Putting a New Spin on Family Names

[Seedsandstones]

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] all! We’re currently brainstorming names for Kid #2 (TTC late winter/early spring) We’d really like to incorporate a family name somehow. We went a common route for our first son - his first name is “his own” and his middle name is my dad’s first - because we loved both names and they paired well together. We’re not so lucky with the rest of our relatives’ names, so we’ve got to be creative. Can you help us come up with some variations on these names?

[name_u]Joan[/name_u], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], [name_u]Germaine[/name_u], [name_f]Diane[/name_f], [name_f]Colleen[/name_f], [name_f]Leah[/name_f], [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f]
[name_m]Charles[/name_m]-[name_m]Henri[/name_m], [name_m]Clifford[/name_m], [name_m]Peter[/name_m]

For example, I’ve thought of [name_m]Collier[/name_m] as a gender-bending play on [name_f]Colleen[/name_f], and [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f] as a variation of [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] that also gives a nod to the Scottish side of the family. My partner likes the idea of using [name_f]Henriette[/name_f] to honor [name_m]Charles[/name_m]-[name_m]Henri[/name_m]. Other than those, we are stuck, stuck, stuck. Give us your twists, your stretches, and your most how’d-you-get-there-from-here ideas. We can’t wait to hear what you come up with!

[Greyblue]

Not sure if you just want girls names but I’ll throw in some boys just in case (plus some could be gender neutral)

[name_u]Joan[/name_u]: [name_f]Joni[/name_f], [name_f]Noa[/name_f], [name_f]Jolie[/name_f], [name_f]Juno[/name_f], [name_u]Jodie[/name_u]
[name_m]Jonah[/name_m], [name_u]Noah[/name_u]

[name_f]Sarah[/name_f]: [name_f]Sarai[/name_f], [name_f]Soraya[/name_f], [name_f]Zara[/name_f], [name_u]Seren[/name_u], [name_f]Zadie[/name_f], [name_f]Saskia[/name_f]
[name_u]Sawyer[/name_u], [name_m]Soren[/name_m], [name_m]Sayre[/name_m]

[name_u]Germaine[/name_u] - [name_f]Maia[/name_f], [name_f]Gemma[/name_f], [name_f]Mae[/name_f], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], Graine, [name_f]Aine[/name_f], [name_f]Gina[/name_f], [name_f]Ginny[/name_f]
[name_u]Jem[/name_u], [name_u]Gene[/name_u], [name_m]Eugene[/name_m]

[name_f]Diane[/name_f] - [name_f]Annie[/name_f], [name_f]Danielle[/name_f], [name_u]Dani[/name_u], [name_f]Dinah[/name_f]
[name_u]Dean[/name_u], [name_u]Dorian[/name_u]

[name_f]Coleen[/name_f] - [name_f]Coco[/name_f], [name_f]Clover[/name_f], [name_f]Cleo[/name_f], [name_f]Leena[/name_f], [name_f]Leela[/name_f], [name_u]Connie[/name_u], [name_f]Cornelia[/name_f]
[name_m]Cole[/name_m], [name_m]Keane[/name_m], [name_m]Cian[/name_m], [name_u]Neal[/name_u], [name_m]Conrad[/name_m], [name_m]Cornell[/name_m]

[name_f]Leah[/name_f] - [name_f]Lillia[/name_f], [name_f]Leilani[/name_f], [name_f]Lula[/name_f], [name_f]Lela[/name_f]
[name_m]Leo[/name_m], [name_m]Leon[/name_m], [name_m]Eli[/name_m]

[name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] - [name_f]Liza[/name_f], Leisl [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f], [name_u]Abby[/name_u], [name_f]Beth[/name_f], [name_f]Ebba[/name_f]
[name_m]Eli[/name_m], [name_u]Ellis[/name_u], [name_m]Elijah[/name_m], [name_u]Elias[/name_u]

[name_m]Charles[/name_m]-[name_m]Henri[/name_m] -[name_f]Charlize[/name_f], [name_f]Harriet[/name_f], [name_f]Cherie[/name_f]
[name_u]Arlo[/name_u], [name_u]Chase[/name_u]

[name_m]Clifford[/name_m] - [name_f]Effie[/name_f], [name_f]Orla[/name_f], [name_f]Cora[/name_f], [name_u]Lorca[/name_u], [name_f]Dora[/name_f]
[name_m]Ford[/name_m], [name_u]Cody[/name_u], [name_u]Cory[/name_u], [name_m]Forrest[/name_m]

[name_m]Peter[/name_m] -[name_f]Perrie[/name_f], [name_f]Terri[/name_f], [name_f]Eppie[/name_f], [name_f]Pia[/name_f], [name_f]Poppy[/name_f], [name_f]Petra[/name_f], [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]

[name_m]Pip[/name_m], [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m], [name_m]Stone[/name_m]

[name_f]Coleen[/name_f]+[name_u]Joan[/name_u] -[name_f]Jolene[/name_f]
[name_f]Diane[/name_f]+[name_u]Germaine[/name_u]+[name_f]Leah[/name_f] - [name_u]Delaney[/name_u]
[name_m]Peter[/name_m] + [name_f]Leah[/name_f] -[name_f]Pearl[/name_f], [name_f]Perla[/name_f]

[fallenangel]

I think with [name_u]Joan[/name_u], you have the obvious [name_f]Joanne[/name_f]/[name_f]Joanne[/name_f] or maybe even the more cutesy [name_f]Joanie[/name_f]. I think any [name_u]Jo[/name_u] name would work pretty well here maybe [name_f]Jovie[/name_f], [name_u]Josie[/name_u], [name_f]Jocasta[/name_f], [name_f]Jocelyn[/name_f] or [name_f]Jolene[/name_f] for girls and for boys there’s plenty of great options - [name_m]Joseph[/name_m], [name_m]Jonas[/name_m], [name_m]Jonah[/name_m], [name_m]Johan[/name_m], [name_m]Jovani[/name_m], [name_f]Jocelyn[/name_f] amongst others.

[name_f]Sarah[/name_f] could become [name_f]Sarai[/name_f], Saraya, [name_f]Soraya[/name_f], [name_f]Sara[/name_f], [name_u]Seren[/name_u], [name_f]Zara[/name_f], [name_f]Sadie[/name_f].

[name_u]Germaine[/name_u] is an interesting one as you might need to pick out particular sounds so the strong ‘J’ sound at the beginning - [name_f]Gemma[/name_f], [name_f]Giselle[/name_f], [name_f]Gina[/name_f], [name_f]Georgina[/name_f], [name_f]Jemima[/name_f] maybe? For boys maybe [name_u]Gentry[/name_u], [name_m]Gerard[/name_m], [name_m]Jared[/name_m], [name_u]Jericho[/name_u], [name_m]Jed[/name_m]. The other quite prominent sound is the ‘mai’ part in the middle so maybe [name_f]Maia[/name_f], [name_f]May[/name_f], [name_f]Marnie[/name_f], [name_f]Elaine[/name_f], [name_f]Lorraine[/name_f]. While maybe [name_m]Alain[/name_m], [name_u]Blaine[/name_u], [name_m]Cain[/name_m] might work for a boy.

[name_f]Diana[/name_f] sounds more modern and sweet than just [name_f]Diane[/name_f] so that could be a simple switch. [name_f]Dinah[/name_f] could work or maybe another name ending in the ‘an’ sound which could cover [name_u]Joan[/name_u] and [name_f]Diane[/name_f] at the same time. Maybe [name_f]Lillian[/name_f], [name_f]Marianne[/name_f], [name_u]Vivian[/name_u], [name_f]Ariane[/name_f], [name_f]Bethan[/name_f] (covers [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] too), [name_f]Gillian[/name_f] ([name_u]Germaine[/name_u]/[name_u]Joan[/name_u]/[name_f]Diana[/name_f]), [name_f]Megan[/name_f], [name_u]Morgan[/name_u], [name_f]Rosanne[/name_f], [name_f]Roxanne[/name_f] etc. Maybe for a boy something like [name_m]Adrian[/name_m], [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], [name_u]Morgan[/name_u], [name_u]Jordan[/name_u] etc. Maybe a boys name that starts with An- such as [name_m]Andrew[/name_m], [name_m]Anderson[/name_m], [name_m]Anthony[/name_m], [name_m]Anakin[/name_m].

[name_f]Colleen[/name_f] could become [name_f]Colette[/name_f], [name_f]Cosima[/name_f], [name_f]Calliope[/name_f], Myleene, [name_f]Linnea[/name_f], [name_f]Adelina[/name_f], Leisel, [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] for girls. Maybe [name_m]Colt[/name_m], [name_m]Colton[/name_m], [name_u]Collins[/name_u], [name_m]Leander[/name_m], [name_u]Lennon[/name_u] for boys?

[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] has many options; [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Adeliza[/name_f], [name_f]Electra[/name_f], [name_f]Bethan[/name_f], [name_f]Bethany[/name_f], [name_u]Eloise[/name_u], [name_f]Eliana[/name_f], [name_f]Elora[/name_f], [name_f]Eliora[/name_f], and for maybe [name_m]Elijah[/name_m], [name_u]Elias[/name_u], [name_f]Elery[/name_f], [name_u]Ellison[/name_u], [name_m]Elwood[/name_m].

[QuirkFlower]

For unique honor names, I tend to prefer the meaning route rather than soundalikes, so that’s what I’ll suggest.

[name_u]Joan[/name_u] - Other names containing meaning “gracious”: [name_u]Evan[/name_u], [name_f]Gia[/name_f]*, [name_u]Milan[/name_u], [name_f]Mercedes[/name_f]

[name_f]Sarah[/name_f] - Other names meaning “princess”: [name_f]Sarai[/name_f], [name_f]Suri[/name_f], [name_f]Zara[/name_f], [name_f]Kala[/name_f]

[name_u]Germaine[/name_u] - I got nothing here.

[name_f]Diane[/name_f] - Other names containing meaning “divine”: [name_f]Astrid[/name_f], [name_f]Asta[/name_f]; Greek variation of [name_f]Diana[/name_f]: [name_u]Artemis[/name_u]*

[name_f]Colleen[/name_f] - Other names meaning “girl”: [name_f]Zita[/name_f], [name_f]Talitha[/name_f]

[name_f]Leah[/name_f] - “Weary” is a pretty terrible meaning so I would abandon the meaning path here. Maybe something related to the Biblical story of [name_f]Leah[/name_f]?

[name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] - Names containg meaning “pledge”: [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m]*, [name_m]Geoffrey[/name_m]

[name_m]Charles[/name_m]-[name_m]Henri[/name_m] - Names meaning “free man”: [name_f]Carly[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], [name_f]Frances[/name_f], [name_u]Amadi[/name_u]; names meaning “ruler”: [name_u]Avery[/name_u], [name_m]Gerald[/name_m], [name_m]Thierry[/name_m]

[name_m]Clifford[/name_m] - Names related to cliffs and fords: [name_m]Clive[/name_m], [name_m]Ford[/name_m]

[name_m]Peter[/name_m] - Names related to meaning “rock”: [name_m]Stone[/name_m], [name_u]Onyx[/name_u], [name_f]Agate[/name_f], Carnelian, Malachite, [name_f]Jade[/name_f], [name_m]Eben[/name_m]*

It’s an eclectic bunch. I starred my favorites.

[Inkling]

I haven’t read the other replies, so please forgive any repeats!

[name_f]Annabeth[/name_f] : includes the “an” part of [name_u]Joan[/name_u] and [name_f]Diane[/name_f], and the “[name_f]Beth[/name_f]” of [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f]"

[name_f]Selah[/name_f] : for [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] and [name_f]Leah[/name_f]

[name_u]Collins[/name_u] : for [name_f]Colleen[/name_f] and [name_m]Charles[/name_m]

[name_f]Petra[/name_f] : for [name_m]Peter[/name_m] and [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]

[name_f]Freya[/name_f]-[name_f]Claire[/name_f] : a stretch but might work to honor the double barreled name of [name_m]Charles[/name_m]-[name_m]Henri[/name_m], it also has a lot of the letters from [name_m]Clifford[/name_m]

[name_f]Gemma[/name_f] : for [name_u]Germaine[/name_u]

[name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] : kind of out there, but I love it! It has “ian” from [name_f]Diane[/name_f] and “th” from [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f]

Oh and Eliza-Jane : double barreled like Charles-Henri, Eliza to honor Elisabeth, and Jane for Joan and kind of for Germaine as well!

