See the results of this poll: Sound or Meaning | Valencia or Petra?
Respondents: 70 (This poll is closed)
- Sound : 48 (38%)
- Meaning : 12 (10%)
- Valencia : 42 (34%)
- Petra: 23 (18%)
I’m biased. [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] is among my favourite names ever. Maybe you could do [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] [name_f]Petra[/name_f] instead?
In the end, I will always prefer sound over meaning, as sound is the actual name that the child has to use in their day to day life, whereas meaning is hidden untill further explained. That is not to say that I don’t value the meaning names can have, but if I had to pick sound would be my choice.
I would also choose [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] over [name_f]Petra[/name_f] as I personally find it so much nicer! It sounds nicer, looks nicer and sits much nicer next to sister [name_f]Athena[/name_f].
I can’t imagine being named [name_f]Petra[/name_f] when my sister’s name was [name_f]Athena[/name_f]! It really just doesn’t compare. [name_f]Athena[/name_f] is such a beautiful name and [name_f]Petra[/name_f] just makes me think of a cranky old lady.
On the other hand, [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] is just as beautiful as [name_f]Athena[/name_f]!
Best of luck to you! [name_m]Tobias[/name_m], [name_f]Athena[/name_f] and [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] would make a beautful sibset 
I think you answered your own question just from reading your descriptions of the names, it sounds like [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] is definitely the name for you! I know it seems like [name_f]Petra[/name_f] should be it, maybe because I think we sometimes unknowingly put pressure on ourselves to have a reason, a legit reason, for liking a name. Go with the name you love to say.
For me, I’m really finding that sound matters more to me. It used to be different. I used to have combos that were exclusively based on meaning. I came to realize that I would be miserable having to say those names everyday. When I go to say my kid’s name, I want it to bring a smile to my face.
I strongly prefer [name_f]Petra[/name_f]! [name_f]Lovely[/name_f], grounded sound that I think matches [name_f]Athena[/name_f] very well. [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] is not really my favorite.
I agree with others that sound is more important. Most of the people your daughter will encounter–or never encounter but who may nonetheless form an impression of her based on her name (e.g., potential employers)–will never be privy to the meaning of her name. I think the middle name slot is a good place for a name whose meaning is significant but whose sound is less appealing to you.
In my opinion, you’re going to be saying her name more than you are going to be thinking of the meaning, so I personally think sound is more important!
I agree with everything @heidicara said. As you know, I love [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] and I’m going to throw in my vote for her again :). I personally don’t think [name_f]Petra[/name_f] has the same magic as [name_f]Athena[/name_f], while [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] does.
Regarding sound vs meaning: I would choose sound, unless the meaning if very blatant. For example, if you didn’t care for Greek mythology or what the goddess represents, [name_f]Athena[/name_f] would have an odd choice. But by choosing [name_f]Athena[/name_f], I assume you loved the meaning in addition to its sound, since the name is so inseparable from the figure it denotes. [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] on the other hand, while being a relatively recognizable place name, feels more sound oriented to me. The name is full, flowing, and decisive all at once. I don’t immediately think of the place (despite having many connections with Spain) and my first reaction to hearing it on someone is about how lovely it sounds.
Regarding your [name_f]Petra[/name_f] reasoning: I would say that naming a person after good memories of a specific moment in time can get dicey. Saying “[name_f]Petra[/name_f], eat your vegetables!” and “[name_f]Petra[/name_f], no hitting!” 10 times a day may ruin a bit of the magic of those memories you have of the place since the word will be associated with this new little person rather than with the other members of your family with whom you shared those experiences. [name_m]Just[/name_m] a thought.
I’m sure you’ve already considered the possibility of [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] [name_f]Petra[/name_f] but I think it would be fabulous! At the end of the day, you should choose the name that makes you genuinely smile when you say it, the one you know in your gut that you’d “miss” the most if you couldn’t use it. From the way you wrote your post, it seems like you have a lot of reasons for choosing [name_f]Petra[/name_f], but it also seems that [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] feels emotionally and aesthetically right for you.
Best of luck regardless, they’re both great choices!
I feel like you talked yourself out of [name_f]Petra[/name_f] yourself in your post, so [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] definitely seems to me to be the name to go with. The meaning is nice, sure, but ultimately, the sound is what you, she and others are going to hear constantly, so I think that means more overall. [name_f]Petra[/name_f] is nice though - do you have any ideas for middles, as [name_f]Petra[/name_f] could work (ie [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] [name_f]Evie[/name_f] [name_f]Petra[/name_f]).
I love the sound and meaning of [name_f]Valencia[/name_f]. She’s one of my favourites, although I have no connection to the place either. I would definitely choose [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] over [name_f]Petra[/name_f], and I think it does sound like you prefer her. Plus you would be using the name everyday, so I think you should want to and enjoy saying it daily. Maybe you could work [name_f]Petra[/name_f] into the combo or use another important name.
Ditto to @heidicara’s comments. Definitely [name_f]Valencia[/name_f]!
I personally prefer [name_f]Petra[/name_f] in sound, though I think both have great, strong meanings. I do think it sounds better with [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] and [name_f]Athena[/name_f], but again, I’m not hugely into [name_f]Valencia[/name_f]. I do like [name_f]Valentina[/name_f], but that rhymes with [name_f]Athena[/name_f] so I assume it’s a no way.
I am meaning-over-sound person, but not as a hard and fast rule, because if I truly hated the sound then I wouldn’t consider it anyway. More like, a decent sound and a great meaning would be good for me, but a great sound but unfortunate meaning/bad association would be off the table.
However, it feels like you do love [name_f]Valencia[/name_f], and you seem to love the idea of [name_f]Petra[/name_f] but not the name itself. I really would recommend going with the name you love. Plus, it does have a good meaning and is objectively a very pretty name and can stand next the the sibling names well.
My personal favourite is [name_f]Petra[/name_f], but reading your post I believe you should go with [name_f]Valencia[/name_f]. You say yourself that this is the name you want to be saying over and over again, and in the end that’s the most important thing about a name. Because you are going to say your child’s name over and over again. If the name has a special meaning to you, that’s a great bonus, but it’s not the meaning you’ll be pronouncing multiple times a day.
Wow, thank you for so many lovely responses!
I have wondered about [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] [name_f]Petra[/name_f], I usually like to try and have different endings otherwise it usually feels like it doesn’t flow too well, we would use a second middle name though, so maybe, depending on what it was it would could make the name work well, I’ll have to think about it. My other worry with [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] [name_f]Petra[/name_f] is that they’re both place names, is it daft to use two place names?
That is very true, the majority of people she’ll come across in life won’t have any idea what the meaning of her name is, but the sound is always there!
Hahaha I cracked up a bit at your description of [name_f]Petra[/name_f]! I can’t say that I personally see a cranky old lady, but I do get the feeling that it’s more serious, whereas [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] is more whimsical and fun.
Thank you so much 
Yes, reading it back I can see what you mean. And you summed it up perfectly, while it seems like [name_f]Petra[/name_f] should be the name, [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] is the one I love to say. I think part of the reason I feel so much pressure that it should be [name_f]Petra[/name_f] (other than the reasons you gave) is that I know for a fact that my mum absolutely loves [name_f]Petra[/name_f], and doesn’t really like [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] which makes it hard as I really value my mum’s opinion.
It’s funny how much we change, even in name tastes isn’t it? But I completely agree, you’ll be using the name hundreds of times a day, it needs to be one you love to say, and not one you’re going to get bored of after the first week!
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] is lovely, and does sound good with [name_f]Athena[/name_f]
You raise a very good point, and as you say the middle spots are a great place to put meaningful names!
That is very true!
I always love reading your comments! And we seem to have such similar taste and feelings about names that it really helps me to feel more secure in how I actually feel rather than worrying so much about how I think I ought to feel.
Hmm I hadn’t thought about possibly ruining a bit of the magic of memories with using a name so closely tied to them, I kinda thought it would heighten them, but I can see where you’re coming from with that. It would be kinda perfect if I could use [name_f]Petra[/name_f] as a middle name, thus getting the meaning but being able to use the name I love saying, but I thought it might be a bit silly using two place names, what do you think?
[name_m]Reading[/name_m] it back, I can definitely see what you mean! I just can’t help but gush about [name_f]Valencia[/name_f]!
[name_f]Valencia[/name_f] [name_f]Evie[/name_f] [name_f]Petra[/name_f] is beautiful, and as so many have mentioned using [name_f]Petra[/name_f] as a middle I’m really warming to the idea, I had worried that two place names would be too much, but nobody seems to be even mentioning that. We would probably use a [name_m]French[/name_m] middle name along with [name_f]Petra[/name_f] to go with our other two kids names though.
It’s so lovely to hear so many people love [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] too. After I first mentioned it to mum and she really didn’t like it I was put off worrying that I was the minority and most people didn’t like it as a name, it’s so reassuring to hear that may not be the case!
I’m definitely going to look into trying to work [name_f]Petra[/name_f] into a combo as a middle for [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] after so many people have suggested it!
She did speak a lot of sense!
[name_f]Valentina[/name_f] is lovely, but yes, as it rhymes with [name_f]Athena[/name_f] it kinda crosses it off. We seem to have a think for -ina/-ena endings though, there’s a lot that we really like, but it would just sound like her and [name_f]Athena[/name_f] are twins, and not in a cute way.
I understand that completely, we really liked Katara until we found out it means “curse” in Greek, and while we still like it, there’s no way we could ever use it for a baby (maybe for a pet though!)
And you’re right, I love the idea of [name_f]Petra[/name_f], but I’m just not sure I’d love saying it constantly the way I do with [name_u]Toby[/name_u] and [name_f]Athena[/name_f]
Yes, you’re right I won’t be saying the meaning all day! Thank you!
I prefer the sound of [name_f]Petra[/name_f]. I also much prefer a name to have meaning then a name to be just really beautiful. Obviously I wouldn’t choose a name that I hated the sound of that I found very meaningful, but if I find it meaningful and I like the sound… Which it sounds like you like [name_f]Petra[/name_f], then that would be the name for me. My reasoning is, I believe children are way more likely to like their name if there is a good story behind why you chose that name. They likely will not just think that the sound of their name is as beautiful as you think the sound is. Because they will have heard it their whole life and it will have lost it’s allure. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] that makes sense!
I do love the sound of [name_f]Valencia[/name_f]. I don’t put as much pressure on meaning because I feel the child makes the name meaningful. So then it sounds beautiful AND it will have meaning.
W/regard to using two place names…at least here in the US, [name_f]Petra[/name_f] isn’t a place that many/most people are aware of, so I don’t think most people would associate the name [name_f]Petra[/name_f] w/a place.
I’ve been to [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] in Spain and so I can’t get past the pronunciation how they say it there - sounds like “ba len thia”. So it’s [name_f]Petra[/name_f] all the way for me! I think it sounds lovely and it’s great that you’ve been there as well!