[/name_u] [we already have a [name_f]Natalia[/name_f] in the family, unfortunately]
[name_m]William[/name_m] [Husband doesn’t like “[name_f]Willa[/name_f]”]
[name_m]Henry[/name_m]
[name_m]Rupert[/name_m]

Some ideas
[name_f]Mariella[/name_f] [a variation of [name_f]Mary[/name_f] and [name_f]Muriel[/name_f]]
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
[name_f]Celia[/name_f] [I don’t know, is this kind of a variation of [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f]?]

[name_f]Non[/name_f]-sequiter ideas
[name_f]Emilia[/name_f] or [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] [the ONLY name we both like]
[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] [call her [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] or [name_f]Nola[/name_f]. It’s the town I grew up in–an amazing, magical place]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] [I’m an ocean person, and [name_f]Marin[/name_f] is a bit like [name_f]Mary[/name_f]]

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you!

2

[name_f]Magdalene[/name_f] – [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f], [name_f]Lena[/name_f], [name_u]Malin[/name_u] (love this for you since you like [name_f]Marin[/name_f])
[name_f]Muriel[/name_f] – [name_u]Merle[/name_u], [name_f]Meryl[/name_f]
[name_f]Mary[/name_f] – [name_f]Marie[/name_f]/[name_f]Maria[/name_f], [name_f]Miriam[/name_f], [name_u]Marion[/name_u], [name_f]Maura[/name_f]/[name_f]Moira[/name_f]
[name_u]Natale[/name_u] – [name_f]Nathalie[/name_f] (probably too close to [name_f]Natalia[/name_f])
[name_m]Henry[/name_m] – [name_f]Etta[/name_f], [name_f]Hattie[/name_f]
[name_m]Rupert[/name_m] – [name_u]Robin[/name_u]
[name_f]Antoinette[/name_f], [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f], [name_m]William[/name_m] – I’ve got nothin’

[name_f]Celia[/name_f] is a diminutive of [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f], not [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f], but if you like [name_f]Celia[/name_f] it’s close enough that you could probably use it in honor of [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f] anyway.

[name_f]Emilia[/name_f]/[name_f]Amelia[/name_f] – I don’t know if you pronounce these identically or not, but lots of people will say “eh-MEEL-ee-uh” or “uh-MEEL-ee-uh,” respectively.
[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] – Not really my style, but I do like both [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Nola[/name_f]. There’s also [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] nn [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Finola[/name_f] nn [name_f]Nola[/name_f].
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] – Pretty, but very popular (in the US) if that’s something you’re taking into consideration.
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] – I love it. I also like the [name_f]Maren[/name_f] spelling.

My favorite suggestion for you is [name_u]Malin[/name_u]. Good luck! :slight_smile:

3

Congratulations and here are a few suggestions for you:
[name_u]Merle[/name_u] ([name_f]Muriel[/name_f])
[name_f]Mariel[/name_f] ([name_f]Muriel[/name_f])
[name_f]Wren[/name_f] ([name_m]Henry[/name_m])
[name_u]Dale[/name_u] ([name_f]Magdalene[/name_f])
[name_f]Lena[/name_f] ([name_f]Magdalene[/name_f])
[name_f]Miriam[/name_f] ([name_f]Mary[/name_f])
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] ([name_f]Mary[/name_f])
[name_f]Etoile[/name_f]'e ([name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]) (ET-W-ARE-[name_u]LEE[/name_u])

4

I [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f]. I wouldn’t update it. I also like [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f] and [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] from your list.

5

I kind of love [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] ([name_f]Nola[/name_f]) Magdelena.

6

I really love [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] instead of Magdelena. You could try [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] or [name_f]Margo[/name_f]/Marot, [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], [name_f]Agnes[/name_f], or [name_f]Aggie[/name_f], [name_f]Delia[/name_f], Delena, [name_u]Delaney[/name_u]. [name_f]Nola[/name_f] or [name_f]Nolia[/name_f] are even adorable on their own. [name_f]Nella[/name_f] or [name_f]Nellia[/name_f] are similar.

[name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Margo[/name_f]/[name_f]Margot[/name_f], [name_f]Marina[/name_f], [name_f]Mariana[/name_f], and [name_f]Mamie[/name_f] are all alternatives to [name_f]Mary[/name_f]. [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] or [name_f]Rosemarie[/name_f] are too, plus can give her a variety of nicknames ([name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Rosie[/name_f], [name_f]Roe[/name_f], [name_m]Romie[/name_m], [name_u]Ari[/name_u]).