[oceanix]

[name_u]Joan[/name_u]: [name_m]Joseph[/name_m], [name_m]Jonah[/name_m], [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_f]Joelle[/name_f], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_u]Jean[/name_u], [name_f]Jade[/name_f], [name_u]Jordan[/name_u], any J name

[name_f]Sarah[/name_f] : [name_f]Serena[/name_f], [name_f]Serenity[/name_f], [name_f]Sadie[/name_f], [name_f]Zadie[/name_f], [name_f]Zara[/name_f], [name_f]Sarai[/name_f], [name_u]Shay[/name_u], [name_f]Orla[/name_f]/[name_f]Talulla[/name_f] (both mean princess), [name_u]Seren[/name_u], [name_m]Soren[/name_m], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m]?

[name_u]Germaine[/name_u]: [name_m]Gerald[/name_m], Gerladine, [name_f]Mae[/name_f], [name_f]Gia[/name_f]/[name_f]Gianna[/name_f], Kerman (Basque form), [name_f]Aine[/name_f] (prn like [name_f]Anya[/name_f] I think), [name_f]Maine[/name_f] (or [name_f]Augusta[/name_f]:D), any G name ie Geevive, [name_f]Georgia[/name_f]/ie, [name_f]Giada[/name_f], etc

[name_f]Diane[/name_f] - [name_f]Diana[/name_f], any [name_f]Ann[/name_f]- name, [name_f]Dee[/name_f], [name_u]Dean[/name_u], [name_m]Deon[/name_m], [name_f]Dior[/name_f], [name_u]Dane[/name_u], [name_m]Daniel[/name_m]/[name_f]Danielle[/name_f], any D name ie [name_u]Day[/name_u], [name_m]Dax[/name_m], [name_m]Declan[/name_m], [name_u]Dorian[/name_u], [name_f]Della[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], etc

[name_f]Colleen[/name_f] - [name_m]Collier[/name_m] is cute, [name_m]Collin[/name_m], [name_m]Calvin[/name_m], [name_f]Corinne[/name_f], [name_f]Lena[/name_f], [name_m]Oliver[/name_m]/[name_f]Olivia[/name_f]/[name_u]Olly[/name_u], [name_m]Caleb[/name_m], [name_f]Cora[/name_f], [name_u]Cailin[/name_u], [name_f]Catelyn[/name_f], [name_f]Kaylyn[/name_f], etc, [name_f]Zeta[/name_f]/[name_f]Talitha[/name_f]/[name_f]Nina[/name_f]/[name_u]Damaris[/name_u],Channary/[name_f]Bambi[/name_f] (all mean girl), any C name
[name_f]Leah[/name_f] - [name_f]Lea[/name_f], [name_f]Lia[/name_f], [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], [name_f]Leia[/name_f], [name_f]Lena[/name_f], [name_f]Laura[/name_f], [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], [name_u]Lee[/name_u], [name_f]Aaliyah[/name_f], [name_u]Leland[/name_u], [name_m]Jacob[/name_m], any L name, any name with the lee sound in it
[name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] - any [name_f]El[/name_f]- name, [name_u]Izzy[/name_u]/[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]/[name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]/[name_f]Elsbeth[/name_f]/[name_f]Elsie[/name_f]/[name_u]Abby[/name_u]/[name_f]Betty[/name_f]/[name_f]Beth[/name_f]/[name_f]Bettina[/name_f]/[name_f]Belle[/name_f]/[name_u]Lisa[/name_u], [name_m]Eli[/name_m], [name_u]Elliot[/name_u]

[name_m]Charles[/name_m]-[name_m]Henri[/name_m] - [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]/[name_u]Charlie[/name_u]/[name_f]Caroline[/name_f]/[name_f]Coraline[/name_f]/[name_f]Carla[/name_f]/ie/[name_f]Carlotta[/name_f]/[name_f]Charlene[/name_f]/[name_m]Chaz[/name_m]/Caz (forms of [name_m]Charles[/name_m], I’m sure there are more as well), [name_m]Chance[/name_m], [name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_f]Henriette[/name_f]/a, [name_f]Hattie[/name_f]/[name_f]Hettie[/name_f], [name_f]Ria[/name_f]/[name_f]Rita[/name_f], [name_m]Emmerich[/name_m]/Anrai/[name_m]Arrigo[/name_m]/Drika/[name_u]Emerson[/name_u]/[name_u]Emery[/name_u]/[name_m]Enric[/name_m]/Enrca/[name_m]Enrico[/name_m]/[name_m]Enzo[/name_m]/[name_m]Hal[/name_m]/[name_f]Hallie[/name_f]/[name_m]Harry[/name_m]/[name_m]Harrison[/name_m]/[name_m]Harrison[/name_m]/[name_m]Hank[/name_m]/[name_m]Hendrix[/name_m]/[name_u]Jet[/name_u]/[name_f]Jette[/name_f]/[name_m]Kendrick[/name_m]/[name_u]Perry[/name_u] (all forms of [name_m]Henry[/name_m])

