We have a daughter named [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] and love her name, which is connected to family. Now expecting in a few months and not sure what to call baby if it’s a girl! Have narrowed it down to four:
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]- We would pronounce Vy-uh-la. Like this but worried it would be a pronunciation headache and regularly confused with the more popular [name_f]Violet[/name_f] and [name_f]Isla[/name_f].
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]- my current favourite. Problem? I realised that this is my Mother’s boss’ name. While it’s not a total negative association, I feel weird choosing it now. But I still love the name. Any tales of name associations not being a big deal to soothe me? Thanks!
[name_f]Constance[/name_f]- a family name and lovely, though sounds serious to me. [name_u]Connie[/name_u] is sweet but just doesn’t sound right in my mouth.
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]- honouring my Dad’s Scandinavian heritage. Another lovely name but also sounds a bit harder than the other names, and of course the recent jokes on The Office (ass-turd, “assie”) don’t help win me over either!
Any other suggestions are welcome, but I feel that I have checked every name in the baby name universe! Thanks for help with above!
I vote for both [name_f]Iris[/name_f] and [name_f]Viola[/name_f].
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] because it’s a classic, beautiful and equal measures bold, delicate and strong, at least to me. It’s nickname proof which for me is a plus (although you could go for Rissy or something of the sort). You could never go wrong with this one, in spelling or in how it is pronounced, it will also never get old.
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]… hmm. This one I am partial about because it’s my daughter’s name and she is six years old. I think that it’s very difficult to confuse the way [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is spelled. It’s an instrument, you can say it “starts just like [name_f]Violet[/name_f]” and also you have [name_f]Viola[/name_f] [name_m]Davis[/name_m] at her prime with HTGAWM, Fences and The Help, so I believe that people might be more familiar with the name than ever. We honestly have never had problems and compliments are many My concern is that the pronunciation you seek to use is different than the mainstream one. I use the V(eye)-OH-lah pronunciation. [name_m]Just[/name_m] as [name_f]Iris[/name_f], I think [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is strong, bold and delicate, but also add to that some spunk. It’s a timeless and unique name that deserves to be used more for new generations of women.
I would keep the lovely [name_f]Constance[/name_f] for a middle name. She sounds especially elegant and beautiful with [name_f]Viola[/name_f].
Thanks so much@oh my darling! So good to hear from a mom of [name_f]Viola[/name_f]! I actually like both pronunciations- Vy-Oh-La and Vy-Uh-La… BUT our last name is like [name_m]Dolan[/name_m] with an N instead of a D, so it would sound super sing-songy- “Vy-Oh-La Noh-lan.” You’re right though, we would be using the less common pronunciation, so thank you for highlighting this and especially with [name_f]Viola[/name_f] [name_m]Davis[/name_m] etc makes an alternate pronunciation even more difficult. [name_u]Love[/name_u] the feedback about [name_f]Iris[/name_f], definitely helps me feel better about it. [name_m]Just[/name_m] hope my Mom wouldn’t react badly or think its odd!
I like [name_f]Iris[/name_f] and [name_f]Viola[/name_f], and agree that [name_f]Constance[/name_f] is nice as a middle name but heavy as a first. Not a huge fan of [name_f]Astrid[/name_f]. Can you ask your mom about using [name_f]Iris[/name_f]? It’s my favorite, but I could see it being annoying for her to brag about her granddaughter and have people hearing her boss’s name.
Other suggestions, though they probably don’t beat your options:
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Briony[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
[name_f]Delia[/name_f]
[name_f]Estella[/name_f]
[name_f]Esther[/name_f]
[name_u]June[/name_u]
[name_f]Laurel[/name_f]
[name_f]Verity[/name_f]
I think [name_f]Viola[/name_f] or [name_f]Iris[/name_f] would both go best with [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]. They’re all vintage names that are also nature names, without being too matchy.
I think [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] is a lovely name, but doesn’t go at all with [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]. I simply dislike [name_f]Constance[/name_f].
All beautiful, but I think I agree about [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] being “harder”. It doesn’t have the same gentle, vintage vibe of the others to me, though it’s a gorgeous name.
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] goes beautifully with [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], and I really don’t think it’s a big deal that it’s the name of your mother’s boss. If that’s your favourite, I’d look no further quite honestly. There’s also the similar-sounding [name_f]Eris[/name_f] - the meaning isn’t the best, but it’s a lovely name.
[name_f]Constance[/name_f] is wonderful. It does sound serious, but in a sweet, vintage sort of a way. On a slightly lighter note, [name_f]Corinne[/name_f] could still give you nn [name_u]Connie[/name_u]? Or how about [name_f]Florence[/name_f] nn [name_f]Flossie[/name_f] or [name_f]Florrie[/name_f]? Or [name_f]Anstice[/name_f] nn [name_f]Annie[/name_f]?
[name_f]Viola[/name_f] is also gorgeous, but I think your concerns re pronunciation are valid. I personally like it enough that those concerns wouldn’t stop me from using it, but if you’re not so sure then I’d go with one of your other options.
I love [name_f]Iris[/name_f] and [name_f]Viola[/name_f] with [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]! I like [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] and [name_f]Constance[/name_f] too but it sounds like you’re not as drawn to those or potential teasing is holding you back. [name_f]Viola[/name_f] [name_f]Constance[/name_f] would be pretty though.
