I am due in [name_f]April[/name_f], and am looking for feedback on our top two girl names, [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] and [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]. We have a two-year old daughter. Her first name is [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]. Her middle name is [name_f]Elise[/name_f].
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] was the runner-up when our first daughter was born. Now, my favorite is [name_f]Susannah[/name_f]. I still like [name_f]Louisa[/name_f], but think that [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] goes better with [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]. My husband likes [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] better and is afraid people would use the nickname “[name_f]Sue[/name_f],” but likes the nicknames [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f] and [name_f]Annie[/name_f] and is not completely opposed to [name_f]Susannah[/name_f].
If we go with [name_f]Susannah[/name_f], our top middle name is [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u], after my grandfather, but we are open to other middles. Her nickname will be either [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f], after my all-time favorite movie, or [name_f]Annie[/name_f]. If we go with [name_f]Louisa[/name_f], her middle name will likely be [name_f]Therese[/name_f], after my grandmother. Her nickname will be [name_m]Louie[/name_m]. Our last name begins with D.
I appreciate any and all feedback, and especially ranking of:
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] and [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] are both absolutely lovely! I prefer [name_f]Susannah[/name_f], it’s one of my absolute favorites! I prefer the nickname [name_f]Annie[/name_f] to [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f], but they’re both adorable. You could also consider [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] as a nickname! I really like your current middle name options, [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] is a really nice balance of classic and modern. [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] [name_f]Therese[/name_f] has a really nice rhythm.
I have to say I love all three of these names. They are on my short short list! Have you had good feedback with [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]?
I too love [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] but don’t [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Sue[/name_f] or [name_f]Susie[/name_f]. I’ve been told that you can’t control nicknames as a child ages so you kind of have to be okay with the most common nicknames. I don’t totally buy that, but also have heard stories of parents that lost control of the nickname at some point, and it was a problem. I’m on the fence about whether this should dissuade me from a favorite name. if you love [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] and get to call her [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f] does it matter if others chose to call her [name_f]Sue[/name_f]?
To avoid the [name_f]Sue[/name_f] or [name_f]Susie[/name_f] nickname how about [name_f]Savannah[/name_f]? I prefer [name_f]Savannah[/name_f] over [name_f]Susannah[/name_f]. Also, I don’t really like [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] as a middle name, but I think [name_f]Lorraine[/name_f] would be pretty for a girl. [name_f]Savannah[/name_f] [name_f]Lorraine[/name_f] or [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_f]Lorraine[/name_f] Also, I really like [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] but I wouldn’t use [name_m]Louie[/name_m] as a nickname, more like [name_u]Lisa[/name_u] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] [name_f]Lorraine[/name_f] pretty!
Thanks!! We have received good feedback with [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]. When people comment, it is positively – Usually people who say they had a grandmother, aunt, etc. named [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] and they love the name. Also, so far, she has only ever been called [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] even though we are not entirely opposed to certain nicknames.
I am not super concerned about the “[name_f]Sue[/name_f]” thing. I think these days, with all of the name diversity, people (at least adults) are less likely to assume a nickname for someone and more likely to be respectful of what people want to be called. I also think children who are born today, who will likely not have any peers called [name_f]Sue[/name_f] and even know very few “moms” named [name_f]Sue[/name_f], aren’t as likely to instinctively think “[name_f]Sue[/name_f]” for [name_f]Susannah[/name_f]. I especially don’t think it will be a problem if we call her [name_f]Annie[/name_f]. I also don’t mind “[name_f]Susie[/name_f].”
If it really bothers my husband though, and/or I get negative feedback to that effect from our immediate family, it may tip the scales in favor of [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] for me. I just like [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] better with [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f], especially the [name_f]Lily[/name_f] (for [name_f]Susannah[/name_f]) and [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] (for [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]) connection.
I love [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] - would you consider [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]? You kind of get the best of both with that, as well as not having to worry about rhymey [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]…
I think you can use both [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f] & [name_f]Annie[/name_f] as nicknames - I have two nicknames
[name_f]Zuzu[/name_f] is so great! Have you thought about [name_f]Sanne[/name_f] (or [name_f]Sanna[/name_f], pronounced the same). [name_f]Sanne[/name_f] is a variation of [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] and I think you could still make the connection to [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f]. [name_f]Sanne[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] is perfection, especially with [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f]. Both are international and yet traditional.
For me, [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] is more of an American name while [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] (my Scottish Grandmother’s name and my [name_m]French[/name_m] Aunt’s middle name!) is very much European. I’ve never met a [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] in Europe, but I’ve known several Suzannes and even one [name_f]Suzette[/name_f] (all nn’ed [name_f]Suzie[/name_f]). In [name_f]Canada[/name_f], I knew one [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] who was Jewish and always went by the full [name_f]Susannah[/name_f].
[name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] and [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] have similar weight and balance, and they are close in mood (both musical sounding). Plus they are both familiar enough to know but surprising to hear. I just don’t think they are the same style. I think [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] are better together.
[name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] and [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] look and sound just beautiful together. I truly love them as siblings!
I totally agree with what you said about people assuming [name_f]Sue[/name_f] or [name_f]Susie[/name_f] as a nickname. Kids today won’t have that connection and people will not just assume a nickname. Have you considered [name_f]Zanna[/name_f] as a nickname instead? Maybe your husband would like that? That’s my personal favorite. Otherwise, I like [name_f]Annie[/name_f]. [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f] is cute in theory because of the movie, but I don’t necessarily think it’s a nickname a teenage girl or adult would like to use. Maybe it could just be your special nickname for her just from you.
Have you ruled out [name_f]Therese[/name_f] as a first name, or [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] for the A ending and similarity to [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]? Theres_ [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] or [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]/[name_f]Therese[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] (although I prefer the rhythm of [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]). [name_m]Even[/name_m] [name_f]Therese[/name_f] [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] or other combos.
I agree that [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] and [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] seem a bit opposed in feel, but they’d be a fine mix and match.
Also, I really like [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] but I wouldn’t use [name_m]Louie[/name_m] as a nickname, more like [name_u]Lisa[/name_u] 