My husband and I are expecting our second daughter in [name_f]April[/name_f] 2016 - her older sister [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] [name_f]Opal[/name_f] will be 2 when she is born.
We only recently started thinking about names, when my husband suggested a name offhand that I have since fallen in love with: [name_f]Pearl[/name_f].
My dilemma is that my first choice for her middle name is [name_u]Parker[/name_u], which is also my top choice when and if we ever have a boy (it was my grandfather’s name, and is also my father and brother’s middle name). To me, [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_u]Parker[/name_u] sounds just right, and none of my other middle name options seem to have the same magic (you can tell I love the V sound as well).
While we are open to having one or more children, who knows? When the time comes we may decide differently, and of course theres no guarantee any other children will be boys.
So: do I use my first choice for a potential son’s name as a middle for my daughter? Or is there another middle alternative that I can learn to love for [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], and I can keep [name_u]Parker[/name_u] in my pocket if/when that day comes to give the name to a son?
If helpful - our last name is 2 syllables, starting with a B, ending with Y.
I would always use a middle name that is special to you, at earliest opportunity. At the end of the day you may not be able to use the name and be disappointed that you didn’t use it. [name_f]Honour[/name_f] names are so important. I think [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_u]Parker[/name_u] is a lovely endearing combination and you obviously love it so I would go for it.
I find [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] and [name_u]Parker[/name_u] to be totally different styles so, [name_f]IMO[/name_f], I like your other options much better. I would keep [name_u]Parker[/name_u] for next baby. [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_f]Valentina[/name_f] is gorgeous! If you would like to use an honour name, [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] and [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] are nice as well.
I like the spunkiness of [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_u]Parker[/name_u] even if the styles are very different. But, if you do want to keep [name_u]Parker[/name_u] for a future baby I like [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] from your list.
I really love the spunkiness of Pear [name_u]Parker[/name_u] and I’m not usually a fan of alliteration. I do really like [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] as well though and you said that is also a family name so I think it really just comes down to, do you want to risk not using [name_u]Parker[/name_u]?
If I saw [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_u]Parker[/name_u] B____y, I would have assumed [name_u]Parker[/name_u] B_____y was [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]'s surname.
[name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_u]Parker[/name_u] is lovely, and if it’s an important name for you, then I’d use it at the earliest opportunity. However, from your list, I think [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_f]Valentina[/name_f], [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] and [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] all have the same magic as [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] [name_f]Opal[/name_f].
To me, [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] and [name_u]Parker[/name_u] don’t go together. The V names seem like a bit “much” paired with [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]. My pick would be [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], it sounds very sweet and gentle.
[name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] sounds great, especially if you want something that is related to your family but want to save parker
[name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_u]Parker[/name_u] is lovely, but I think other names on your list are lovelier. I would personally save it for a boy, but if it’s very important to you, I say go for it. I like [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] for you, I think, it’s also a family name and has the v sound that you like.
Thank you all for the great input! You’ve all given me much to mull over, and fortunately we have some time to sort this out and land on the name that fits best.