Honour names?

Name Advice
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[name_f]My[/name_f] grandmother passed away during my pregnancy and I’d really like to honour her. I’m pregnant with a girl. I’d also like to honour my dh’s grandmother but I HATE her name. Here are my questions:

How do you feel about honour names that aren’t the exact name? Is it still an honour name if it’s not the exact name?

[name_f]My[/name_f] grandmother’s name was [name_f]Wendy[/name_f], but I’m not sure if I should use that or [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]. Aparently [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] came from. I’m not a huge fan of the nn [name_f]Gwen[/name_f]. I could also just give baby her own name and give her my grandmother’s middle name which is also my own. Opinions?

[name_f]My[/name_f] dh’s grandmother was named [name_f]Agnes[/name_f]. I am sorry to anyone who likes it, but it is totally not my taste at all. Is there any way you can think of to honour an [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] without the name actually being [name_f]Agnes[/name_f]?

Thanks in advance!

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I personally love [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] nn [name_f]Wendy[/name_f]. And I think it would be a great name to honor your grandmother while still giving baby her own name.

As for [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] other names related to/variation of [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] are:
[name_f]Ines[/name_f]
[name_f]Senga[/name_f]
[name_u]Nesta[/name_u]
[name_f]Annice[/name_f]
[name_m]Anson[/name_m]
[name_f]Nancy[/name_f]
[name_f]Inessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Annis[/name_f]

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If you prefer [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] just go with that.

Maybe [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] had a great last name or maiden name that would work as a middle? Otherwise maybe just choose an A name or I think [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] has the same meaning.

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I think the variations Inez and Nesta are lovely especially in a middle spot. Aggie is cute too.

As far as using stretchy honour names I think it’s still an honour name as long as YOU feel that it is. I really don’t think it has to be the exact name and some people like to honour someone by using their birthstone/flower, birth month, or even something that was meaningful to them such as a favourite vacation spot, mountain, etc. You should use a name you love or at least like.

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Sorry to hear of her passing. That’s always difficult! :frowning:

Suggestions:

First, do you like [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] [name_f]Agnes[/name_f]? That is probably the simplest means of honoring both.

Assuming, not try:

[name_f]Wendy[/name_f] [name_f]Agatha[/name_f]? [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_f]Agatha[/name_f]? That way there’s an “Aggie” without there being an [name_f]Agnes[/name_f].

[name_u]Or[/name_u] what about Ness or [name_f]Nessa[/name_f]? [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] [name_f]Nessa[/name_f] doesn’t sound too bad.

Another options is to see the things he and she bonded over or what fond memories he has of her or even what her maiden name or middle name was.

For example, if she loved birds and he has fond memories birdwatching with her then maybe [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] [name_u]Sparrow[/name_u] or [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] [name_u]Robin[/name_u] could be an honor name.

Those are just some ideas! Hopefully they help!

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I think it’s fine and often really sensible to use a different name to honour someone especially if it’s going to be their first name (gives them a sense of their own meaning about the name).

Here are some ideas:

[name_f]Elowen[/name_f] [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] (I like Agnes!)
[name_f]Elowen[/name_f] Inès/Inez (French/Spanish for Agnes)
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_f]Inès[/name_f] / [name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Wenna[/name_f] [name_f]Inès[/name_f]
[name_f]Rowenna[/name_f] [name_f]Inès[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwyneth[/name_f] [name_f]Vanessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Winnie[/name_f] [name_f]Inès[/name_f]
[name_f]Inez[/name_f] [name_u]Winter[/name_u]
[name_f]Annie[/name_f] [name_f]Rowenna[/name_f]

[name_u]Or[/name_u] you could use both of their middle names as double middles and select a fresh name for the first.

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] that helps!

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I much prefer honour names that aren’t exact - it’s meaningful, but also the child’s own. Plus, honouring for me is about intent - even if you used the exact name, strangers wouldn’t know it was an honour, but so long as you know and as long as it’s meaningful to you, that’s the important thing for me.

Do you prefer Gwendolyn or Wendy - if you prefer Wendy, I’d go with that. If you prefer Gwendolyn, I’d use that. Dolly or Winnie could be nicknames too. I like the idea of using her middle too - or even Wendy as a middle!

It also comes from Peter Pan, from the nickname ‘fwendy’ (friendy) - so you could do Darling as a middle (as in, Wendy Darling) or, a name meaning friend - Amity, Cara, Ruth.
Or, you could do a similar name - Rowenna, Bronwen, Arwen, Anwen, Winter, Lowenna

For Agnes, you could use a direct variant: Inez/Ines, Annice, Inessa

You could use something with a similar sound: Astrid, August. Maggie, Anais, Vanesssa, Essie, Annie, Anna, Abigail, Esme, Alice, Elise, Alessia

You could use a name with a similar meaning: Katherine, Kaia, Katri, Kitty etc

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I love [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] as a stand-alone, I’d use that if that’s what you called your grandma and you don’t really like [name_f]Gwen[/name_f].

As for your DH’s grandma, what does he think about it? If he doesn’t particularly want to honor her, I’d drop it, and if he does, I’d use [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] as a middle if using the exact name is important to him or another version of the name if he’s fine with that.

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@LibelluleClaire
Thanks for the ideas! I really like [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] nn [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] too, so we may just go with that. I cant find anything close to [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] I really like so maybe I’ll find out her middle name and use that lol.

@hellobanjo good ideas, thank you!

@WhiteGardenia thanks for the reassurance on the stretchy middle name thing. I might try to find out if there’s anything she liked that we can use as a middle.

@cms1512 Thank you, and I’m definitely leaning more towards using something she liked as a middle or even her middle name. I mean it is only a middle name so it could be anything!

@EloiseT Thanks for the suggestions! The double middle bame thing is a good idea I hadn’t thought of for some reason

@Greyblue I really do like [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f], I just don’t like [name_f]Gwen[/name_f]! I can’t believe I didn’t think about the nn [name_f]Dolly[/name_f], that is so adorable! I think I’m coming around to the idea that honouring doesn’t have to be their exact name. Thanks!

@Eirime I’m not sure exactly what he thinks about honouring his grandmother, but I like the idea of a connection to both sides. She may be our only earth side baby, so honouring is important to me. [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] is fine as a stand alone name imo, but I think I like [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] more! Thank you for your thoughts, I suppose I’ll have to ask him what he thinks

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this is a little bit of a stretch, but agnes means lamb, so perhaps find another name that means lamb? a suggestion of mine would be bellamy nn lamb, or as she gets older she could go by bella

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[name_f]Ines[/name_f] is my favourite alternative to [name_f]Agnes[/name_f]!

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[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_f]Aggie[/name_f]? Did [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] have a good middle or maiden name?