— to honor helen and mary 🧶

[emeraldsea]

hi friends! 🪿

a bit of a fun one today… well, i think it’s fun. dh and i are trying to close in on a name for baby if they are a girl.

my husband is now very insistent on having part of her name be in honor of his grandma mary. he’s usually a very go-with-the-flow kind of guy, so i know this is important to him, and i’m totally on board. mary and her variants are ever so lovely!

i have a little bit of a “checklist” myself, for our daughter’s name, and that includes naming her in honor of my great grandma, helen, who was born ella. my husband is very supportive, and we love the idea of our daughter being named for two strong, loving women.

so if i gave the choice to you, dear berries, how would you honor mary and ella “helen”?

ideas we’ve had 🧺

adella mary
eliora marigold
eliora mary
lenora mary
marigold helen

[tallemaja]

If I was combining the names, I’d do [name_f]Marilena[/name_f]! It’s a very common smoosh name where I’m from, combining [name_f]Maria[/name_f] and [name_f]Eleni[/name_f]. [name_m]Or[/name_m] [name_f]Maristella[/name_f] – one of my favourite names, with the [name_f]Mari[/name_f]- sound and -ella ending! And if I was honouring them with two different names, I’d do [name_f]Mariam[/name_f] [name_f]Halina[/name_f]!

[name_f][/name_f]

For you, I’d maybe suggest [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f], [name_f]Leni[/name_f] / [name_f]Lainey[/name_f], [name_f]Eliana[/name_f], [name_f]Helena[/name_f], [name_f]Marceline[/name_f], [name_f]Marina[/name_f], [name_f]Marley[/name_f], [name_f]Marlowe[/name_f], [name_f]Luciana[/name_f], [name_f]Marietta[/name_f], [name_f]Mireille[/name_f]!

[kachenka]

[name_f]Lovely[/name_f] list. I would choose [name_f]Mariella[/name_f] as the middle name and go with whatever name you want up front.

[emeraldsea]

oh, i love eleni, rosemary, and marlowe

[name_f][/name_f]

thank you! 🫶🏼

[emeraldsea]

mariella is beautiful, and one we hadn’t thought of! thank you for responding

[seawillow]

To honor [name_f]Ella[/name_f] “Helen” and [name_f]Mary[/name_f], how about:

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Arabella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marilla[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marlene[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]Maery
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Ellory[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Maelle[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Ellamae[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]Arielle/Ariella

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f]

[name_f][/name_f]

Not sure I quite nailed it, sorry! But hopefully something perhaps inspires.

[Indilee]

I like your [name_f]Adella[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f] & [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] [name_f]Helen[/name_f]! Both great honour ideas. I think the previous suggestion of [name_f]Mariella[/name_f] is very intuitive as well.

[name_f][/name_f]

To honour both with one name, [name_f]Maren[/name_f] came to mind first. Other “smoosh” names that may work: [name_f]Maryella[/name_f], [name_f]Marielle[/name_f], [name_f]Hallie[/name_f], [name_m]Harley[/name_m], [name_f]Merry[/name_f] or [name_f]Miren[/name_f]?

[name_f][/name_f]

I also like using names with same meanings as a means to honour. If there are names that look dissimilar below, they probably share meanings with the names being honoured!

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Hallie[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Ellie[/name_f] [name_f]Marigold[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Adella[/name_f] [name_f]Merry[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] [name_f]Helen[/name_f] / [name_f]Leni[/name_f] [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Lucia[/name_f] [name_f]Maren[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mara[/name_f] [name_f]Lucille[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marigold[/name_f] [name_f]Faye[/name_f]

[ashthedreamer]

Oh I love [name_f]Adella[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f] & [name_f]Eliora[/name_f] [name_f]Marigold[/name_f]! [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Lenora[/name_f] is beautiful, too, although I prefer the [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] spelling.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Mariella[/name_f] was my first idea; I grew up with one so it feels familiar to me, but I think it or [name_f]Marielle[/name_f] would make a nice middle. [name_f][/name_f] I would maybe play with [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], too [name_f][/name_f]- I like that “mel” combines the sounds of [name_f]Ella[/name_f] and [name_f]Mary[/name_f], maybe something like [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f] or [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] [name_f]Maria[/name_f]? [name_f][/name_f] I agree that [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] is a beautiful option, too, or maybe anything ending in -len like [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] or [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f]? [name_f][/name_f] You could opt for [name_f]Leni[/name_f] as a nn if you wanted, and both are easily paired with a [name_f]Mary[/name_f] name. [name_f][/name_f] I would hesitate with [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] [name_f]Marie[/name_f], though, just because it’s so close to [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Magdalene[/name_f] in [name_f]French[/name_f] (although I love [name_f]Maria[/name_f] [name_f]Maddalena[/name_f] so I’m not sure that’s any better lol!).

