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!

Maisie Middle Name Help

Hi! My husband and I are trying to conceive our 2nd child. We have a 2 yr old son, Beckett Reed. My husband loves the name Maisie (if we ever have a girl). I like it too, if we can find a middle name that works with it! I like to use family names as middle names but have run out of ideas for Maisie....some family names: Anne, Jean, June, Kay, May (and any related to those). Can you help us please??
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Hi Jamie! Sorry how long it has taken to replying to your question! I have to agree with both of you on what a lovely name Maisie is. Its an adorable name, with loads of character. It is on my list too. And Maisie and Beckett sound superb together!

My favourite from the list of middle names would have to be Maisie Anne. It flows really nicely. Jean and June could also work but I would rule out Maisie May as both start with the same syllable.

So here are some of my suggestions for a middle name. From the list of family names I’m presuming understated, classical type names.

Eve
Evelyn
Camilla
Louise/ Louisa
Alice
Lucia
Emma
Adelaide
Violet
Claire
Elizabeth
Jane
Frances
Elspeth
Elinor
Pearl
Olivia
April
Georgia/ Georgina
Lynn
Grace
Joan
Ruth
Annette
Katherine/Kate
Elise
Ellen

(In bold are my favourite ones!)

An idea, if you are having trouble finding the perfect and most fitting middle name, is to call her Margaret, with the nickname Maisie? Or Mairead perhaps?

I hope the list helps, and good luck choosing! If you have any other name questions, perhaps boys, don't hesitate to ask. I love to know what names other people are mulling over!

Tom-Girls Update.

What did I say about girls with boys names again?

This week,

Emmerson Jane
Emmerson May
Isla Rose Peter

Hate to say I told you so!

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!