I have been perusing this site for quite some time, and would like to reach out to you all for your expertise.
I am 38.5wks and deciding on a ‘perfect’ name has always been very important to me, however I am very indecisive.
My husband and I decided on [name_f]Portia[/name_f]. I truly hope it is the right choice that doesn’t leave us regretful…here are our middle name ideas.
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f]
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Mia[/name_f] ([name_f]Mia[/name_f] is my name, but I’m not sure it flows)
I think [name_f]Portia[/name_f] is a very bold and unexpected Shakespearean choice, so kudos! I think that out of your combos I like [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] the most, because they flow fantastically, because [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] comes across as more feminine and familiar than [name_f]Portia[/name_f] and because to me they have a great balance altogether. I love the name [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], nevermind popularity (which in the middle spot means nothing)!
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] despite the same two-letter endings doesn’t feel rhyme-y at all to me out loud. So this would be my second choice. I think it`s because the more emphatic So- separates them, whereas with [name_f]Mia[/name_f] as the middle name it is very rhyme-y, because nothing between the two endings. Of course middle names are rarely used and you can put just about anything in them. I feel like it is the special place to put a name of personal/emotional/family importance, like for instance the name of a dear friend or relative you would like to honor, the name of your school or street growing up, of a personality or historical figure you admire greatly… so I would think about that. I also think that flow aside, it would be downright brilliant and beautiful if your daughter could at least have your name as her middle, since I assume she’ll have dad’s last name. If not your first name, maybe your maiden name or something.
I’m sorry but I don’t think [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Mia[/name_f] and [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] flow very well. However, I like the name [name_f]Portia[/name_f]. Very stylish and unexpected. Maybe try [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Maria[/name_f] or [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Marianne[/name_f]. ([name_f]Mia[/name_f] is a variation of [name_f]Maria[/name_f]). I also love your suggestion of [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]. Good luck
An official thumbs up for [name_f]Portia[/name_f]! It’s a gorgeous name, unusual yet not unfamiliar. The only confusion may be non-literary-minded people thinking it’s [name_f]Porsche[/name_f], like the car. On the middle name, you don’t say why you like [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] – is it just flow or are they favorite names or is there some reason beyond flow you like them? I don’t think the flow is great with any of your choices but I also don’t think flow is the most important thing with middle names, so from your current ideas, I’d pick [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Mia[/name_f] because it’s your name and that will have meaning over the decades for you and your child. My other idea might be to insert another name in the middle – [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Mia[/name_f], for instance, sounds great to me.
If flow is really your primary consideration, my advice is to look for a middle name that starts with a consonant to keep it from “bumping into” the a at the end of [name_f]Portia[/name_f] and to choose one that is either one or 3+ syllables. Also, a name that does NOT have an a sound like [name_f]Portia[/name_f]'s at the end. So, just to throw out a couple of totally random examples: [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Bee[/name_f], [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u], [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f], [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_u]Marian[/name_u].
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] [name_f]Pam[/name_f]! Thanks for the great response. Dear husband doesn’t seem keen on incorporating my Mom’s name ([name_f]Marina[/name_f]), and his mom’s name has been put into his sister’s daughters name. Unfortunately in the rest of the family, there isn’t anything we are crazy about.
I am concerned people will make [name_f]Porsche[/name_f] comments as our dog’s name is [name_u]Bentley[/name_u]! But people will always find something to pick at. [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] were names we both liked and felt somewhat flowed. Great advice on continuing to search though.
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] is a great choice–unusual, but not totally unfamiliar. The [name_f]Porsche[/name_f] association is a slight downside, but you can remind people of [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] and the American actress to offset it (although I do think that if your dog is named [name_u]Bentley[/name_u], people [name_m]WILL[/name_m] make comments–but as long as that won’t bother you, I don’t think it takes anything away from the name [name_f]Portia[/name_f]).
