Old favorite or look for new ideas?

Girl Names
1

My husband has always wanted to name a daughter Havalah [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Marie[/name_f]. I like the name, like the meanings, it’s not common but the classic middle names (all our kids have 2 middle names) make it sound like it’s not trying too hard to be unique for the sake of unique.

I just recently got fascinated with the name [name_u]Vesper[/name_u] (would probably use [name_f]Essie[/name_f] as a nickname) and like [name_u]Vesper[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]/[name_f]Mei[/name_f].

Havalah is a name we’ve had on our radar since we started having kids 8 years ago, so I feel like I at least know I won’t regret it. [name_u]Vesper[/name_u] feels a little more trendy and spur-of-the-moment, and I’m afraid I’ll regret it later. And once I start thinking I could choose a new name, I start down the rabbit hole of looking at everything and put so much thought into it that I’m paralyzed. I also loved everything about my other daughter’s name and don’t feel like I like any of the combinations I’ve come up with as much ([name_f]Hope[/name_f] [name_f]Adaya[/name_f] [name_u]Wynne[/name_u], we call her [name_f]Winnie[/name_f]. [name_f]Adaya[/name_f] means “beloved” or “dear one” in the language of the Native American tribe I’m descended from, so the name means [name_f]Hope[/name_f], [name_u]Love[/name_u], [name_u]Peace[/name_u]:). I’m attached to Havalah, [name_u]Vesper[/name_u] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], but the three of them together sound like a name identity crisis. So any preference for one or the other? Or should I risk the paralysis of going back to the drawing board?

2

I think if you don’t risk paralysis, you might regret it. [name_m]Just[/name_m] keep in mind that they are all beautiful names, and if it’s not working, you can revert back to the name you love. But, if that’s too much, maybe just play around with the names you’ve got.

I like Havalah, I’ve never seen it before but it’s interesting. The thing is, I think it’s too out there for a sister to [name_f]Winnie[/name_f]. Plus, while I love the name [name_f]Jane[/name_f], it doesn’t sound like you love the [name_f]Jane[/name_f] / [name_f]Marie[/name_f] combo, so let’s work on it.
If Havalah is the name, how about…

Havalah [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - you said you love Havalah, [name_u]Vesper[/name_u] & [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - this way you get 2 out of 3. And I agree, I’m not sure if we can make Havalah [name_u]Vesper[/name_u] & [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] all work in one.

That said, I can try. [name_m]How[/name_m] about:
[name_u]Vesper[/name_u] [name_f]Hannah[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - similar sound?
or
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Essie[/name_f] Havalah - however, I think [name_f]Essie[/name_f] could work as a nn for [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], so I don’t like them both in the same name.

[name_u]Vesper[/name_u] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - I really like the sound of [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. If you prefer [name_u]Vesper[/name_u] to Havalah, here’s your chance, maybe?

Havalah [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] - works well too I think! I prefer [name_f]Mae[/name_f] to [name_f]Mei[/name_f] as I find [name_f]Mae[/name_f] more approachable and [name_f]Mei[/name_f] has ethnic ideas with it ([name_f]IMO[/name_f]).

[name_u]Vesper[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] Havalah - use the names you love and just don’t worry too much about flow / common-ness. This is always an option, and as long as the names are in the right order, it totally works.

My personal favourite is [name_u]Vesper[/name_u] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] nn [name_f]Essie[/name_f]. I like Havalah, but I just think it’s too uncommon. [name_u]Vesper[/name_u] is uncommon as well, but it doesn’t look or feel as uncommon as Havalah.

Sorry this is so long, just some food for thought.

3

Along the same lines as what @waverly123 suggested, is there any way you can incorporate both? Spur of the moment decisions aren’t necessarily always bad or regrettable. I think Havalah [name_u]Vesper[/name_u] (Mae/Jane as second middle? Maybe even Jo as a nod to Josephine.) sounds stunning!

Depending on when your baby is due, I’d suggest you just sleep on these name choices a while. Maybe take your choices for a “test run”, and see how you’d feel about them on wedding invitations, being called out at graduation, how your family/friends would react to them, etc. You could also judge the names based around your other childrens’ names to see if they all sound good together, if that’s something you would be concerned about.

4

Thank you both! I definitely like some of name name re-combinations (Havalah [name_u]Vesper[/name_u] [name_f]Mae[/name_f], Havalah [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f], I don’t think I had put together). [name_f]Mei[/name_f] does have some significance for us as we lived in [name_f]China[/name_f] for a # of years and [name_f]Mei[/name_f]-mei means “little sister” (she’ll be the baby girl). I still prefer the traditional spelling though. And am trying to avoid the name identity crisis again…I try to incorporate too much all at once :wink: [name_m]Will[/name_m] probably try out what I have for a couple months, and then I’ll be off of work for a few weeks before the baby is born since my students are on break, and will probably not be able to resist starting the search all over again :wink: