As much as I loved names before I was pregnant, I’m totally feeling uninspired now that I’m pregnant. Last night, dh and I were talking names and I mentioned that I’m actuallyseriously thinking about [name]Elizabeth[/name] just because it’s the name which requires me to make the least amount of decision/commitment. It has so many nn possibilities and it’s soooo common in history, that there’s no way it will be the wrong choice. Except that it probably is the wrong choice because I’m using it as a scape-goat name and I have fears that I would regret it in the future.
But then I suggested maybe a rather fun whimsical middle name to balance it - and threw out my ultimate favorite, but kind of scared of what people will think name - [name]Sparrow[/name]. To which, my husband says that he infinitely prefers [name]Sparrow[/name] as a first name over [name]Elizabeth[/name] and we should just go with that.
Hold. The. Phone. What? This is like my wildest dreams feeling like a real possibility and the first time I’ve felt excited about a name since I found out I was pregnant (that’s what 2 years of fertility treatments do to a lady). This morning, I asked if he was serious about it and he was like “yeah, that’s the girl name, now you have to decide on a boy.”
Thinking over it -
Nature name that is a bit unisex - love that. I’m not into really frilly - princessy names
Has the modern -o sound at the end which makes me think she would fit in with all the [name]Milo[/name], [name]Marlow[/name], [name]Harlow[/name], [name]Arlo[/name], [name]Leo[/name], Junos, etc. I love the way it sounds. It’s great with our last name, which is one syllable and starts with an S. I like the alliteration. Plus I like that it sounds modern, but also a little gothic, and word names always remind me of quirky Victorian names like [name]Jubilee[/name]. It seems to fit a lot of the different styles I like.
I have an aunt [name]Robin[/name] and a (passed) uncle [name]Starling[/name]. Plus cousins named [name]Sailor[/name], [name]Memphis[/name], and [name]Storm[/name]. I think my family will roll with it. They all seem like well adjusted kids. I just don’t buy the premise that unusual names in this day and age destine a child to ridicule - the one person [name]IRL[/name] I mentioned this name to suggested that they would be teased by being called other bird names, she said. I don’t see that as a huge concern - yes it’s more uncommon than some other nature names, but logically no different than naming someone [name]Heather[/name] or [name]Robin[/name].
With a traditional mn: [name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]June[/name], [name]Katherine[/name]? I think it gives it nice balance.
I know it’s a love it or hate it name. I know not everyone is going to gush over it. But I definitely love it. I do think I would more regret going with a safe name than going with something a little more daring.
My non-inspiring list otherwise has shaped up:
[name]Ingrid[/name]
[name]June[/name] - [name]Juniper[/name] sounds better with my last name
[name]Coraline[/name]
[name]Elizabeth[/name] - maybe [name]Eliza[/name]
What do you think? Have a sufficiently talked you into liking this name as much as I do? Lol. But really, am I crazy?
I very much like [name]Sparrow[/name], and I think you’re wise to pair it with a traditional middle name. I think [name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] is breathtaking.
As for the teasing factor, I don’t see a huge potential. Kids will be cruel with whatever ammo they can find/make up, but I don’t think [name]Sparrow[/name]'s enough for them to really have a go at her. [name]Sparrow[/name], like [name]Robin[/name], is a bird useable as a name. (You want to name her Ostrich? We’ll have to talk.)
I think [name]Sparrow[/name] is utterly perfect as a first name! [name]How[/name] lucky that your husband loves it as well!
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] is lovely, and a very thoughtful choice because if [name]Sparrow[/name] is too much for her at any point in her life, she has a traditional middle to fall back on.
Would you like more suggestions for middles or is [name]Elizabeth[/name] the [name]One[/name]?
So excited for you! Having an unusual word name approved by my partner for a first would just put me over the moon.
