[name]Hi[/name] Berries, I have asked before, and I may ask again, but I need help!
My husband and I are expecting first babe in [name]March[/name] and I just don’t know… Here are some names I like a lot (but having a hard time “LOVING”) and why/not. I’d love feedback/opinions on them and suggestions based off these. Thank you in advance!
[name]Don[/name]'t like common names, but also want something not kr8tive or hard to spell/pronounce.
Last name is Polish, starts with an S, ends with K
mn will be [name]Armstrong[/name]
No S names (don’t like the alliteration w last name), no G names (see below for initial problems!)
[name]Maren[/name] nn [name]Ren[/name] - have always liked it (previously considered spelling it [name]Marin[/name]). Like it much less now that DH has pointed out it is “like [name]Karen[/name] with an M” don’t like other spellings, and the pronunciation will still be the [name]Karen[/name] issue.
[name]Gemma[/name] - I love it but would give daughter initials GAS. [name]Don[/name]'t like [name]Jemma[/name].
[name]Thea[/name] - [name]Love[/name] [name]Althea[/name], but DH only likes [name]Thea[/name]. Downside is the multiple pronunciations. We like Thee-a.
[name]Lark[/name] / [name]Larkin[/name] - DH doesn’t like.
[name]Harper[/name] - used by cousin
[name]Portia[/name] - Hate that people might think it’s like the car rather than the [name]Shakespeare[/name].
Thanks so much for your input and other suggestions!
I like [name]Maren[/name] well enough. I don’t know what the “[name]Karen[/name] issue” is though.
I also don’t know how else anyone would pronounce [name]Thea[/name] other than Thee-uh so I can’t imagine you having any problems.
If you want another Shakepeare name other than [name]Portia[/name], [name]Viola[/name] is also a [name]Shakespeare[/name] name and has the same feel as [name]Portia[/name] to me. I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Viola[/name]
So to recap, I like these names from your list in this order:
[name]Thea[/name] (although if you choose [name]Viola[/name] it would be # 1)
Oh so hard! The only one of your names I see that has a fixable problem, and that you love, is [name]Gemma[/name]. You could give her a second middle name to break up the word, and voila! Perfect name. I like:
[name]Gemma[/name] [name]Isabel[/name] [name]Armstrong[/name] S___k
[name]Gemma[/name] [name]Evelyn[/name] [name]Armstrong[/name] S____k
[name]Gemma[/name] [name]Maren[/name] [name]Armstrong[/name] S____k
[name]Gemma[/name] [name]Lark[/name] [name]Armstrong[/name] S____k
[name]Gemma[/name] [name]Harper[/name] [name]Armstrong[/name] S____k
[name]Gemma[/name] [name]Olive[/name] [name]Armstrong[/name] S____k
[name]Gemma[/name] [name]Willow[/name] [name]Armstrong[/name] S____k
And you could switch [name]Armstrong[/name] to be the first, as well.
I think [name]Gemma[/name] is lovely and I really wouldn’t worry about the initial issue. [name]Thea[/name] is great too - I agree with the PP - there probably won’t be many pronunciation issues - most people will either say Tee-a or Thee-a - that’s not hard to correct at all.
I quite like the [name]Viola[/name] suggestion as well - I don’t like [name]Portia[/name] as a name quite as much, but since its spelled differently than the car ([name]Porsche[/name]), I doubt it will be a major issue.
I also like [name]Maren[/name]; what about [name]Mara[/name] as an alternative? I think its quite a nice name as well.
Let’s talk about the “[name]Karen[/name] issue.” Whenever I read [name]Maren[/name], I do not think of “[name]Karen[/name] with an ‘m’” at all. It’s a completely different name. If you [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Maren[/name]–I think it’s lovely–then I say you should go for it unless there is no way your husband can reconcile himself with it.
I second the thought of giving her two middle names. [name]Gemma[/name] is a gorgeous name!
If not, [name]Margot[/name] [name]Armstrong[/name] S_K sounds pretty to me. and [name]Margot[/name] means pearl, so its sticking with the “[name]Gem[/name]” thing.
What about something like [name]Piper[/name] to replace [name]Harper[/name]?
This is off the beaten path (for me and maybe for you. :p) What about [name]Collins[/name]? That was the daughters name in The Blind Side. [name]Collins[/name] [name]Armstrong[/name] S_K is kind of cool!
Instead of [name]Lark[/name], what about other bird names? [name]Bridget[/name] or [name]Bernadett[/name] can be nick named to [name]Birdie[/name]. There is also this entire list on the nameberry blog to choose from.
[name]Love[/name] maren! its a strong female name. my husband thought of it first and it was on our list before we found out we’re having a boy. i’ve never thought of the karen thing as its classic and distinct. only time i think of the swapped out first letter is when people “make up” modern names, like nevin yuk.
reagan and adrienne have a similar ‘feel.’
i also like the suggestion to add another mn to gemma if you love it.
Actually, when you said [name]Portia[/name], my neighbor and [name]Shakespeare[/name] came up, not the car. I like [name]Althea[/name], but [name]Thea[/name] is nice too.
If you are looking for another name that could give you the nn [name]Ren[/name] have you thought of [name]Florence[/name]? [name]Florence[/name] [name]Armstrong[/name] is so pretty! From your list [name]Thea[/name] is my favourite, Thee-a is the only way I’d think to pronounce it so I wouldnt let pronounciation issues sway you from choosing it. Good luck
I also know a [name]Katherine[/name] nn’d [name]Ren[/name]. Kind of cute! I like [name]Maren[/name], but I had never thought about it being [name]Karen[/name] with an M…that changes it a little for me. I still like it though. [name]Gemma[/name] is good; I have just finally decided to do a double mn for my daughter to be born this month. It was a long process for me to acceptance, but now I feel really good about it, after having read lots and lots about double mns online, esp on here. There are two good articles under Advice-Middle Names, on here. If you look at them, be sure and read the comments b/c there are so many positive ones by ppl who either have double mns or have given their kids double mns.
I like [name]Thea[/name] too (better than [name]Althea[/name], too), and your prn is the one I automatically thought. I bet it wouldn’t be too much of a problem. [name]Portia[/name] would prob drive you crazy, with the “masses” making car comments; I think it would drive me crazy anyway. I like [name]Harper[/name] and [name]Lark[/name] both.
You are over-thinking your name choices, they are all great! [name]Maren[/name] is my favorite, and it doesn’t make me think of [name]Karen[/name] at all. I also love [name]Thea[/name]. Good luck on your choice!
[name]Gemma[/name] is a gorgeous name!