Middle name- Dorothy or Dorothea???

Hello everyone!

[name_u]Baby[/name_u] is here in a few days!
Thank you again to everyone for helping in my last post about the first name choice of [name_f]Lola[/name_f] or [name_f]Anais[/name_f].
We are definitely leaning towards [name_f]Lola[/name_f] as a first name, but will wait until she is born to decide!

As far as the middle name goes, we want to use my mother’s name (or a version of it). Her name is [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f]. Personally, I do not like the name [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] and I feel that it does not flow with either [name_f]Lola[/name_f] or [name_f]Anais[/name_f] as a MN. I think [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] sounds beautiful with either name.
[name_f]My[/name_f] husband thinks we should use [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] because that is my mother’s proper name.
Also, in [name_m]French[/name_m] (my husband is [name_m]French[/name_m]), [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] is pronounced very similarly to [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f]. (kinda confusing)

If I really wanted [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f], he would agree to it. I guess my only hesitation is:

** Is [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] a proper way to honor my mother, [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f]???**
** [name_f]Do[/name_f] I really need to worry about the “flow” since the MN will never even be used 99% of the time?**

I suppose there is no right or wrong answer, but I would love to hear any advice that you have about this, because I feel a little clueless.

(Last name sounds like “shavatt”)

Thanks!!

I personally like [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] better than [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] but when honoring someone I think using their actually name or nickname is best.

Would your mother see it as honoring or not? I planned to use something else to honor my mother with my future daughter… except I’ve just found out that she prefers honoring to be straight out, not with a twist. So that’s out.

And with the flow, I don’t care. Sure it’s fun to think around with combo’s and such, but I think the meaning is far more important; [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f]/[name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] is important for you.

Thanks for your replies!

Anyone else??? More opinions???

I much prefer [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] to [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f]. [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] sounds like an old woman to me, whereas [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] is very sweet sounding.

I also think [name_f]Lola[/name_f] [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] sounds far better than [name_f]Lola[/name_f] [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f]. But I seem to be in the minority here!

[name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] is a perfectly acceptable form of [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] and it would be a lovely way to honour your mother while giving your daughter a version all her own. Whether you choose [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] or [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] depends on the first name. [name_f]Lola[/name_f] [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] and [name_f]Anais[/name_f] [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] would be my preferred combos as far as flow is concerned. With your surname of “shavatt”, I think [name_f]Lola[/name_f] [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] would be the better choice. The “s” in [name_f]Anais[/name_f] runs into the last name. Family significance trumps flow every time.

Thank you everyone!!!