I’ve been vacillating back and forth all over the place about my [name]Zion[/name] combo. [name]Zion[/name] has been my number one boy name for 10 years, and for the past three or so, I’ve been pairing it with [name]Nathaniel[/name]. But it’s only been in the last two years or thereabouts that I’ve really discovered my “naming style” so to speak. Now I worry that [name]Zion[/name] [name]Nathaniel[/name] is out of place with potential siblings [name]Alice[/name] [name]Willow[/name], [name]Caspian[/name] (middle TBD), [name]Solomon[/name] [name]Fable[/name], and [name]Ophelia[/name] [name]Fawn[/name] (I’ve also been crushing on [name]Malachi[/name] nn [name]Kai[/name], [name]Gideon[/name] [name]Wolf[/name], and [name]Lucy[/name] [name]Morwenna[/name] lately).
I have a couple threads floating out there in the [name]Berry[/name]-verse trying to find inspiration for a new middle, but I almost feel like I’m more confused than when I started. I said I wanted something rugged and spiritual, but a fellow [name]Berry[/name] wisely pointed out to me that [name]Zion[/name] IS rugged and spiritual, so maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree on that one. I also learned that there’s a very controversial side to [name]Zion[/name] due to the Zionist movement, so another incredibly wise suggestion was to find a middle that means peace or love, or something healing and compassionate. I really, really like this idea, but it feels like such a turnaround from my original request for rugged masculine energy.
So clearly, I’m confused. Should I stick with [name]Zion[/name] [name]Nathaniel[/name]? Should I go for something strong and mountainous and masculine? Should I go for something softer to fit in with my generally ethereal (hypothetical) sibset? What about the idea of choosing something with a very positive, peaceful, healing meaning…any suggestions along these lines?
Darling, I want to help but I’m not sure I can. I quite like [name]Zion[/name] [name]Nathaniel[/name], although it feels very holy compared to your other names. But [name]Solomon[/name] [name]Fable[/name] feels very somber and solemn to me as well. So I don’t know. And I have not one ounce of (creative) energy left in me, but after all the help you’ve given me I feel like I should help. [name]Maye[/name] creative butterflies will be back in a month or so, and if you haven’t found the perfect combo by then, I can help.
For now I’m throwing out [name]Zion[/name] [name]Cosimo[/name]/Cosmos/[name]Cosmo[/name].
Sweetie, you have an actual little one to name at the moment, whereas I am just daydreaming. There is no comparison and certainly no reason for you to feel bad! You spend all your creative juices on your little otter-baby :: I’ll be dreaming for a good long while yet!
I like both [name]Zion[/name] [name]Nathaniel[/name] and [name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Zion[/name] and really feel like it would be a great brother to [name]Alice[/name] [name]Willow[/name] or [name]Solomon[/name] [name]Fable[/name].
I’m with Otter on this one. You’ve loved [name]Zion[/name] for such a long time, and you’ve been pairing it with [name]Nathaniel[/name] for for three years, unless you wake up and find that you are bored or started hating it I wouldn’t mess with it. It’s beautiful and really not that far out there from your other choices of a traditional name paired with a more word name. [name]Don[/name]'t worry about the fact that [name]Zion[/name] is more spiritual/religious than [name]Fable[/name] or [name]Willow[/name].
Thanks, dear, but none the less here are some more (actually Boyfriend’s suggestions, he’s apparently been stalking your threads lately!):
[name]Haze[/name] - “thin mist”. The calm of late spring mornings.
Tranquil
[name]Taliesin[/name] - [name]Ceridwen[/name]'s son, means “shining”. Also a Welsh bard who wrote (at least parts) of the haunting poem “The Battle of the Trees”.
That’s it for now. But I’m on board with [name]Nathaniel[/name], you truly love it. That is the most important thing (and seriously, if you have let’s say a [name]Zion[/name] [name]Nathaniel[/name], [name]Solomon[/name] [name]Fable[/name], [name]Ophelia[/name] [name]Fawn[/name] and [name]Alice[/name] [name]Willow[/name] and Zi feels left out cause he doesn’t have a word name - dude, he has his mother finding his name in the most mystical dream! [name]How[/name] cool is that?)
Thanks, lexiem! You’re right, if I still love the name, I shouldn’t be changing it just so it fits better in a sibset that is still hypothetical anyway
Otter (and Mr. Otter! I truly love [name]Taliesin[/name], and [name]Haze[/name] is very dreamy and tranquil), thank you so much for reminding me why I love [name]Zion[/name] [name]Nathaniel[/name] in the first place. [name]Every[/name] time I’ve had second thoughts about [name]Zion[/name], that dream comes to mind just as fresh, and I know it’s just meant to be And [name]Nathaniel[/name] means “gift of God”, which I believe the dream was…not only that, my given name means “God’s gift” so there’s a real connection there. When there’s that much personal power and meaning packed into a name, what am I doing worrying that he’ll feel left out?
I see I’m a bit late to the conversation, but I just wanted to say that I really like [name]Nathaniel[/name] (as you can see in my signature)! To me, meaning trumps all. I personally read a book in the fifth grade and fell in love with a character named [name]Nathaniel[/name]. It became the first male name that I ever got excited about, so it will always hold a deep place in my heart. I’m really glad to see you embracing it for your own reasons. [name]Little[/name] [name]Zion[/name] should certainly not feel left out!
Oh, my, I just remembered! Two awesome Nathaniels: [name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Lord[/name] [name]Britton[/name], botanist who founded [name]New[/name] [name]York[/name] Botanical Gardens (have you been there? Stunning is the word.) and [name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Hawthorne[/name] who wrote The [name]Scarlett[/name] Letter, The Blithedale [name]Romance[/name] and House of the [name]Seven[/name] Gables. Ooooh.
Also keep in mind that most people don’t end up having 5 kids. So if you are the average bird with 2.5 kids how left out can one be? Esp with your stunning combos? (Also I’m super psyched you’re sticking with [name]Little[/name] [name]Zion[/name] - just so heavenly! :P).
Otter, lex, reverie, you are all so sweet! Thanks for your helpful feedback and your support! I think sometimes I just get in that “can’t see the forest for the trees” mindset, where I’m so wrapped up in all the little details that I lose sight of the big picture. So glad I have my fellow Berries to set me straight
Thank you in advance!
: I’ll be dreaming for a good long while yet!