[name_m]Clifford[/name_m] - [name_m]Cliff[/name_m], [name_m]Clay[/name_m], [name_m]Ford[/name_m], Fordham, [name_f]Effie[/name_f], [name_f]Cleo[/name_f], [name_f]Clover[/name_f], any C name

[name_m]Peter[/name_m] - [name_f]Petra[/name_f], [name_f]Petrova[/name_f], [name_f]Pia[/name_f], [name_u]Pax[/name_u], [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], [name_m]Pearce[/name_m], [name_m]Pelle[/name_m], [name_m]Petri[/name_m], [name_m]Pierre[/name_m], [name_u]Peyton[/name_u], any P name

A lot of these were really reach-y but as long as you come up with some connection to the honor name, I think you can use just about anything to honor someone. I hope this helps:D

[Seedsandstones]

Y’all! Thank you so much for your thoughtful responses and suggestions! I lost this post because I accidentally posted it in the Girl forum when I meant to post it in the general [name_u]Baby[/name_u] Names forums…been searching for it in the wrong place! So exciting to find it and see all your ideas!

@greyblue, I love the idea of using [name_f]Zadie[/name_f], [name_f]Saskia[/name_f], or [name_m]Sayre[/name_m] for [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]; [name_u]Jem[/name_u] for [name_u]Germaine[/name_u] could totally work, especially since we’ve had [name_u]Jem[/name_u] as a nickname for [name_m]Jerome[/name_m] on our list for a while; I’ve always like [name_f]Cornelia[/name_f] but hadn’t thought to connect it back to [name_f]Colleen[/name_f], yes!; I’m glad someone else thinks [name_u]Arlo[/name_u] could be a nod to [name_m]Charles[/name_m], as well!

@quirkflower, I really like your idea of riffing on names’ meanings and sounds rather than shared origins. [name_u]Milan[/name_u], [name_f]Kala[/name_f], [name_u]Artemis[/name_u], [name_f]Talitha[/name_f], [name_u]Francis[/name_u]/[name_f]Frances[/name_f], [name_u]Avery[/name_u] are all stand-outs. Eclectic, for sure, but that’s our style. Thank you!

@inkling, [name_f]Selah[/name_f] and [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] are great!

@oceanix, I’ve always wrinkled my nose at the “princess” meaning but [name_f]Orla[/name_f] and [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f] are too great to ignore. I like the suggestion of [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] for [name_f]Diane[/name_f], especially since our [name_f]Diane[/name_f]'s nickname is Dizey, with a long i sound. [name_f]Corinne[/name_f] for [name_f]Colleen[/name_f] is wonderful! And I had forgotten that [name_m]Emmerich[/name_m]/Emeric is related to [name_m]Henry[/name_m] - that definitely moves Emeric higher up on our list, and saves us the embarrassment of accidentally naming him Emeric [name_m]Henry[/name_m]! I love knowing that [name_m]Pearce[/name_m] is a derivative of [name_m]Peter[/name_m] - it works so much better with our R surname.

Thank you so much, everyone! We’re feeling reinvigorated and looking forward to the name debate continuing in the months ahead! I’m sure we’ll post again, but in the meantime, you’ve given us much to work with.

[alexflynn]

Here you go, I tried.