[name_f]Willow[/name_f] could be an alternative to [name_m]William[/name_m]; it can work as a first and middle name too.

Instead of [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f], [name_f]Prisca[/name_f], [name_f]Cilla[/name_f], [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f], [name_u]Presley[/name_u], [name_f]Camilla[/name_f], [name_f]Piri[/name_f], [name_f]Posy[/name_f], [name_f]Poppy[/name_f], [name_f]Pella[/name_f], [name_u]Piper[/name_u], [name_f]Persephone[/name_f], [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], [name_f]Primrose[/name_f], [name_f]Isabella[/name_f].

[name_m]Henry[/name_m] can be [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f], [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] can be [name_u]Ruby[/name_u].

[name_f]Natalie[/name_f] can be [name_f]Naomi[/name_f].

[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t forget, you can always use a first name you love that isn’t family related, but then put a family name as her middle.

Are there any other place names that are special to either your husband and you, or maybe to other’s in the family? (In example, my mother was born and grew up in [name_m]Elgin[/name_m] ([name_f]Ellie[/name_f]), and my father was born and grew up in South [name_u]Dakota[/name_u] ([name_u]Dakota[/name_u]).

7

[name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] - [name_f]Tina[/name_f]

[name_f]Priscilla[/name_f] - [name_u]Presley[/name_u]

[name_f]Magdalene[/name_f] - [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] could work or any [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] derivative ([name_f]Meg[/name_f], [name_f]Megan[/name_f], [name_f]Maisie[/name_f]), [name_f]Dina[/name_f], [name_f]Lena[/name_f]

[name_f]Muriel[/name_f] - Any name ending in -elle could work. [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Danielle[/name_f], [name_f]Laurel[/name_f].

[name_f]Mary[/name_f] - [name_f]Maribel[/name_f], [name_f]Marielle[/name_f], [name_f]Marisol[/name_f], [name_f]Marin[/name_f], [name_u]Marian[/name_u], [name_f]Mariana[/name_f]

[name_m]Henry[/name_m] - [name_f]Etta[/name_f], [name_f]Hailey[/name_f].

[name_m]Rupert[/name_m] - Rubena (with the nn [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]), [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] alone, [name_f]Perla[/name_f].

If you both like [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]/[name_f]Emilia[/name_f] I would go with that and throw in the ‘in honor of’ names in the middle.

8

What about [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] nn [name_f]Mina[/name_f]?

9

I love [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f]! It has meaning for you, and great nickname potential. I think it could work in either the middle or the first name spot. I also like [name_f]Marin[/name_f]. What do you think of [name_f]Marin[/name_f] [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f]?

Some other ideas:
[name_u]Marley[/name_u]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]

[name_f]Tonya[/name_f] or [name_f]Tanya[/name_f] for [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]?

[name_f]Natasha[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Natalie[/name_f]?

I also like the suggestion of [name_f]Willow[/name_f] for [name_m]William[/name_m]

10

[name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] [I like [name_f]Antonia[/name_f], but he doesn’t. Also, this particular grandmother has many namesakes, and my husband feels like it’s getting tired in our family. Still, if I come up with something good, he might acquiesce ]

  • Other than [name_f]Antonia[/name_f], I can’t think of anything besides [name_f]Antonietta[/name_f]. If she already has a lot of namesakes you should probably drop it.

[name_f]Priscilla[/name_f]

  • nn form of [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f] “[name_f]Cilla[/name_f]” could work. If you want to spice up [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f] and make it LOOK more modern you could try Pryscilla.

[name_f]Magdalene[/name_f]

  • For this I have a genius idea: Why not merge this w/ [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] to honor your relative and your town? [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] could be a nn for either. This could be the link connecting the two. Name her [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f].

[name_f]Muriel[/name_f]

  • Here’s where my genius runs out. I don’t know how to modernize this.

[name_f]Mary[/name_f]

  • There are infinite variations of [name_f]Mary[/name_f] - [name_f]Marie[/name_f], [name_f]Maria[/name_f], [name_f]Marietta[/name_f], [name_f]Mariana[/name_f], [name_f]Marianne[/name_f]…

[name_u]Natale[/name_u] [we already have a [name_f]Natalia[/name_f] in the family, unfortunately]

  • [name_f]Natalie[/name_f] or [name_f]Natasha[/name_f] could work.