I like both [name_f]Iris[/name_f] and [name_f]Viola[/name_f] for you but I would choose [name_f]Iris[/name_f]. Your mom’s boss is far enough removed from you that it shouldn’t matter and [name_f]Iris[/name_f] is a common enough name that it wouldn’t be weird to know another [name_f]Iris[/name_f]. After your [name_f]Iris[/name_f] is born, she will become THE [name_f]Iris[/name_f] in your Mom’s world!
I love [name_f]Viola[/name_f] (both pronunciations), but I think [name_f]Iris[/name_f] goes best with [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]. If your last name has a strong O sound, I’d say that’s a slight strike against [name_f]Viola[/name_f], even with the [name_f]Violet[/name_f]-style pronunciation.
[name_f]Pearl[/name_f] and [name_f]Iris[/name_f] are great together because they’re both vintage word names, but because one is a precious stone and the other a flower, they’re not too matchy.
And I wouldn’t be worried about it being the name of your mother’s boss! I have the same name as my mother’s old boss, and it’s never been weird or a problem.
@Sarah1800- This is good advice- maybe I should ask my Mom- BUT I am so afraid she will have a not-so-great reaction! She didn’t immediately love [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]- more stunned surprise, but now she LOVES the name. So, I am hoping that once it is decided, she will learn to love it, whereas if I ask her now when it is hypothetical, she will be more dismissive of it and send me back to the drawing board! Thanks a mil.
@[name_f]Katinka[/name_f]- [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Florence[/name_f] as well! Was thinking nickname [name_f]Flora[/name_f]. Thing is my hubby is Irish, and [name_f]Florence[/name_f] is more typically used in [name_f]England[/name_f]. PLUS- [name_f]Flora[/name_f] is a popular brand of margarine and there were a few rude “spread” jokes about girls named [name_f]Flora[/name_f], so he has a negative association with it- hence it is now off the list Still love it though! Thanks for reassurance about [name_f]Iris[/name_f]!
@Cactusgram- I agree [name_f]Viola[/name_f] [name_f]Constance[/name_f] is gorgeous! And also that [name_f]Constance[/name_f] does make a great middle name, as some berries have noted here! Thing is, we are using Irish Gaelic middle names for all our kids to honour their father’s heritage- and likely will use a Gaelic version of [name_f]Bridget[/name_f]/[name_f]Bree[/name_f] for this baby if it is a girl to honour a recently deceased relative. I worry less about middle name and flow right now because the middle spot is more about family significance for us. Getting the first name right is definitely my priority at the moment! Thanks a mil.
@WhiteGardenia- love this advice and really hoping you’re right- once baby is born she would be The [name_f]Iris[/name_f] in my Mom’s life. Thanks so much!
@Geeknaezyo- amazing to here from someone who was named the same name as their Mom’s boss- ha! [name_u]Love[/name_u] hearing this and that it is no big deal. And I agree, I love how [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] and [name_f]Iris[/name_f] go together, too.
@islandmoon- I agree that [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] and [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] are a bit of a mismatch! It’s hard because deep down I would love to have four children so I am worried about fencing myself in too much with style- so I am trying not to think about sibling coordination TOO much. One of my favourite quotes on these forums was someone who stated roughly “they are individual people, not matching Samsonite suitcases” in response to people talking about sibling coordination. It stuck with me- though in all honesty I kind of prefer to keep somewhat similar style or at least some sort of connection between the names! The other thing is that our boy name options are currently very Scandinavian- my husband and I both like that style and my Dad has Scandinavian heritage so I think we would go that direction. But often people’s girl style and boy style are different, so maybe it’s not as relevant.
I really like [name_f]Viola[/name_f] and [name_f]Iris[/name_f], and I think they would both sound great with [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]. [name_f]Constance[/name_f] isn’t my style but I think it’s a fine name and has some nice historical and literary connections. I like [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] in Norwegian but can’t warm to the English pronunciation.
@araminty- thanks for the input! Think my husband and I are down to [name_f]Iris[/name_f] and [name_f]Viola[/name_f] now as the final contenders!
@lumen- [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] with Norwegian pronunciation is lovely- a bit softer for sure (“astree” right?).
Thanks so much lovely berries. Think my husband and I are now down to [name_f]Viola[/name_f] and [name_f]Iris[/name_f], I am leaning toward [name_f]Iris[/name_f] but he may be right in the middle. 15 weeks until due date so hopefully will have it figured out by then!
I think [name_f]Iris[/name_f] sounds best with [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]. [name_f]Constance[/name_f] is ok. I am never sure if [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is VEE-ola or [name_f]VI[/name_f]-ola, so i prefer [name_f]Violet[/name_f].
@jems16- Thanks! It’s definitely my front runner, too.
@madaris- The main issue for me with [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is pronunciation- especially as Ohmydarling pointed out we would be using the less common pronunciation of Vy-uh-la, when most people are familiar with Vy-Oh-la or the instrument pronunciation Vee-oh-la. [name_f]Violet[/name_f] is gorgeous as well but my good friend used it for her baby (not living near us but still feel I would want to be slightly different from friend. This happened with another frontrunner for us- [name_f]Esmee[/name_f]! Our good friends had a baby girl and chose [name_f]Esme[/name_f], so now that’s off the list.
My concern is that the pronunciation you seek to use is different than the mainstream one. I use the V(eye)-OH-lah pronunciation. [name_m]Just[/name_m] as [name_f]Iris[/name_f], I think [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is strong, bold and delicate, but also add to that some spunk. It’s a timeless and unique name that deserves to be used more for new generations of women.