We really want to honor DH’s aunts [name_f]Elaine[/name_f] and [name_f]Colleen[/name_f] who raised him, but we aren’t too keen on their actual names. [name_m]How[/name_m] can we freshen them up? It has to be 1 name to honor 2 people because we also plan on honoring my mother. This is so difficult!
You could use an Irish form of [name_f]Helen[/name_f] (Irish from [name_f]Colleen[/name_f] and [name_f]Helen[/name_f] from [name_f]Elaine[/name_f]). I’m finding [name_f]Eileen[/name_f], [name_f]Aileen[/name_f], [name_f]Leana[/name_f], and [name_f]Aveline[/name_f] on various sites.
Thank you for chipping in sarah1800.
I second [name_f]Eileen[/name_f].
[name_f]Colleen[/name_f]:
[name_f]Colette[/name_f]
[name_f]Cossette[/name_f]
[name_f]Cleo[/name_f]
[name_f]Elaine[/name_f]:
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleni[/name_f]
[name_f]Elaini[/name_f]
[name_f]Elaney[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Elaina[/name_f]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Elsa[/name_f]
[name_f]Lena[/name_f]
Perhaps you could consider two middle names?
Names that honour both the aunts are difficult to think of. I also like the suggestion of [name_f]Eileen[/name_f].
Other names that use the sounds or letters from the original names:
[name_u]Cordelle[/name_u]
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]
[name_u]Laine[/name_u] (with a second middle name starting with a C)
[name_u]Delaney[/name_u] ("")
[name_f]Colina[/name_f]
[name_f]Coletta[/name_f]
[name_f]Colette[/name_f]
I think [name_f]Eileen[/name_f] is perfect combination of the two names but it might seem a little dated…
What about [name_f]Ciel[/name_f]?
It is pronounced see-[name_f]EL[/name_f].
The C for [name_f]Colleen[/name_f] and the [name_f]El[/name_f]- sound for [name_f]Elaine[/name_f]. I think it is a nice compromise! I find [name_f]Ciel[/name_f] to be quite pretty and meaningful (it means [name_u]Sky[/name_u] in [name_m]French[/name_m]). Not dated, but not quite modern either.
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps!