I’ve always been a lover of baby names- and now that it’s time to actually start thinking about names for my own child- I’m completely lost on what direction to go in. I’ve always loved very very very classic names (see my signature). I’m adopting from Ethiopia and although some families do choose to keep their child’s name- many people rename their child as well. I plan to use my daughter’s Ethiopian name as her middle name most likely- so just need to choose a first name.
I know this sounds silly- but a lot of my favorite names feel very very Americanized to me. I’m fine with an American name as she’ll be an American the moment she lands at the JFK airport- but I just don’t see “[name_f]Frances[/name_f]” having enough of an Ethiopian flair for me.
So far the only name I like that I think is a good mix is [name_f]Veda[/name_f]- which I love- but want to have a bunch of options since I have been waiting for the naming process my entire life!!! Hah!
Also like Ada/Adah- I think that’s a nice choice too (Addie as a NN).
Ps. When one of my good friends was having a baby a few years ago- I was majorly pushing for [name_f]Veda[/name_f]. She loved it. She ended up having a little boy named [name_u]Ira[/name_u] instead. Now I just scanned over the forums and am seeing [name_f]Veda[/name_f] everywhere! YIKES! Is it suddenly super popular?
[name_f]Veda[/name_f] has definitely become more popular, but I’m pretty sure it’s not anywhere near the top 100 – probably not even the top 1000. Which means that’s a couple hundred babes given that name in the last year or so. You can always check here:
That said, who knows what it’ll do in the next five years. It’s pretty hard to say these days how naming trends will go.
I think I might be partially to blame for the [name_f]Veda[/name_f] appearances in the forum recently. I suggested it a few times because I love the name but a friend has recently used it and so it’s out for me.
So I vote for [name_f]Veda[/name_f]. There is also [name_f]Leda[/name_f]. Other’s will give you more suggestions I think, but this name has my heart.
Also love [name_f]Ada[/name_f], though I would say that’s more popular and more likened to the extremely popular [name_f]Ava[/name_f] – if popularity really is an issue for you. [name_f]Addie[/name_f] is becoming an extremely popular nn as well.
No Ethiopian name yet! Still in the process of waiting for a referral. Once you get the referral- you know the name, what she looks like, exact age, travel dates, etc.
Thanks for the details! [name_u]True[/name_u]- didn’t think about the fact that [name_f]Addie[/name_f] is getting kind of popular ([name_u]Addison[/name_u]). Too funny- I suggested [name_f]Veda[/name_f] on a bunch of recent threads too. Perhaps I’m to blame! I wish I liked [name_f]Vera[/name_f]- but it’s NMS oddly enough!
Ps. [name_m]Just[/name_m] looked [name_f]Ada[/name_f] up and SHOCKED to see it went from 253 to 45 in the last year. That’s a bad sign for a name- next [name_f]Ava[/name_f]!
I always loved it from The Poisonwood Bible by [name_f]Barbara[/name_f] Kingsolver (spelled [name_f]Adah[/name_f]).
Hmmm maybe not actually. [name_u]Baby[/name_u] Center said it was 253 for 2013 and 45 in 2014? [name_m]How[/name_m] would they know for 2014?! [name_m]Just[/name_m] a guess I suppose? That seems unrealistic.
Well then she might have an absolutely perfect Ethiopian name already. It’ll be exciting to find out. In which case [name_f]Veda[/name_f] would make a lovely middle name.
I have a couple friends who have adopted and all have chosen a new first name while keeping the chosen name as a middle.
Naming trends are pretty wild compared to previous generations. Seems like it wasn’t so much a worry in years past to go for a top 100 name. Is there a name that relates to your heritage or has significance where you’re from that speaks to you? might be a neat way to honor her origins as well as her new beginnings.
Well my entire family (all women in my family) have the middle name [name_u]Jean[/name_u]- which I’m not a big fan of- but I’ll probably use it anyway. Most of the Amharic names that babies are given are really not to my liking I hate to say- but if I love what her name is already- of course I would consider keeping it. I’ll probably do the double middle name approach in this circumstance even though I’m not usually huge on two middle names. My last name rhymes with [name_u]Dell[/name_u] so it would sound something like this:
(I used a random Ethiopian girls name that is kind of representative of the type of name she might have.)
Something along those lines! [name_m]Just[/name_m] need to figure out that perfect first name. Fortunately with the adoption process- you have plenty of time to decide. I’ll probably end up overthinking it and ending up more confused than ever once I receive her referral!
Also Ethiopia is a country with a lot of [name_m]Christian[/name_m] roots- so I would consider a very [name_m]Christian[/name_m] name too- even though I’m more spiritual than [name_m]Christian[/name_m].
One truly multicultural name that I really love is [name_f]Amara[/name_f]… It has ties and beautiful meanings in many cultures including African. It is a form of [name_f]Mary[/name_f] in some countries. I think a classic name like [name_f]Mary[/name_f] or [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] could work too but I personally would probably go for something truly multicultural like [name_f]Amara[/name_f]…
What about going with one of your very classic names and coming up with a cute nick name? There’s so much more personality/ variety available with different nicknames that could be adorable.
[name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] Bezawit [name_u]Dell[/name_u] (another rhyme & to use your sub names)
with nickname [name_f]Mimi[/name_f] or Mimzie or [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] or [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] or [name_f]Polly[/name_f]
And my favorite from your signature list: [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] Bezawit [name_u]Dell[/name_u]- no nickname needed, and it even sounds adorable with [name_u]Jean[/name_u] “[name_f]Hattie[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u]”- very old school cute. You don’t have to go “international” on your name choice if you don’t want to- go with what you like and what she looks like!
[name_f]Veda[/name_f] is a very beautiful name, as well, so if you love it, go for it! Also the spelling [name_f]Vada[/name_f], like in My Girl.
I love love love [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] as well- I just can’t decide if I should consider it considering a good friend of mine just had a [name_f]Hadassah[/name_f] (Haddy). She’s not local- but we’re still quite close.
Thank you for your great suggestions! I really love them. And it makes me want to hold onto my love for very traditional names.
Wow, how exciting! I love the suggestions from keelyelise; I like [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] too, and I think your naming tastes are great, I’m glad you’re going to hold onto your passion for very classic names.
Of all the names mentioned, my favourite is [name_f]Veda[/name_f]. I know you don’t like [name_f]Vera[/name_f], but is [name_f]Vivia[/name_f] your style? It reminds me a little of [name_f]Veda[/name_f].
All the best with your name brain-storming (name-storming?) and keep us posted!
[name_f]Ada[/name_f] is actually at #487. [name_f]Veda[/name_f] isn’t even in the top 1000. [name_u]Baby[/name_u] Center’s statistics aren’t based off of actual births. Stick to the SSA list.
[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t look at [name_u]Baby[/name_u] Center stats for an accurate idea of popularity - they’re based off of votes on the site, not actual facts or government lists.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] a thought as you mentioned you like the name [name_f]Ada[/name_f]…
[name_f]Aida[/name_f] (pronounced ah-ee-dah) was the name of an Ethiopian [name_f]Princess[/name_f] in Guiseppe [name_u]Verdi[/name_u]'s opera of the same name.
Would love suggestions!
Still in the process of waiting for a referral. Once you get the referral- you know the name, what she looks like, exact age, travel dates, etc.