Hello! We are expecting baby #3 (our first girl!) this spring. We have three names and we love all three. Our two boys are [name_m]Bud[/name_m] (short for [name_m]Bradford[/name_m], he’s the 4th) and [name_m]Henry[/name_m]. For the purpose of this post, our last name is very short, one syllable and ends with “ax”. I have concerns with each girl name that we have…
[name_f]Freya[/name_f] - my 4 year old insists this is the baby’s name. ;o) But I’m concerned it doesn’t go with our boys’ names. Also, we come from a very Midwestern, meat and potatoes family and I’m worried it won’t be well received.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - love this name but not really a fan of any of the nicknames that come with it. I can try to insist everyone call her [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] but I know people will shorten it. ([name_u]Jo[/name_u] was my nickname growing up even though it’s completely unrelated to my name, but it’s kind of a way to name her after myself). This name is around #160, but it seems to be sitting around tang point so I’m hoping it doesn’t get super popular very quickly.
[name_f]Eloise[/name_f] - also love this name and we have lots of [name_m]Louis[/name_m], [name_f]Louise[/name_f] and [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]'s in our tree so it has a family connection. But it sounds a little to girly for me. Super “pink”. My kids can be whatever they want when they grow up, but I havea hard time picturing a president [name_f]Eloise[/name_f]. ;o) But I love all the nicknames that come with [name_f]Eloise[/name_f](specifically Lola because my grandma was Dolores). I guess I feel the name suits a little girl better than it suits a grown up (even though it is very elegant). I think this name is #338 but it jumps up very high every year and I’m worried it will also become super popular.
I have a designated middle name for each, so I don’t need help there. And I want to save whatever we don’t use for a potential fourth child, so I don’t want to combine them either. I just really need feedback! We don’t share names until the bay is born so we haven’t been able to ask anyone for their thoughts. [name_f]TIA[/name_f]!!
[name_m]Hi[/name_m]! These are three of my all time favorite names.
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]. Absolutely beautiful name and I think it goes with your boys’ names. I personally don’t think it’s too “out there” but I’m really not sure how it would be received where you live. For what it’s worth, one of my best friends has a [name_f]Freya[/name_f] and she lives in a very small religious, conservative community. The name has never been an issue for her.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. It’s elegant, regal yet quirky, and definitely goes with your other kids.
[name_f]Eloise[/name_f]. Also gorgeous. I actually think this would age really well and people would take her seriously as she grows up. She may risk being just another [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] though, not that that’s necessarily a bad thing.
[name_f]Freya[/name_f] - this is very pretty, and it does sound exotic but for some reason I can see it translating just fine in the Midwest. I think its the similarity to names like [name_f]Frida[/name_f], which make it seem almost old fashioned and more familiar. I think [name_m]Bradford[/name_m] ([name_m]Bud[/name_m]), [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_f]Freya[/name_f] sound nice together.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - this is my favorite of your three choices. It’s tough if you don’t like any of the nicknames. I just think it’s a nice strong but feminine name. It’s not overly feminine like you feel [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] is, I can definitely see a President [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Eloise[/name_f] - a very pretty name, I think it would grow up well, and she has a lot of nickname options too. I think [name_m]Bradford[/name_m], [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] sound nice together as well.
As to [name_f]Freya[/name_f]: it’s not uncommon for people to have different naming preferences for boys than for girls, and to me [name_f]Freya[/name_f] is a bit more offbeat than [name_m]Bud[/name_m]/[name_m]Bradford[/name_m] and [name_m]Henry[/name_m] but not really far out there. And even if it’s unfamiliar to your family, it’s a fairly short name that you can easily look and and know how to pronounce - the [name_f]Freja[/name_f] spelling might be trickier, but [name_f]Freya[/name_f] looks pretty straightforward. Also, full disclosure: I have quite a soft spot for siblings insisting that their unborn siblings are named anything in particular, especially when it’s an actual usable name that you love, which if I were you might tip the scales toward it. Plus, if your family doesn’t like it, you can totally blame your four-year-old for choosing it! (Kidding… sort of…)
I will say that of the three names, to me [name_f]Freya[/name_f] feels the least girly and thus the most versatile in terms of who I can picture with that name. It would suit a boisterous girl or a shy girl, an athletic girl or a bookish girl, a sweet girl or a sassy girl (or obviously a less-extreme-in-any-direction girl).
I agree that people are pretty likely to shorten [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], and I think that’s mostly because it has some really well-established nicknames rather than because it’s too long (lots of Carolines don’t get nicknamed, and they have the same number of syllables). I love that it would subtly honour you.
I see what you mean about [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] feeling really girly. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you feel the same way about [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]? Or maybe just [name_u]Lou[/name_u] as a middle name? I don’t personally have trouble picturing a President [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] _ax, but [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] has always had this sort of old-school strict headmistress vibe to it to me, so I can picture someone quite powerful with it.
Also, [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] isn’t crazy-popular, but it might be a name that feels popular when you consider all of the Ellas, Ellies, Eleanors and then [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]/as, [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]/as, etc.
Hello,
Out of your three favorites, I love [name_f]Freya[/name_f]. I think it’s a beautiful, almost enchanting name with a vintage feel. I like [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]- it was one of the first names we looked at for our daughter. If you don’t like the nicknames, though, I think you’ll have a hard time with this one. Like you said, most people will instinctively shorten it to ‘[name_u]Jo[/name_u]’ or ‘[name_u]Josie[/name_u]’. You could try telling them you like her full first name, but most people will have a hard time sticking to and respecting that. [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] is a sweet name and, while I love the nicknames, I have to agree with you that it’s not exactly the first name you think of when imagining a female president. If you like ‘[name_f]El[/name_f]’ names and want one that would probably be taken seriously, you could go with something like [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Eleonora[/name_f], or [name_f]Helena[/name_f] (you could still call her ‘[name_f]El[/name_f]’) but those are just suggestions.
Overall, I think that [name_f]Freya[/name_f] might work best for you even if some of the people in your community don’t like the name very much, though, like I said, it’s a beautiful name! Good luck choosing a name and congratulations!
I like the suggestion of [name_f]Louise[/name_f]. To me, it ages a bit better and is a bit less girly than [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] (although I love that too.) [name_m]Bud[/name_m], [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_f]Louise[/name_f] sound like a vintage set. I also really like [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] for you and I think you can just either pick a nn you do approve of or continue to insist on the full name until she chooses her own nn. As for [name_f]Freya[/name_f], I can see how it might seem ‘out-there’ but it’s a name that’s quickly becoming mainstream. Usually names hit the UK first and then make their way across the pond (it’s #19 there.) I can see your [name_f]Freya[/name_f] being the first [name_f]Freya[/name_f] your family meets, but in 5yrs time, it’ll be as familiar as [name_f]Emily[/name_f].
All such lovely choices. Are you trying to pick one before you meet her or can you take all three to the birth? Perhaps she’ll let you know what fits best.
With my boys I knew their names before they were born and my husband and I loved being able to call the baby by name. Which is why it’s killing me that we haven’t actually chosen one yet. But we have discussed just waiting until she is born to decide. It wouldn’t be the worst thing. We sometimes call her by all three names at random to see if one feels right. Lol But it hasn’t seemed to help. We love them all.
Have you considered [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] as opposed to [name_f]Eloise[/name_f]? It’s definitely less girly, and you would still have the option of [name_f]Lola[/name_f]. And I think it goes really well with your sons’ names!
I like [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] a lot, but [name_f]Freya[/name_f] is not my style. I also know a [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] who has always gone by that, no nicknames at all. I think if you’re insistent, people will respect that.
Sorry but I don’t think [name_f]Freya[/name_f] fits very well with the boys style
On the other hand [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] are both PERFECT with the southern gentlemen vibe your boys names are giving (btw is [name_m]Conrad[/name_m] or [name_u]August[/name_u] on your list for future boys? It’s what i thought of immediately when I saw your boys names)
I think if the two [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is my favourite, it’s so classic yet still interesting. I think I could imagine many different types of girl with this name and she won’t be one of many in her class.
Some other suggestions to think about:
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] with the nn [name_u]Romy[/name_u]
[name_f]Luella[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]- the nn of [name_f]Ada[/name_f] for this is really cute
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Faye[/name_f]
All 3 are lovely, but I’d go with [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. I love the nn [name_u]Josie[/name_u] and you could also use Phina (which has similarities to [name_f]Freya[/name_f]).
[name_f]Freya[/name_f] is beautiful, but seems like a different family than [name_m]Bud[/name_m]/[name_m]Bradford[/name_m] and [name_m]Henry[/name_m].
Thanks, everyone! You’ve all made me see these names in different ways. Which makes the decision even harder! Lol I really appreciate all the feedback. It actually helps a lot. :o)
I love all three names!
Have you thought about Sephy as a nickname for [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]?
I have found that people tend to emulate you and wont tend to shorten it if you always say [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. That, and when she’s older she’ll more than likely tell people off for shortening it My sister used to, and I still do! My daughter [name_f]Brianna[/name_f] now goes by [name_f]Anna[/name_f] at her own insistence. I think if you like the name, you’ll be happy with how your daughter wears and shapes it.
[name_f]Freya[/name_f] is a gorgeous name, and its so cute that your son likes it.
[name_f]Eloise[/name_f] feels more feminine, but I can’t shake off how well it goes with [name_m]Bud[/name_m] and [name_m]Henry[/name_m].
[name_f]Eloise[/name_f] is the best of the 3. Funny that you find it young. [name_u]Seven[/name_u] years ago when I met a baby [name_f]Eloise[/name_f], everyone thought it was a dusty grandma name that was awful for a child. It hadn’t been in the top 1000 for decades and most people only knew grown women named [name_f]Eloise[/name_f]. Then [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] shot up the charts and now feels totally normal on a little girl.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is my 2nd favorite. For a nn, I like [name_u]Joss[/name_u], Phi/Fi, Zef/[name_u]Zephyr[/name_u], or Pep/Peppa
I haven’t read all the posts, but has [name_f]Eloisa[/name_f] come up as a suggestion? It reads as somewhat more mature that [name_f]Eloise[/name_f], but has the [name_f]Lola[/name_f]/[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] family connections as well. [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and [name_f]Freya[/name_f] are also lovely, of course.
My sister used to, and I still do! My daughter [name_f]Brianna[/name_f] now goes by [name_f]Anna[/name_f] at her own insistence. I think if you like the name, you’ll be happy with how your daughter wears and shapes it.