[name_u]Augie[/name_u], I totally agree. I’ve also just realized that the reason I struggle so much with my combos is because I always try to make them 100% usable as a sibset, so I use middles that aren’t perfect, just because they aren’t in any other combos. I think I’m going to try to let go a little bit and remind myself that it’s okay if I have [name_u]Noah[/name_u] for every single boy middle name, or use [name_f]Rejoice[/name_f] twice, or have both [name_u]Asher[/name_u] and [name_u]Asa[/name_u] on my first name short list. 
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i totally understand where you’re coming from! i think that trying too hard to make combos unique or “useable” definitely takes the fun out of name nerd-ing for me!
i that that when any hobby starts to become more work than play, stepping away to explore other interests really helps me to get inspired again <3
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As someone with a long name (who didn’t change her name) married to someone with an already hyphenated name, the surname thing really can be tricky. I say for now just think with your name, since you have no idea what someone else might want to do, and then re-evaluate if needed. Favorites might change over time anyway. [name_u]Or[/name_u] you could love a name with any surname, but the other parent hates it. It all changed when the naming process for an actual human gets real in my experience.
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It’s calculated for the past 24 hours and not for the current day, so 24 hours after every like that one is free for use again
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i go through periods of loving names. i started off the year by finally deciding upon my top combos, then mid-year i lost inspiration and was struggling with my lists. now, towards the end of the year, i am finally loving names again! athena is my favourite name, and now i am thinking of ophelia and eurydice. they have been on my mind since. also obsessed with gabriel for a boy, but not to the extent that eurydice & ophelia have.
it gets frustrating because these obsessions are periodic and i go back to being at a loss for names.
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I’ve been told to my face that my children will grow to resent me for the names that I would potentially select for them, or that my naming style is a phase and that I will “mature” in my name taste, although I’ve always fancied names like these since I was young, and I cannot see that changing anytime soon. It feels a bit patronizing and demoralizing. I understand that some people have concerns that may be valid regarding me using such unusual names for my future children, but there is no need to be cruel in the delivery of said criticism. Rant over, haha. 
I’m open to criticism, but some people are just downright mean, I feel.
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I agree, and my names aren’t even that unusual or out there (see my UC for more.) I’m literally the only name nerd I know, and I don’t talk to my friends or family about names for this reason.
Now, there truly are some names that are WAYYY to out there, at least for a real child, but I think that shouldn’t stop someone from loving the name. I love some names I’d never name my children. I think that people need to keep their opinions to themselves and remember that it’s not their child; because while many of these people mean well, they don’t act like it.
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Exactly this! I couldn’t have said it better. If only some people were more considerate of others’ feelings and decisions, the world would be such a lovelier place. One can dream. 
Also, off topic, but your names are lovely! 
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I really dislike names with ae in them - Mae, Maeve etc. I like the sound but not the spelling, ae just looks wrong to me…
yes, i know exactly what you mean! i adore cleophee, but the spelling is so off putting. it’s pronounced clay-oh-fay, but the ‘ee’ ending with the ‘ph’ just doesn’t look good to me.
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Another rant, my apologies. Does anyone else suddenly start feeling insecure about their name combinations, and then get the urge to scrap them entirely because they don’t feel “perfect”? 
I’m beginning to loathe my entire usercard, which is essentially my shortlist, and I feel just positively awful about it. I love my first names to bits, and their middles, but something is off and now I feel like since they’ll never be “perfect” that they suck entirely and should be thrown out.
Sorry, had to get that naming frustration off my chest.
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I do, actually. Like, I love the first names and I love the middle names, but I can’t seem to find the perfect way to fit them together, and it really bugs me. It especially bothers me when my two favorite names don’t work together nicely.
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On that note, I’m gonna go on my own rant.
Does anyone else ever feel like their style isn’t exactly “Berry” enough?
I actually do feel this way a lot. Usually my style works well enough with most, but sometimes when I log in, I see all these unusual, genius, creative, or unique names and I feel like my style doesn’t match.
It doesn’t help that I like names from many different time periods, and several different places. Like my NOTD could go from [name_f]Anna[/name_f], to [name_f]Violet[/name_f], to [name_f]Inessa[/name_f], to [name_f]Helena[/name_f], to [name_f]Ginevra[/name_f], to [name_u]Taylor[/name_u]. I also am not the biggest fan of word names, mythology names, and super-old and clunky names, even though I feel like those are rather popular on here right now. However, no matter how hard I try, I just can’t make myself love those types of names.
Obviously, life isn’t about fitting in. I do adore my style, and wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s just that sometimes I feel out of place, and I wish my naming style fit in better.
Thanks to whoever took the time to read this entire thing 
.
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Isn’t it so annoying? I’m sorry to hear that you also experience this. For me personally, I also don’t want to repeat middles on my shortlist, so that makes it so much harder. With my synesthesia as well, the names need to be pleasant together color-wise, and the imagery I get from the names have to match somewhat. It’s so frustrating, I feel so burned out and almost like I don’t want to name right now. 
I know it’s kind of silly to be upset about, but I feel a bit overwhelmed.
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Yes. This is me right now.
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if this makes you feel any better, your naming style and combinations are some of the most beautiful and expressive i’ve seen on nameberry, i really admire your user card, despite how imperfect they may seem to you sometimes ! 
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You have no idea how much your words mean to me, I’ve been feeling rather uninspired and down this evening and you’ve just made my night, and I hardly know how to respond to such a comment! Thank you bunches for the compliment, you’re much too kind. I am truly honored and flattered that you see my names in that light, and I am quite certain that your names are lovely, too! I will remember your uplifting message when I feel in doubt, thanks again.
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Sorry to go off topic but what is a user card and how do you create it? I see it mentioned a lot on here but I can’t figure out if it’s a setting or just something you do personally.
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a user card is the names or whatever that comes up when you press on a person’s profile picture. I’m really bad at explaining things so I’ll let someone else explain how to make it. it’s not that hard though
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Your user card is just this little card that pops up when you click on someone’s profile picture in the forums:
There’s a great how-to topic on creating and designing your user card made back when they first came into play on here, so I will simply link that!
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So sorry to be so late to see this, but I’m glad you found someone to assist you. I just wanted to chime in and say welcome to Nameberry!
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