So, we are expecting our first child in [name]January[/name] - a girl. We are naming her ‘[name]Iris[/name]’ after a deceased family member whose name began with ‘I’, in accordance with our family tradition. We’ve been searching for an ‘A’ name to go in the middle slot to honour another relative but we really can’t find one we like, let alone love. We had almost decided not to bother with a middle name and just leave her with one.
Then today, we were listening to music and the [name]Richard[/name] [name]Thompson[/name]'s ‘Beeswing’ came on which is one of my favourite songs since I was a teenager. I commented that I’ve always thought that would be gorgeous name for a little girl and I would be tempted if we needed a ‘B’ name. My wife responded that she adored it and that she wasn’t that bothered about the middle initial.
So, ‘[name]Iris[/name] Beeswing’.
Beeswing is a very pretty village by [name]Loch[/name] [name]Arthur[/name] in Dumfriesshire. I was born and brought up in [name]Scotland[/name] and one of my great-grandfathers was from Dumfries. So, her name would be a little bit of home to me. And, the nature imagery is so beautiful.
But, is it horribly hippyish? I mean, it is a middle-name so perhaps unusual is more permissible there? Is it in the same style as [name]Lark[/name] and [name]Wren[/name] and other nature names? Is it too much combined with [name]Iris[/name]? Does it, to quote my friend, sound like ‘one of the minor hobbit characters in LOTR’?
Well, it is a bit hippy-- or to put another spin on it–whimsical. I would put it more in the nature name category of [name]Bluebell[/name] or [name]Buttercup[/name], rather than [name]Lark[/name] or [name]Wren[/name]. When you describe the reasons for loving it though, I can’t NOT tell you to do it I think most people are more forgiving of a more unusual name in the middle.
Call me crazy, but I think [name]Iris[/name] [name]Bee[/name] would be adorable too, if you still want the remembrance of home. It would be more of an inside reference, less direct, but still nice.
Sorry, but it does sound kind of hippyish… or in a better way, it’s a name that you’d find in a fairy tale, not sure if LOTR would be the one, but defiantly fantasy sounding. I don’t know how well it would work on a real baby, but then again it is a middle name…
What about finding a name that means bee? Like:
[name]Melissa[/name]
[name]Deborah[/name]
[name]Melita[/name]
[name]Debra[/name]
[name]Mischa[/name]
[name]Abella[/name]/[name]Abelle[/name]
It definitely made me smile to read it! I think it’s very whimsical. It’s not my style to use, but I’d [name]Love[/name] to meet someone with the name or something similar.
I think the mn is an anything goes spot. And I know a lot of people on here feel the same way. I’ve read some posts in the last few months with some [name]WAY[/name] out-there names for the middle. I think it’s a lot more fun than one of the standard fillers for a mn. And, I think it’s MUCH better than not giving her one at all. I’ve known a few people that haven’t had a mn and they all said they felt like it made them stand out in a bad way. My grandmother was the only one I’ve known that hasn’t ended up adding one on her own. [name]One[/name] girl I know was so upset while she was still a child that she made her parents change it and give her one officially.
If both of you like it, that’s ALL that matters. All we can do is choose a child’s name with our best intentions and no matter what we pick there’s a chance that they won’t like it. In fact I don’t know of a single girl who didn’t have some sort of phase where they wished for a different name, I did. It wasn’t because I Didn’t like my own name, but I hit an age where I started encountering all of these other lovely names also.
And No Matter What we pick, there are also friends and family that will dislike it. But, more than likely they’ve had or will have their chance to name a baby and then they can choose whatever They want.
I think it’s a precious name. But, it makes me wonder, if you’re still searching for an “A” name, is there anything with a similar history? Another town or connection from [name]Scotland[/name] that could work also?
I think that it’s very cool! Beeswing is a bit out there, but I definitely think that the middle is the place to do stuff like that. [name]Even[/name] though [name]Iris[/name] is a nature name, it’s so established that I don’t think it really registers as hippie-ish even when combined with Beeswing, and since Beeswing is in the middle I don’t think it’s a problem. I think it’s an awesome combination.
I do like both names separately, but I confess I think it’s too much together… I also find it a bit vowel and “s” heavy, which makes it sound buzzy/nasally to me. Perhaps something could go in the middle to help with the sound and tone down the nature imagery?
That’s amazing. Definitley call her it now, it’s just the perfect fit! I actually find it quite pretty and unusual. If it has a special meaning to you then I’d say go for it, 100%.
The imagery and significance behind it seems like a sure-fire thing! I’d go for it! As for it being “horrifically hippy-ish”? Nah, maybe a tad hippy-ish, but that’s not a bad thing.
I love it too! I’m so pleased that so many here like it. And I don’t find it hippie-ish – quirky, definitely, but it’s got several strong connections for you and it’s an upbeat, attractive name that both you and your wife love. Congratulations on finding a fantastic and truly unique middle name! And I love [name]Richard[/name] [name]Thompson[/name] too…
I think it’s absolutely gorgeous! Beeswing is a perfect, beautiful and meaningful middle name. As a first name it would be very hippy, but in the middle it’s adorable! [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Iris[/name] Beeswing.
I think most people are more forgiving of a more unusual name in the middle.