I’ve narrowed down my girls’ list from seven to four and keep going back and forth on which one of these I like the best. What do you all think of these names? The middle name will be my maiden name, which is long and British.
[name]Magdalena[/name] Li (nn [name]Maggie[/name] or [name]Lena[/name])
[name]Margaret[/name] Li (nn [name]Maggie[/name])
[name]Caroline[/name] Li (nn [name]Caro[/name])
[name]Vivian[/name] Li (nn [name]Viv[/name] or [name]Vivi[/name])
[name]Magdalena[/name] was my grandmother’s name… the rest are just names I like. I like the nickname [name]Maggie[/name], which is where [name]Margaret[/name] (the addition to my list) came from because my husband feels [name]Magdalena[/name] is too unusual and clunky. I feel like both are a little clunky, but I still like them… but [name]Caroline[/name] and [name]Vivian[/name] feel more elegant to me. I don’t know! I am having the worst time deciding.
These are all great names!
I love [name]Magdalena[/name]!
[name]Margaret[/name] does seem a good compromise with your husband though.
What about [name]Madeleine[/name]? I think you could still do [name]Lena[/name] with that spelling,
and [name]Maddie[/name] is close to [name]Maggie[/name], although I understand if you find it too
trendy.
The one thing I’ll say about [name]Vivian[/name] is that with your LN it evokes the
actress [name]Vivien[/name] [name]Leigh[/name]! That’s not a bad thing but just be sure you’re
OK with it. Like there might or might not be a lot of “oh like the
actress?” comments which could get old.
You could try it out on people and see what you get?
OR, since you’re having such a hard time, use this
as a reason to get rid of it?
You could dress up [name]Caroline[/name] as [name]Carolina[/name] a little bit,
to make it closer to [name]Magdalena[/name], a touch.
[name]Viviana[/name] Li might also give that little extra oomph,
and a little further distance from the actress.
[name]Magdalena[/name] is a family name for me too, I absolutely love it!! [name]Vivian[/name] is my other favorite, and I think they would make fantastic sisters if you ever have another girl… They both sound so glamorous, feminine and strong, without being too girly and frilly (to me anyway!)
The actress [name]Vivien[/name] [name]Leigh[/name] gives me a little bit of pause… I do like her as an actress though, and I am not sure how many people today really know her since her heyday way in the 30s/40s. I feel like even fewer people in the baby’s generation will know her. What do you think? [name]Do[/name] you all immediately think of [name]Vivien[/name] [name]Leigh[/name] and know who she is?
Also, which is better, the spelling [name]Vivian[/name] or [name]Vivien[/name]? I know the “e” is supposedly the female spelling and the “a” supposedly the male, but I think both are girls’ names today anyway. Which do you think is the more common spelling, the one that people will default to if they hear the name and try to spell it? (I think probably [name]Vivian[/name]?) I’d rather pick the one that will create the fewest spelling issues for the baby.
I thought of [name]Vivien[/name] [name]Leigh[/name], but likely only because I’m interested in history. I think since “Gone With the Wind” is considered such a classic, that the actress’ name will be known. But I doubt that it will be a big pop culture reference in the future. I honestly don’t think that many people will assume you named your daughter “for” the actress, but the association may be there. If you don’t mind, then it’s fine. My baby’s nickname is [name]Pippin[/name] and while we didn’t specifically name him for Tolkein, we think the connection is fun.
I think [name]Vivien[/name] is prettier, but I usually see [name]Vivian[/name] these days. Last year, the spelling [name]Vivian[/name] was ranked #154 on the Social Security list, while [name]Vivien[/name] hasn’t make the top 1000 in at least twelve years. [name]Vivienne[/name] ranked #383. So I would say [name]Vivian[/name] will be easier for your daughter.
All that aside, I really like [name]Magdalena[/name]. It was in serious consideration before we found out our baby was boy! [name]Vivian[/name] would be my second favorite from your list. I’m not a big fan of [name]Caroline[/name] personally, and while [name]Margaret[/name] is pretty, I really only like it as a path to nns [name]Maggie[/name] and [name]Meg[/name]. Since I like [name]Magdalena[/name] ever so much better and those nicknames still work, my preference is pretty obvious.
Are you wanting a name that would give you the nn [name]Maggie[/name], but [name]Magdalena[/name] and [name]Margaret[/name] are just too much? [name]How[/name] about shortening to [name]Magdalen[/name]? A shorter version of [name]Margaret[/name] for [name]Margo[/name]? [name]How[/name] about [name]Magnolia[/name] – it’s still pretty long but feels elegant to me?
Thanks for the feedback! I think I like the longer names because the last name is so short… I feel like it sounds more balanced, and even the nicknames for most of the names on the list have two syllables. I feel like two one-syllable names together sound too clippy, especially on a girl.
I keep hearing people say they like [name]Magdalena[/name], but not many of those people seem to have actually chosen it for their daughters. I am wondering if it’s one of those names people like in theory but then don’t actually use?
Also, do you guys see any obvious teasing potential with any of these names? I know that kids will tease over any name, but some have worse potential for that than others. I gave up on [name]Anna[/name] Li because someone pointed out it sounded too much like anally… I didn’t notice it until someone pointed it out, but afterward, it was all I heard!
My husband wants to use [name]Magdalena[/name] and he loves it so much. I might consider it. I would love to see this name used in real life, and if my husband can put up a convincing argument then I might use it. I do love it, and I haven’t had kids yet to use it on >.<
Someone on a different forum mentioned that “[name]Magdalena[/name] sounds a little too much like a big-breasted woman spilling out of her bodice on the cover of a romance novel.”
That isn’t the image I had of the name at all… I picture my great-grandmother and [name]Mary[/name] [name]Magdalene[/name], plus a student named [name]Magdalena[/name] who I used to teach (a very nice girl from Ghana). But maybe that’s just because I knew some Magdalenas?
When I hear [name]Magdalena[/name], I think of romantic, Victorian kind of women. I also think of the character in a book series I just read. She was the main reasons the “heros” survived as long as they did. She was intelligent, loving, and she basically had a pound in her house. I don’t picture what you said AT ALL.
I actually really like Magdelena even though its clunky, its really nice. Not so keen on Magaret though.
[name]Caroline[/name] & [name]Vivian[/name] are beautifully elegant. [name]Love[/name] these.
[name]How[/name] are you pronouncing [name]Magdalena[/name]… [name]Magda[/name]-leena or [name]Magda[/name]-[name]Laina[/name].
In any case [name]Magdalena[/name] is my favourite from your list and I think its lovely honouring your grandmother while still choosing a name that you love! I don’t think it’s clunky, especially if you are using a nn most of the time, [name]Maggie[/name] or [name]Lena[/name] are cute but sophisticated enough for a grown woman.
If I had to choose another it would be [name]Caroline[/name]…I just do not like [name]Caro[/name] as a nn, it sounds like you are just trying to find a way to shorten it without really thinking about it…but that’s just my opinion
[name]Polly[/name]
I was thinking [name]Mag[/name]-da-lay-nah as the pronunciation, which I thought flowed a little better and made “[name]Elena[/name]” a possible nickname. Which do you think is more common or that people would naturally say?
