If you followed my last thread (called “time to get down to business”), you know that I had a slight dilemma over using [name]Jocelyn[/name] for a MN for our baby girl. My dad is in his final days battling cancer and he’s suggested that we use it to honor his mom, but I just don’t love it. Lying in bed last night feeling sad over losing him, I was pondering a way to honor him, too (his name is [name]Thomas[/name]) and I mentally tripped over [name]Tomlin[/name]/Tomlyn. [name]Tomlin[/name] is of course technically a boy’s name but as it combines [name]Thomas[/name] and [name]Jocelyn[/name], I think if we use it as a MN (which, honestly, so few people ever hear), the fact that it honors both him and my grandma trumps the funky, masculine sound. Tomlyn is under consideration as a) slightly more feminine and b) closer to the original spelling of [name]Jocelyn[/name], but I really prefer [name]Tomlin[/name]. I ran it by DH and he didn’t veto it automatically (but he’s a bit on eggshells these days as I’m very emotional, so who knows what he really thinks).
So that’s mostly settled. First names still in the running are [name]Felicity[/name] (my first choice), [name]Penelope[/name] (DH’s first choice), [name]Cordelia[/name] and [name]Eloise[/name]. Thoughts on any of these? Or suggestions of something else that flows better when combined with [name]Tomlin[/name]?
It’s still hard to believe that he’s not going to be here to hold this baby – the next few weeks are going to be so hard – I feel better knowing that a little part of him will be a little part of her, too.
I’m so sorry about your father i think the name [name]Tomlin[/name] is a great way to honor him and his mother.
To me [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Tomlin[/name] and [name]Cordelia[/name] [name]Tomlin[/name] flow the best out of your names with the mn , i wish you the best and shall pray for your father and your family.
I vote for [name]Felicity[/name], also. I think [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Tomlin[/name] sounds sweet, and I don’t think the ‘t’ in [name]Felicity[/name] is strong enough to create a problem with [name]Tomlin[/name]. I also love [name]Felicity[/name] because of its meaning. Everyone could use a little happiness!
I like [name]Eloise[/name] [name]Tomlin[/name] best. I do actually quite like [name]Tomlin[/name] as a way of honouring your father and grandmother. [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Tomlin[/name] is lovely as well. Here are some other ideas incase you’re looking for some more options:
So sad to hear about your father’s health. When my Dad was in the same position I needed to make up name plaque for our home, and I was able to honour Dad in the name of that plaque. It is a wonderful thing to do to honour a beautiful father.
[name]Tomlin[/name] is a good way to honour these people and I like [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Tomlin[/name] but I also like [name]Thomas[/name] as a middle name. Why not just say ‘Dad I want to honour you and I would like to use [name]Thomas[/name] in the mn spot’. I am sure that will make you both very happy.
Thanks to all for the kind words and suggestions. I have considered rollo’s idea of using [name]Thomas[/name] by itself, but [name]Tomlin[/name] sounds slightly more feminine to my ear (the -lin ending, I think) and it also lets me work in that bit of my grandma that my dad wants, so I think we’ll stick with that.
I really like [name]Eloise[/name] (nn [name]Lola[/name], or maybe just Lo) but when I string it together with the sibling names, it sounds a little matchy/rhymie with [name]Genevieve[/name] – same vowel pattern and number of syllables – it kinda runs together – “jeh-nuh-veev-'n-eh-loh-weez.” Maybe I’m overthinking that. We have a close cousin named [name]Ella[/name], same age as my [name]Genevieve[/name], which is another consideration (not that I would ever use [name]Ella[/name] as a NN, but…).
[name]Felicity[/name] is still my top choice but I haven’t yet found a nickname that I love.
[name]Cordelia[/name] is dropping off quickly – I’m finding as I say it aloud that it’s just a bit of a mouthful for me. And [name]Penelope[/name] is only hanging on because DH won’t let it go. :lol:
I liked the suggestion of [name]Adelaide[/name] – it’s a family name that keeps coming back up. My great-grandma’s name was [name]Adelaide[/name] and she went by [name]Daisy[/name]. I don’t love [name]Daisy[/name] or [name]Addy[/name] but I do really like [name]Della[/name]. I think I’ll be swapping out [name]Cordelia[/name] for [name]Adelaide[/name] on the short list!
