[name]Hi[/name] all,
My husband and I are not expecting, nor are we even TTC#2. But we will one day, and I like to dream 
Our son is [name]Archer[/name] [name]Nelson[/name] C–
[name]Nelson[/name] is my maiden name.
If we have a second boy, we think that we might give him the middle name [name]Swain[/name]. It is my husband’s middle name, and also his mother’s maiden name. Alternatively we could use my mother’s maiden name, [name]Smith[/name].
When I was pregnant with [name]Archer[/name], we also shortlisted [name]Wyatt[/name], and still love it, so would probably use it.
However, I’d really love suggestions of other names. We seem to like the “surname as a given name” trend, but would probably steer away from another “-er” name.
I like [name]Mason[/name] (which has meaning to us both) and [name]Miles[/name], but my husband isn’t terribly keen. He likes [name]Austin[/name], but I just can’t imagine my grown son as an [name]Austin[/name].
Girls are harder. We have managed to agree on two first names, which is a small miracle! They are [name]Astrid[/name] and [name]Harriet[/name]. At the moment I am leaning towards [name]Harriet[/name], and hubby is leaning towards [name]Astrid[/name].
I would really like a meaningful/family middle name, but it’s difficult. My husband doesn’t like long names AT ALL. [name]Even[/name] [name]Harriet[/name] is a stretch for him.
Some of my ideas:
[name]Nellie[/name]/[name]Nella[/name] - derivative of my maiden name, plus my Greatgrandmother was [name]Nella[/name], and we were quite close (she died when I was 14).
[name]Mae[/name] - Makes me think of the South (we are in Australia, but my husband is from TX), plus my Grandma’s middle name is [name]May[/name]
[name]Ruby[/name] - my husband really wanted to name a daughter [name]Ruby[/name], but it has been the most popular girl’s name in our city for 4 years running. We both love the colour red, so at a stretch, we could put it in middle position.
[name]Luna[/name]/[name]Celeste[/name] - my [name]MIL[/name]'s name is [name]Dianne[/name] ([name]Diana[/name] was the goddess of the moon), plus there is a crater on the moon bearing our surname.
Swan - a feminisation of [name]Swain[/name].
Alternatively, something Cajun/Creole/French. A daughter may not keep her Cajun surname, so it would be nice to give her a middle name that pays homage to that part of her heritage. Would have to be only 1/2 syllables though.
I would like something really girly, as I see [name]Harriet[/name] and [name]Astrid[/name] as bother being a little “clunky”, and would like something very feminine to balance that out.
I’m not locked into the “middle name with meaning” idea, so all ideas are welcome 
[name]TIA[/name]