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Baby names

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Original poster

Is this a really terrible idea for a middle name??

115 replies

Shouldhavereadtheinstructions · 16/05/2022 20:18

Since we had DS1 we always said that if DC2 was a girl then her middle name would be my grandma's name. She is a truly amazing woman and we would both love to do this in her honour. But of course.... We are now expecting a boy!

We have thought of alternatives and even went so far as asking my grandma if she had any favourite boys names she would choose e.g. that my grandad hadn't liked 😂but I just keep coming back to really wanting her actual name to live on. DS2 is likely to be her last great grandchild (and obviously I can't tell anyone else what to name their kid!).

Would it be truly terrible to give DS her name as a middle name anyway? It's not a super 'girly' name as she goes by a nickname. E.g. think El rather than Eleanor or Kat rather than Katherine. On the one hand I think it's be wonderful to be named after such an amazing person and for his middle name to have a story. And it's very easy not to share your middle name widely if he is anxious in certain contexts. But is he just going to get awfully teased? Does that even matter as kids will always find something to tease about??

What do you think? Does anyone have any similar experiences?

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TeatimeGlitter · 17/05/2022 17:56

Nell is quite a cool name for either gender - I’d go for it!

viques · 17/05/2022 17:50

Nell is fine though Nellie wouldn’t work. If you wanted you could add a silent letter on to hide the Nell, Gnell,Knell ( actually not athat one sounds a bit sweary).Or even Snell if you are an archers fan. Sorry.

declutteringmymind · 17/05/2022 17:47

Or call him Lenny.

annabell22 · 17/05/2022 17:39

I would use something similar like Darnell, Connell, Tynell.

Hallyup89 · 17/05/2022 17:33

Use a name that means the same, like Lucas. Much better than giving your son a girl's name.

roarfeckingroarr · 17/05/2022 17:29

Nell is fine

Could you do Neil with a capital I? 😂

RoseAndRose · 17/05/2022 17:10

MrsEricBana · 17/05/2022 08:56

Doesn't seem to have hindered Mandy Patinikin...

Show quote history

That's his chosen short form from Mandel, not his actual given name

mathanxiety · 17/05/2022 17:06

Nell would work very well as a middle name for a boy.

multivac · 17/05/2022 16:57

Spell it 'Nel' and go for it. I know two male 'Nel's, and they are both super-cool :)

GarlicGnocchi · 17/05/2022 16:56

Ooh or Llen

GarlicGnocchi · 17/05/2022 16:56

Shouldhavereadtheinstructions · 17/05/2022 15:17

Oh no sorry for the mega delay - something is wrong with my MN notifications so only just seen the deafening calls to hear the name! OK ok ok maybe I was being over-cautious. The name is Nell. 😱😱😱😱😱😱

OK do your worst 😅

Thanks so much for all the other thoughts and suggestions too - I do like the idea of using her maiden name. A bit less person and her maiden name is a bit of a mouthful, combined with the last name - and he'd end up always having to spell it for people - but it could work.

Totally agree @Anapurna222478063 it really could go in different directions depending on his personality...

Nell seems fine, or go for Neil

Neverreturntoathread · 17/05/2022 16:55

Hm, I still don’t think it’s a good idea. Makes me think of an old lady.

What about Neil? It’s basically the male version of the same name.

But really I think you should be thinking about finding a name that YOUR SON will love and forget about your own sentimental wants 🤷‍♀️

RichardOsmansXraySpecs · 17/05/2022 16:54

I think Nell is fine actually. Nellson, if not - yes with two ‘l’s or what’s the point?

clarepetal · 17/05/2022 16:52

I think it works!!

Pieceofpurplesky · 17/05/2022 16:48

Nell is fine. Very surname-ish. My DS has my surname as his middle
Name

Bobbins36 · 17/05/2022 16:47

nell is alright actually, could be a lot worse! Love the maiden name idea though 👍

Latenightthoughts111 · 17/05/2022 16:40

What do you want to gain from giving him the middle name? Obviously you want to honour her but I don’t really understand and he is always going to have to say it’s a woman’s name in my family that I never met that my mum wanted to honour…🤔I just don’t see the logic I’m afraid

DianaDoors · 17/05/2022 16:17

I just think this is a terrible idea-what's the point of naming him after her if it's only ok because it might sound a bit like a surname? I just don't get it. And Nell is definitely a girl's name, which your son will know because he'll know who you've named him after.

Using her surname or maiden name might be better. But generally I think it's better to give people their own names and choose other ways to honour elderly relatives. You could change your own name to Nell?

Bournetilly · 17/05/2022 16:17

I think Nell would be fine

Workawayxx · 17/05/2022 15:49

I think Nell would work depending on the first name as it's not overtly female. It also works quite nicely as a two middle name eg James Nell Alexander Smith or Edward Henry Nell Jones

LaLaLouella · 17/05/2022 15:30

I think you could get away with Nell (just!)

How about reversing it to Lenn?

TeeBee · 17/05/2022 15:26

CupidStunt22 · 17/05/2022 15:20

There are plenty of men in Ireland with the middle name Mary.

I had a friend at school whose middle name was Mary...he got mercilessly teased about it for years. There was song made up about it as I remember. Kids are cruel. Why put them through it unnecessarily.

chesterelly1 · 17/05/2022 15:26

What about using Nelson

ColdHappyBap · 17/05/2022 15:23

Nell is a bit surname like so I think it could work. It might get mistranscribed as Neil on stuff so he'd need to watch that.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 17/05/2022 15:21

Hmmmm
i think that might be ok- does it flow with first name?
think you’d need a longer first?
Theodore Nell Jones is better than Sam Nell jones