[name_m]Hi[/name_m] berries!
I have recently fallen in love with the name [name_u]Laine[/name_u] (spelling subject to change) for a girl. And my husband likes it also, a major score!!
However, I want to use my maiden name [name_u]Lee[/name_u] as a middle name. Our first option for a boys name is already set, so the only way to put [name_u]Lee[/name_u] in would be for a girls name…
But the problem is; [name_u]Laine[/name_u] [name_u]Lee[/name_u]? Too alliterative, too short, too insubstantial??
I don’t want to not use a first name I love because of my maiden name, which I obviously can’t change…
What are your thoughts?
Also, bonus question, which spelling of [name_u]Laine[/name_u] do you prefer?
[name_u]Laine[/name_u]
[name_u]Lane[/name_u]
[name_u]Layne[/name_u]
Also, another thought.
[name_u]Laine[/name_u] goes GREAT with our last name (which can be tricky to pair names with sometimes). So that’s another reason to choose it!! But that darn middle…
I like [name_u]Lane[/name_u] best. I would go simplest so not to seem like I’m stretching for a unique spelling. I would opt for [name_f]Elaine[/name_f] or [name_f]Elena[/name_f] and use [name_u]Lane[/name_u] as a cute nickname. I think [name_f]Elaine[/name_f] [name_u]Lee[/name_u] or [name_f]Elena[/name_f] [name_u]Lee[/name_u] feel more sophisticated, adult, professional. beautiful. [name_u]Lane[/name_u] [name_u]Lee[/name_u] is pretty, but cutesy. I do think [name_u]Lane[/name_u] could suit a grown woman, but the alliteration makes it even cutesier.
I agree with tararyaz, [name_f]Elaine[/name_f] would be a better choice because it sounds more sophisticated and also because in my opinion it sounds better in combination with [name_u]Lee[/name_u].
My fn is [name_u]Lane[/name_u], I like the idea of the simplest spelling. My personal opinion is that I need more syllables to follow a 1 syllable first name. Alliteration is nice, but two one syllable names with the same letter is a bit brief for me.
[name_u]Lane[/name_u] is my preferred spelling. [name_m]How[/name_m] about putting a feminine and longer 2nd mn in between the unisex 1 syl [name_u]Lane[/name_u] and [name_u]Lee[/name_u]? For example off the top of my head [name_u]Lane[/name_u] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] [name_u]Lee[/name_u].
[name_u]Laine[/name_u] sounds like a great mn, but kind of plain and insubstantial for a first name. You could use [name_u]Lee[/name_u] as a mn for the next child, either boy or girl. [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] [name_u]Laine[/name_u], [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] [name_u]Laine[/name_u], [name_f]Amica[/name_f] [name_u]Laine[/name_u], [name_f]Juliette[/name_f] [name_u]Laine[/name_u], [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] [name_u]Laine[/name_u]? I don’t really have a feel for your style, but hope this helps!
I [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] [name_u]Laine[/name_u]! It’s a sneaky way for me to honor a [name_f]Lorraine[/name_f]. And I agree with kashed22, add a second middle name.
I think [name_u]Laine[/name_u] [name_u]Lee[/name_u] can sort of run together, sounding like one of those made-up [name_u]Lee[/name_u] names – Lainely, Laneleigh, that sort of thing. But if you don’t plan on calling her by both, it’s fine. [name_f]Elaine[/name_f] [name_u]Lee[/name_u], [name_f]Elena[/name_f] [name_u]Lee[/name_u], [name_u]Delaney[/name_u] [name_u]Lee[/name_u] (NN [name_u]Laine[/name_u]) can help with that, too - if those are your style at all.
I’ve heard so much [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Claire[/name_f] in the middle spot that [name_u]Lee[/name_u] - one of the standard MNs when I was born in the 80s - is kind of refeshing! If the child will be getting her father’s surname, I think it’s great to have the mother’s surname/ maiden name in the middle spot.
I really like [name_f]Elena[/name_f] [name_u]Lee[/name_u]. I have an [name_f]Elena[/name_f] (with my maiden as her middle) and we call her [name_u]Lane[/name_u] or [name_u]Laney[/name_u] all the time. As a stand-alone name, I like the [name_u]Laine[/name_u] spelling.
Thanks for the replies! Unfortunately, there are already 2 [name_f]Elena[/name_f]'s in the family, so I can’t really use that. And my husband is dead set against [name_f]Elaine[/name_f] because it’s too “Seinfeld” for him. He also vetoed [name_f]Marlane[/name_f], [name_f]Marlena[/name_f] and [name_u]Delaney[/name_u]. Ugh.
So far [name_u]Lane[/name_u] as a stand alone is still the front runner, now the middle is up for debate! Lol
So after some google-ing, I came across Trelaine. What do y’all think of that?
Trelaine rides the line of androgynous and girly, like [name_u]Laine[/name_u] and [name_u]Lee[/name_u]. It has a kind of lilting sound too. I could see it on a bookish yet well-liked little girl in a plaid jumper with brown braids.
If you’re looking for something frillier you could try other names with the -[name_f]Lena[/name_f] ending - [name_f]Helena[/name_f] (too close to [name_f]Elena[/name_f]?), Magdelena, [name_f]Milena[/name_f]?
If your heart’s set on [name_u]Lane[/name_u], I see no problem with going for it! My main association is [name_u]Lane[/name_u] [name_u]Kim[/name_u] from [name_m]Gilmore[/name_m] Girls, but it’s not a bad one at all! I get your husband’s Seinfeld association with [name_f]Elaine[/name_f]. I can’t get into [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] because of Friends!
And I agree with kashed22, add a second middle name.