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Baby names

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

Original poster

respecting grandparents names

31 replies

weegem · 19/05/2010 17:28

Hi everyone, I have been thinking about baby names since before I knew I was pregant. We had pretty much settled on Isla Lily as we know we are having a girl and I always said that if we had a girl I would give her a middle name after my grandmother who died. My problem now is I have just lost my grandfather last week and feel i should put his name in too ( Robert). Im not sure on Bobbie and also my cousin gave her dd the middle name lilli. Any thoughts?

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LaRagazzaInglese · 24/05/2010 09:50

Isla Romily? a bit Robert, a bit Lily?
or Bertie, or Bertha?

Hedwig3 · 20/05/2010 15:55

Vera - fab name!

I know that doesn't help.

Original poster
weegem · 20/05/2010 13:49

mathanxiety, you know your stuff about names. I quite like Faith, you have all been really helpful

OP posts:
imahappycamper · 20/05/2010 10:41

There is nothing wrong with Roberta as a middle name and it is obviously a feminine version of Robert.

BessieBoots · 20/05/2010 05:47

You could give name that reminds you of your grandfather instead- Faith, Hope?? Or a place name he was connected to?

mathanxiety · 20/05/2010 02:27

Irish for Robert is very similar to Robert; there's a Scottish custom of adding -ina to male names (Donaldina, Robertina....) but to my ears it sounds a little clunky.

Vera, on the other hand, is a name found in both Latin and Slavic languages, and it means both faith and truth. How about Faith? There's also Fay, a short form of Faith. There's also Verity. Alethea is a form of truth. Vera is nice by itself too, imo.

Original poster
weegem · 19/05/2010 22:06

I dont mind Roberta but my husband doesn't like it at all.

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Tidey · 19/05/2010 22:03

I knew a girl at school who had been named in honour of a dead male relative. So she had to go through life explaining why she had the middle name Derek.

midnightexpress · 19/05/2010 21:58

I like Roberta (thinking Roberta Flack maybe). And it's quite unusual these days. Bobbie or Robbie for a NN, maybe?

stleger · 19/05/2010 21:51

Is there a gaelic version of Robert? What was Robert the Bruce called? (My ds has Robert as a third name, every boy in my family has Robert shoved in if possible. I like Isla).

Original poster
weegem · 19/05/2010 21:45

The grandmother was my fathers mum and my recently passed away grandfather was my mums dad. His wife my only grandparent left is called Vera...don't think there is much I can do with that?!lol

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Bobbalina · 19/05/2010 21:33

Bobbalina?

JennyWren · 19/05/2010 21:28

I'm sorry for your recent loss. Could I ask if the grandmother you are referring to was your grandfather's wife (as opposed to your Mum's mum and Dad's dad, IYSWIM)? Because one way of honouring your grandfather's memory may well be to name your daughter after the woman he chose to spend his life with - his wife. I always felt that I wanted to remember my Grandad in my children's name - the one grandparent I have who died when I was a teenager - I was very close to him and of all my grandparents, he was the one who never met my children. As we had a DD first, we named her after his wife - a variant of her name so that even though she is still very much alive, the two names are never confused. But it meant a lot to me and it means a lot to Gran and to my mum, as well, as they know why we chose it.

Original poster
weegem · 19/05/2010 21:20

Thanks guys, I understand what your saying and I probly am putting too much on myself. This will certainly be my last baby as I already have a 4yr old son and both my pregancies have been horrific.

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mathanxiety · 19/05/2010 19:38

I think so too -- Robert is a tough one for a girl, but it's lovely for a boy.

5DollarShake · 19/05/2010 19:31

Yep, totally what Rockbird says. I don't think anyone would expect you to name a girl after a recently deceased grandfather, and as for calling her a girl's name that only has the same first syllable in common with his name (Robyn, Rowena, etc) - well, seriously, you might as well not bother, for all the connection it'll have.

Wait until you have a boy and can do it properly - problem solved.

nowwearefour · 19/05/2010 18:58

I agree with rockbird and plumbum. honouring a woman with a girl makes sense but not a man. next time you might have a boy and all will be made easy. take the weight off your shoulders and stop trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. dont worry re cousin having the same Lily middle name- both for the same reason i am assuming so it ties it al in nicely. Isla is a beautiful name btw

PlumBumMum · 19/05/2010 18:53

Agree with Rockbird completely

Rockbird · 19/05/2010 18:50

So you're having a girl but you feel you should honour your grandfather? With all due respect, that's nuts. Don't beat yourself up about it, you are having a girl, he was a boy. Leave it for next time, you're creating problems for yourself.

ajandjjmum · 19/05/2010 18:18

Save one of the names for your next baby?

Hedwig3 · 19/05/2010 18:11

How about Isla Lily and a name that means the same as Robert?

Original poster
weegem · 19/05/2010 18:02

Not sure on Rowena, but you's have given me lots to think about, thanks guys.

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mathanxiety · 19/05/2010 17:52

Rowena is similar and has some of the same meaning (the Ro part alludes to 'fame')... maybe a long shot?

Original poster
weegem · 19/05/2010 17:48

never thought about that, its an idea, dont know what this cousin would think about copying her names, even tho Robyn means more to me, it was just a name she liked.

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StewieGriffinsMom · 19/05/2010 17:45

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