we’re tossing up between two names and cannot decide. I tent to lean towards one or the other differently every week. They’re both very different and have different significance to us:
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]/[name_f]Josefina[/name_f] - have always loved the name, lots of NN options, family tradition (my beloved grandad’s name was [name_m]Josef[/name_m]). We come from the Czech Republuc where the second spelling option is how you spell the name but am considering both. I like the fact that it works in Czech, English and Spanish as we have an international life.
Sayen - love the sound of it. It means “lovable” in Mapuche (Patagonian language), native American. It sounds quite ethereal to me. We have a property in Patagonia and I love the fact the name comes from the area where we’re bulding our dream eco resort. It’s very unusual but perhaps sounds a bit hippie?
I really love [name_f]Josefina[/name_f], so she gets my vote, but I don’t think Sayen has a hippie vibe. I am unfamilar with the name so it doesn’t inspire any assumptions for me.
I love [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and find Sayen intriguing. And I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] that you get to live in Patagonia!!! That’s my husband’s and my dream one day! Homesteading at the end of the world, soaking in the gorgeous scenery and traditional life. Sigh! Best wishes to you!
I absolutely love how Sayen is a meaningful connection for your family. However, I do hear “I’m just sayin’,” “what I’m sayin’ is,” etc. Ugh, I wish I could ignore that, because it truly is a gorgeous meaning and feel. Perhaps Saya, Sayla (or Saela?), [name_u]Saylor[/name_u], Rayen, and [name_u]Seren[/name_u] could work as alternatives? Or perhaps [name_f]Jocelyn[/name_f], to incorporate [name_f]Josefina[/name_f] a bit? Although honestly, I might be able to get over my concern about Sayen, because the way you write about it is so lovely! The etheral vibe and Patagonian connection seems to fit so perfectly.
I don’t know if this ramble has been helpful at all, so sorry. Best of luck to you
Personally I like [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]/[name_f]Josefina[/name_f]. Sayen sounds like a modern, unisex creation to me, which I personally don’t find appealing. My first thought was “[name_m]Just[/name_m] sayin(g)’”.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]/[name_f]Josefina[/name_f] sounds like it ticks so many boxes for you (family associations, international appeal and recognition, and varied nn options) which Sayen doesn’t seem to offer, so maybe that could guide a decision.
Or perhaps you could consider using both - one in the middle spot? [name_f]Josefina[/name_f] Sayen flows rather nicely and is quite different.
[name_f]Josefina[/name_f] would be lovely! It’s familiar and recognizable (if might present spelling issues), but distinctive too, and has a great connection to your family and heritage. I’m with the others about Sayen sounding like "sayin’ ", I don’t think that really works as a name tbh.
I think [name_f]Josefina[/name_f] Sayen would be a good compromise. I’m not sure where you live, but if it’s in a place where middle names are common, I’d consider it even if it isn’t traditional in your culture. In the culture my family comes from they aren’t used either, and while a lot of people don’t mind, some people do wish they had one. I’ve never come across anyone saying they wish they DIDN’T have a middle. And the point can just be, to get to use another name you love/one that doesn’t work so well as a first name, like Sayen! Of course, if you decide not to give her a middle, that’s fine too.
I might be the odd one out here but Sayen gets my vote. It has special meaning to you both, it’s a beautiful legitimate unique name. It might take seeing your babies face before you know for sure. That happened to us with our second son, as soon as we looked at his face we knew:)
