Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

baby girl - similar first & middle names - Athena Arabella

21 replies

AlyssaJane2 · 14/11/2021 11:45

Baby girl due Feb. DP likes the first & middle name to be similar - currently we are set on Athena Arabella - he thinks this is cool & likes they are very similar - is this something others would laugh at? for reference surname is nothing like this - think Smith

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
toadstool32 · 14/11/2021 11:51

It doesn't really roll off the tongue but middle names are rarely said out loud so as long as you're both happy that's fine

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 14/11/2021 11:53

I love alliterative babes. I think it sounds rather cool.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 14/11/2021 11:53

*names, not babes!

Viviennemary · 14/11/2021 11:54

Its a bit of a mouthful and doesn't flow very well.

Alfixn · 14/11/2021 12:22

I think it's OK. Plus as above, middle names are rarely even said...i don't know the middle names of 95% of people i know, even some pretty close family!!

toastofthetown · 14/11/2021 12:48

I don’t think it matters too much as long as you don’t mind as middle names are only used rarely. It’s a bit of a mouthful and flow isn’t great, but then I’d gene try to avoid one name ending and the next beginning with the same sound. I might privately wonder when I first heard the name if you got bored after the A section of the baby name book, but I don’t think it’s something anyone would laugh at.

Pumpkinsonparade · 14/11/2021 12:50

Be even cooler if your surname was Milne!!

ratussbaguss · 14/11/2021 22:11

They are nice names. It's a bit OTT but who cares if you like it.

Ellmau · 14/11/2021 22:47

I think it sounds OK, and both are nice names.

Avarua · 14/11/2021 22:50

Arabella Agnès ?

DramaAlpaca · 14/11/2021 23:08

It's fine. I prefer it the other way round though, Arabella Athena.

LozMarieFielder · 15/11/2021 10:24

It’s definitely not something others would laugh at. It is a bit too similar but then they are such lovely names that I’d use them both anyway.

Irishfarmer · 15/11/2021 11:17

Def wouldn't laugh at it, as other have said it is unlikely that most people will even know what her middle name is.

Edenember · 16/11/2021 09:28

I think it’s very limiting to purposely seek names for first and middles that are similar - surely it should just be names you both love for whatever reason? If it was the case incidentally then that’s different - it just seems a very arbitrary basis for choosing a name.
That said, the names are fine (really like Athena) and the combo is not mockable in the slightest. Most people won’t ever know the middle exists let alone say it aloud.

For the record, although both are a names start and end, I find them very different stylistically. Athena is classical and mythological with that strong e sound, Arabella is frilly and princessy.

Crunchymum · 16/11/2021 11:15

@DramaAlpaca

It's fine. I prefer it the other way round though, Arabella Athena.
I agree, much prefer it this way round.
thewhatsit · 16/11/2021 12:56

I wouldn’t laugh. It’s a middle name.. I don’t even know half my friends’ kids’ middle names, the other half I know from when they announced them only. The combination is totally fine.

thewhatsit · 16/11/2021 13:08

And on the point about which way round sounds better, the only consideration should be whether you want a DD called Athena or one called Arabella. It would be a shame not to use the name you wanted and have it buried as a middle name that no one ever says.

Nancydrawn · 16/11/2021 13:38

It's trying a bit hard--feels forced.

Luredbyapomegranate · 16/11/2021 22:03

They might laugh a bit - it's fussy and doesn't really roll off the tongue, but they are nice names, so who cares really, she'll hardly use her middle name.

Fl0w3ry · 17/11/2021 23:37

I think it sounds nice. People never use their middle names, but I like the 2 names together. I like the name Arabella slightly more than Athena.

35andThriving · 19/11/2021 10:33

I think this is a very beautiful, elegant name choice.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page