We’ve had two names in mind for a while now, but both have problems and we’re uncertain about them. We need some outside perspective!
We know we want the middle name to be [name]Sophia[/name] (after my grandmother), and I’ll use the last name Stapley here for reference (not actual last name but close). In general, we’re going for “romantic” names that aren’t too popular.
Name 1: [name]Aurora[/name] Why we like it
Pretty name, princess name, like the meaning, like the possibility of using nickname “[name]Rory[/name]”. Problems
Initials - [name]Aurora[/name] [name]Sophia[/name] Stapley = ASS = not good. Workarounds are to give two middle names (e.g. [name]Aurora[/name] [name]Lyla[/name] [name]Sophia[/name] Stapley), add something to [name]Sophia[/name] (e.g. [name]Aurora[/name] AnnaSophia Stapley), use a weird spelling of the middle name (e.g. [name]Aurora[/name] Zophia Stapley), or call her by her middle name (e.g. [name]Sophia[/name] [name]Aurora[/name] Stapley).
Pronunciation - With all the Rs, it can be a little difficult to say [name]Aurora[/name].
Popularity - On the rise, almost in the top 100, and worried now that Sleeping Beauty is on Once Upon a Time as well (though possibly the [name]Aurora[/name], CO shooting will prevent too much growth)
Name 2: [name]Melisande[/name] (pronounced mel-eh-sahnd) Why we like it
Romantic name, unusual, princess name (Flight of Dragons movie), [name]Melisande[/name] [name]Sophia[/name] Stapley sound pretty good Problems
Pronunciation - No one will ever know how to pronounce or spell the name since it’s French.
Obscurity - it may just be too strange, and we don’t want her growing up regretting her name
Lack of nickname - we can’t think of any good nicknames other than “[name]Mel[/name]” that we like. I feel a cute nickname is very important to have as an option while she is growing up.
What does everyone think about the names and the problems? Should we stick with these or go back to the drawing board? Thanks!
I’d go with [name]Melisande[/name]. It’s not that hard to figure out the pronunciation at all, and there is a character on Game of Thrones with a similar name “[name]Melisandre[/name]” so there is some air of familiarity with the name.
I can completely see [name]Melisa[/name]/[name]Melissa[/name] being used a nickname, as well as [name]Mel[/name], [name]Lissa[/name]/[name]Lyssa[/name], [name]Sandy[/name], [name]Andie[/name], [name]Ellie[/name], [name]Em[/name]. There are a lot of nicknames to choose from.
[name]Melisande[/name] is uncommon but on obscure imo, it’s so close to the formerly popular [name]Melissa[/name], I’m sure your daughter won’t regret her name for that.
And if she really dislikes [name]Melisande[/name] and all nicknames because it’s too obscure, then there’s the very popular [name]Sophia[/name] she has in the middle.
[name]Aurora[/name] is lovely, but with ASS initials and the hassle to make it work, I’d skip it.
I will suggest one name though, [name]Alessandra[/name]. I feel like it’s right in the middle for your two names, and it’s also my ultimately favourite name ever so I might be a bit biased.
I can never say [name]Aurora[/name] without sounding like my mouth is full of marshmallows. That and the ASS initials would rule it out for me.
[name]Melisande[/name] is very pretty and not that strange. [name]Melissa[/name]'s common enough for people to be able to pronounce [name]Melisande[/name].
I like east93’s suggestion of [name]Alessandra[/name]. Maybe you’d like [name]Cassandra[/name] as well?
I think [name]Aurora[/name] Zophia is lovely, but [name]Melisande[/name] [name]Sophia[/name] is beautiful! NNs could also be [name]Izzy[/name], Lissy, [name]Liz[/name], [name]Lizzy[/name], [name]Sandy[/name], [name]Elle[/name], [name]Ellie[/name], [name]Ella[/name] or [name]Ellis[/name]. Also, how about [name]Evangeline[/name]? That would have the beautiful nns of [name]Eve[/name], [name]Evie[/name], [name]Eva[/name], [name]Angie[/name], [name]Ellie[/name], [name]Elle[/name], [name]Ella[/name], and [name]Lina[/name], among others. It has a very feminine, princesslike quality, isn’t very popular but yet is quite familiar thanks to [name]Evangeline[/name] [name]Lilly[/name] of Lost. Also, the initials ESS could prompt the ADORABLE nn [name]Essie[/name]!
