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Baby names

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Original poster

Middle name for Tess

35 replies

swancourt · 15/04/2015 10:04

TTC DC3 and considering Tess if we get a girl :) DH loves it and wanted it for DDs 1 and 2, and I'm coming around now but slightly worried about the d'Urberville implications. Though I love the novel, Tess herself is naive and ill-fated! But I think it's a pretty name and could be persuaded if we could think of something strong for a middle name. It's hard to make Tess flow with a middle name, though! Here are the things I've thought of so far:

Tess Vivienne
Tess Felicity
Tess Imogen
Tess Abigail
Tess Matilda

Not 100% sold on any of them! Any other suggestions?

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Original poster
swancourt · 16/04/2015 20:49

Hmmm ... liking Tess Evelyn. But don't tell DH - I just told him Tess is out!

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applecatchers36 · 16/04/2015 14:04

Tess Marie
Tess Josephine
Tess Sofia/ Sophia
Tess Genevieve
Tess Michelle
Tess Louise/a
Tess Arabella
Tess Annabelle

Lancelottie · 16/04/2015 13:59

Tess Victoria has the right ring without sounding like Tesco or Test-match or Test-your-strength -- and you can't get much stronger than 'Victory'.

Original poster
swancourt · 16/04/2015 13:56

Ooops - weird - couldn't see my second-to-last post or anything after it, so rewrote it, and then the other posts popped up.

My other two DCs have middle names, so I can't very well stop now! I don't have one, and don't mind not having one, but I like a middle name - it's good for Google, if nothing else, and with one of our middle names we honoured a family member, which made a lot of people happy. Weirdly, both my existing DCs middle names are really important to me. I don't know why. I love their full names. So definitely using a middle name again.

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Original poster
swancourt · 16/04/2015 13:52

Really don't like Tessa, Therese etc. Still coming round to Tess.

Thanks for all the replies! Lots of great ideas here. Will keep Tess on the table but still thinking of alternatives :)

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IvoryMadonna · 16/04/2015 11:06

I hate my name and always have. It's not even a proper name, it's a nickname. I wasn't given a middle name either. It's not fair on a child. And you can't just change your name unless those around you cooperate. I wanted to be called Alexandra, but my family just laughed at me.

SomewhereIBelong · 16/04/2015 10:59

why do you need a middle name - always strikes me as parents not being sure they chose right so need a reserve. If child doesn't like the name they can change it.

DH doesn't have a middle name and we didn't give the kids one. I have never used mine other than on official forms which require it (fewer and fewer of them do nowadays)

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 16/04/2015 10:53

Definitely your turn then! I do like the name Tess but it's not easy to find a second name. Whereas as a second name there's more scope?

Original poster
swancourt · 16/04/2015 10:45

I don't really like Tessa, Teresa, Therese or any of those. I'm only just coming around to Tess!

Thanks for all the lovely suggestions. I'm keeping Tess on the list, but I am still not convinced it's the one. Plus DH convinced me about another name with literary associations I wasn't totally happy about for DD2, so if we get a girl this time it is totally my turn! He hates everything I love!

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Fizzyplonk · 15/04/2015 19:36

I like all your first choices
How about
Evelyn
Rosaline
Rosalind
Davinia
Verity
Miranda
Meredith

Bathsheba · 15/04/2015 19:24

I have a 5 year old Tess. She tells everyone that her middle name is Trouble-Maker.

It's actually Eliana

VainVulva · 15/04/2015 15:26

Tess Clementine.....perfect!

IvoryMadonna · 15/04/2015 15:04

Just another thought. I don't suppose you like Teresa, Theresa, Therése? Tess is also a nn of those names.

IvoryMadonna · 15/04/2015 15:00

Then I would go for Tessa as a full name for formal use, those occasions when all the names will be used. It would also take the edge off the 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' association.

Of course you would still be calling her Tess all the time, introducing her as Tess etc. So I see it as the best of both worlds.

Ifyourawizardwhydouwearglasses · 15/04/2015 13:44

Tickle?

Grin

Sorry! Lovely name though

Original poster
swancourt · 15/04/2015 13:39

I just much prefer Tess, but agree that Tessa flows better with other names.

And ha ha, yes, names beginning with Co are out!

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IvoryMadonna · 15/04/2015 13:04

Can't you have Tessa? It tends to flow better with most names, but perhaps not with your surname, I don't know.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 15/04/2015 11:26

Oh true and just realised that you don't want the baby's name to suggest she's sponsored by a supermarket. Blush

Original poster
swancourt · 15/04/2015 11:25

I wish Tess Eliza didn't sound like tranquilizer

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Original poster
swancourt · 15/04/2015 11:24

I love Lavinia, but again - raped and her tongue cut out, not a good ending ...

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Original poster
swancourt · 15/04/2015 11:23

Gosh, Shakespearean names are pretty, but Tess Cordelia, Tess Juliet, or Tess Ophelia would just be heaping sorrow upon sorrow!!

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Original poster
swancourt · 15/04/2015 11:22

I like Tess Naomi, but it isn't at all as glamorous-sounding as the names of my other two children. But Naomi means happiness, which I like ...

I like Matilda because it means battle-mighty :) I'd like my daughters to be mighty in battle. It flows quite well, too. I sense another DH stumbling block, though. Actually, I think I'm going to tell him if we're going for Tess, he's going to have to let me pick the middle name. :D

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DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 15/04/2015 11:22

Prompted by Juliet and Imogen, thinking of other Shakespearean names:
Tess Olivia
Tes Octavia
Tess Cordelia
Tess Viola

Solo · 15/04/2015 11:16
Grin Oooh! Ariadne!! I once upon a time wanted to call a girl Ariadne!!
Angelto5 · 15/04/2015 11:14

Tess Evangeline