Mandy

I just stumbled on this blog while searching baby names, and thought maybe you could help me.I'm pregnant (due at the end of May) with our second daughter.

We're pretty sure her name will be either, Clover or Willa. We just can't decide between the two. I'm fine with waiting to decide until we actually meet her, but I'd love to hear your opinion on the names. We aren't sharing them with many people, so a fresh perspective would be nice.If we use Clover, we'll probably use Jane as a middle name (it's a family name). We have a very short, one-syllable last name, so I generally prefer a longer middle name, but for some reason, I like Jane with Clover.

However, if we go with Willa, I want to use Caroline as a middle name. My mom doesn't think it flows well. Thoughts?Oh, and we have an almost 3 yr. old daughter. Her name is Sadie Julianne.I should also mention that we aren't closed minded to other names; these are just the two that we like the most right now.

If it helps, we also like Zoey, Lucy, Maisie, Delilah (and those are just a few), but none of them are quite right for one reason or another.

Thanks Mandy

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Sorry Mandy for the late reply and hopefully we are not too late!
So first of all congratulations! Two little girls at home will be fantastic :D Busy but fantastic!

Your name choices, Clover or Willa. I’m leaning towards Willa.
I guess when I’m hearing Clover I think of Clove of garlic. Or four leaf Clover. But really is that a bad association? It fits in perfectly with the flower, and herbs names. So it really depends on your point of view. I have to say if you choose Clover, Jane makes an excellent Middle name. It continues the trend you set with Sadie Julianne, having a 1st name with and edge, followed by a modest but stylish middle name!

Willa. I just love the sound of it Will-Ah. Popular in the 1880s- 1940s its due for a come back! Caroline though is just sounding a little to long for it. So middle names, perhaps Rose, Lucia, Emmeline, Adaline, Kate, Charlotte, Madeline, Amanda, Alexis, Suzanne, Grace?

Other names I think could work well are
Arla
Poppy
Lyra
Ingrid
Claudia
Adelaide
Tabitha
Nina
Romily

I like Maisie and Lucy from your maybe lists, but if it doesn’t sound right I know from experience you can’t change your mind. Decide depending upon your gut feeling, and of course when you see your darling little girl for the first time!

Good luck and hopefully not too late!

Rachel Griffith & Clementine

About a month ago Rachel Griffith had a daughter. Sarah and myself were deadly curious what she was going to call her baby, as so far all of the names have been dead Australian. She had Banjo Patrick and Adelaide Rose. Banjo, of course, is the Poet and writer Banjo Patterson and Adelaide is the city. We were talking about names she might use (as said in an earlier post) such as Perth, or Melbourne. Matilda was a possibility for a girl. So we were surprised when she called her daughter Clementine Grace. There is no doubt that its a beautiful name- meaning 'my merciful'. But this brings up the whole issue of sticking with naming patterns by default of your first child. In my opinion if two are at least in the 'theme' then the rest should follow. For example Jamie Oliver, whose children all have botanical related names. (Poppy Honey, Daisy Boo and Petal Blossom Rainbow). For each name it is the parents choice and I don't think names should necessarily be decided by themes. My children certainly couldn't be more different- Kirsty, Aurora and Blake- but it never was an issue. I guess what ever pleases the parent!

Names in the Papers This Week

Saturday's paper is the perfect time to share with the world birth notices and are often used to thank friends and family and doctors and congratulate those closest to you. Within these birth notices we see the trends and rising names. Here are some of the names this week

Boys names

Riley/ Ryley x5

Archer x2

Maximillian

Tomas

Harrison 2x

Malachy


Girls names

Ryley x3

Grace x2

Mia

Sionne

Lucinda

Autumn-Lilly

Bliss

Lilly- Lillian x4

The names appearing with boys as always it a mix between new, old and strange. Riley/Ryley for girls and boys is so so so popular. For me though it will always be associated with a horse of my cousins who threw me off and starting crazily cantering around and around the field with me on it aged 10 at the time. I'm not liking the change in spelling of the classic "Thomas" for me it should be spelt with a 'h' it looks strange and uncouth as if they just don't care. Malachy now this is definitely different if a tad strange. It is an Irish saint though and went with Hamish (Hamish Malachy) so i guess we can take a punt and guess there Irish and let it slide. I'm liking Archer though and can see its rising.

