I have a dilemma. [name]One[/name] of my favorite names is the exact name of my great grandmother. I like both the first and middle together and no other combo sounds as good to me. I would really like to use it, but I am afraid of completely taking her name and bestowing it on my child. I feel this for several reasons. Number one being that I have other relatives who also absolutely loved this woman and her name evokes memories of her. I am afraid that by taking it in it’s entirety I will somehow create resentment. I feel that I would be kind of forcing my family members to think about my child when they hear this name instead of their beloved grandmother. Also, I feel like I might be short changing my child by not giving her a name that is unique to her. It is a name that already comes with preconceived notions and quite frankly is a lot to live up to. I wouldn’t worry so much except that I absolutely love this name and I just can’t shake the feeling that this is the name I really want to give my child if it is a girl.
I think it depends on your family. Personally it wouldn’t bother me or anyone in my family. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it, in fact I think it’s a lovely tribute, but only you know how your family may react and if that is enough to deter you.
Ooo… it is a tough one.
My [name]Kirsten[/name] is named for a family member, and I opted for making sure she has her very own, unique middle name that was only hers. Try to think of it from her perspective, that is what I did.
Looking back on it, I am not sure if we should have consulted with the family about it… but, it was known from very early on we were using that name, and if there was any sort of issue, I am sure someone would have said something.
Personally I do not see a problem with it. Depending on your family though, this could be a sticky situation. Perhaps you should test the waters and see how a few close family members react to the idea. If they seem uneasy with it, I would change either the first or middle name.
Similar situations have occurred in my family. Rarely was the honor name met with ill feelings. Again, it’s something to consider on a family by family basis.
If it was me, I wouldn’t do it… I wouldn’t want my child to be responsible for bringing back memories or feel the need to live up to someone she or he didn’t even know… I understand using one name, but I wouldn’t use both… or I would spell it slightly different, like my grandma’s name is [name]Yvonne[/name], so someone suggested to my cousin to do [name]Evonne[/name], but she ended up picking a different name.
I also think honoring a family member is more appropriate in the middle name spot, but that’s just my opinion.
If your intentions are to honor your family member who has passed I dont see a problem personally. After all she is your daughter. Maybe going with a similar name or a name inspired by your family member would be best. I personally named my youngest daughter after her great grandmothers with one who had passed away 1 year prior to my daughter being born. I wanted to honor the woman who had ment so much to my family and myself. We had her named picked out almost immediately after we found out she was a girl. I never asked anyone what they thought but we never kept her name or why from anyone.
[name]Elaine[/name]= [name]Elaina[/name] (our daughters name)
Good [name]Luck[/name]!!
Thanks for the responses. It would be to honor her. [name]Even[/name] though she was my great grandmother, I grew up with her. My mom had me very young and she and my grandmother helped raise me until she passed away. I don’t think any one in my family would ever tell me not to use it. I am just a worrier I guess. I will go back to the drawing board and try to come up with something that has a similar feel but is not the exact same name. I am beginning to see that it would be unfair to give my daughter someone else’s complete name. Thanks for your input.
Could you add a second middle name, or use a new first name and do your great grandmother’s full name as two middles? For example my great grandmother was [name]Florence[/name] [name]Annetta[/name], so if I wanted to use the full name maybe I’d go with [name]Florence[/name] [name]Annetta[/name] [name]Claire[/name] or [name]Avery[/name] [name]Florence[/name] [name]Annetta[/name] (just random examples off the top of my head lol). I think that could be a good way to go with the full combo, which you clearly love, and still give your child her own individual take on the name.
Thank you greyer. I do love it. My DH loves it as well and that was a hard won battle! 
Her name was [name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name]. She usually went by both names, so people would say [name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] together. I was going to use the full name but call her [name]Etta[/name] or [name]Etta[/name] [name]Belle[/name]. If anyone can think of a third name that would go I would be open to suggestions. I have also considered using [name]Maribel[/name] as an alternative.
I like the pp’s suggestion of doing a double mn. That would be a nice way for your child to feel she has her own name. Also I agree with what someone else said, about testing the idea on close fam members. [name]Say[/name] you tried it out on your mom and grandma and they don’t feel it will be a big deal to the other fam members, then you’d feel more confident about using it. Good luck!
I think there’s a lot of names that could go with [name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] (very cute, btw!). Maybe from your signature, [name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]June[/name]? [name]Just[/name] something short and sweet that you like there at the end.
Oh my gosh. [name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] nn [name]Etta[/name]? Swoon. It’s going to be hard coming up with a second middle to compete with all that gorgeousness - I can see why you love it so much. If you ever needed a different nickname you could also use [name]Mabel[/name], which is also to die for.
I feel like the second middle should be 2 syllables, something not as long as [name]Marietta[/name] but not one syllable like [name]Belle[/name], if you kwim. [name]How[/name] about…
[name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]Sophie[/name] - I also like [name]Marietta[/name] [name]Sophie[/name] [name]Belle[/name] if you’re open to switching up the names
[name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]Elaine[/name]
[name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]Louise[/name]
[name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]Marie[/name] - filler, I know, but I really like the sound of this one
[name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]Cosette[/name]
[name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]Christine[/name]
[name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]Edith[/name] - sort of nods to [name]Meredith[/name] in your signature
[name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]Aileen[/name] - had to suggest this as it’s my middle, pron. like [name]Eileen[/name], but I prefer this spelling for you so the E’s in [name]Belle[/name] and [name]Eileen[/name] don’t run together
[name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]Jolie[/name]
Any of those appeal?
Thank you greyer! Great suggestions! I really like [name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]Marie[/name] and [name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]Jolie[/name]. I especially like [name]Marietta[/name] [name]Belle[/name] [name]Jolie[/name], but both [name]Belle[/name] and [name]Jolie[/name] mean pretty or beautiful so I think that might be a little much.
Honestly, 1) she helped raise you, 2) it’s a lovely name, 3) it’s really not a super uncommon name, 4) you’re not planning to use it in the same way she did. All those things to me add up to it being a great choice.
If the name was exceptionally rare and she would have to go by the entire name and have no chance or making the name her own, then it might be a probably. A name like “[name]Vesta[/name]”.
You have every reason to want to honor her and seem to be making efforts even now to separate her from your great-gma. Unless your family spends all their time together and in each other’s business I doubt it will be an issue–I don’t even know my cousins middle names!