I’m sorry, I’m not a fan at all and think it sounds silly. But if you love it, that’s what matters right? I think the other names on your list are infinitely better than [name]Sparrow[/name], which not only sounds juvenile to me but also celebrity inspired.
I’m not trying to be mean, I’m just being honest. I’m not a “NMS” kind of girl.
I think in theory it sounds nice, but I’m not sure that I would use it, personally, only because it reminds me of a wheelbarrow. That’s not to say that I wouldn’t like it on someone else’s child.
However, my cousin is called [name]Birdie[/name] by everyone, and her name bears no relation to [name]Birdie[/name] at all. Literally, at all. If you wanted, as only a name nerd might, to use as many names on your list as possible, you could go with something like [name]June[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] (which I love) and then call her [name]Sparrow[/name] as a nickname. I know for many people nicknames must be intuitive to the actual name, but in my opinion, anything goes. So good luck - I’m sure whatever you pick will be beautiful.
I’m not set yet on a mn - I know I want something traditional and decidedly feminine. I do like more sophisticated rather than frilly in that category. I think a longer name works well since my ln is 1 syllable. [name]Katherine[/name] is a family name. [name]June[/name] I just love. And [name]Elizabeth[/name] sounds really good with it. But definitely open to suggestions
[name]Philomena[/name] - thanks for the honest feedback. I didn’t think you were being mean, and it is more helpful to me to hear why people don’t like the name than just dismissing it. The celebrity connection is unfortunate. I’m sure that’s what some people will think whether it’s true or not. I sort of disagree with the juvenile aspect, though I see where you’re coming from. To me, [name]Emily[/name], [name]Kylee[/name], [name]Molly[/name], [name]Zoey[/name] all sound more juvenile and cutesy to me. I guess that’s just personal taste.
I really like [name]Sparrow[/name]. I wouldn’t worry too much about her being teased because of her name. If anything, I think other kids will think it’s cool! The only concern I have is whether a [name]Sparrow[/name] would be taken seriously as an adult. But if you use a more traditional middle name, she could always go by S. [name]Elizabeth[/name] Lastname professionally. Or you could put [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Sparrow[/name] on the birth certificate and call her [name]Sparrow[/name], plenty of people go by their middle name.
I’m so in love with the idea of a little [name]Sparrow[/name] running around! Here are some more traditional, sophisticated, feminine middles:
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Charlotte[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Victoria[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Penelope[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Vivian[/name] (or [name]Vivienne[/name])
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Louisa[/name] (I am not a fan of the [name]Louise[/name]/[name]Louisa[/name]/[name]Eloise[/name] trend, but I have to admit that this one flows beautifully)
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Julia[/name] (since you love [name]June[/name])
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Margaret[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Virginia[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Miriam[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Celeste[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Lucia[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Eleanor[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Corinne[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Madeline[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Evelyn[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Juliet[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Anneliese[/name]
I love all of your options. I prefer [name]Eliza[/name] to [name]Elizabeth[/name], however. I secretly love [name]Sparrow[/name], too. So I say, go for it!
Why not? With a “safe” middle name, [name]Sparrow[/name] could work as a first name. I see other bird names thrown around on these forums all the time. That said, [name]Elizabeth[/name] is really boring in the middle spot. I would vastly prefer to see something more interesting like [name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Coraline[/name], [name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Eliza[/name], [name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Louisa[/name], [name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Julia[/name], or [name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Lucia[/name].
I think it would be fine, you could use [name]Ro[/name] or [name]Birdie[/name] as a nn and since it is your ultimate favourite and you both agree on it then why not?
Also, I love the fn/mn combinations of [name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Magnolia[/name] & [name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Josephine[/name].
I have an aunt [name]Robin[/name] and a (passed) uncle [name]Starling[/name]. Plus cousins named [name]Sailor[/name], [name]Memphis[/name], and [name]Storm[/name].