Girls names seem to be using allot of hyphenating to throw 2 names together the parents love. I don't mind it but often the names don't mesh and sound like first and middle name. I'm loving Lilly and thinking Lucinda is quite cute with the nickname Lucy. Grace is very popular one family not even wanting the their daughters nickname to stem form grace and going straight for Gracie- sorta cute but when older wouldn't it be nice to have the option between grace and Gracie?

Stuck in the Middle

I really like the name Rose. It is strong, yet pretty and elegant at the same time. I would love to use this name if I ever have a girl.

AS A FIRST NAME.

You see I can't help feeling that Rose is becoming such a throwaway middle name. Every little girl I meet now is Lilly Rose, Abigail Rose, Sienna Rose...


And with all these little Whoever Rose's around I can't help feel that people are taking the name Rose for granted.

Sure it conveys a certain pattern with most names but by using it as a middle name all the time I think it looses its meaning. I don't think "Oh Rose what a lovely choice for a middle name" anymore. I think "Oh another girl with the middle name Rose! How original!".

In fact Rose as a middle name has become entirely meaningless for me. People aren't choosing Rose because it is a lovely name. They are choosing it simply because it compliments their chosen first name.

I now group it with Anne, Louise, Jane, Marie, May, Eve and Grace. Which are all lovely names in their own right. Don't force them to wind the stage curtain for your chosen first name - Let them Shine!

So, New Rule; If you wouldn't use it as a first name and absolutely love it - Don't use it as a middle name!

Upholding Tradition, A sister for Logan and Brianna.

Hi! I have enjoyed reading your naming blog and I'm wondering if you can give us a second opinion. I'm six months along with a baby girl. We like traditional names with traditional spellings, nothing too unique or creative. We have a son named Logan Andrew (2 years old) and had a daughter named Brianna Dawn who only lived a short time after her birth this past Valentine's Day.For this baby, we are considering the names Emily Kate and Audrey (don't have a middle name for Audrey yet) ... we prefer a girl name that doesn't end in "ana" to be a very different name from Brianna. It's so hard to pick another girl name -- Brianna was a favorite name. Can't decide if Emily is too popular... although we don't know of many in our area. Any help or advice would be great! Thanks!
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Hi Kim, we are happy to hear about your pregnancy. However, it is also sad to hear about the loss of Brianna. Valentines day will now be even more special as a result of your little angel. Best of luck with it all :). Also sorry this took a while to compose.


Oh, and glad you like our blog! Hopefully you will like it even more after we answer your query.

As for name advice for the name of your third child we would be delighted to help. I think Emily Kate is beautiful name for a little girl and I wouldn't be concerned about Emily being too popular (its for a reason you know). It is a gorgeous name and if you really love it then it is one hundred percent right to use it. Don't let what the crowd is doing effect your choice.

Audrey is also a darling name. It makes me think of Diamonds! It also shares its meaning with Brianna. They both mean Noble. Entirely appropriate. I really like the variant Aubrey too and would like to suggest a few possible middle names. Any of these name could also be sweet little first names. But in my opinion Audrey Kate does have that ring doesnt it?

Clarice- I really love the meaning of this name, Illustrious, as well as the sound. It just feels elegant. A perfect match with Audrey which is often associated with the epitimy of elegance Ms. Hepburn. Even if it is Jodie Foster's character in the Silence of the Lambs Audrey Clarice radiates class. My favourite :D!

Celeste - Another C name that puts the usual choices for middle names to shame. This Latin name meaning Heavenly kicks the pants off Audrey May!

Pearl - I have suggested this name before but for good reason, it is a really sweet middle name. I hope that Pearl will catch on as a middle name as names such as Rose, Grace, Louise and Marie have done now.

Elise - The short form of the name Elizabeth which I think, has an innocent cutesy quality to it perfect after Audrey.

Grace - A popular middle name that seems to convey rhythm with ninetynine percent of first names.

Hope you like them! Do tell us if you would like some more suggestions or advice.