I don’t think this has been suggested yet, but would you be willing to have [name]Thomasina[/name] as the middle name? That way you honor your father but get the feminine sound in the middle.
Anyway–feedback on your shortlist: [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Tomlin[/name] – I love [name]Felicity[/name], and the flow of these together is nice. Have you considered the nn Flicka? [name]Eloise[/name] [name]Tomlin[/name] – Pretty. Nice name, fun nn options, sounds great [name]Adelaide[/name] [name]Tomlin[/name] – I used to love [name]Adelaide[/name], but its risen a bit too far in the charts for my comfort. However, the names sound very pretty paired together.
I have heard Flicka used as a nickname for [name]Felicity[/name] and I can’t get past the horsey association. I like both [name]Lizzie[/name] and [name]Flossie[/name], although DH thinks they’re a bit of a stretch. I think we’d have to decide to use it and let the nickname come on its own in time.
I love [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Tomlin[/name]
Lis
[name]Lissie[/name]
[name]Fifi[/name]
Cece
[name]Flick[/name]
Flicka
[name]Tia[/name] (kind of a stretch)
Or you could use her midle name
[name]Tommy[/name]
[name]Tom[/name]
[name]Lyn[/name]
So sorry about your father
[name]Love[/name] [name]Tomlin[/name]!!! [name]How[/name] perfect!
[name]Felicity[/name] [name]Tomlin[/name] is wonderful … I used to worry about nicknames for her too until I just decided to go ahead and use it anyway. dd is [name]Kaia[/name] [name]Felicity[/name] but we use both names. I didnt pick out nn for her besides [name]Kai[/name], but we naturally started calling her [name]Fa[/name]-liss which does get shortened to Fliss. I wasnt a huge fan of Fliss before, but its so natural now. [name]Fa[/name]-liss is my favorite tho…sp? [name]Felice[/name]? Faliss? Lol idk
So sorry to hear about your dad, I don’t know what I would do in that situation. I think it’s lovely to honor him and his wishes by using Tomlyn/[name]Tomlin[/name].
Yuo touched upon [name]Eloise[/name] and [name]Genevieve[/name] sounding so similar. I actually agree with you. As much as I love the name [name]Eloise[/name], I probably wouldn’t use it here.
I like both [name]Felicity[/name] and [name]Adelaide[/name] for you. Maybe [name]Adelaide[/name] slightly more? [name]Felicity[/name] does still remind me of the TV show, as well as the American Girl doll (which might be awesome for a little girl though!). I also like the simpler [name]Adele[/name].
[name]Just[/name] wanted to thank everyone for all the input. Dad passed away last [name]Monday[/name] 4/25 so now I’m more convicted than ever that I need to honor him with this LO’s name.
I am leaning more toward [name]Felicity[/name] Tomlyn after giving it some thought. [name]Felicity[/name] is the first name that has really stuck with me. Tomlyn – I still don’t love that spelling, but It really does reflect more of the connection with [name]Jocelyn[/name], and also (as we live in Pennsylvania) if we use [name]Tomlin[/name], a large percentage of the population will think that it’s in honor of a professional football coach.
[name]Adelaide[/name] and [name]Eloise[/name] are still on deck in case we need a backup name, but I really think [name]Felicity[/name] Tomlyn will stick. It’s not as cute as the [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Jane[/name] I originally wanted, but it means a lot more, so I’ll get over it.
I’m so sorry for your loss, and I hope that you find comfort and peace in the midst of grieving and bringing a new life into the world. I agree–Tomlyn wouldn’t have been my first choice but the special bond you’re giving your little girl to her grandfather is priceless. All the best to you and your family.
Yes, honouring your little one with Dad’s name and including the ‘lyn’ ending for [name]Jocelyn[/name] is a great way to bind the combo together to get a very personal and special meaning. I love that [name]Felicity[/name] means happiness too as your new baby will bring lots of happiness and love into your lives.
I would definitely choose [name]Felicity[/name] Tomlyn for this baby and leave [name]Adelaide[/name] and [name]Eloise[/name] for another baby.
Please post in Nameberry Birth Announcements when baby arrives.
i think the name [name]Tomlin[/name] is a great way to honor him and his mother.
