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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Baby girl middle name help.

45 replies

Peanutbutterx · 06/05/2017 01:28

We keep going back and forth between these two names and can't seem to decide. This will be a middle name, but we're not concerned with flow. Simply trying to pick the nicer name. What's your favourite?

Yael
Rachel

Yael is pronounced like Ya-Elle. Not like Yale, the university.

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mathanxiety · 06/05/2017 05:36

With that first name I would definitely go with Rachel. Yael is too close in sound to Ella. Ellayaellayaella...
Ella Rachel is much better. There is enough of a difference between the names despite the -el of Rachel.

Original poster
Peanutbutterx · 06/05/2017 05:09

@nooka Thanks for the feedback. Good to hear from someone who has two middle names. My husband was also saying that it could be a pain on forms, ID cards, etc... and I do agree that it's nice to mix common and unusual :) Some people told me Ella and Yael don't flow well together but I think they're fine and it doesn't bother me. I still think my hubby likes Rachel more though and my mom definitely does too. It's hard to try to make everyone happy. Haha!

OP posts:
nooka · 06/05/2017 05:01

And both sound fine with Ella :)

nooka · 06/05/2017 05:00

With a common first name and if you don't care about the flow then I'd go unusual. Y makes a cool initial and she might need to use it with a common first name. Personally I'd stick with one middle name. I have two and find it a bit of a nuisance as the default on forms etc (eg for credit cards) is one so I often have to leave one out and then it's not really my name anymore.

Original poster
Peanutbutterx · 06/05/2017 04:58

But also names that are likeable by others, of course.

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Original poster
Peanutbutterx · 06/05/2017 04:57

I'll just tell you guys anyway. Haha! The first name is Ella. But like I said, we're not concerned with how it flows together. We just want to pick names we really like.

OP posts:
Original poster
Peanutbutterx · 06/05/2017 04:55

@nooka, they both sound pretty OK with our last name. Her first name is very common and short (only 4 letters) and starts with an E. Our last name is also short (6 letters) and starts with a P. So her initials would be EYP or ERP.

Yael is more like Yah-Elle. I want to reveal her first name, but then I'm afraid people will get stuck on the flow, LOL, which we don't really care about.

The other option is to use both? Do you think two middle names are too many? I don't know. My husband doesn't really like the idea.

OP posts:
megan77889900 · 06/05/2017 04:43

Then in that case i prefer Yael, sounds very nice and its unusual.

nooka · 06/05/2017 04:40

So which sounds best with your first and surname? Does one initial work better than the other?

Is the Ya like Yay or more like Yah? If it's Ray then the two names sound quite similar so I'd pick the more unusual (unless the firs name is also unusual in which case a more commonly used name might be better).

Original poster
Peanutbutterx · 06/05/2017 04:33

@megan77889900 I'm afraid these are the finalists :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Peanutbutterx · 06/05/2017 04:31

They don't really any special meaning for us. These are just the last two names we like, and can agree on, that we've narrowed it down to :)

OP posts:
megan77889900 · 06/05/2017 04:00

Do you have a third option or are these are ultimate two last names and it has to be one of them?

mum2be2boys · 06/05/2017 03:49

Rachel. I like the 'ray' sound in it.

TheDowagerCuntess · 06/05/2017 03:24

Is there any significance behind either of the names, because if not, is definitely go with the more interesting name.

KoalaDownUnder · 06/05/2017 03:18

I love the name Yael.

lizzieoak · 06/05/2017 02:48

I prefer Yael - it's more distinctive & while Rachel is nice enough (& I know two lovely Rachels), it's not as interesting as Yael.

mathanxiety · 06/05/2017 02:41

Rachel

5BlueHydrangea · 06/05/2017 01:59

Rachel
Never heard of the other, and don't really like it.

toffeeboffin · 06/05/2017 01:40

Yael.

Knew someone called Yael, she was lovely.

SashaSays · 06/05/2017 01:37

I like Yael. Ive never heard it before but I do like it

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