[name_f][/name_f]

Maybe [name_f]Maren[/name_f] or [name_f]Merryn[/name_f], or [name_f]Maris[/name_f] [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] or [name_f]Eliana[/name_f] [name_f]Margot[/name_f]? [name_f][/name_f] There are so many lovely options with [name_f]El[/name_f] and [name_f]Mar[/name_f] to play with, it’s hard to know where to go because the options could be endless!

[name_f][/name_f]

Good luck!

[shells15]

The first name that came to mind honors both… [name_f]Marlena[/name_f]. [name_m]Or[/name_m] you could go with [name_m]Marlen[/name_m], which works for a boy or girl, or [name_f]Marlene[/name_f].

[tori101]

Ahhh so sweet!

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]My[/name_f] first thought was [name_f]Lenora[/name_f] [name_f]Mariella[/name_f]

[name_f][/name_f]

I absolutely love the name [name_f]Lenora[/name_f] she’s warm, unexpected, vintage, charming, has a pretty melodic sound, has the lovely meaning light and honestly [name_f][/name_f] I now completely associate with you. Regarding your honour names you’re so blessed you have such delightful family names! I love the idea of combining [name_f]Mary[/name_f] + [name_f]Ella[/name_f] together as others have suggested and going with [name_f]Mariella[/name_f]. Honestly [name_f]Mariella[/name_f] is such a pretty, elegant, ballerina name with so many lovely meanings associated with her. Furthermore [name_f]Mariella[/name_f] really does honour both grandmothers perfectly. I love the melodic sound of [name_f]Lenora[/name_f] [name_f]Mariella[/name_f].

[name_f][/name_f]

Looking at your list I do really love the strength of [name_f]Adella[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f] she’s very elegant, stoic and pretty with a laid back vintage flair. I love [name_f]Lenora[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f] she’s just delightful and I canny give enough praise for this one.
[name_f][/name_f]Finally [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] [name_f]Helen[/name_f] is such a joyful name that provides a fun bohemian flair. Concerning [name_f]Eliora[/name_f] she is pretty but doesn’t feel very you[name_f][/name_f] I just cannot envision [name_f]Eliora[/name_f] for your Midwest cowgirl.

[name_f][/name_f]

Wishing you all the best on [name_f]Monday[/name_f]

[em73]

Ella-Mae
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Marie[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mariella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Maryellen[/name_f]

[Grandidieramy]

I know a [name_f]Marielle[/name_f] and I think it is just a stunning name

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Love[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f] on her own, [name_f]Helen[/name_f] on her own, and of course [name_f]Marigold[/name_f]! [name_f]Marielle[/name_f] is a cool way to combine them both, and I love the softer ending of [name_f]Marielle[/name_f] compared to [name_f]Mariella[/name_f].

[Greyblue]

[name_f]Mary[/name_f] + [name_f]Ella[/name_f] ‘Helen’

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Lenora[/name_f] [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] / [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] [name_f]Lenora[/name_f] (Lenora inspired by Helen[name_f][/name_f] and [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] inspired by [name_f]Mary[/name_f] (from the beloved meaning and the [name_f]El[/name_f] of Ella)

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Maren[/name_f] [name_f]Estella[/name_f] (Maren from [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Estella[/name_f] inspired by [name_f]Ella[/name_f], but also ‘star of the sea’ connection to the virgin Mary?)

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Eleni[/name_f] [name_f]Marigold[/name_f]

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Marnie[/name_f] [name_f]Lenora[/name_f]

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Ellery[/name_f] [name_f]Marigold[/name_f]

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Maribeth[/name_f]

[kmdharrington]

I have both [name_f]Mary[/name_f] and [name_f]Helen[/name_f] on my own list, so I’d probably use [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Helen[/name_f] or maybe [name_f]Helen[/name_f] [name_f]Maria[/name_f]. But as you’re asking, I’m assuming that that isn’t what you’re after. [name_f][/name_f] I personally find [name_f]Mary[/name_f] to be freshest when used as a first name.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Marie[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Maria[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Mariah[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Elena[/name_f] [name_f]Maris[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Eliana[/name_f] [name_f]Maisie[/name_f]

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Maura[/name_f] / [name_f]Moira[/name_f] / [name_f]Mara[/name_f] (all are pronounced slightly differently. suggested because you like the -ora names)
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Elka[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mariama[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Lena[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Ellery[/name_f] (the beginning of [name_f]Ella[/name_f] with the ending of Mary)
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Malia[/name_f]

[emeraldsea]

so many wonderful ideas here. been off my phone as we’re having family visit for the holidays, but thank you all for your help!

[Estrela]

So many wonderful ideas so far!
[name_f][/name_f]I would probably go with [name_f]Mariella[/name_f] or [name_f]Mirabella[/name_f] as an honor name for [name_f]Helen[/name_f] / [name_f]Ella[/name_f] and [name_f]Mary[/name_f]. However, there are dozens of gorgeous ideas to honor your loved ones.

