Does this middle name sound strange with our chosen first name?

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Our 20-week scan showed that we're having a girl, which is amazing and exciting - even more so because we couldn't agree on a boys name :-)

We both love Orla as a first name - reflects Irish heritage (we're using an anglicised version rather than Orlaith or Orlagh though as we live in England) and I'd love to use a much-loved and missed relative's name as a middle name, but DH isn't sure it "goes" with Orla.

What do you all think of Orla Joanie?

Lovely.

I don't think it goes BUT you have a specific reason for choosing it so I think that's as good a reason as any. She'll be known as OJ (pron ojay or oje) for definite too. Your surname's not Simpson is it?
BTW, when my dd was born we spent hours practising her full name, all very pretty, but didn't really think about the fact that rather than being e.g. Kate Gabriella Smith, in every day life she'd just be Kate Smith. You should be ok with Orla though.

I think it goes really well.

Doesn't sound strange at all. I love a middle name with meaning and personally think that as long as the initials don't spell something terrible it doesn't matter that much if it flows brilliantly or not. As pp said, you hardly ever say the whole name out loud. The meaning is far more important. Orla Joanie is sweet.

I really like it.

Sounds lovely! Don't worry about the initials thing, my DH initials are ASH he's never been called this, and my son's first two initials are CJ, again never even been a thought to call him this

I don't like Joanie (as a nickname yes but not as a given name) so am a bit biased. Is there a reason it can't be Joan? But I think in either case they do go together

I don't think they very well together, but unless you are using it as a hyphenated name and will call her by both, it doesn't really matter.

I had a similar issue with picking a name for our little boy - my fiancé’s twin brother passed away two years ago and so the middle name was always going to be Kieran after him and it’s not a name I love or one that is particularly easy to match a first name with.

I actually think the combination of names you’ve chosen goes nicely and it’s also a sweet gesture to remember a loved one. Sometimes choosing something that means something to you and honouring someone you love takes priority and your baby will always be able to carry the name with pride

Congratulations btw!

I think they go together quite well but Orla Joan would be better.

I did think that she could end up being nicknamed OJ but I don't think that would be the end of the world; she might like it! And no, Simpson isn't our surname 😁

Joan is actually the relative's name so yes, we absolutely could (should?) use it, but I thought Joanie was slightly younger/more modern-sounding.

Oh in that case Orla Joan is perfect!

I think they go well together - but prefer Joanie to Joan

Orla Joan is a lovely name.

Seems sweet timeless and classic all in one go.

But yes to OJ. My ds is Thomas Joseph. Pretty innocuous but he doesn't like Tom and refuses it. As it's quite a common name and he had other Thomas' (Thomas, Tommy and Tom) in his life he just became TJ.

It's quite funny because him and his 2 friends are Tom, Joe and TJ.

They are actually Thomas, Joseph and Thomas Joseph. And Joes brother is called Tom!

Joanie is much nicer than Joan, IME.

Remember your baby is only a baby for a small portion of her life- then she will be an adult. So Joan would be more appropriate than a ‘younger’ Joanie.

No one uses middle names apart from new parents when they are telling everyone the babies new name so I don't think it matters at all whether the names go together or not.
Having said that Orla Joan or Orla Joanie sounds very good together.

I think I prefer Joan to Joanie but both are lovely.

Orla Joan sounds best. Nice combination and not predictable.
Congratulations

I think Orla Joan is beautiful and would still be a good tribute to the relative. If it must be Joanie it's still fine. No one ever hears the middle name after the birth announcement anyway! I don't know any of my friend's middle names.

I prefer Orla Joan :) congrats!

Orla Joan is much nicer.

Thanks for replies everyone. Lots of people seem to prefer Orla Joan - wonder if two syllables then one syllable is more pleasing than two-then two . . .

I'm overthinking this, aren't I? 😁

Orla Joan has a nicer ring to it (in my opinion). Congrats by the way!

Orla Joan sounds better but I think Orla Joanie is a nicer name! I know a baby Joni (pronounced Joanie) so if do think it's gaining popularity.

Orla Joan seems to run off the tongue easier.

I knew an Orlaith Jean at uni. Always thought it sounded lovely.