Second thoughts on chosen name

I am unexpectedly having second thoughts on the name we chose for our daughter who is due next month. Several months ago we settled on [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] (middle name is set, after my mother), but all of a sudden I’m doubting the choice. I still love [name_f]Tess[/name_f], but my oldest son for some reason really does not like it, which is nagging at me – I want the whole family to love it! Going back to the drawing board, I’m feeling drawn to classic longer names like [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f].

Her big brothers names are not matchy at all – [name_u]Ari[/name_u], [name_m]Christopher[/name_m], [name_u]Max[/name_u] – so no concerns with a mismatched sibset, though I was thinking it might be nice to have a longer first name to round out the short-long-short names of her brothers.

Does anyone have thoughts/advice/suggestions? I’m stumped.

Thanks in advance!

As someone who’s has doubted every name she’s been “absolutely sold on”, I can relate.

Keep [name_f]Tess[/name_f] on the table and add to your list and when you see your daughter something will surely click.

[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] are charming. I’ll also suggest…

[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] / [name_f]Minnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] / [name_f]Addy[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] / [name_f]Winnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Theodora[/name_f] / [name_u]Teddy[/name_u]
[name_f]Francesca[/name_f] / [name_f]Francie[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] / [name_f]Hattie[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f] / [name_f]Gigi[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] / [name_f]Bea[/name_f]

Good luck!!!

I love [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]! I think that’s beautiful, feminist and feminine. You may want to still consider shorter names as [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] is such a long middle.

[name_u]Ari[/name_u], [name_m]Christopher[/name_m], [name_u]Max[/name_u] and…
[name_f]Sadie[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]
[name_f]Lenora[/name_f] ([name_f]Nora[/name_f]) [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]
[name_u]Marlow[/name_u] ([name_u]Marley[/name_u]) [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]
[name_f]Luella[/name_f] ([name_f]Ella[/name_f]) [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]
[name_f]Katherine[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]

I love [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]! Nn [name_u]Josie[/name_u] is adorable for a shorter name (more similar to [name_f]Tess[/name_f]). [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] is a really good pairing but I prefer more substantial names. Maybe [name_f]Theresa[/name_f], nn [name_f]Tess[/name_f]? Names with a good nickname might be a good option. I do like the suggestion of [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]. For me, [name_f]Willa[/name_f] stands on its own nicely. I also like [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]. Some other suggestions:

[name_f]Camila[/name_f]/[name_f]Camilla[/name_f]/[name_f]Camille[/name_f] ([name_f]Calla[/name_f], [name_f]Callie[/name_f], [name_f]Millie[/name_f], [name_u]Cam[/name_u])
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f] ([name_f]Vera[/name_f])
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] ([name_f]Vivi[/name_f])
[name_f]Clarisse[/name_f]/[name_f]Clarissa[/name_f] ([name_f]Clara[/name_f])
[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] ([name_f]Celia[/name_f])
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f] ([name_f]Stella[/name_f])

All three choices are beautiful! I think [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] is the most balanced and fits the shorter style of your sons’ names.

Thank you all for the feedback and beautiful suggestions – I liked so many of them, especially [name_f]Camilla[/name_f], [name_f]Katherine[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], and [name_f]Felicity[/name_f]. Unfortunately my husband vetoed those AND [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]

He did, however, suggest one that I have never considered – [name_f]Annabel[/name_f]. I’m mulling it over to see if it grows on me. [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] would not work as a middle with this name, but I could consider using [name_f]Christine[/name_f] instead (my mother’s middle which is also my middle). My sons also really like it.

So what do you think of [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] [name_f]Christine[/name_f]? [name_u]Ari[/name_u], [name_m]Christopher[/name_m], [name_u]Max[/name_u], [name_f]Annabel[/name_f]…

I have to say I’m not wild about [name_f]Tess[/name_f] - it always feels unfinished (not because it’s short - I love lots of other short names). Like your partner’s suggestion of [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] - it’s classic but not frilly. Plus [name_f]Belle[/name_f] is a great nickname for it.

I think [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] and [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] [name_f]Christine[/name_f] are both lovely choices.