[name_f][/name_f]

Names to honor [name_f]Ella[/name_f] / [name_f]Helen[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “light, torch”:
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Aella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Antonella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Bethel[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Celestina[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Della[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Elaine[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Elanor[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Eloise[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Elva[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Estelle[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Ethel[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Fenella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Gabriella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Graziella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Halle[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Halo[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Helia[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]Heliodora
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Lenka[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Luella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Michelle[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Noella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Philomela[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Rachel[/name_f] / [name_f]Rachelle[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Rafaella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Rosabella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Rosella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Selena[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Stella[/name_f]

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Belphoebe[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “beautiful shining one”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Bertha[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “bright”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Chiara[/name_f], [name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “clear, bright”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Clarice[/name_f], [name_f]Clarisse[/name_f], [name_f]Clarissa[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- same as above
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Claribel[/name_f], [name_f]Claribella[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “bright and beautiful”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Clarity[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]Idril [name_f][/name_f]- “sparkle brilliance”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Iluminata[/name_f], [name_f]Iluminada[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “illuminated, brightened, filled with light”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Iskra[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “sparkle”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Leocadia[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “bright, clear, white”
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Lior[/name_m], [name_f]Liora[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “my light”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Lucasta[/name_f], [name_f]Lucetta[/name_f], [name_f]Lucinda[/name_f], [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], Lucilia, [name_f]Lux[/name_f], [name_f]Luz[/name_f], [name_f]Luzia[/name_f], [name_f]Lumina[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “light”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Niamh[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “bright”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Noor[/name_f], [name_f]Nour[/name_f], [name_f]Nora[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “light”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Nuray[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “bright moon”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Ora[/name_f], [name_m]Ori[/name_m], [name_f]Orit[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “light”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Roberta[/name_f], [name_m]Robin[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- “bright fame”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Phaedra[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “bright”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “radiant, bright, shining”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Roxana[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “bright, shining”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Shirley[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “bright clearing”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Sorcha[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “radiant, bright”
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Sol[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- “sun”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Sunniva[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “sun gift”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Sunny[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Sunshine[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Theia[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- goddess of light, glittering and glory
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Zahra[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “shining, brilliant, bright”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Ziva[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “bright, radiant”

[name_f][/name_f]

Names to honor [name_f]Mary[/name_f]:
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Amara[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Amarantha[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Arya[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Carys[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Dagmar[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Damaris[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Darya[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]January[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Kamaria[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marcia[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marciana[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marcy[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Margalit[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Margaret[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Margareta[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Margery[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mariama[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mariana[/name_f] / [name_f]Marianna[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marianne[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marika[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marilyn[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marisa[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mariska[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marjorie[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Martha[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Martina[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mercy[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Samara[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Tamara[/name_f]

[name_f][/name_f]

Combining both names (some may be a bit of a stretch):
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “to sparkle”
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Bellamy[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Ellary[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Elma[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Hilary[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] / [name_f]Madalena[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Maira[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f][/name_f] “sparkle, gleam, flash”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Manuella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marcelina[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marcella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Maribella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]Marinella
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marisol[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Maristela[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marlena[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marvel[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Meghan[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mirabella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mirella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Muriel[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- “bright sea”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Thelma[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]Wilhelmina

[name_f][/name_f]

I’m sorry for repeats!

[aylacoggins]

[name_f]Lenora[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]sounds perfect and so precious!

[Ehrob1]

From your options I like [name_f]Adella[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]. I think it has the closest similarity to [name_f]Helen[/name_f] and [name_f]Mary[/name_f]

[name_f][/name_f]

I also think
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marielle[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Ella[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marlene[/name_f]

[Maria_Bennett]

[name_f]My[/name_f] favorite of your ideas are:
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Lenora[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f]- I love the simple elegance and country feel to this combo!
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Adella[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f]- I prefer [name_f]Adela[/name_f] over [name_f]Adella[/name_f], it’s such a lovely and sophisticated name! [name_f]Mary[/name_f] is sweet, humble, and unexpected in the middle name spot.
[name_f][/name_f]I also like [name_f]Eliora[/name_f], it’s mystical, yet beautiful at the same time. I second the suggestions of [name_f]Mariella[/name_f] /Marielle and [name_f]Marilla[/name_f].

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Elaine[/name_f] (Marigold [name_f]Elaine[/name_f], [name_f]Mary[/name_f] Elaine)
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Marigold[/name_f], [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Helene[/name_f] (Marigold Helene)
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Elena[/name_f]- (Elena Marigold)
[name_f][/name_f]Elin/Elen
[name_f][/name_f]Maren/Maryn (Mary + Helen)
[name_f][/name_f]Maya/Marya

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I love [name_f]Adella[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f], and really love [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Adella[/name_f] “Adella”.