[name_m]William[/name_m] [Husband doesn’t like “[name_f]Willa[/name_f]”]

  • [name_f]Willow[/name_f] could be an alternative to [name_f]Willa[/name_f].

[name_m]Henry[/name_m]

  • [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f] is the feminized [name_m]Henry[/name_m]. nn could be [name_f]Henny[/name_f] or [name_f]Etta[/name_f].

[name_m]Rupert[/name_m]

  • No ideas about this one.
11

Personally I would stick with [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f]! So pretty. :heart:

12

[name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]- [name_f]Antonella[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Ella[/name_f] or [name_f]Nell[/name_f])
[name_f]Magdalene[/name_f]- love [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] or Magdelena
[name_f]Muriel[/name_f] ???
[name_f]Mary[/name_f]- I think all of the derivatives have been covered
[name_u]Natale[/name_u]
[name_m]William[/name_m]- [name_f]Willow[/name_f], Wilhemina
[name_m]Henry[/name_m]- [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f] ([name_f]Etta[/name_f], [name_f]Hettie[/name_f], [name_f]Hattie[/name_f])
[name_m]Rupert[/name_m]- ???

I really like [name_f]Marin[/name_f], btw. I knew a girl in school named [name_f]Marin[/name_f] and I thought it was such a lovely name.

13

I love [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]!!

Suggestions:
[name_f]Mariana[/name_f]
[name_f]Natasha[/name_f]
[name_f]Willow[/name_f]
[name_f]Marisol[/name_f] or [name_u]Marion[/name_u]
[name_f]Patricia[/name_f]

14

[name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]

  • Toini (pr. [name_m]Toy[/name_m]-nee), Nette, [name_f]Tonia[/name_f], [name_f]Anette[/name_f], [name_f]Anita[/name_f], [name_f]Netta[/name_f]

[name_f]Priscilla[/name_f]

  • [name_f]Cilla[/name_f], [name_u]Presley[/name_u], [name_f]Celia[/name_f]

[name_f]Magdalene[/name_f]

  • [name_f]Magdalena[/name_f], [name_f]Magda[/name_f], [name_f]Darlene[/name_f], [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f], [name_f]Lena[/name_f], [name_u]Malin[/name_u] ( pr. MAH-[name_u]Lynn[/name_u]), [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]

[name_f]Muriel[/name_f]

  • this is hard, I can’t come up with anything

[name_f]Mary[/name_f]

  • [name_f]Marielle[/name_f] (would cover [name_f]Muriel[/name_f] aswell?), [name_f]Maria[/name_f], [name_f]Marina[/name_f], [name_f]Marie[/name_f], [name_f]Maia[/name_f], [name_f]Margo[/name_f] ( cover [name_f]Magdalene[/name_f]?), [name_f]Marita[/name_f], [name_f]Martha[/name_f], [name_f]Marika[/name_f], [name_f]Myra[/name_f], [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], [name_u]Macey[/name_u], [name_f]Marilla[/name_f], [name_f]Mirella[/name_f]

[name_u]Natale[/name_u]

  • [name_f]Nadia[/name_f], [name_f]Alena[/name_f], [name_f]Talia[/name_f], [name_f]Tana[/name_f], [name_f]Natasha[/name_f], [name_f]Nanna[/name_f]

[name_m]William[/name_m]

  • [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f], [name_f]Willow[/name_f], [name_f]Wilma[/name_f], Vilja (pr. Vill-yah), [name_f]Lia[/name_f]

[name_m]Henry[/name_m]

  • Heneiette, [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f], [name_f]Henna[/name_f], [name_f]Henrika[/name_f], [name_f]Hedda[/name_f], [name_f]Enya[/name_f], Helmina, [name_f]Henny[/name_f], [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], [name_f]Hanne[/name_f] (pr. Hunn-eh), [name_f]Hetta[/name_f], [name_f]Hettie[/name_f]

[name_m]Rupert[/name_m]

  • [name_u]Ruby[/name_u], [name_f]Rubina[/name_f], [name_f]Perdita[/name_f]

And I really like [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] and [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]. [name_f]Lily[/name_f] is beautiful too! I’m not that fond of [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] though but if you really love it use it! :slight_smile: