Baby name - only a few days to decide!

[FTMRLH]

We are registering our baby next week.
We have given her the first name Olive.

And my husband wants the middle name to be Doris after his great grandma.

What’s everyone’s opinions on this? The midwives said it’s too old sounding and made me question our decision.

Any other suggestions for a second middle name or an alternative that’s still honouring his grandma?

Thanks

[TracyBeakerSoYeah]

I think it's important to think what the child will think about their name as they grow up.
Some may like, some may hate being called Olive Doris.
Personally I would hate it.
But if hypothetically I was your child & you named me
Doria Olive or even
Isadora Olive I would be quite happy.
(Love Isadora btw)

[MadeOfStarStuff]

Personally, I don’t like it sorry, I think I prefer Doris oddly, maybe because Dory is a cute nickname

But very rude of the midwife to comment! Both names are objectively fine, no weird spellings or pronunciations, well known as names even if not currently popular, no awful meanings or associations

[FartnissEverbeans]

I think it’s a really sweet name!

[olidora63]

Olive really is a beautiful name .Am not so sure about Doris.Congratulations 💐

[MintyGreenDream]

What about Doria?

[Tardigrade001]

Dora would be better. Or Dorothy. But you can use Doris anyway. No one introduces themselves with their first and middle name together, so they don't necessarily have to 'flow'. People only (weirdly) do that with new babies, then it goes to first/preferred name for the rest of their life.

[IsolaPribby]

@Enko

I think Olive Doris is really lovely. I like middle-names that has meaning like named after a loved one or reasons for why picked.

The Chinese have a belief that if you name your child after someone a part of them lives on in the child. What a wonderful gift for your dd to be named after someone your dh loved that much he still wishes to honor her now. What a beautiful reason to give your child her name.

@Enko this is beautiful, and brings me great joy. My daughter, who is now 11, has Elizabeth as her middle name after her Babcia, my Mum. She has definitely inherited artistic talent and love of gardening from her. They have been very close, and her having her name has been of great comfort after my Mum passed away a few months ago.

[TerribleCustomerCervix]

Doria has the same root and works a bit better with the first name- Olive Doria.

[IsolaPribby]

Would you consider Olivia Doris? It flows much more smoothly.

[IcedCoffeeAlways]

@Enko

I think Olive Doris is really lovely. I like middle-names that has meaning like named after a loved one or reasons for why picked.

The Chinese have a belief that if you name your child after someone a part of them lives on in the child. What a wonderful gift for your dd to be named after someone your dh loved that much he still wishes to honor her now. What a beautiful reason to give your child her name.

@Enko Completely agree with this ❤️ I gave my DS1 my Papa’s (grandfather) name as his middle name. He’s very much still alive but is one of my favourite people in the world and to me it was the best way I could chose to honour how amazing he is. He was absolutely overjoyed when we told him his Great Grandsons name 💙

I think honouring a family member, both living or passed, is lovely!

[SugarPlum10]

I’d add a middle name between Olive and Doris. I don’t think there is anything wrong with Doris considering the current vintage name revival but to me, it doesn’t flow very well straight after Olive. That way you are still honouring your DH’s GG. I know people with about 5 middle names

[IcedCoffeeAlways]

I agree with others - very rude midwife! Although when I had my DS last year an older midwife in the room asked his name and her reply was “Oh, thank goodness we have a normal name! We’ve had some crackers this week! There was a “Fox” yesterday!”. I don’t really think it’s their place to comment unless asked!

I think it’s lovely to honour a family member like that OP 😊 absolutely nothing wrong with the name at all 😊 I do think that perhaps it would flow better with another name in between though so “Olive ‘something’ Doris” - is there a family name on your side that you might like to use?

Congratulations on your little girl 😊

[DFOD]

What was so special about his GGM - more so than his GM or DM? Would either of their names work as a link?

[Enko]

I think Olive Doris is really lovely. I like middle-names that has meaning like named after a loved one or reasons for why picked.

The Chinese have a belief that if you name your child after someone a part of them lives on in the child. What a wonderful gift for your dd to be named after someone your dh loved that much he still wishes to honor her now. What a beautiful reason to give your child her name.

[OrangeAndYellowAndBlue]

I love the previous suggestion of something like Olive Amelia Doris.

I think Doris is completely fine as a middle name if she's named after someone, but I think Dora would be a lovely alternative too.

[EdgeOfACoin]

Could you add in a second middle name to make it flow better? I think four-syllable names work well:

Olive Elizabeth Doris
Olive Amelia Doris
Olive Cecilia Doris
Olive Alessia Doris
Olive Hermione Doris

As for Doris being old-fashioned... given that Arthur, Stanley, Mabel, Elsie and Ada are firmly on the 'comeback' list, I don't see why Doris should be any different! Especially as it is a meaningful family name.

Let's face it, you're unlikely ever to see these midwives again. Don't let them put you off a name just because they think it sounds old-fashioned.

[DFOD]

What other names were on your short list for first names - might be an opportunity to soften it?

[Holly60]

If it’s important to your DH you should have Doris in there. Have you another name that you could have in addition? So Olive ‘3rd name’ Doris?

[bogeythefungusman]

Rude midwife. Both names are great, but don't sound great together - think it's the 'i' sound being very similar in both, pronounced like the i in mint.

But people rarely use middle names so it won't be an issue. One of my favourite people is called Doris so it has lovely vibes to me.

[babynamelover]

I used family names for both my daughter's middles. It's a lovely way to connect them to their roots especially if the person has passed.

Olive Doris is lovely

[BeKindBeYou]

I meant Olivier!

[BeKindBeYou]

The midwives should have never have said that.

However, I don’t think it flows that well. However, Olive Dorothy or Oliver Doris does :) both lovely names!

[Maudey]

Olive Doris doesn't really work.

Olive Dorothy?

[DramaAlpaca]

Olive is fab, but Doris doesn't flow with it. The suggestion of Dorothy above is a good one. Up to you, of course.

[WeasilyPleased]

Olive Dorinda? Tell the midwives to shove off. Rude.