Until you got to the family names I was like no! But then I had read the family names and I was oh this is totally meant to be. [name]Starling[/name]! Never heard that one, but it seems especially daring as a boy’s name. Then there are unusual S names [name]Starling[/name], [name]Sailor[/name], and [name]Storm[/name] and [name]Sparrow[/name]! fits right in. I love it now.
I would use [name]Elizabeth[/name] as the middle how perfect.
Other girls names you might like are:
[name]Lark[/name]
Solace (with possible nn [name]Lacey[/name])
[name]Sunday[/name]
[name]Sibyl[/name]
[name]Sage[/name]
For boys I like
[name]Fargo[/name]
[name]Denver[/name]
[name]Dublin[/name]
[name]Roman[/name]
[name]Rhys[/name]
[name]Sawyer[/name]
[name]Stephan[/name]
[name]Ewan[/name]
[name]Eamon[/name]
[name]Ryder[/name]
[name]Elihu[/name]
Dill
[name]Griffin[/name]
Here is a link to a blog you might enjoy:
You are right that [name]Sparrow[/name] is a love it or hate name. That’s great that you feel that you could deal with other’s negative reactions, but your daughter is the one that is going to have to wear the name forever. I think it could be a tough name to wear, and I personally would not want to be named [name]Sparrow[/name]. But I do like the idea of using it as a nickname and/or a middle name. [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Sparrow[/name] is great, and you could call her either [name]Elizabeth[/name] or [name]Eliza[/name] officially and [name]Sparrow[/name] as a special family nickname. Also, [name]Ingrid[/name] jumped out at me from your other list…[name]Ingrid[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] would be fantastic!
Thanks for the great suggestions! I agree - [name]Louisa[/name] does flow really nicely! And I love the names in your signature - [name]Hawthorne[/name] was a name I’ve been thinking about for a boy. So handsome As it is, I think we’re leaning towards [name]Abram[/name], nn [name]Abe[/name] for a boy. But the good thing is we have like 5.5 more months to go.
Thanks! Oh I forgot I had a cousin [name]Sawyer[/name] too, lol. Until you pointed it out, I didn’t realize how many unusual S names we have. To be honest, I was always jealous of some of my other cousins who got more interesting names than me. My brother and I both got top 10 names for the year we were born.
I just ran [name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] by my younger brother, and he was “ehhh” on the [name]Elizabeth[/name] part but really liked [name]Sparrow[/name]. I feel like this is the one, but I have time to live with it to make sure.
september - I agree that it would be much less daring to use [name]Sparrow[/name] as a middle. I guess it’s a gamble either way if she will like it. I would have loved it as a kid and an adult. I’ve never loved my “normal” name. But my husband and I both work in a creative profession and I’m much more drawn to off-beat things in general. I have no idea what our kid is going to be like.
I’m half-hearted on [name]Ingrid[/name] right now, and I think my husband is even less excited about it. It’ll stay on the maybe list. Again, it seems like a love it or hate it name… must be my thing
As soon as I saw [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Sparrow[/name], I immediately thought of the film Pirates of the Caribbean. A mixture of [name]Elizabeth[/name] Swann and [name]Jack[/name] [name]Sparrow[/name]. Apparently it’s not that strong of an association for anyone else, but it really sticks out to me.
I like the suggestions of [name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Lucia[/name] and [name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Josephine[/name].
Wow - there are 5 of those movies!?? I had to go look it up because I think I saw the first one whenever it came out, but I didn’t remember the girl’s name was [name]Elizabeth[/name]. Yeah good point - that kind of makes me reconsider [name]Elizabeth[/name]. Hmm…
I [name]LOVE[/name] it, and I love that your husband loves it. Beautiful, sweet choice. For some reason the combo [name]Sparrow[/name] [name]Adelaide[/name] keeps rolling through my head as particularly beautiful and lyrical. Others:
As it is, I think we’re leaning towards [name]Abram[/name], nn [name]Abe[/name] for a boy. But the good thing is we have like 5.5 more months to go.