Hello all! We are expecting a baby girl and am having a VERY hard time coming up with a name. We currently have a daughter, [name_f]Alexa[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]. Both names are family related and we love the name. There are no family related names left that truly have meaning so I was excited about being able to have fun with the name…but it is proving to be much harder than I thought.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] to be difficult - I have two general rules, one obstacle, and two “would be nice”:
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I tend not to like names that are “things”, ex [name_f]Summer[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Crystal[/name_f], etc. (PLEASE, not meant to offend anyone. They are beautiful names/words, it’s just not my thing…even though my cabbage patch doll’s name was [name_f]Summer[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f]…hehe)
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I have a uncommon, but not crazy unusual name and I greatly appreciate the fact that growing up/in school I was the only one with my name (until my senior year, which I then realized how annoying it was for all of the Jennifers and Kims out there) yet it was not an obnoxious name. So, I would not consider a name in the top 10 of the SSA’s list and would prefer to avoid the top 50 (below 100 would be awesome). I was so upset when [name_f]Alexa[/name_f] moved from 80 to 60…oh well.
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Our last name ends in the long e sound. So, that kind of makes any similar first name (ex [name_f]Molly[/name_f]) out as it would sound odd when said along with our last name.
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Would be nice, but not a must - Currently, seven out of seven females in my family all end with a (ie [name_f]Alexa[/name_f]) so it would be kind of cute if baby girl #2 did as well. But, it is definitely not something that I would hold back on liking a non-a name for.
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Would be nice, but not a must - I love the idea of a female having a male nickname. ([name_f]Alexa[/name_f] nn [name_u]Alex[/name_u]). If that works out, it would be great, but again not enough of a factor to veto a good name.
There you have it, my “hang-ups”. Here is the current list…
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - the hubby really likes it, hasn’t been able to supply a reason and it is the only name he has contributed. I like it as well and the nn could be [name_u]Jo[/name_u]/[name_m]Joe[/name_m]. Three days after we discussed it, it came out on the “names that are dying out” list. So, now I am afraid that it will have increased popularity which leads me to want to nix it. Also, I can’t think of a good middle name. I feel like it would need to be a short one.
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] - I like the flow, really like the nn [name_u]Lou[/name_u]…and we could do [name_f]Lulu[/name_f] for a cutesy nn. And, it ends with an a so we would be keeping that theme up. I suggested the name [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] to my hubby and he gave me a 'meh".
[name_f]Eloise[/name_f] - I like it, but I think of how popular [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] from Frozen is and I think the names are too close (already having issues with [name_f]Alexa[/name_f] being in class with an [name_u]Alexis[/name_u]) so I am shying away from it. Plus there are the popular [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] books…
That’s it…that is all that I have…PLEASE help!!! Thank you in advance!
UPDATE
The hubby FINALLY decided to write me back today of all days (I sent him my list over three weeks ago). Anyway, this is now what is on the shortlist (but still VERY open to ideas):
If it has an R, then it means I suggested it and it is his opinion. If it has an M it means he suggested it and it is my opinion:
Josephine nn Jo, Joey
R – Still my favorite. Love the nickname possibilities, but don’t like the meaning.
Louisa nn Lou -
R – I do like this one a lot. The meaning is very cool and has a good nickname possibility (Lou). Also ties in with Louisiana, kinda. (where the hubby was born)
Nora
M - I like it, I was going to add it to my list, but I was afraid that I was being swayed by Nora Roberts. 
Inara
M - At first I thought it was too unique. But, then after reading all three links and seeing it/hearing it in my head so many times, it didn’t sound so out there. I can’t believe that you would want to name your child after a character that was a professional “companion” (Firefly). LOL. Overall, I like it and am not vetoing.
Elena
M - I dislike that at first glance I didn’t know how to say it. However, I like it and agree that I am not thrilled with the 50 Shades of Grey reference. role?
Ilka (Hungarian, which is my husband’s background, grandmother’s name is Ildiko)
M - I assume this is pronouned ILL-KA? I like the meaning and that it makes me think of your Grandmother. I am down with it being a middle name, but not sure about it being a first name.
Mika (on his Hungarian list)
M - “My-Ka”, is a popular man’s name so she would constantly be mistaken for a male, rather than the nickname where it would be her choice. Apparently, you can say either my or mee….if we go with mee-ka then she would constantly be getting my-ka., but I think I like mee-ka better. it came up as Japanese, not Hungarian. Overall, I like it enough not to veto.
So…Alexa Jane & ______ _______
