My favourite girl’s name doesn’t go with our surname :(

[Dazedandconfused170]

Hey everyone

I’m 22 weeks pregnant with our first child and we’ve really been struggling to agree on a name. I’d like a more unusual name but my partner isn’t always so sure.
Not many names have really stuck out for me but I stumbled across one I LOVE & every time I see it I want to choose it more - however when you combine it with my partners surname I think it sounds funny..

The name I love is Alba, the surname would be Bell
So Alba Bell

Is it too much of a mouthful with the B’s do you think? Am I overthinking it?

We would also have a middle name or even a double barrelled surname like Mae

What about Abra?

What does it sound like with your surname? Or double barrelled surnames?

I think you're right in that Alba Bell doesn't work.

It’s not that bad. Even if it runs together like “Albabell” it’s not like a real word or like if you picked “Bebé” as a name and had a babybel sounding name...

If anything it sounds a bit like an Annabel so maybe some people Might mishear it for that?

Go for it.

And don’t middle name it. Deffo not Mae. Yuck. Cowgirl Yankee Doodle name.

The is an Irish name Ailbhe (Alva sound)

Or Ava could work really well. Or Ada

I like it. I think the ba ending separates it from the Be enough. It would be different if it was two be sounds like Phoebe Bell.

Alba is a lovely name.

Ooh when you posted this OP I thought of the name Alba because it's the one I love but could never have because of our surname!!

I know what you mean about Alba Bell (I think it's the double B sound because it's so strong) but I don't think it's a deal breaker if you really love it. Have a middle name which you think flows well too?

You know Alba is the name of a new political party wanting Scottish independence, right? Alba is a historic name for part of Scotland.

However, if you love Alba and you're not married to your partner, why not use your surname if it flows better?

My nephew has a similar name with an ‘el’ before Bell, honestly it works fine. Also she could end up shortening her name (Ally?) or getting married and changing her name; but even if she didn’t, it still sounds fine to me! It’s not like Annabelle Bell!

I'm not sure, it does sound different enough to me and I think it sounds nice, but I can see how it can blend together depending on accent.

I don't think it's too many Bs, it's just the Bell bit can make it sound like a -belle name.

If your partner and you don't have the same surname, then I'd consider your surname or double-barelling the surname rather than the first name.

I've nowt against a double first name, many in my family use have them, but I wouldn't use Mae as then it could sound like Maybelle or Mabel. With such short names, I'd use a longer middle name as the breaker if you wanted to do that.

Some suggestions:

Isla, Sybilla, Bruna, Morgana, Sunna, Isolde, Luna, Eira

You will have a Baby Bell.

Alba is too Alec Salmondy.

I like it. It’s a great name

Are you Scottish?

I agree it doesn't really go with your surname. Can you use Alba as a middle name and find a name you like enough as the first name? This happened with my son, my favourite boys name just didn't go with our family name, so it's his middle name instead

It’s not pronounced with a B though, “Alapha Bell” isn’t bad....

I didn't give DD a middle name i loved because I thought it didn't go. in fact, it was fine, I was just worrying and have always regretted it.

Nothing wrong with Alba Bell! And Alba is a lovely name.

@NoNobramma

And don’t middle name it. Deffo not Mae. Yuck. Cowgirl Yankee Doodle name.

I'm sure quite a few people on here have Mae as a middle name or chose it for their child (me included).

Did you have to be so mean and judgemental about it?

It's a beautiful name OP, and I think it sounds nice 😊

Easy solution. Give baby your surname. You should give baby your surname anyway - children should have the same surname as their mother. With or without father's surname as a second surname or middle name.

Thanks for all your quick responses!
I’m not Scottish and it would be pronounced just Alba.

I think that’s a good idea about having it as a middle name @4amWitchingHour

We’re not married but we’ve agreed to use my partner’s surname, we can’t double barrel our surnames together as it sounds pretty ridiculous.

To be honest, any name we choose people will find fault with unless we choose a really common one I guess.

It’s a minefield isn’t it! Sometimes the more you know you can’t have the name the more you want it!

I just realised that the way I tried to badly phonetically spell in my last post makes it look like it has an F sound...it doesn’t.
I should just stop lol

Op give the child your surname. If you change your name on marriage then you can change your child’s name too.

Alba is a lovely name.