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Middle name: Anne or Autumn?

42 replies

Yardley42 · 09/11/2023 13:28

I have decided on a first name beginning with C and my last name begins with T. I have therefore decided I'd like a middle name beginning with A - I think having CAT as initials is kind of sweet and could be a cool nickname for DD if she wants when she's a teen.

But I am torn between two possible middle names...

Anne is a family name - it's my grandmother's, mother's and sister's middle name. It's also the French version of my best friend and the baby's godmother's name Hannah. I also like that it's quite plain and chic - a good middle name, and sounds well with the first name which is multi-syllable and a tiny bit 'frilly', albeit classic. Altogether, the full name has a good ring to it. My sisters and I all have more unusual first names and plainer middle names, mostly taken from family.

But! I don't actually love the name Anne especially. I like its qualities, as I've described here, but I don't have any emotional connection to it as a name. Is that a waste of a name that could be one I love just for the sake of an initial?

Additionally, a long time family friend named Anne is in a very bad way at the moment, and that's an upsetting/really quite negative association that's putting me off a bit. This isn't a person I'd name a child after, so if she passes around the birth that might seem a little odd?

A name I do love is Autumn. It's my favourite season and I think a lovely name. It's a bit more 'out there' and possibly a bit hippy (my mother will hate it!!), and doesn't sound quite as classy as a full name with the first and last - but no one knows your middle name later in life, then only the initial really matters.

Plus, I think Autumn is a middle name DD could think was a bit cool when she's older, as opposed to Anne, which is plainer? It's also a more gender neutral name, in case she wants something like that - the first name is definitely 'girly'. It also sounds great with just the first name, in case she became a pop star or influencer and wanted to drop the surname, lol! (To be clear, these are not my ambitions for her! Just things you consider. Her first and last names would happily suit a judge or Prime Minister!!)

Autumn is quite popular / common right now, Anne is not that well used despite how classic it is, but don't mind a popular middle name.

What does everyone think, if you made it this far? Thanks.

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MexicanDrinkingWorm · 14/11/2023 05:06

Autumn definitely!
Family name wise we had Anne, Jane and Louise to choose from, dull, dull & dull. We went with another name we loved instead and I’m so glad we did!
I like to think of it as starting a new tradition, maybe autumn will be the new name passed down for years to come!

LaVitesse2022 · 14/11/2023 05:02

As someone with lots of names (middle and multiple-word surname), do not use more than one middle name. Definitely don't hyphenate middle names. It's annoying and a faff when you're having to deal with admin as an adult. Pick one or the other. I think Anne is a timeless classic, Autumn is faddish and will date.

itsgettingweird · 14/11/2023 04:57

Heart every time. It's your child's name.

And also Autumn is a lovely name.

In fact - throwing it out there - Autumn Anne is fab Grin

Hotchocolatemousse · 14/11/2023 04:52

Anna, Anya or Annabelle if you're not keen on Anne. I prefer Anna.

NewShoes · 14/11/2023 04:46

I don’t find Anne to be boring at all- it’s a beautiful, timeless name. I also have used family names for both my children’s middle names and I think it’s a lovely way to honour them, so all in all I would go for Anne.

CadhlaWren · 14/11/2023 04:27

I gave my children family names, I wanted to pass on connection. However, now that I have fewer children than I imagined, part of me regrets all those beautiful names I wanted but didn’t get to use

I’d go Autumn

Daisybuttercup12345 · 13/11/2023 21:43

Anne. It's lovely.

oneinamillieon · 12/11/2023 21:59

anne is very boring imo, maybe anna? i love that name

oneinamillieon · 12/11/2023 21:58

i think autumn.

theduchessofspork · 10/11/2023 22:45

MockneyReject · 10/11/2023 15:43

I like the name Anne,
I love my niece, whose middle name is Autumn.
Could Autumn-Anne, work?

