September baby - Autumn or Daphne?

Hi! Super early in my pregnancy (just found out last week!), but hubby and I are already discussing baby names … I think we’ve settled on a boy’s name.

Last night, however, I was trying to tell him I have the perfect baby girl name chosen - Daphne - and I couldn’t explain it, but it just feels RIGHT. However, his heart is completely set on Autumn.
(In either case, I think the middle name will be Willow.)

I love the name Autumn, but I have two concerns: 1) early September seems borderline not right for the name Autumn, especially because baby could be born at the end of August; 2) The initials would be AWK, like AWKward. There’s also the fact that hubby and I both have names ending in N, so if we go with Autumn would that mean our future kids’ names also need to end in N? The pro for Autumn, however, is that according to my MIL it was going to be my hubby’s name had he been a girl … so there is a meaningful connection there, and part of me wants to honour that (even though he didn’t know that fun tidbit, despite him being present when his mother told me that story).

Daphne, however, has meaning for me. My due date is very close to my grandmother’s birthday (11th) and my favourite aunt’s birthday (13th). My grandmother’s name starts with D, so I was reflecting on D names for that reason. My grandmother is also Deaf, and one of my favourite TV characters named Daphne is also Deaf. My aunt’s name means “laurel”, as does Daphne, so it would be a way to honour her as well. (I’m secretly hoping the baby comes on the 12th, between the two birthdays - it would be so perfect!)

I know I’m probably in the minority, but I’ve taken a more spiritual approach for the name, taking a variety of things into account - September due date, 95% sure baby will be a Virgo (unless SUPER late or early), and born in the Year of the Dragon. I’ve also been really attracted to the colour purple this week, and I feel like that needs to mean something. And I can’t fully explain all this to hubby - I tried, but he just asked why names have months attached to them. (“I don’t know, they just do!”, lol)

Hubby said the middle name doesn’t have to be Willow (although it is a name we both love) … his dad passed away a couple years ago though, so baby boy will have his name as a middle name, but since FIL and my hubby both have W middle names I thought giving baby girl a W middle name could still honour him.

So: Autumn Willow or Daphne Willow?
(But also, open to suggestions!)

I chose the name D@phne. And as much as I don’t want others to use it, I have to vote for it. It’s the perfect name! But I don’t want it to get too common.:blush:

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I would pick [name_f]Daphne[/name_f]. I agree about the [name_u]September[/name_u] due date and name [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] being a bit much…Also [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] is a bit too wordy and over descriptive for my taste- it just sounds like you’re talking about a willow tree in [name_f]Autumn[/name_f].
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] is graceful and whimsical! I really love it! It also sounds like [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] has a ton of meaning to you, and all [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] has are cons.

Otherwise, [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f], or even [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] are beautiful as well!

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I’d honestly go with [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] and maybe leave [name_u]Willow[/name_u] for a potential baby sis (if you want more). Because even though you both like the name, I think these have more meaningful connections to you all. You can always wait and see how you feel when she arrives as well as when she actually arrives!

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[name_f]Daphne[/name_f] does seem a great choice for you - meaningful and lovely.

Could you do [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f]? [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] as a nod to your husband, your MIL (and FIL if he liked it too?)

Since it seems like you’re both very attached to your choices however, I’d also suggest taking a look into some new options, that you both might feel attached to?

A few other ideas: [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f], [name_f]Delphine[/name_f], [name_u]Romy[/name_u], [name_f]Vita[/name_f], [name_f]Amelie[/name_f], [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f]

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I agree with pp about doing [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f], that way both parties win and you can use [name_u]Willow[/name_u] for a future child (if you’re planning on having more)

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Congrats! Agreeing with others that [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] would be a beautiful and meaningful compromise!

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[name_f]Daphne[/name_f], definitely. [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] is great.

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Huge congratulations :tada:

I love [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] she’s gorgeous! [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] feels warm, cosy, outdoorsy and has lovely imagery attached. [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] is a favourite of both mine and my partners so I do really like this name.

[name_f]Daphne[/name_f] has massively grown on me and she’s now firmly made it on my list of favourite names. [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] is elegant, has great literacy ties and feels timeless.

I actually think [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] is a great name for a baby born on the cusp of autumn but then I’m a lover of autumn so for me this would be a plus :maple_leaf:
But then I appreciate that for others it maybe a bit on the nose which I get. Also with [name_u]Willow[/name_u] the name is a little descriptive.

I think go with [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u]! [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] honours to your family and [name_u]Willow[/name_u] honours his which is lovely. I think the name sounds classic, bright with a whimsical bohemian flair. She’s lovely. Would you consider two middle names? Maybe [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] or [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] could be pretty! Yes the middle names are descriptive but I think they are beautiful.

Wishing you all the best :sparkles:

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From the perspective of someone in the southern hemisphere, [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] is absolutely fine for an [name_u]August[/name_u] or [name_u]September[/name_u] baby (because here, [name_u]August[/name_u] is the end of winter and [name_u]September[/name_u] the start of spring). I’d be charmed to meet an [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] who was born at any time of year.

And also on the “n” ending - yes, it ends with n, but the sound is actually an m sound, so I don’t think it would tie you into a set of n ending kids.

Having said all that, [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] is a lovely name and sounds like it would be a great choice for you!

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I love [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] and agree with @OctaviaMay. [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] sounds too wordy. But [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] sounds good.

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i love both names but from the options given, daphne willow wins! it’s absolutely stunning, and i agree with others that autumn willow is just overly wordy to me. i do love daphne autumn, as it’s such a cute compromise!

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[name_f]Daphne[/name_f] - hands down !

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I think [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] is fine to use any time of the year! I know an [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] born in [name_u]October[/name_u] and another one born in the spring and it was never a big deal. That being said, if you prefer to go with [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] but don’t want the initials AWK or having two words (Autumn + Willow) in one name, I’d suggest [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] or [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] as other people have said as well. But between [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] and [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u], I prefer [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u].

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Another vote for [name_f]Daphne[/name_f]. [name_f]Beautiful[/name_f], rich with meaning, and not so wordy.

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I like [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] better with [name_u]Willow[/name_u] and in general so that gets my vote but [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] is also nice.

I agree with others, [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u], [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] or [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] Daphne…but not [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u].

Not to be too essentialistic but I can imagine why your husband might not be too sure about [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] or at least might be surer about [name_f]Autumn[/name_f]. [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] is a name that will really hit its stride form the tweens - whereas [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] is a name from birth (and I think it peaks in young adulthood). I really like both names - [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] is closer to my style (smart, tailored and spunky) but [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] is very pretty!

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I prefer [name_f]Daphne[/name_f]. [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] is too wordy with [name_u]Willow[/name_u], plus [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] gives me a romantic, dainty and somehow mythological vibe.

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Both names are so lovely but I think my vote goes to [name_f]Daphne[/name_f]!

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I agree with the others, [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] and save [name_u]Willow[/name_u] for later. :two_hearts:

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