So I fell in love with the combination [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name], and got enough positive feedback in my other thread that I feel it could be a real possibility! Then I realized the initials spell L.E.Z, which isn’t appealing for a young girl, or young teen to have. (I have nothing against the actual word, but have been counselled to reconsider by friends and my fiance because of the obvious teasing potential)
So this leaves me with two course of action,
Change the middle name entirely
[name]Add[/name] in a Second middle name to avoid the initial problem
[name]Ellen[/name] was my grandmothers middle name, so I would love to keep it there if possible, so option two would be ideal. The last name is 3 syllables, so would [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] ------ Z be too much of a mouthful??
Other family names for middles could be [name]Irene[/name], [name]Jane[/name], [name]Pearl[/name], [name]Lorna[/name], [name]Margaret[/name] (any variation), [name]Anne[/name], [name]Nina[/name] (N-eye-nah, not Nee-na).
But at the same time, I have never planned for two middles and not sure I like the idea… Any middle name suggestions to go with [name]Lavender[/name] would be highly appreciated, preferably not another noun name, (avoid things that end up sounding like I’m referring to a purple something haha) [name]Just[/name] really looking for the right flow and feel that [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] had! Give it your best shot, I am out of ideas!
For the record, I don’t think the initials are that bad at all. I mean, how often do kids really KNOW other children’s initials? I’m an adult and I don’t know ANY of my friends’ initials (except for first and last). So unless you’re a big fan of L.L. Bean and love getting backpacks and lunch boxes embroidered, I think you’re really, really fine. I think when initials are like P.I.G. it is best to steer away, but with something as innocuous as L.E.Z., I think you’re cool.
Second middles rarely flow well to me, but I think [name]Irene[/name] would make a good choice because it’s two syllables and has that emphasis on the second syllable.
Would anyone ever actually notice that?? The only reason anyone knows my initials is because they know my full name, and only my family and a handful of close friends know my full name. If you ever got something monogrammed for her the initials would be written as LZE anyway. Honestly, if someone has to resort to making fun of your daughter’s initials to tease her, your daughter’s probably flawless (and the bully is just pathetic and grasping at straws).
I think a short one syllable addition would work nicely: [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] [name]Pearl[/name] Z. is GORGEOUS. [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] [name]Faye[/name], [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] [name]Anne[/name], [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] [name]May[/name], [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] [name]Cate[/name], [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] [name]Bea[/name]… [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Helen[/name] would be a lovely alternative, too.
Also, that is true… If you aren’t the initials or monogramming sort, I highly doubt that kids would notice or put the pieces together. Like southern maple said, LZE wouldn’t look odd.
I love [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] and the initials really don’t bother me that much. Like others have said, how many simple acquaintances are going to know her middle name? And even when people do find out, most people aren’t going to sit and think, “oh, her initials spell LEZ”. That’s more of a name nerd trait. lol
That being said, I do like the suggestion of [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Helen[/name]. I also like [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] [name]Jane[/name] from your list of other family names.
[name]Helen[/name] is what immediately came to mind.
Some others that I think would be nice:
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Lynn[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Lenore[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Noreen[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Mary[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Louise[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Aileen[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Mae[/name]/[name]May[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Hope[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Susanne[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ondine[/name]/[name]Undine[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Isolde[/name]
I don’t think the initials would pose too much of a problem. People are still naming their children [name]Leslie[/name], right? You could do
[name]Ellen[/name] [name]Lavender[/name] Z…
and call her by her middle name. My father (who has an honoring first name) goes by his middle, which is more unique in his family. I know several people who do this and I think it’s a nice option. Actually I kind of prefer [name]Ellen[/name] [name]Lavender[/name] to [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] (which to my ears sounds something like “the lavender [name]Ellen[/name], not the blue one”) With [name]Ellen[/name] [name]Lavender[/name] I hear [name]Lavender[/name] more as a botanical, less as just a color.
As a gay man who gets plenty of anti-gay hate on an almost daily basis, I would avoid these initials. Times are changing and people are getting more tolerant, but we’re not there yet.
Here are my suggestions:
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Aileen[/name]/[name]Aylin[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Olivia[/name] (I love this one sooo much!)
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Wren[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Rae[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Seraphina[/name]
[name]Lavender[/name] [name]Amelia[/name]
I hope I helped!!!
I think you should use it. Its pretty. My only issue with [name]Lavender[/name] is that I can’t think of any nn’s.
I don’t think children really notice each other’s initials. Mine are JJ - which got about 10 minutes of teasing in 5th grade one day - there’s a goofy male character on an very old sitcom that went by that moniker. I’m not traumatized. Hardly even remember it.
This is exactly it! I very much appreciate your input. Most people just aren’t accepting enough yet, and as sad and pathetic as that is, I don’t want my future daughter feeling any sort of repercussions from this regardless of what her orientation might be due to some initials. Kids can be cruel, and I don’t want them to have extra ammunition.
@emmabobemma - The initials E.Z aren’t much better unfortunately!!! Also, I don’t know a [name]Leslie[/name] under age 40!
I agree that a one syllable name works best to keep the length shorter. Like the suggestions of [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] [name]Mae[/name], and [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] [name]Pearl[/name] so far. [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Olivia[/name] is also gorgeous,
When I was a kid, we had several class lists with initials for various activities, so I think they’re important. [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Helen[/name] is beautiful.
Funny, as a woman in a heterosexual marriage, but formerly with women, I can say that I’ve been the recipient of all kinds of slurs, but “lez” was never one that bothered me. It always seemed sort of old-fashioned and goofy, sort of '80’s or something. That said, I had no idea how much “minor” homophobia I tolerated until I was enjoying the privilege of acceptance. “Lez” may be one of the sillier slurs out there, but I suppose it’s really not ideal for initials. [name]Nor[/name] E.Z. - hadn’t thought of that Kibby!
I [name]LOVE[/name] E names, so it actually kind of sucks, Who would have thought a Z last name would cause so many problems?! I have had to rule out a lot of favorites because of this!! Goodbye [name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Emmeline[/name] and many many others!
Kibby - I am laughing as I realize that your “cutest bunnies on earth” (from an earlier version of your signature) are actually rabbits and NOT a whimsical reference to daughters. Ha!
For your future daughters, you are considering some truly lovely names. On the topic of this thread, I fully endorse the idea of [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Helen[/name].