Hello Naming-friends!
I am looking for a name for our fourth child, who may-or-may-not be a girl (I’ve listed on the boy’s page too, gathering ideas!) - I like a surprise after the ordeal of labour!!! BUT I like to have a name for each gender ready to go!
But of course there are complications… that’s why I’m picking your brains!
My husband is fussy and traditional (as well as being loving and helpful and gorgeous!)
My surname ends with an “s” and I don’t like the sound of a first name and a last name both ending with “s” as it makes me feel like I’m lisping! (ok, I’m fussy too!)
I like longer names that have a variety of nickname potential (I think that stems from have a short name and no nicknames when I was growing up!)
Here are some names I have been thinking about (some have NOT been approved of by my husband!)
[name]Madeline[/name] ([name]Maddy[/name]) - but is it pronounced “[name]Madel[/name]-line” or “[name]Madel[/name]-lyn”? I’m unsure!
[name]Josephine[/name] ([name]Josie[/name], [name]Jo[/name] etc)
[name]Sophia[/name] ([name]Sophie[/name]) - this is my husband’s current name of choice
[name]Evelyn[/name] (Ev, [name]Evie[/name] etc)
[name]Way[/name]-out names I love but probably will never talk my husband into it:
[name]Sylvia[/name] ([name]Sylvie[/name], [name]Via[/name]). This is my top favourite at the moment. Was No. 1 for last baby, but when we were overdue - baby due any minute, my husband changed his mind on it, he thinks it’s too “old”. Luckily, baby number 3 was a boy, so did not have to come up with a mutually acceptable name within hours. We’ve got time now, do I try to find examples of how [name]Sylvia[/name] is a fabulous name or do we cross it off my list (sob sob)?
[name]Verena[/name]
[name]Marigold[/name]
Magdelina ([name]Maggie[/name])
[name]Imogen[/name]
I like that the names that we have all have some similar sounds (all have “a” and “l”). They do all start with vowels, but if I limit my choice to vowel-starting names, I’ll never find a name!!!
Oh wow, you have some good ones! [name]Gabriella[/name] I [name]LOVE[/name], my niece is [name]Gabriella[/name] and no matter how much you try to force other nicknames people will default to [name]Gabby[/name] and you will have to correct that, plus it’s close to [name]Abby[/name]. I too love [name]Sylvia[/name] but prefer [name]Sylvie[/name] nn but struggle with the same issues as you do. Some days I feel it’s classic, vintage, European princess name and other days I just get old lady out of style vibe from it! Magdelina I love, also love [name]Madelena[/name]/[name]Madelina[/name] sp? (pr Mad-ah-layn-ah), For [name]Essy[/name] nickname I like [name]Estella[/name] better than [name]Esther[/name] and it can go [name]Essie[/name], [name]Estee[/name], [name]Stella[/name]. Evenlyn I love and love [name]Evie[/name]. [name]Sophia[/name] is my name of choice too but my husband vetoed it. No matter how popular it is I never get sick of hearing it! [name]Love[/name] it. [name]Josephine[/name] I like, it’s a little older but Sephina/Sephine/Sephie is adorable nn. [name]Madeline[/name] I know of tons and [name]Maddie[/name] is VERY popular where I live. If you like [name]Olive[/name], there’s always [name]Olivia[/name] but I don’t know how close the association is for you but Livi is one of my favorite nicknames. Liviana is nice too.
[name]Madeline[/name] is pronounced Mad-eh-line and [name]Maddy[/name] might be too close to [name]Abi[/name]
I;m not fond of [name]Josephine[/name] or [name]Evelyn[/name]. [name]Sophia[/name] seems silly with a nickname
[name]Gabriella[/name] and [name]Esther[/name]'s nicknames are too close to your daughters
[name]Sylvia[/name] is lovely and I like the nickname liv and Vie
[name]Verena[/name], Magdelina, and [name]Imogen[/name] seems out of place with your other children
I immediately noticed the “A, I, A” pattern in the first letter of your other children’s names. So I am drawn to [name]Imogen[/name] right off the bat to continue the pattern, nicnkname [name]Immy[/name]! I know you said your husband is more traditional but it IS a name that dates way back so maybe that can convince him? I also would suggest [name]Ivy[/name] as a name that would go nicely with the feel and era of the other kids’ names. But I know this isn’t the long name you’re searching for. And now I’m obsessing over “I” only names and that’s not even a rule… so I am just going to stop! Ha, good luck to you!
Congratulations! Here’s my thoughts and suggestions.
[name]Madeline[/name]: This is pronounced with the -line ending. [name]Madeleine[/name] is the -lyn ending. I really like [name]Madeline[/name] or [name]Madeleine[/name] with your girls names, although I think the softer [name]Madeleine[/name] fits with [name]Abigail[/name] and [name]Isabel[/name].
[name]Josephine[/name]- Very vintage and stylish, but I don’t feel like it fits in with your kids names.
[name]Sophia[/name]- If popularity isn’t a problem for you, I love [name]Sophia[/name]! I think it’s elegant and gentle and [name]Sophie[/name] is adorable.
[name]Evelyn[/name]- I’ve always thought this sounded clunky. What about [name]Eve[/name] or [name]Eva[/name]?
[name]Gabriella[/name]- I think she could go by [name]Ella[/name] or [name]Ellie[/name] as well but I wouldn’t run the risk of having a [name]Gabby[/name] and an [name]Abi[/name].
[name]Esther[/name]- No other nickname possibility so I would scratch that off.
[name]Sylvia[/name]- I definitely think this is worth another look! [name]Sylvia[/name], [name]Isabel[/name], and [name]Alexander[/name] all match but [name]Abigail[/name]…not so much. However, I think [name]Sylvia[/name] is lovely.
[name]Verena[/name]- Doesn’t quite fit in with the rest.
[name]Marigold[/name]- Same problem.
Magdelina ([name]Maggie[/name])- I love [name]Maggie[/name], I’m pregnant with a [name]Margaret[/name]. Maybe you should consider [name]Margaret[/name], too? I think Magdelena is gorgeous though.
[name]Imogen[/name]- I think you’ll run into pronunciation problems.
I love [name]Sylvia[/name]. It’s a beautiful classic name that ages well and is timeless. I’m sorry you’re husband doesn’t agree.
[name]Gabriella[/name]'s nickname will default to [name]Gabby[/name], though [name]Ella[/name], [name]Bree[/name] and [name]Ellie[/name] are other options.
I wouldn’t do [name]Sophia[/name] if you live in the US. It was number one in 2011, sadly.
Good luck!