Favourite name, or best name with surname?

[SomeSunnySunday]

Just that really. I'm not going to give specific examples of names, but our choice for DD (due imminently) seems to boil down to:

1. A couple of names which we really like, and which flow really well with our surname; or
   

1. Our absolute favourite, which is not nearly as good with our surname, but not a complete disaster either (i.e. I suspect that many people wouldn't really question it with our last name, but a few fussy sorts (DM) might think that it doesn't really go).
   

We'd ruled out the not-great-with-surname name, but I keep coming back to it, on the basis that my elder DCs are mainly just referred to by their first names anyway. I guess this changes though when you enter the world of work?

[Chatty987]

I lean more to option 1 (better with surname) but I think that's because I'm currently pg so I'm practicing names constantly with surname. I also think professionally it's good to have names that go together. However, I might be misguided - especially, as you say, people are known primarily by their first names. Not sure if that's much help!

[mrsnec]

We went with our absolute favourite even though its not great with our surname just because we kept coming back to it no matter what we did. Mil never really liked the name and still calls dd another similar name that has the same nickname and fil was using the correct version before dd was born.we had doubts about the name going with the surname just because I wondered if a name ending in 'a' could work with a surname ending in 'er' but we just got over that and went for it. I do wonder how many people changed their mind at the last minute.

[tammytoby]

First name and surname combo imo. As long as you still like the first name!

[loislines]

First name that you love the most, I think. How many times will you use them together compared to first name alone? Most work colleagues are on first name terms now and, dare I say, some women still change their surnames if / when they get married so whilst a name may be great with Smith now it might be awful with Sidebottom in 30 years time!

[SomeSunnySunday]

Thanks for the responses. I think I'm veering back towards being of the opinion that the whole name has to be good. In my job I frequently use my first name and surname together, and I'm not sure a lifetime of having to traduced herself with a name that doesn't flow well is a great plan. I suppose, lois that if we get right for her, she at least has the option of a "good" name if she gets married, and doesn't have to take her husband's if it doesn't work (not that she would have to anyway!).

[BikeRunSki]

I'd go for your favourite name. I think you'll regret it otherwise. I don't really understand first names and surnames having to "go", but then my dad had a friend called Yakimoto Hamilton,

[CPtart]

Go for your favourite name. Ds2 name doesn't go fantastically with our surname (it's ok) but I've never regretted it. The forename is the name you'll use day in and day out, don't over think the whole "does it flow" business. No-one but you will ever give that a second thought.

[squoosh]

I'd go for my favourite name as long as it didn't sound ridiculous with the surname. Some people obsess to a silly degree about how well names 'flow'.

[Disneylandkilledmychildhood]

Go for your favourite. She might get married one day and decide to change her surname anyway, so it won't matter either way.

[StetsonsAreCool]

Go for your absolute favourite - she might not have your surname forever, if she chooses to change it when she gets married or something.

[mrsnec]

If it's any help, we looked at the popularity to help us decide. Our second and third choice were both in the top ten in the UK and in the country where we live. Our favourite name is somewhere between 50 and 100 in the UK which was a good thing for us.

[Ludways]

Professionally I say my full name several times a day, so I'd definitely go with a first/surname combo. However, I suspect your favourite name isn't as bad as you think it is it you'd have dismissed it without a second thought.

[divingoffthebalcony]

Go with the name you love the most. You'll regret it otherwise. You said it's not a disaster with your surname, and you'll probably find you won't even need to say her first name and surname together regularly until she's at preschool!