We want our names as middle name for baby, but my name is awful.

[Mapricot]

We finally agreed on a name for our future daughter. We let go of the parents/relatives names. And I am happy about it. His name's girl version is beautiful but mine is awful. I don't even tell people, I use my middle name.

I was thinking maybe we could use an alternative. Do you know any name that sounds like Karen ? I was thinking of Kerry. But I'd love to hear about more options.

Names I think sound a bit similar to Karen are Kristen, Carrie, Kayla and Kathryn. I do think Kerry is a lovely choice though and I don't think a there's anything wrong with Karen but obviously if you don't like it, I understand not wanting to use it. Although she might like it when she's older cause it is your name.

Karin

I knew a little girl called Carin and always thought it was nice. Tbh everyone thought her name was Karen though because it does sound so similar.

But you could use Karenza? It's a variation on the Cornish word for love (kerensa).

Or just Keren, like Keren Woodward of Bananarama!

He doesn't get to insist. It's your bloody name and if you don't like it then don't use it.
The idea if naming a child after someone is meant to be as a tribute, a loving act. Forcing you to name your child something that you hate and that will cause you guilt because it is linked to you is far from lovinf.
If you don't want you use your name then you don't have to. You should be able to choose a name that you love if it is meant to be a tribute to you.
Do you have a favourite
Flower
Bird
Place
Gemstone etc that could be used as a middle name?
Or is their just another name that you would rather give to her?

Tell him to stop INSISTING and start LISTENING. He needs to respect the wishes of the baby's mother/his wife and compromise. Use your middle name if that is what you are known as. It has become your name, not the name you don't like and don't use.

I know a baby Keren. I also like Karen actually and never use it pejoratively because I think it's offensive.

But if you don't like it and would rather use your middle name, do it. My dc has two middle names, one chosen by me and one by DH. We would only have vetoed something truly heinous, I think only one person has asked about middle names since the birth announcement.

Are you married OP? Could you use your maiden name? Karen is a diminutive of Katherine, apparently, and means Pure if you can find another girl's name with a similar meaning. Or just invert it and use Nera.

Aerin
Erin

Use your middle name. Tell your husband to bog off

Keren?

Did you start using your middle name when Karen became an insult or have you always hated it? If the former, I think that's really sad. I know quite a few people called Karen and I only knew it was an insult because of MN. Never heard it used as an insult in real life. Anyway call your daughter whatever you want.

I like Kara. Or Wrenn (phonetic ending of Karen).

But I sort of agree that you should just choose a name you like. Won’t whatever you choose remind you of Karen anyway? I adored my gran but no way would I have saddled my DD with either of her bloody awful names!

How about Carmen?

"We want" no, he wants, you do not want. Be careful about not giving up your own sense of self in your relationship, he doesn't get to tell you how you feel.
Put your foot down and tell him exactly how you feel and that he can't tell you what names you like the sound of!

This. All very odd.

Karrie is what I would choose. Although it doesn’t seem like you have much say in your own baby’s name.

Your husband can't "insist" on anything. Naming a baby is a mutual decision and if you don't agree, it can't happen.

How about Ren? My friend shortens Karen to Ren.

Keren - it means ray of light in Hebrew.

Karen is a form of Katherine. You could use one of the many other forms of the name instead. Caitlin, Catriona, Carina, Catalina, Kay, Kerry...

Carina is probably the closest that is pretty.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine

Votes for: Catrin and Carrie

@Mapricot If you don’t want to use your actual name as your child’s middle name then there’s no point in choosing something that sounds similar. Same goes for the feminine version of your DH’s name - that’s not his name. I think you should scrap this idea and choose a completely unrelated name. Something completely new.

Just don’t use your name and either his name only or your middle name.
he doesn’t get to insist.

but then I think it’s a) weird and b) totally self obsessed to use your own name for your child so I wouldn’t use either

If you don't like your name why give it as a middle name? I don't know any other parents who've given their names to a child. Usually people give a middle name they like or the name of a relative. I gave my daughter my mum's name as a middle name as a tribute. I don't know - it would have felt a bit weird to pay tribute to myself!

Carrie, karina, Kiri