Our final two names are really different from each other...

Girl Names
1

UPDATE (full update on page 5): we’ve essentially chosen Sivan :). I just wanted to give closure to the question and thank everyone for their thoughtful input!

ORIGINAL POST: We’ve got it narrowed to [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] or Sivan (pronounced see-VAHN).

[name_f]Miriam[/name_f] is beautiful and not super common, but familiar, so she wouldn’t deal with spelling and pronunciation issues. I love the nicknames, and I think it will age well… Overall I feel great about this name.

Sivan is the name of the Hebrew month that she’ll most likely be born in. It is also beautiful to me when pronounced correctly. But I’m concerned that it will be lazily pronounced in the US and will come out ‘se[name_m]VON[/name_m]’, which I don’t care for. She would definitely have a lifetime of spelling and pronunciation challenges. However, it is much more unique. My husband, brother and [name_m]SIL[/name_m] all have ‘challenging’ names, and all say they’ve enjoyed having a more unique name that sets them apart, despite people getting it wrong all the time. I really like this name also, and can imagine calling my daughter by this name, but I’m just nervous about this bolder choice. A final thought is that if we choose Sivan, it would probably make choosing future sibling names more challenging.

I can really imagine using either name. Our plan is to wait until she arrives, and hope that one of them ‘feels right’. But what if I’m still torn when she arrives?? That’s why I’m hoping to hear your thoughts one way or the other. Should we go safe, or bold?

Thanks so much for reading!

2

Sivan is really pretty! I wouldn’t have known how to pronounce it but once you tell someone once or twice they should get it as it’s not difficult. I like Sivan over [name_f]Miriam[/name_f]. It’s really pretty and I haven’t heard it before.

[name_f]Miriam[/name_f] sounds matronly to me. I can picture it on an older woman but not a baby or a little girl. Maybe if you called her [name_f]Miri[/name_f] as a nickname? Or what about [name_f]Mira[/name_f] or [name_f]Mirra[/name_f] instead? [name_f]Mira[/name_f]/[name_f]Mirra[/name_f] is a form of [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] and it sounds fresher and more youthful, but would also work on an adult. So… my vote would be for [name_f]Mira[/name_f]/[name_f]Mirra[/name_f], then for Sivan, then for [name_f]Miriam[/name_f].

If you love Sivan, you should go for it!

3

I agree about Sivan and the pronunciation issue, but I do think people will catch on. I also find [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] a little old, but I really wouldn’t classify it as not unique. I’ve only known one person ever named [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] (a little dark brown curly haired girl - she fit the name well), and I don’t think its at all commonplace.

[name_f]Miriam[/name_f] Sivan would be nice.

4

I’m not a big fan of Sivan, personally. I definitely wouldn’t know how to pronounce it correctly and I wouldn’t know how to spell it either. In English, names that have two syllables and the emphasis on the last syllable don’t sound quite as natural flowing off the tongue. It’s more natural for us to have the emphasis on the first syllable.

I like [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] and I like the idea of [name_f]Miri[/name_f] or [name_f]Mira[/name_f]. I think that would be your better choice. I think Sivan would make for an interesting and pretty middle name and that’s where I recommend you put it! I agree that [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] is a bit of a grandma name but those are coming back into vogue so I think you’d be a bit avant garde and you have lots of great nickname options.

5

I think you will run into pronunciation and spelling issues with Sivan. [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] is a classic and everyone knows how to spell it and say it. It is also not that popular so I doubt she will run into many other Miriams her age. It has a beautiful meaning, too.

6

I really love [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] over Sivan. Sivan just doesn’t sound or look all that appealing.

7

You guys are validating my concerns, thank you! I actually like [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] Sivan… Our plan was to give my maiden name as a middle, but I’m reconsidering because it would make it easier to name this baby, and I’m not super attached to my maiden name… Thanks again. Any other opinions would be great too.

8

I like the sound of Sivan but unless you live in an area where most people would be somewhat familiar with it, I don’t like it enough to outweigh the spelling and pronunciation issues that she would be sure to encounter. I’d use it as a middle name for sure, but I think it would be a tough first name to wear. I would expect people either not to know how to say/spell it at all or to mistake it for [name_f]Siobhan[/name_f]. If your surname is at all unusual in your area, I’d proceed with even more caution.

[name_f]Miriam[/name_f] is lovely! I love [name_f]Mira[/name_f], [name_f]Mimi[/name_f], and [name_f]Miri[/name_f] as possible nicknames, and the name itself feels musical but grounded. And while it is more popular than Sivan, I don’t imagine there would be gaggles of little Miriams running around (unless you’re hearing it a lot).

[name_m]Just[/name_m] saw your last post: may I suggest Sivan as the first middle name and your maiden name as a second middle name? [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] Sivan Maidenname Surname?

1 Like
9

I considered that option too oregano, but I don’t feel comfortable using two middles. It seems like that could cause bureaucratic headaches, and/or she would just never use one of the middles… I’m not attached enough to either name to make it worth it to me. Thanks for the thought though!

