I’m getting increasingly hung up on the name [name_f]Tess[/name_f]. I love how it’s short and sweet but also strong, and that it has a history.
I really don’t like [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] or [name_f]Theresa[/name_f], and although actually I do love [name_f]Esther[/name_f] my goddaughter is [name_f]Estel[/name_f]!e so I think it’s too close. For me [name_f]Tess[/name_f] stands alone as a name in the same way as my older daughter
M@rgot - both originally diminutives, but they’ve developed into standalone names.
Anyway! My qu is about middle names - ideally ones beginning with A. My first thought is [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] but I’d love some more suggestions. Big sis is M@rgot J0sephine.
Whoops! [name_m]Just[/name_m] saw A preference - I personally don’t love [name_f]Tess[/name_f] running to an A as it seems to drag the S but if had to:
Yes, [name_f]Tess[/name_f] running into a vowel seems to be divisive! I actually like it, I think it plays down the abruptness of [name_f]Tess[/name_f] and helps it flow, but the main reason I want an A is for honour reasons - it’s the only way I’d get my OH on board!
I love [name_f]Tess[/name_f] with [name_f]Margot[/name_f]! I find [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] a little boring but it is a nice combo. [name_f]Ariadne[/name_f] is cool if it’s your style.
[name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] is lovely — strong, historical and literary.
I’m also rather taken with the suggestions of [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Ariadne[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Annabel[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Apolline[/name_f] and [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Arabella[/name_f].
Thanks guys, some great suggestions! I particularly like [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Ariadne[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Antonia[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] and [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f], although I wonder if I still think [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] has the best flow of them all.
One more thought - the name we’re trying to honour is an Italian derivative of [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f], [name_f]Antonietta[/name_f]. What do people think about [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Antonietta[/name_f]? I assume you’d pronounce it as almost a four syllable name, An-ton-yeta rather than An-tone-ee-etta but I’d need to confirm that with my husband’s family as the relative called herself [name_f]Annette[/name_f].
I like [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Antonia[/name_f] (and I even like the rhythm of [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_m]Antony[/name_m] though I get that’s controversial) but [name_f]Tess[/name_f] Atonietta is actually very pretty and you might as well go for the overt honouring if you can! I go for it over all the possibilities here, even [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f].
In your position I would go for [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Antonietta[/name_f]. Of all the suggestions here I find it amongst the best anyway ([name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Ariadne[/name_f] also caught my eye) and with the personal significance it seems the right choice. If I came across that name randomly I would be very pleasantly surprised. I can’t see any old A name fulfilling the function of an honor name anyway (obviously [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f], [name_m]Antony[/name_m] would be a different matter).
I should probably explain - using the first letter to honour (deceased) family is a Jewish tradition. So while it can be the full name, it’s considered totally fine, at least in my OH’s family, just to use the letter.
So let’s say for example he’s [name_m]George[/name_m] [name_m]Albert[/name_m] and the G in [name_m]George[/name_m] is from a grandmother named [name_f]Gerda[/name_f], but the [name_m]Albert[/name_m] is the full name of his grandfather.
But his brother is [name_m]Martin[/name_m] [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] - and the M is for [name_u]Michael[/name_u] and the S is for [name_m]Stephen[/name_m] and that’s still considered fine.
Tbh my family don’t really do honour names, I just want my OH to be happy! He seems to be content either way as long as we can honour her somehow.
I think [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Antonietta[/name_f] works really well. I also like [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f], [name_f]Annabel[/name_f], [name_f]Ariadne[/name_f], [name_f]Antonia[/name_f].