We are expecting a daughter in [name_f]October[/name_f] (little sister to [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] [name_f]Tess[/name_f]). We have decided on the name [name_f]Willa[/name_f]. I would like to honour my mum by using her middle name ([name_f]May[/name_f]).
I’m thinking [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband and I both love the name [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] (in fact it was the other contender for first name!). BUT (a) my mum hates the name [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], and I feel that honouring her using a name she hates is pointless, and (b) i am of the feeling that [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] kind of emphasises the ‘oldness’ of the name. I know [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is also very old, but it’s more common and [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] to me seems to be a bit sassy and cute?
Decisions! Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Also, another question, does anyone know any name that [name_f]Willa[/name_f] could be short for, other than Wilhemena? I’m not ballsy enough to go down that track. Plus emmeline and [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] are too similar (we say [name_f]Emma[/name_f]-leen). Thanks!
I have to say, I prefer [name_f]May[/name_f] [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] to [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]. But, if [name_f]Willa[/name_f] is definitely the FN, I think [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is just fine. It sounds a little “down home” to my American ears, but is very cute and flows well. Definitely better than [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] imo!
I think Willa Mae is sweet. I like Emmeline Tess more but I do tend to prefer long fn’s.
Potential long version for Willa: (Some are a bit of a stretch but I figured I’d suggest everything that comes to mind - I * the ones I find interesting).
Willow* (Willow Mae = Willa)
Wilfrieda
Wisteria*
Wilma*
Winifred
Winola*
Winnona
Wilda
Twilla*
If you were still looking for Mae/Mabel alternatives:
Mavis*
Maeve
Maeby
Maelys
and of course there is always Willamae as a combo name and you could add another mn.
I absolutely adore [name_f]Willa[/name_f]! It is sweetly elegant. I love the lacey, southern feel. [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is really perfect!
I think [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] [name_f]Tess[/name_f] and [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] make a wonderful sibling set. [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is beautiful, sweet, and has vintage charm. I love both [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] (although I personally like the line pronunciation) and [name_f]Willa[/name_f]. I can see [name_f]Willow[/name_f] “[name_f]Willa[/name_f]” but I personally prefer each as a full name and would not use a nickname with either.
[name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] [name_f]Tess[/name_f]! I think [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is really sweet, and [name_f]Mae[/name_f] balances perfectly next to [name_f]Tess[/name_f]. I do like [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] as much or more, but I agree it doesn’t work to honor your mom with a name she dislikes. I was hoping to use [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] to honor my sister [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] but she hates it because it’s a z instead of an s. Oh well…
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] sounds better though!
Am I the only one that doesn’t think [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] sounds great? It could be said all together, as a double-barrel name, and I’m not sure you want that. It is too short and too “rustic” sounding.
Instead of [name_f]Mae[/name_f] or [name_f]Mabel[/name_f]:
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
Maiselle (maze-elle)
Maylis/[name_f]Maelys[/name_f] (sort of rhymes with [name_f]Elise[/name_f]/[name_f]Elyse[/name_f])
[name_f]Mary[/name_f] ([name_f]Mae[/name_f] was once a nickname for [name_f]Mary[/name_f])
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] is a good stand alone name. [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] is the only long name I can think of.
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] is lovely. I agree that [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] emphasizes the age of the names and makes it seem dated. [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is darling, and a fantastic choice.
I like [name_f]Willa[/name_f]! I don’t think it should be a nickname for anything as it is perfect on it’s own! [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] and [name_f]Willa[/name_f] are great together! I vastly prefer [name_f]Tess[/name_f] to [name_f]Mae[/name_f], but I like that [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is an honour name. [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is nice, but is there any way you could spice up [name_f]Mae[/name_f]? If not, then [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is definitely the way to go! I love [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] and [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] is adorable, but if your mom hates [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], then it’s not really an honour name, is it?
Maybe it’s because I’m from [name_u]Tennessee[/name_u], but when I hear [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]… my first thought is of [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] [name_m]Duke[/name_m] stereotypes. If I saw/heard that name, I would honestly expect the person to have a pronounced Southern accent.
I agree with pp, [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] sounds too much like a stereotypical bumpkin kind of name. There aren’t really any great longer forms for [name_f]Willa[/name_f] either. Might there be another way to honor your mom? - maybe a [name_f]May[/name_f] variant in the first spot (I love [name_f]Maelys[/name_f]) or your mom’s middle name or maiden name?
So glad you’re not planning to name your kid Reassurance! I like virtue names, but that would be taking it too far.
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] is lovely. I think it’s very whole, doesn’t need to be a nickname for another name. I do understand the appeal of having options (being an [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] who goes by [name_f]Emma[/name_f].) [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] is nice. Totally different that [name_f]Em[/name_f] imo. I quite like the Dutch Willemijn (“willa-meen”) but maybe too close to [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f].
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is very Southern and earthy. I love it with [name_f]Tess[/name_f]. [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] to me is a lacier, more detailed kind of name, but I don’t think they’re mismatched.