10

I say go with the bolder choice. Sivan is obviously a name that means a lot to you, that you absolutely adore and that you can picture calling your little one by, so it seems it’s perfect for you. The only thing that seems to worry you is that its unusual and would get pronounced incorrectly - in my experience, once someone is told how to say/spell a name, they often have it then, and that’s that. All it would take is a small correction.

Honestly, I’ve only ever heard Sivan (once) as a surname, however, it looks and sounds lovely, and I like it a lot as a given name. Sivan [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] might be a nice idea (especially seeing as though you are not so attached to your maiden name)? Miriam is lovely too though, so Miriam Sivan would also be fantastic.

11

If you’re not attached enough to either name, as you say, and by either name I’m assuming you mean your maiden name and Sivan, then it seems like you’ve made your choice: [name_f]Miriam[/name_f]!

12

Both are nice names, because [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] is not super common I don’t find it more “safe” than Sivan.

Sivan, once told the pronounciation is a pretty name. It reminds me of the Irish name [name_f]Siobhan[/name_f]. I do think it would cause pronounciation issues, and you and your daughter may or may not be bothered by that. Personally, it would bother me especially if people pronounced it in a way that made the name sound unattractive, it would just irk me.

[name_f]Miriam[/name_f], to me, is a gorgeous name with lots of options as far a nicknames and a straight forward pronounciation. I especially like the nn [name_f]Miri[/name_f]! The nicknames are cute but [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] sounds strong yet sweet.

Personally, I would probably name her [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] Sivan (or Sivan [name_f]Miriam[/name_f]) and see which name you wind up calling her daily. Since you love both names, you can’t go wrong and have the option of using the other name if you so chose.

13

I think [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] is lovely.

Sivan is a bit too close to seven.

14

I like Sivan best as I think [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] sounds like an adult but [name_f]Miri[/name_f] is a really cute nn and I like the sound of both together

15

This might be long winded…

Okay, so I have some personal perspective to add. My nephew has a name like Sivan (Dim@s). Same number of letters, same vowel sounds and distribution, two syllables, emphasis on the last syllable. His name, once you know how to pronounce it, is easy to pronounce, and it’s easy for him to say clearly, which I feel like Sivan would also be. Here’s what happens with his name:

Many many people think they hear it wrong when he says it (because he’s five and his speech isn’t perfect but he says his name perfectly) because it’s the first time they’ve ever heard the name.

Many people then pronounce it correctly. Many people, however, still say DIH-mas (very american thing where “I” is not related to an “eee” sound often) or [name_f]DEE[/name_f]-mas. The latter is really difficult to correct because you’re correcting the emphasis, which is surprisingly difficult for some people to understand. However it creates a different sound and so a different name. The most common misspelling of his name is Demas. However, he has gotten Demoss. Haha.

It doesn’t bother him. He has no problem correcting people and has gotten even better at “spelling out” his name for people. His mom makes a point of it depending on the situation (making sure his teacher pronounces his name right, not worrying about the lady in the grocery store check-out after she’s told her once and the lady says [name_f]DEE[/name_f]-mas instead of dee-MAHS). In other words, she picks her battles and leaves D to navigate his. I don’t think his name is challenging or a character builder. I also have a “challenging” name and don’t think I’ve gained a ton of character because of it, maybe a little, but not enough to be like “this is great, give your kid a challenging name for solid life lessons”. It’s just his name. She named him this because she loved the name, not for distinction amongst Liams and Jacksons or to give him any sort of extra oomph.

I would have pronounced Sivan and SEE-vahn, intuitively, and this is often the way people in the US emphasize in this situation.

I think [name_f]Miriam[/name_f], while familiar, is incredibly underused and so very unique – maybe not as unique as Sivan, but still. I don’t consider [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] a safe choice. I actually think it’s quite bold. The nickname [name_f]Miri[/name_f] or [name_f]Mira[/name_f] is lovely too. But I think [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] is wearable on an adult as well as a child. I do love the suggestion of [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] Sivan!

So, for what it’s worth. :slight_smile:

16

My sister went to school with a Sivan. I never knew her well but my sister never had trouble saying her name. Surprisingly, my sister struggled with [name_f]Trina[/name_f] (she said it ta-rina) and other names that as adults we would assume might be easier. I would suggest that if your heart is set on Sivan then name her Sivan. [name_f]Every[/name_f] name needs correction occasionally, some more than others, so maybe be prepared with a device for folks to help remember the pronunciation. For example, I had a friend whose last name rhymed with linguine (the pasta) and he would just tell people that. It worked. Good luck with your decision. I think Sivan would be wonderful and I love [name_f]Miriam[/name_f]!

17

Wow, thanks so much for all of the thoughtful comments… Aym, your personal experience w/ your nephew is sooo relevant and helpful, thanks for taking the time to share!! I’m back to being pretty darn torn, because they’re both lovely in different ways… Gonna give it some time and see if one starts to feel more like ‘the one’.

18

I’d pick [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] just because I like the nn [name_f]Mim[/name_f]:slight_smile:

19

I like [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] Sivan!

20

[name_f]Miriam[/name_f] Sivan is lovely!