Girl names to honour family members

[NewMum2023]

This is my first ever post on Mumsnet and figured it would be filled with creative minds!

My husband and I are expecting our first baby and recently found out we’re having a girl. We’re both delighted and can’t wait to pick a name already. We’re looking for a beautiful name to honour family members.

Will you help us? What first and middle names can you come up with from the following (could be names that sound like the below too)

Grace, Marian, Emma, Angelina, Eleanor and Amy.

From your current list:
Marian Amy
Eleanor Grace

Other suggestions:
Eleanora Amy
Marianne Jamie
Angelica Grace

Onora is Irish for honour.

I quite like Onora Grace

I really like Marian from your list

Marian Angelina will be my choice. Perhaps one name from your side of the family and the other from DH’s side?

Love Eleanor so I'd use that as a first name.

Eleanor Amy
Marion Grace
Amy Emma
Amy Grace

Marian Grace

Not Grace as a middle name, because it's too popular.

First names: Angelina too long, Eleanor will be another Ellie, Amy overused in the 1990s, Emma is a classic, Marian seems a bit ready for a comeback

Op, just make sure you're not in the situation I find myself in. My sister had a girl last year and has named her after two close, recently deceased family members. She didn't say to anyone before announcing the name and I have to say when I found out I was gutted. I would have really liked to have used either of the names for my children, I totally understand why my sister chose to do this but maybe clear it with family members before using up all the family names. I feel like now my own children won't have that same connection to my family that my niece has.

Evangeline Amy
Evangelina Grace

Evangeline/Evangelina doesn't have to become another Evie. You could use Anne, Vanna, Lina etc. as a nn.

This is odd, most families I know share the use of honour names. It's no big deal if three children in the family all have the middle name Elizabeth after a beloved granny Elizabeth, for example! Family names are up for grabs for any family members, whether or not they've already been used.

Grace, Marian, Emma, Angelina, Eleanor and Amy.

Marianne Emma Angelica

Emma Angelica

Emma Angelica Grace

Emmeline Angelica

Marianne Angelica

Marianne Eleanor

Marianne Eleanor Grace

Eleanor Marianne

Eleanor Marianne Grace

Nice names, I think Marian’s a bit dumpy so would upgrade to Marianne.

Grace is v popular and a standard filler middle name, so I’d make it one of three if you use it

Eleanor also v popular

I’d go for Marianne or Emma as a first name

Why didn’t you just use them??

It’s completely common and normal for the grandchildren in a family to all have the same grandparent names as each other.

They are family names. That’s the point.

Lots of family names are repeated. My grandmother, mother, cousin and sister all have the same name somewhere in their name (along with too many of my mother's cousins and aunts to count). I plan to use it as a middle name if I have a girl, but wouldn't think to check with anyone in my family because I'd assume they'd still use it if they want to, just like I'd still use it.

Just look at how many of the royal family offspring have Elizabeth in name (Charlotte, Anne, Zara, Lena Tindall, Isla Phillips, Beatrice, Sienna, Louise). That's every single branch of the royal family who've had a girl.

The whole point of family names is that they're used often by the family. There's nothing stopping you using those names and your sister wasn't unreasonable to use them. You might not have even had one girls, let alone two.

I feel like I can't use them because the names have been used for my niece's first name and I think it would be odd for both the children and the rest of the family if they had the same name just different surnames. I also know that my sister wouldn't be happy, she didn't say anything about using the names purposely knowing I would have had something to say

Evangeline Amy (I know not on the list but you said similar!)

I would go for Amy Marianne.

@Frida9
I’d just use the names too. Both my D nephews have the same middle name and it’s completely fine - they both like having the same middle name too - not that they or any of the family really think about it much though.

Amelie Grace
Nora Grace
Emma Anne
Annie Lenor
Emelia Elle

What about Gemma? It’s made up using the first initial of all those names

Names I like, inspired from your list ..

Majella Grace
Mariella Grace
Amaryllis Emma
Graciella Joy

Eleanor Grace -
Ellie, Elena, Elle could do short for Eleanor.

Grace Marian -
Gracie Marian or Grainne (Irish for Grace and means love) Marian

Marian should be revived, it’s lovely. Also Marianne as an alternative.

Grace is a bit ‘filler’ as a middle name, but it is pretty.

Marian/ Marianne Grace would be my choice