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Names for surprise babies...

30 replies

E11ejaye · 24/01/2024 13:34

This is a 2 part question! Please read my long essay for full context.
TLDR: I like the names Iris and Phoebe for a girl - husband will not entertain them because they are 'Greek' (other DCs have 'Greek names kinda accidentally and he doesn't want people to think we have a theme going on. I sort of agree with him).
We are also struggling for middle names for DD - My older DD has 'Belle' as a middle name. And we have made it a thing that she is called that because she is so beautiful (regretting life choices now). And our DS asked us if the new baby girl will have 'Belle' as a middle name or will she not be beautiful. I am not keen to give them both the same middle name. But I don't really like any alternatives... HELP!

I am pregnant with twins. Very unexpected. Clearly the implant in my arm doesn't work...
Anyway. We just found out we are having a boy and a girl (cute). I have a six year old DS and my DD turned 1 in November (I am probably going to die from the lack of sleep with the new additions).
I have SO many names I like (DH not so much) . For first names we are pretty set between two for the boy - James or Joseph.
For our new daughter we cannot really agree...
My DH recently found out that our older children have 'Greek' names. This was not intentional per sey - he chose our son's name and I had the final say on our DD's name. Full disclosure - I studied classics at uni and the name I liked came from a Greek goddess. I did mention that to DH at the time when we were choosing and he was cool with that. Recently, a friend pointed out that our son had a 'Greek' name too and asked if it was a 'theme'.
DH is now VERY keen to not have 'Greek' names for the twins. Hence, Joseph and James.
My DH's other name he liked when our DD was born was 'Phoebe'. Also a name I love. BUT it is 'Greek'. Apparently that is a no go. I also like 'Iris' but he is sneaky an has been reading up on Greek Myths and deities and it is also a 'Greek' name... He likes Deborah and Annabelle. Our existing DD's middle name is 'Belle'. I have vetoed Deborah and Annabelle.
The only other name we both like is Elizabeth. My mum HATES it though and has been very mean about it (not this time around - when we were considering names last time). Obviously, we have learnt our lesson not to share names we like with family and friends, but my Mum's hatred of the name has stuck with me.
Question 1: Anyone got any suggestions for a girls name that is fairly traditional but maybe not very much used (we hate odd spellings or made up names by the way).

In addition to DH liking the name 'Annabelle' for new baby girl and me vetoing it because our DD's middle name is 'Belle', our son asked us the other day whether the new baby girl will have 'Belle' as a middle name. Don't ask me why, but when we chose DD's names we had to provide her brother with good reasons why we gave her the names we did. We told him her middle name being 'Belle' meant that she was beautiful. He now want to know why we don't want the new baby girl to be beautiful (6 year old logic). I can foresee this becoming an issue in years to come between the two DDs... If one of them has a name which means she is 'beautiful' why doesn't the other one? Ugh.
I have tried looking up 'beautiful' in other languages and don't like any of them as names.

Q2: Anyone got any suggestions of a middle name that means something like beautiful that isn't 'Belle'????

OP posts:
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sendismylife · 24/01/2024 13:38

Clare - bright/shining

LenaLamont · 24/01/2024 13:38

Q2 - Bonnie

HerculesMulligan · 24/01/2024 13:38

Question 1: Mary, Victoria, Josephine, Amy, Clare, Constance, Louisa, Lucy.

Question 2: Ingrid or Bonnie? Both mean beautiful.

Shesellsseashellsh · 24/01/2024 13:41

Astrid = divinely beautiful?

DisforDarkChocolate · 24/01/2024 13:41

Miranda - worthy of admiration?

DisforDarkChocolate · 24/01/2024 13:42

Astrid?

Doublebiscuit77 · 24/01/2024 13:58
  1. Francesca, Genevieve, Madeleine, Seraphina, Lydia, Marianne, Miriam, Imogen, Adelaide.
  1. Bonnie

The worry about Greek themed names seems pretty silly as there are so many Greek derived words and names. I mean you'd cut out Philippa, Alexandra, Chloe, Sophia, Penelope, Helen etc etc.

PiggieWig · 24/01/2024 14:03
  1. Annie
PiggieWig · 24/01/2024 14:06
  1. Lyn, meaning pretty
Mysterian · 24/01/2024 14:14

Oops and Daisy.

Walkingtheplank · 24/01/2024 14:16

Freya is the Norse goddess of beauty.

I think Elizabeth is lovely.

KirstenBlest · 24/01/2024 14:22

Ashok for a boy, Jamila for a girl

mrmagpie · 24/01/2024 14:25

Well... I have an Iris and although I know it's Greek, I don't think anyone else does, they just assume it's a flower name. Ditto Phoebe to be honest, I don't think people really think too hard about this stuff. My one actual Greek friend doesn't know a single person called Iris.

Anyway, that's my thoughts on that. And on the Belle issue, there are a number of names meaning beautiful but my favourite is Rosalind.

MaloneMeadow · 24/01/2024 15:52

I think your DH is being unnecessarily difficult. Phoebe is lovely and I bet if you asked most people they’d have no idea it was Greek! I wouldn’t listen to someone who thinks Deborah of all things is a suitable name for your daughter’s opinions..

user1492757084 · 24/01/2024 15:59

Ideas ..

Eliza Bonnie and Joseph Clyde - gangster connection
Catriona Keeley and James Kenneth - beautiful meanings
Alanna Astrid and Joseph James - AA and JJ
Ingrid Phoebe and Joseph Hugh - light/bright connection
Camilla Aoife and James Beau - beauty connection

caringcarer · 24/01/2024 16:12

Whilst I was pregnant we referred to baby as 'boo' because he took us by surprise.

MrsMitford3 · 24/01/2024 16:16

Linda means beautiful-that might be a middle name option but doesn't really go with Phoebe or Iris-both of which are gorgeous names

ladygindiva · 24/01/2024 16:32

Calista means most beautiful.... In greek though🤣

Viviennemary · 24/01/2024 16:50

Just pick names you like and come to an agreement. All this no Greek names issue is just overcomplicating things.

I think Joseph and Iris would be a good choice. Not keen on Phoebe.

Onelife2024 · 24/01/2024 18:22

First name ideas -

Clara
Abigail
Rosa
Audrey
Claire
Helena
Louisa
Madeleine

Middle name ideas -

Freya - goddess of love and beauty
Lydia - beautiful one (Greek origins though!)
Astrid - divinely beautiful

Windymcwindyson · 24/01/2024 18:24

1 small dc..
1 baby.

And twins.
How about Bloody and Heck?!!

Wictc · 24/01/2024 18:27

Victoria - go Roman instead!

Diana, Aurora, or Luna if you want more classics?

FuckingAnnoyed · 24/01/2024 23:00

Middle name options:
Aurora
Snow
Joy
Grace
Jolie
Fauve

MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 24/01/2024 23:09

Jolie means beautiful according to Google and this one stood out to me from the list

Teagan is also apparently a Welsh origin name meaning beautiful

Anika
Farrah

Also both mean beautiful too

Enko · 24/01/2024 23:31

Grace or Joy for the middle name?

If you both like Phoebe honestly I'd use Phoebe.

Eloise or Eloisa
Caroline
Margaret