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Baby names

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Feel like I chose the wrong name!

58 replies

pigglepot · 16/01/2021 09:29

All the way through my pregnancy my favourite name for my daughter was Iris. All the letters I wrote to her whilst I was pregnant are addressed "Dear Iris" and we found out halfway through that it was my husbands Nans name too! Towards the end of my pregnancy I had totally overthought it and all of a sudden couldn't stop thinking of Isis when I heard Iris and suddenly the fact that it was a family name became a negative too!! Then when she was born she didn't "look" like an Iris. My hormones were all over the bloody shop so I couldn't decide on a name and it became so stressful as it's all anyone asks you. Finally we decided on Violet which was a bit of whim and I was deciding between the two right up until the morning we registered. Long story short she's now called Violet and half the time I'm not even sure if I like the name as it reminds me a bit of old ladies! And the worst part is that I'm now pregnant again and would love to use Iris if it's a girl but then that would be two flower names which is surely a bit twee?! How do I stop obsessing that I've named her the wrong name and, if I do have another girl, is Violet and Iris too much of a theme?! Help!

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pigglepot · 19/01/2021 12:10

@Liana2021 that's actually really lovely advice! I did actually first come across the name in a book as it was a characters daughters name! Now I just need to find a book/show with A Violet!

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pigglepot · 19/01/2021 12:09

@florafoxtrot this is exactly how I feel I think! I do love her whole name it's so pretty but as it maybe wasn't my first choice it somehow doesn't always resonate with me. I think it might also partly be that we call her a nickname at home and because of lockdown I haven't really heard many people use her name. I'm sure when she's at nursery/school and has her own friends it will feel a lot more hers

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bourbonne · 18/01/2021 20:26

@BathroomWork

How old is Violet? You could always change her name.
Old enough that she's about to become a big sister! Is this for real - this casual attitude to changing the perfectly nice name by which a toddler is known by everyone in her life and is written on her birth certificate, cards, mementoes...

OP, the names are lovely together for sisters. It's up to you how you feel about "reusing" Iris when it sort of belonged to your eldest.

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 18/01/2021 19:15

I actually think Violet and Iris go beautifully together - good choices!

florafoxtrot · 18/01/2021 15:23

Nothing twee about it! They are both absolutely beautiful names.

I would however take your time in deciding once baby arrives this time so that you aren't feeling that same pressure as you did the first time around. I can totally relate to what you say, I'd also a favourite name throughout pregnancy and then when she was born, I ummed and ahhed, decided she didn't look like that name and went with my husband's preferred name instead - and yes, sometimes I feel like I don't completely love it - but I do like her whole name and it does absolutely suit her down to the ground. Funnily enough her middle name is actually Violet! We've not yet been fortunate enough to fall pregnant with a second Sad but if we do get there I will definitely be taking my time on name choosing!

user1493494961 · 18/01/2021 12:30

I think Violet and Iris would be lovely.

Liana2021 · 18/01/2021 00:33

An easy way to solve this would be to read a novel with a Violet in it or to watch a move with Violet; basically create another nice association to it on top of your beautiful daughter.
Doubting your choice just shows you’re probably a bit stressed and that you care :) Don’t doubt, it’s often in the spur of the moment that we make the best decisions. And if Iris made you think of Isis, it’s a difficult negative reference to push away, you would have regretted all the same!
Ditch the name Iris, it’s not for your children.
Pick a different one for your DD2.
And enjoy the beautiful name you’ve already picked for DD1 :)

Babydust13 · 17/01/2021 15:07

My Nan and her sisters all had flower names and I think they sound lovely together. There was:

Violet
Iris
Lily
Ivy
Daisy

Onlinedilema · 17/01/2021 08:09

I think Violet and Iris are very similar names. Don’t change your child’s name, you are over thinking it.

changedmynamelol · 17/01/2021 08:02

My two girls have botanical names. Nobody has ever called it twee I wouldn't care if they did I like the name Iris too. If my new baby is a girl that's the planned name.

pigglepot · 17/01/2021 07:55

@partyatthepalace hahaha that's a great idea! I'll just swap them round and hope they never notice 😂

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pigglepot · 17/01/2021 07:54

@GeorgiaGirl52 they are lovely together. I do love flower names!

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pigglepot · 17/01/2021 07:54

@Justwatchthewildflowersgrow lovely! Dora because it rhymes with Flora?? X

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pigglepot · 17/01/2021 07:53

@LudoTrouble funny you should say this I've been wondering whether I could do the same as I've named all my cats over the years with names I actually love for babies!! We've got a Betty and an Olive and a Delilah! Delilah and Olive in particular I love...Betty I think is so cute but not sure if she would thank me for that one!

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GeorgiaGirl52 · 17/01/2021 05:02

Our family had three sisters - Daisy, Rose and Flora. I think it is adorable and sweet.

LudoTrouble · 17/01/2021 04:32

I like Violet and Iris together. It's fine that they're both flower names.

I know two families who had pets with human names, then when first babies came along, they used the pet's name for the baby! Eg, dog was called Tim, then they named their first son Tim because they liked the name so much.

MercyBodle · 17/01/2021 04:22

Violet and Iris make lovely sisters' names and I don't find it twee at all. It also doesn't mean that future names have to be flowers. Anything in the very long list of vintage chic works well with them, eg Mabel, Edith, Ada, Ida, May, Lucy, Florence, April, Polly, Nancy, Esther etc etc.

MBb217 · 16/01/2021 15:39

Violet and Iris go well together!

partyatthepalace · 16/01/2021 14:44

Both lovely names, and both have a bit of sharpness about them, which not all flower names do (eg Lily). I couldn’t chose between them, so if you have another girl I would crack on and call her Iris. (You might have to write her pre-birth letters as Dear Violet though, and change the dates 😁

Pieceofpurplesky · 16/01/2021 14:37

Violet is a gorgeous name and will
Go really well with Iris

Ilovewillow · 16/01/2021 14:35

I think names with a link are lovely. Violet and iris are beautiful together. We would have gone with two themed names - we have a willow and our son was going to be Posy.

Justwatchthewildflowersgrow · 16/01/2021 14:22

She's usually Primmie until she's naughty. Flora gets called Flo or Florry and for some odd reason Dora but I don't know why. 🤔 X

pigglepot · 16/01/2021 14:19

@Justwatchthewildflowersgrow oh wow those are both such beautiful names! I've just added Flora to my (extremely long) list actually! And Primrose is so pretty. What do you call her for short?

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pigglepot · 16/01/2021 14:18

@GU24Mum we did consider Iris as a middle name but we had already chosen a middle name that has a lot of family significance so didn't want to give that one up and I think generally you don't use pne middle name let alone two?! Also I think I was put off by it being two flower names together

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Justwatchthewildflowersgrow · 16/01/2021 14:17

My daughters have floral names they are Flora and Primrose. If we had a third girl I'd probably go for another floral name. I personally love it and it reminds people of pretty flowers. I do get the odd eye roll but to be fair it's none of their business. If you love the name that's all that matters xx

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