[name_u]Joan[/name_u] - [name_u]Jules[/name_u], [name_m]Jones[/name_m], [name_u]June[/name_u], [name_u]Jay[/name_u]

[name_f]Sarah[/name_f] - [name_f]Saskia[/name_f], Saeede, [name_m]Sean[/name_m]

[name_u]Germaine[/name_u] - Garen, [name_u]Gray[/name_u], [name_u]Mars[/name_u], [name_u]Marlow[/name_u], [name_u]Max[/name_u]

[name_f]Diane[/name_f] - [name_f]Diana[/name_f], [name_m]Daniel[/name_m], [name_u]Dash[/name_u], [name_m]Ian[/name_m]

[name_f]Colleen[/name_f] - [name_m]Collier[/name_m], [name_u]Camden[/name_u], [name_f]Cricket[/name_f]

[name_f]Leah[/name_f] - [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Lila[/name_f], [name_f]Lola[/name_f], [name_m]Len[/name_m]

[name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] - [name_u]Beck[/name_u], [name_f]Elise[/name_f], [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m]

[name_m]Charles[/name_m]-[name_m]Henri[/name_m] - [name_u]Charlie[/name_u], [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_m]Hugo[/name_m]

[name_m]Clifford[/name_m] - [name_m]Cole[/name_m], [name_f]Colette[/name_f], [name_m]Connor[/name_m]

[name_m]Peter[/name_m] - [name_f]Terra[/name_f], [name_m]Pip[/name_m], [name_u]Peyton[/name_u], [name_m]Tip[/name_m], [name_u]Paxton[/name_u]

[erin_beth]

I’ll offer my favorites for each girls’ name:

[name_f]Joanna[/name_f] or [name_f]Jane[/name_f] for [name_u]Joan[/name_u]
[name_f]Sadie[/name_f] or [name_f]Sally[/name_f] for [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]
[name_f]Diana[/name_f]–could be pronounced [name_f]Dee[/name_f]-anna if desired–for [name_f]Diane[/name_f]
[name_f]Colette[/name_f] or [name_f]Lena[/name_f] for [name_f]Colleen[/name_f]
[name_u]Leigh[/name_u] for [name_f]Leah[/name_f]
[name_f]Bess[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], or [name_f]Elise[/name_f] for [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f]

[name_u]Joan[/name_u], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], [name_u]Germaine[/name_u], [name_f]Diane[/name_f], [name_f]Colleen[/name_f], [name_f]Leah[/name_f], [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f]
[name_m]Charles[/name_m]-[name_m]Henri[/name_m], [name_m]Clifford[/name_m], [name_m]Peter[/name_m]

For example, I’ve thought of [name_m]Collier[/name_m] as a gender-bending play on [name_f]Colleen[/name_f], and [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f] as a variation of [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] that also gives a nod to the Scottish side of the family. My partner likes the idea of using [name_f]Henriette[/name_f] to honor [name_m]Charles[/name_m]-[name_m]Henri[/name_m]. Other than those, we are stuck, stuck, stuck. Give us your twists, your stretches, and your most how’d-you-get-there-from-here ideas. We can’t wait to hear what you come up with![/QUOTE]

[Suzannah]

I like when honor names don’t stray too far from the honoree’s name.
For a girl, I love [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]-[name_u]Germaine[/name_u] nn [name_u]Sage[/name_u]
I also love the suggestion of using [name_f]Bess[/name_f] somewhere for [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f].

[Seedsandstones]

@alexflynn, [name_u]Jules[/name_u]! [name_m]Jones[/name_m]! [name_u]Jay[/name_u]! These are great! [name_f]Terra[/name_f], [name_m]Pip[/name_m], and [name_m]Tip[/name_m] are intriguing nickname possibilities.

@erin beth, I keep forgetting that [name_f]Jane[/name_f] is a clear-cut variation of [name_m]John[/name_m]/[name_u]Joan[/name_u]. I like [name_f]Jane[/name_f] a lot. I really like both [name_f]Sadie[/name_f] and [name_f]Sallie[/name_f] as nicknames for [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] - do you think they fly as given names, on the birth certificate? We have Besses and Elizas of all ages in our social circle, so I’m not sure I could comfortably use either as a way to honor a specific relative, but I do love both of these nicknames/variations and feel that they go well with our son’s name. Hmmm…

@suzannah, I love the idea of doubling up on the actual family names and pulling a completely unexpected nickname from them. We almost used [name_u]Sage[/name_u] as a middle name for our son. I’m adding [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] [name_u]Germaine[/name_u] to the list for sure!