Charlotte Autumn-Anne Turner

Clara Autumn-Anne Taylor

Yes - I'm trying to guess your C name 😂

Whatever you do, not this. A hyphen is never the answer.

theduchessofspork · 10/11/2023 22:45

Autumn is very popular now, and will date, so I’d say Anne.

MockneyReject · 10/11/2023 15:43

I like the name Anne,
I love my niece, whose middle name is Autumn.
Could Autumn-Anne, work?

Charlotte Autumn-Anne Turner

Clara Autumn-Anne Taylor

Yes - I'm trying to guess your C name 😂

ChocolateCinderToffee · 10/11/2023 15:39

Annis. Like Anne but very unusual instead of very common.

I wouldn't touch Autumn with a bargepole.

CoffeeBean5 · 10/11/2023 15:34

I prefer Autumn! I find Anne plain, but I like Anna.

daisydonkey · 10/11/2023 15:28

Autumn is a lovely name :)

xxreeldancerxx · 09/11/2023 20:17

Why not have both? I know lots of children with more than one middle name. Both lovely although have to say I absolutely love Autumn x

Snugglemonkey · 09/11/2023 20:09

I would go with Anna probably as I dislike Autumn and find Anne boring. I think you should go with your heart choice though!

Ittastesvile · 09/11/2023 19:59

Yardley42 · 09/11/2023 19:42

I always think of Anne of Green Gables, @AutumnNamechange, who said "the name Anne spelled with an E looks so much more distinguished than just plain old Ann"! I can't remember if Anne Shirley liked her name or not - I think not. But she was very firm about the E!

Hearing the word dreary a lot in these opinions... good to know!

I think of that quote too. I don't think she liked it and wanted to be Cordelia.

Yardley42 · 09/11/2023 19:47

Autumn has definitely shot up in popularity recently - it was only just outside the top 100 in 2021. Wish the ONS would hurry up and release 2022's names already!

I don't think I mind the popularity, for a middle name - just hope it doesn't end up a bit 'faddy' and dated in years to come.

OP posts:
Yardley42 · 09/11/2023 19:42

I always think of Anne of Green Gables, @AutumnNamechange, who said "the name Anne spelled with an E looks so much more distinguished than just plain old Ann"! I can't remember if Anne Shirley liked her name or not - I think not. But she was very firm about the E!

Hearing the word dreary a lot in these opinions... good to know!

OP posts:
AutumnNamechange · 09/11/2023 19:34

YourWinter · 09/11/2023 17:32

Anne. Middle names hardly get used and it’s better it to not be “out there”.

I disagree- as middle names are hardly used that’s the perfect reason to be bit out there. Having said that though, I know two little girls called Autumn as their first name so I don’t think it’s particularly out there these days :) It’s a beautiful name. Anne especially spelled that way is so dreary. If you do decide to use it, I would drop the ‘e’ off the end, or even Anna is better.

BlazingWorld · 09/11/2023 19:08

I personally think Autumn a bit odd for a non autumnal baby and prefer Anne, but you sound like you prefer Autumn so go for it! I think I wouldn't like to have Autumn as a middle name and I speak as someone with the second most boring middle name for a 1970s child.

MerryChristmasToYou · 09/11/2023 19:03

Anne is a pretty name but a boring middle name. I know so many who are Something Anne or Something Ann,. Go with the name you love.

Yardley42 · 09/11/2023 18:56

Interesting you had the same challenge, @Ittastesvile!

I've looked and looked for other names that include the 'an' sound, and not found any I like. I think I do prefer the simplicity and 'classy-ness' of Anne over any of the similar options, and of course it has the family connection.

And I've read through lists and lists of other 'A' names, @Crazycatladyy, and not found any that feel as right for me as Autumn!

Thanks for all the opinions! It's genuinely more helpful than I thought it would be! I don't have anyone to talk to about it and canvass opinion IRL as family don't want to know the name before the birth.

OP posts:
Eybyegum · 09/11/2023 18:47

As an Anne I say Autumn. Or Annie.