Middle Name Advice?

We’re due in 4 weeks - don’t know the gender - but still deciding on a girl middle name. (We have a boy name all worked out)

Looking for constructive advice and feedback :slight_smile:

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] ([name_f]Ellen[/name_f] is my middle name - but I’m wondering if it sounds too 1980’s hickish, or may sound like it’s all one name)
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] (a family name)
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_u]MacKenzie[/name_u] (my husband’s middle name)

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] is short and sweet so I think it needs a longer middle name to balance it out. I don’t like the repeating -k sound with [name_u]MacKenzie[/name_u] though. [name_u]Kay[/name_u] also sounds like it could be a NN for [name_u]MacKenzie[/name_u]. Here are some other options…

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]
Kay Evangeline
Kay Arabella
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Georgina[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Victoria[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Philippa[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Lavender[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Mirabelle[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Susannah[/name_f]
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]

I think you’ve got some good choices! [name_u]Kay[/name_u] is great - a baby [name_u]Kay[/name_u] is refreshing to hear!

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] - I like this, I wouldn’t worry that it sounds too 80s hicks or like it is all one name. I don’t think people would assume she’d go by [name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] unless you specified.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] - I like this too, it doesn’t flow as well but but certainly not a problem.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_u]MacKenzie[/name_u] - I like this too, I normally am not a fan of [name_u]MacKenzie[/name_u] since it sounds trendy and there are so many different spelling options but because it is a family name and in the middle spot I like it for you.

A few other things I’d consider if I were you…

  1. Which one sounds better with the last name
  2. Which one gives the best initials (First, Middle, and Last and monogram style - First, Last, Middle)
  3. Balance of using family names - I’d lean towards giving her a name from my side of the family since she’ll likely have her father’s last name (I’m assuming on that, I could be wrong). Also, I’m not sure what the boy name is that you’ve settled on and if it incorporates any family names either.

Good luck!

Personally I think [name_u]Kay[/name_u] works better in the middle than as a first. [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] [name_u]Kay[/name_u] and [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] [name_u]Kay[/name_u] sound nicer to me than [name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] (which does sound very double barrel) or [name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f]. I agree that [name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_u]MacKenzie[/name_u] is very K heavy. You have some lovey long middle name options from pp, which is what I think [name_u]Kay[/name_u] needs in the middle to work.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] - While I don’t get the hickish vibe you do, it does sound like a weird smoosh name.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] - The best combo on your list. [name_u]Kay[/name_u] makes [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] sound more like the plant than the vintage name,which I like.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_u]MacKenzie[/name_u] - [name_m]Way[/name_m] too much hard C in this combo. Least favorite by far.

I like this name with something floral, but I’m thinking you might like something related to your family. What about something with the same first letter? Some suggestions:

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Wisteria[/name_f] (actually on my list, my favorite with [name_u]Kay[/name_u])
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] (to both go with [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] & give you an M)
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Alena[/name_f] (a variation of your middle)
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] (another variation of your middle)

I do think [name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] could sound like one name rather than two. But I don’t think [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] is an 80s or hick name.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_u]MacKenzie[/name_u]: I’m not a big fan of all the k sounds. But if it doesn’t bother you this one has good flow.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] is my favorite on your list.

A thought…I suggest [name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Elin[/name_f] (pronounced EH-lin). This version of [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] sounds sleeker and more modern but still honours your middle name. Plus, when you say [name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Elin[/name_f], it doesn’t run together as much as [name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f].

I like [name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] the best. Although, it can sound like one name when said together, it has the best flow.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u] is my second favorite but it does have a lot of the ‘k’ sound.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] is my least favorite because of the rhyming of [name_u]Kay[/name_u] with the first plart of [name_f]Hazel[/name_f].

Can you give us any clues as to the general sound/length of you last name?

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] - I don’t want to sound mean, but it does sound like it belongs in the 80’s. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Elena[/name_f], [name_f]Emilia[/name_f], [name_f]Elle[/name_f], [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], or [name_f]Elianna[/name_f] instead?

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] - I personally think this one is the best out of the 3.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_u]MacKenzie[/name_u] - Not bad but I think it’s too popular and a little heavy on the K.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] is my favorite! Doesn’t sound too dated to me!

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_u]MacKenzie[/name_u], I like [name_u]MacKenzie[/name_u] but not after [name_u]Kay[/name_u]. Too much.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], I’m not a huge fan.

[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Reine[/name_f]?
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] Sienne?
[name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Elowen[/name_f]?

I like [name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f]!

Last name is [name_u]Murray[/name_u]

I like [name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] best. I don’t like [name_u]Kay[/name_u] [name_u]MacKenzie[/name_u].