[name_u]Baby[/name_u] [name_u]Leigh[/name_u]/[name_u]Lee[/name_u] (my husband and I aren’t decided on the spelling yet) will be on her way in a few short weeks, and we’re having a tough time figuring out what middle name to give her. [name_u]Leigh[/name_u]/[name_u]Lee[/name_u] was originally going to be her middle name, but lately it’s really been sticking as her first name.
I am really at a loss for what names would work, and it’s starting to stress me out – our son’s name is [name_m]Vaughn[/name_m] [name_m]Randall[/name_m], and I feel like it’s the most perfect name we could have given him. But this little girl is a tough one, I just don’t know what to call her! We had names down from when we were figuring out her first name, names like [name_f]Helen[/name_f], [name_f]Frances[/name_f], [name_f]Justine[/name_f], and [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f], but I can’t figure out anything more at this point. I certainly want her to have a strong name too, so any suggestions along those lines would be a big help.
[name_u]Lee[/name_u] is likely the most common name in the world. I’d definitely spell it [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] and probably stick it in the middle spot–after [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] (which is perfection!).
I don’t think Lee/Leigh is “the most common name in the world,” as @rkrd claimed. For girls neither of the spellings even rank in the Top 1000.
But if you want your baby to have a “strong” name, Lee/Leigh probably isn’t the best way to go. Maybe Leah or Lorelei instead? They have more substance IMO.
I like Leah Justine and Justine/Justina Lee/Leigh.
[name_u]Lee[/name_u] is the most common surname in the world (mostly [name_f]China[/name_f], but substantially populous in [name_u]America[/name_u], too). Plus all the male and female [name_u]Lee[/name_u]/Li/Leighs. It’s just too much.
I find [name_u]Lee[/name_u] / [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] strong. It is common as a middle but not as a first. It’s also sort of common as a last name. Your last name doesn’t sound like a first name does it? If it does that could get confusing. I like [name_m]Vaughn[/name_m] and [name_u]Lee[/name_u] together, although they maybe sound a little like brothers?
I’d pair [name_u]Lee[/name_u] / [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] with something longer and more feminine. [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] sounds nice.
Lee is common as a surname, yes, but I actually like the whole ‘last names as firsts’ thing. Plus I think something like Smith is probably more common here in America, and that still doesn’t stop some people from using Smith as a first name (though on their sons, not their daughters). Even Nameberry approves of Smith: “Even if it is the Number one surname in the U.S., we still think that Smith would make a cool first or middle name, whether or not it has family history… It would make a totally distinctive, sophisticated choice.”
To be fair, though, Nameberry does not respond as positively to Lee as it does to Smith: “The original brief, breezy name is somewhat out of favor now even as a middle name,” Nameberry says.
But, pssh, why does Nameberry’s opinion matter anyways? Lol.
I love [name_u]Leigh[/name_u]! I think [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] or [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Justine[/name_f] would be beautiful.
Suggestions:
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Annabel[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] (love [name_f]Helen[/name_f], but it sounds wanting after [name_u]Leigh[/name_u])
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] (maybe too many l’s)
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Francine[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Roseanne[/name_f]/[name_f]Rosanna[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Luciana[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_u]Julianne[/name_u]/[name_f]Juliana[/name_f]
My husband and I talked about it a little more tonight, and are leaning towards spelling it as [name_u]Leigh[/name_u], and are figuring out whether [name_f]Frances[/name_f] or [name_f]Helen[/name_f] (family names!) would fit best, and in which order they would fit best too – my husband really likes [name_f]Helen[/name_f], so we have the option of using [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] or nicknaming her [name_f]Nel[/name_f], like his grandmother. For our kids we hyphenate our last names, so it would be:
[name_f]Helen[/name_f] [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] H-G (both last names are two syllables)
[name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] H-G
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Helen[/name_f] H-G
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] H-G
We’re also considering giving her all of those names ([name_f]Helen[/name_f], [name_f]Frances[/name_f] and [name_u]Leigh[/name_u]), but I feel like it might be overkill with two last names. What do you all think?
[name_u]Lee[/name_u] may be a popular last name, but I don’t think it’s common as a first name, at least not in [name_u]North[/name_u] [name_u]America[/name_u]. I think it’s a great name for a girl and I personally much prefer to the [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] spelling! It’s lovely and fabulous with [name_m]Vaughn[/name_m]. I grew up with a [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] so I definitely don’t think it’s a masculine name.
Because [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] is such a short name I think you should go two or three syllables for a middle. I’d also recommend something very feminine. I like [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] for a middle from your list.
@ohwhoamina, I don’t know if this is significant at all to you, but did you know there’s an old silent film actress named [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_u]Lee[/name_u]? Frances Lee - Wikipedia
I love [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] for a girl! Seriously love [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] spelled this way. [name_u]Lee[/name_u] is ok, but [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] looks more substantial to me.
[name_m]Vaughn[/name_m] [name_m]Randall[/name_m] & little sister:
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Alexandria[/name_f] (I noticed [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] was considered, but sometimes this extra syllable sounds nice with a short first name.)
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Jessamyn[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_u]Meredith[/name_u]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Madelyn[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Oriana[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Abigail[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Veronica[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Victoria[/name_f]
Going on what you last replied - I do feel 2 middle names plus 2 last names is way too much… [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] or [name_u]LeigH[/name_u] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] is my favorite.
I love and have always loved the name [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] for a first name, and I don’t find it common as a first name, mostly as a middle or last. In fact I am considering naming one of my twins [name_u]Leigh[/name_u], and am also looking for a middle name. So far I love the following:
Good luck finding your perfect middle! I would love to hear what you choose Oh, and btw I think [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] is absolutely beautiful!
I love [name_u]Leigh[/name_u]/[name_u]Lee[/name_u] and think it’s great as a first name! [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] is gorgeous, but both [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Helen[/name_f] and [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] are nice too.
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] is beautiful. I think two middles may be a little much with a hyphenated last name. I also really Like [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Justine[/name_f] and [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f].
Suggestions:
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] (The extra syllable seems a little more appealing to me and can still be used to honor [name_f]Helen[/name_f])
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Francine[/name_f] (Kind of a combo of [name_f]Frances[/name_f] and [name_f]Helen[/name_f])
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Victoria[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Claudia[/name_f]/[name_f]Claudette[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Pauline[/name_f]/[name_f]Paulette[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
Oh, and btw I think [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] is absolutely beautiful!