[name_m]Hi[/name_m] Berries! We’re expecting a girl in [name_u]August[/name_u] and want to honor my mother who passed when I was 18, [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]. My son would have been [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] had he been a girl, but that name just doesn’t feel quite right now. Our top contenders are [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] or [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]. I am somewhat concerned an [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] will be lost in a sea of [name_f]Ella[/name_f]/[name_f]Ellie[/name_f]’s. We’ve discussed the nickname [name_f]Nell[/name_f] and both really love that as well.
Here are some combos we’ve discussed and would love opinions on, as well as suggestions for different combos. If we use [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] (or [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]) as her first name, we’re pretty open to any middle. I like the idea of using a flower name, as my mother was an avid gardener, but I’m not sure my husband’s on board with that. I think I’d prefer something a little unexpected with [name_f]Ellen[/name_f]. I suggested [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] [name_f]Sapphira[/name_f], which was a hard no for my husband. I’ll share our “back burner” names as well and would love your opinions on them with the middle name [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] or a close variant of [name_f]Ellen[/name_f]/a clear [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] honor name. Our last name starts with a C and rhymes with hummings. Thanks!
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] ([name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] were on our long list. I preferred [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] as a first name, but am really liking [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] with [name_f]Ellen[/name_f]. My husband also feels it is a gentle nod to his family name of [name_m]Beecher[/name_m] and I’m fond of the idea of being able to refer to her as my “little [name_f]Bea[/name_f]/[name_f]Bee[/name_f].”
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f] [name_f]Briar[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f], [name_f]Zora[/name_f] and [name_f]Polly[/name_f] are the other names that are still on the table.
Hmm. [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] is nice, but I share your concerns about being lost among the other [name_f]El[/name_f]- names, plus I think [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] fits a little better with [name_u]August[/name_u] ([name_u]August[/name_u] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] is great!) [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] is lovely, or maybe [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] [name_f]Nell[/name_f]? I know [name_f]Nell[/name_f] is a little insubstantial, but I think it works as a nod to your mother. There’s also [name_f]Helen[/name_f], though I’m not sure it fits your style as well.
Would you consider using [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] as a middle for something else on your list? It really is the perfect way to honor an [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]. Something like [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] or [name_f]Polly[/name_f] [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] would be pretty.
From your [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] middles, I prefer [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]. [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] [name_f]Briar[/name_f] sounds a little harsh, and I think [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] fits the style of [name_u]August[/name_u] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] nicely.
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] and [name_f]Zora[/name_f] are also gorgeous! I’d go for [name_f]Zora[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]/[name_f]Louisa[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Polly[/name_f], or [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Briar[/name_f].
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is fabulous! I think going by [name_f]Nell[/name_f] or [name_f]Bea[/name_f] would definitely set your daughter apart. I love both [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] and Elllen, but I am not sure I love them together. I think [name_f]Helen[/name_f] is a variant of [name_f]Ellen[/name_f]. Would [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] [name_f]Helen[/name_f] feel like a tribute to you? Other ideas:
All of those are nice options, but I think I like [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] best. I guess there are a ton of popular [name_f]El[/name_f] names, but [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] does feel different. If you are OK with primarily using [name_f]Nell[/name_f] that also feels pretty unusual. I also like [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f].
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is lovely! You could even consider just doing [name_f]Nell[/name_f], but really [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] is great and I think an underused [name_f]El[/name_f]- name and [name_f]Nell[/name_f] as the nn seems to solve and concerns you had.
I also like [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f]!
Both [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] and [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] sound like sisters alongside [name_u]August[/name_u].
Though [name_u]August[/name_u] and [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] seem perfect to me.