Thanks for the feedback! It’s nice to hear some support for [name]Melisande[/name]. I had planned on naming my daughter that for many years until I decided that maybe it was too obscure. But I’m feeling a little better about it. And thanks for the nicknames namelover, those are more creative than I had been coming up with.
[name]Alessandra[/name] is very pretty and you’re right, I think it would be a good balance between our choices. However, it would still leave us with the dreaded ASS problem.
[name]Evangeline[/name] is very nice too; it’s on our maybe list I think. [name]Will[/name] definitely think more about that one.
Ahh, I can’t believe I completely missed that! Silly me. Well, perhaps if you decided to do Zophia then you’d have [name]Alessandra[/name] Zophia as a possible idea.
I also second the idea of [name]Evangeline[/name].
I love both names, though I find them very different. [name]Aurora[/name] is very frilly and girly and sweet, while [name]Melisande[/name] has an elegant medieval feel to it. I prefer [name]Melisande[/name] for its rarity, but honestly you can’t go wrong here! What about [name]Melisande[/name] [name]Aurora[/name] Stapley or [name]Aurora[/name] [name]Melisande[/name] Stapley? If you’re set on honouring your grandmother, [name]Aurora[/name] [name]Sophia[/name] Stapley and [name]Melisande[/name] [name]Sophia[/name] Stapley both sound nice. If the initials are that big of a deal to you, leave her middle name off her official documents (here in [name]Canada[/name] middle names are usually optional on forms; my sister has one but doesn’t use it and thus hardly anyone knows it). Or whichever you don’t use as a first can be in the middle.
I really like both [name]Aurora[/name] and [name]Melisande[/name]. I’d go with [name]Aurora[/name] Zophia (I love Zophia! The Z just makes the name for me.) You could also use another name that means “wisdom” to honor your grandmother–NB did a blog post on “wisdom” names recently.
I love the name [name]Aurora[/name], but recently took it off my list after the shooting. I’d also say the ASS initials are a deal-breaker.
[name]Melisande[/name], while foreign, is pretty straightforward to pronounce, as all it’s letters/sounds are the same in French as they are in English. I think people will easily be able to read it, but will likely ask your daughter how to spell her name if they have to write it. Also, another possible nickname I didn’t see listed is “[name]Missy[/name]”.
In your shoes, provided you liked the names pretty equally, I’d choose [name]Melisande[/name]. If you like [name]Aurora[/name] better, I might still suggest choosing it despite the shooting, but definitely change up the middle name situation.
I vote [name]Melisande[/name]. I really like it! And I think nicknames could range from [name]Mela[/name] ([name]Mila[/name]), to milly, to my favorite Lissy!
I’d say avoid the ASS initials at all costs. Also, I don’t really prefer the double ‘a’ endings of [name]Aurora[/name] [name]Sophia[/name], not to mention the 3-3 syllable counts.
While [name]Melisande[/name] also has 3 syllables, the totally different ending makes it work with [name]Sophia[/name]. I actually really like the flow. [name]Melisande[/name] will be unusual/unknown to most people, but so many more parents are choosing obscure names these days. It’s a beautiful name.
[name]Melisande[/name] gets my vote! I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Aurora[/name] (It’s one of my favorite names), but I think [name]Melisande[/name] might be the better choice for you.
I like [name]Melisande[/name] more for a middle unless you are french and I would forgo [name]Aurora[/name]
Pretty name, princess names make me think of [name]Wilhelmina[/name], [name]Guinevere[/name], [name]Serafina[/name], [name]Isadora[/name], [name]Octavia[/name] and [name]Millicent[/name]