I think purely style-wise I like [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] best. To me it brings out the Italian flair of [name_f]Portia[/name_f], and highlights the glamorous/theatrical side of the name.
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] in my opinion totally works, but it doesn’t particularly grab me.
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Mia[/name_f], in terms of “flow” on its own doesn’t sound as good as the other two combinations, but honestly I think the flow totally depends on the last name anyways. AND I feel like meaningfulness trumps flow (which is something I’ve only ever heard spoken of on nameberry!), so I’d be inclined to choose this since it’s the most meaningful of the three. I see in your reply that you mention your mom’s name is [name_f]Marina[/name_f]–too bad your husband doesn’t like it because that could be a second Shakespearian pick. Maybe [name_f]Miranda[/name_f] (another [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] name) as a variation? But I think you can stick with [name_f]Mia[/name_f], too.
With [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f], [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], and [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Mia[/name_f] I like how the more rare first name is paired with a more familiar middle. I think they all feel well-balanced in that regard, and have a bit of the best of both worlds (common and uncommon, which each have their strengths).
ETA: I just realized how similar my post is to [name_f]Pam[/name_f]'s–hopefully that means I’ve been on nameberry long enough that her naming wisdom has rubbed off on me
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] is not my style but [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] has the flow and is very feminine. I like this better than the other options.
Och, be still my beating heart! I absolutely adore [name_f]Portia[/name_f], but so rarely see it mentioned. I, too, love it from [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m], and a little girl I knew years ago (she had a big brother named [name_m]Cole[/name_m], and I still think [name_f]Portia[/name_f] and [name_m]Cole[/name_m] are perfection together!).
I can get why people aren’t into [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Mia[/name_f]–[name_f]Mia[/name_f]‘s gorgeous, but a little stilted after [name_f]Portia[/name_f]. But [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f]? She’s so lilting and gorgeous, and feels sort of sassy and European, too! I would love to meet a [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f]! Then again, my favorite girls’ name is [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], so I’m a big fan of [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], too.
My first ideas for a MN for [name_f]Portia[/name_f] are [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f], and [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]–all of which I love! I also think these would be lovely:
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Camille[/name_f]
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f]
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Noelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Noemi[/name_f]/[name_f]Naomi[/name_f] (not a huge fan of [name_f]Naomi[/name_f], but it seems that most prefer it to my beloved [name_f]Noemi[/name_f])
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] (if you want to go SUPER Shakespearean, haha!)
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Elinor[/name_f]/[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Willow[/name_f]
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f] (REALLY love this one!)
I so appreciate your feedback! Stilted is exactly how I feel about my middle name being the secondary. Funny you said [name_f]Camille[/name_f], that was our other first name pick!
Hmmm… What about [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]?
Perhaps too many a’s with the last name.
What I’m getting is [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] is feminine and soft, while [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] or [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] is more European sounding?
@pompp - Absolutely love [name_f]Portia[/name_f]. The world will be better for a new baby [name_f]Portia[/name_f]. Best wishes with 2nd name. I am all out of ideas with ‘baby drain’ myself at present. It will come - especially with the suggestions from Nameberry. Really, I just wanted to share in the excitement of naming her [name_f]Portia[/name_f]. Beautiful.
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] is a gorgeous, elegant name, strong and tough but feminine at the same time. [name_f]Portia[/name_f] is my favourite [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] character so I love that reference
Of your choices, I would go with [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]. It has the best flow, and the soft but grounded feel of [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] complements [name_f]Portia[/name_f] beautifully. The repeated -ia endings with [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] and [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Mia[/name_f] sound a bit repetitive. [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Sophie[/name_f], or [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Sofie[/name_f] which brings more of the international flavour of [name_f]Sofia[/name_f], would be lovely. I also like a PP’s suggestion of [name_f]Portia[/name_f] [name_f]Marianne[/name_f] as a nod to your middle name [name_f]Mia[/name_f].
