We chose the name [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] for our girl who will be born in the fall. It is a very pronounceable name where I am originally from and has similar pronunciation in English - this was very important to me as I live in [name_f]Canada[/name_f] but travel home often.
Now I am working on the middle name. The front runner now is [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f]. I like it but I am not 100% sold yet. I love the name [name_f]Grace[/name_f] and thought of [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], but her dad is not sold on it (and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] seems to be the “go-to” middle name these days). I recently thought of [name_f]Clarice[/name_f] - my late grandmother was called [name_f]Clarisse[/name_f]. However… I had made a rule of not “honouring” anyone to avoid jealousy in the family (but I guess I can break my own rule :p). Also, her half sister is called [name_u]Clare[/name_u] - even though the names mean the same, I guess they sound different enough.
Anyway, my short list includes:
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Clarice[/name_f]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Juliet[/name_f]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_u]Julie[/name_u]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_u]Eloise[/name_u]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] (I have a double name with [name_f]Luiza[/name_f] - would that me honouring myself???)
Other options: [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f], [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Beatriz[/name_f].
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f] is pretty. I don’t love the back-to-back similar sounds between the ending of [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] and beginning of [name_f]Elise[/name_f], but it is not to bad. I actually think all your options are good except [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] and [name_u]Julie[/name_u], which don’t flow as well for me. My favorites are [name_f]Alice[/name_f], [name_f]Louise[/name_f], and [name_f]Beatriz[/name_f]. I think honoring yourself should be allowed
I love the name [name_f]Isadora[/name_f]! Like pp said, I think [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f] kind of runs into each other with those vowel sounds, so [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Clarice[/name_f] sounds and flows better. From your list though I really like [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]. That’s the combo I would go with personally. I also really like the suggestion of [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Noelle[/name_f]! It has such a great flow.
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f]- I don’t think this flows well, at least not how I’m pronouncing [name_f]Elise[/name_f]. I say it like uh-LEES but if you say ee-LEES it flows much better imo.
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Clarice[/name_f]- I like this very much. I think both names are soft and unique while still sounding familiar. I don’t mind so much that it could be an honor name for your grandmother, but having a sibling named [name_u]Clare[/name_u] makes me think maybe another middle would be best.
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]- I like [name_f]Grace[/name_f] for her simplicity, although you are correct that many people use it as a filler just because it compliments most names. If you love it try bringing it up to DH, but if not I’d say keep looking.
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Juliet[/name_f]- I like both names separately, but together it’s a very elaborate, romantic name. If that’s what you’re looking for I think it’s great.
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_u]Julie[/name_u]- [name_u]Julie[/name_u] sounds so blah next to beauty [name_f]Isadora[/name_f].
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_u]Eloise[/name_u]- My favorite of all your combos. I think [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] is a gorgeous compliment to [name_f]Isadora[/name_f].
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]- I would imagine people would think you named her after you, but people do that all the time and there’s nothing wrong with that. I like this combo although it’s not as lilting as [name_u]Eloise[/name_u].
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f], [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Beatriz[/name_f]- of these I think [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] has the right rhythm and sounds nicest.
Who knew naming a human would be so hard! Where I am originally from we don’t do middle names (only in the case of double names, like me) so the entire concept is hard! DH says she has to have it since her older siblings do (my stepkids). I like [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] too, but DH vetoed bc his ex is called [name_f]Cathy[/name_f]!
We quickly considered [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f], but in his mom’s family the name [name_f]Helen[/name_f] goes around a lot and she suggested it in a way to honour her! Who does that, lol? I am trying to be considerate of DH’s stepmom in this case as well. Also, I am not the biggest fan of the English pronunciation of [name_f]Helena[/name_f], which is a shame as it is a beautiful name.
I forgot to mention, the last name is very short, 4 letters only.
I like [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f], and I think it flows (at least how I am pronouncing it). I also like [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f].
Thank you for the kind words. I am feeling better about my options now. Actually, my grandmother’s name was spelt [name_f]Clarisse[/name_f], which is the [name_m]French[/name_m]/Portuguese version of [name_f]Clarice[/name_f]. I just feel [name_f]Clarice[/name_f] is more up-to-date. The stepdaughter’s name is [name_u]Clare[/name_u], which is the same meaning as [name_f]Clarice[/name_f].
It is true what they say, the more you say/think about a name, the more you like it or dislike it. I am liking [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f] more and more. I love the name [name_f]Grace[/name_f] but seems like everyone is using [name_f]Grace[/name_f] as a middle name now and it doesn’t sound as delicate as [name_f]Elise[/name_f].
Time to bring the subject back on the table for hubby so we can decide!
Thank you everyone for your inputs. I was really growing fond of [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f], but we ended up on [name_f]Grace[/name_f]. The tie breaker was the meaning of the name - since we need to have some sort of tie breaker.
Thank you all who replied! I loved all your suggestions.
PS: Unfortunately [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Joy[/name_f] would not work bc [name_f]Joy[/name_f] is my dog!
Like pp said, I think [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f] kind of runs into each other with those vowel sounds, so [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Clarice[/name_f] sounds and flows better. From your list though I really like [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]. That’s the combo I would go with personally. I also really like the suggestion of [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] [name_f]Noelle[/name_f]! It has such a great flow.