Middle Name Dilemma

DH and I are expecting our second daughter in [name_u]December[/name_u], shortly before [name_u]Christmas[/name_u]. Our elder daughter’s name is Gl0r1a V10let. We are leaning towards either [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] or [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]), depending on what middle name we like. For a while, our leading name was [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f], but we hadn’t fully settled on it yet. Recently DH and I have been reading a book which features a female character we love who goes by [name_m]Raphael[/name_m]. (DH finished the book already, so I know there’s no terrible surprise waiting for me.) We would use the feminine spelling, [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f].

Here’s my dilemma: I think [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] is prettier, but I worry [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] is a bit too on-the-nose given her almost-[name_u]Christmas[/name_u] due date. And I love the meaning of [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f]. So I’m wondering what you all think. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you prefer:

[name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucia[/name_f] [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucia[/name_f] [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f]

NB: We don’t like either [name_f]Gabriella[/name_f] or Raphaella because they feel a bit cumbersome with our long last name. And we don’t need more suggestions for middle names. We have lots of ideas; we’re trying to narrow down right now, so I’m just looking for feedback about these combinations. Thanks! :slight_smile:

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I think [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f] is stunning and different! That middle name definitely has my vote! I can’t decide if I prefer [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] or [name_f]Lucia[/name_f], they’re both great names

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Glor1a V1olet is gorgeous! I love both [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] and [name_f]Lucia[/name_f], but how are you pronouncing [name_f]Lucia[/name_f]? That would change my opinion of my favorite combination.

We’re pronouncing it Loo-SEE-uh. Good point! The pronunciation definitely matters for flow.

What is the [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] connection with [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]/Lucia [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]? It’s probably obvious but I’m drawing a blank :slight_smile:

Lucia [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] has the best flow and I think best suits her big sister.
I do like [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f] too, it just looks that little bit longer than [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]

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Personally I love [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f]! It’s unexpected and beautiful.

There’s so many [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]’s nowadays… just my 2 cents

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St. [name_f]Lucia[/name_f]/St. [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] has a feast right around Christmastime that’s especially popular in certain cultural subgroups (Northern Europe, in particular). And according to [name_u]Christian[/name_u] tradition, [name_u]Gabriel[/name_u] is the angel who appears to [name_f]Mary[/name_f] at the annunciation. While both names are given to babies at other times of year, I’m worried having two names strongly associated with the season would be a bit much.

I really like [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f], and [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f] is my favourite!

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I don’t think you have to worry about the [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] connection it’s not on the nose as [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] is common and you aren’t naming your daughter something like [name_f]Noelle[/name_f] or [name_u]Holly[/name_u], [name_f]Gabriella[/name_f] maybe but not always unless someone truly knows [name_u]Angel[/name_u] names or is religious but even than it’s not very showy, and you didn’t chose [name_u]Gabriel[/name_u] in the end. I like [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] better than [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] mainly because your struggling with both so why not just chose both and have [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] :joy:

My vote goes for [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f], not only will it soothe your worry about the [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] ties but also have a unique and beautiful story behind it! Which I think is just as important when finding a name, and I’m a sucker for those, I also love it when a child has something physical to look back on when knowing about their name be it a flower, character, or song, but that’s just me!

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If you’re going to call her [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], name her [name_f]Lucy[/name_f].
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f] is a good name.
I’m not really making any [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] connections at all from the name, so I don’t really see any issue.

If the name were [name_u]Noel[/name_u]/le [name_m]Rudolph[/name_m], then yes Id say too Christmassy!!

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I like [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f] best! [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f] is beautiful and unusual, which i think works wonderfully.

I would personally eliminate the [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] options, because i think you may as well cut out the middle man if you’re going to call her [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] anyway. I also think [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] might be slightly more confusing pronunciation-wise, due to the Loo-chee-a vs. Loo-see-a thing.

I would also choose [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] myself because i tend to prefer sibsets that don’t look similar written down. [name_m]Just[/name_m] personal taste of course, you might be the opposite!

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I really like [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f].

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Lucy Raphaëlle is my favorite (sorry my phone Insists on the umlaut!).

Lucia is a pretty name, but I’m a little bothered by the multiple pronunciations, and I think [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] works fine on it’s own, especially if that’s what you plan to call her! I do think of St. [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] with [name_f]Lucia[/name_f], but not at all with [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]. I also think [name_f]Gloria[/name_f] and [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] are a fantastic pair, while [name_f]Gloria[/name_f] and [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] are a bit rhyme-y to my ear (though certainly still usable together).

I don’t think [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] is too [name_u]Christmas[/name_u]-y, but Raphaëlle is a bit more exciting to me!

Lovely list of names in any case you can’t go wrong!

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Lucy [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f] feels meaningful, unexpected and lovely

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Thanks for the feedback everyone! I’m still torn, but I’m feeling reassured that [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] isn’t too Christmasy. (I live in a small, rural community that is very religious, so it’s quite possible that skews my perception of how the name comes across.)

I get the association, but I don’t think for most people it’s a strong one. I wouldn’t worry about it! Beautiful name choices.

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I don’t get massive [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] vibes from [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] and it’s my favourite of the possibilities. I find [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] too close to [name_f]Gloria[/name_f] and I agree that if the nn will be [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], then you might as well go with [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] as a stand alone name. I love the idea of [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f] for a girl but I’m torn between [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]… I think I slightly prefer [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f] with [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] but [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] is pretty too :cherry_blossom:

Lucia [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f] is stunning!

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I would do [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] [name_f]Raphaelle[/name_f]!

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