Edith Tabitha or Edith Calliope and what to do with my last name?

[purpletrees16]

48 hours to decide due to a sneaky preregistration form forcing our hand. My husband chose her first name (which I really like) and is happy with either middle names. We’ve narrowed down a long list but he has an extensive living family that all keep in touch (think multiple visits per year upwards of 70 people) so if it’s a popular name in the UK then likely she already has a second cousin who she will meet in May.

Which of the two options do you prefer?

Edith Tabitha - Tabitha is a bible story I always liked (she’s a female disciple who gives to the poor) & the name I liked as a child. I am Christian.

Edith Calliope - all my mum’s family are named after character’s from the Odyssey. Also extended family have kept a classical theme. Calliope is goddess of eloquence and her myths have positive experiences for her (not her kids though.)

Finally, I didn’t take my husband’s name at marriage as it’s my name, my identity (I go by my initials as shortening), and I didn’t want to change it. However, I have no desire to pass it to the next generation so she will have my husband’s last name.

Would sticking my last name as a middle name (legally there but never used verbally) make any legal or travel processes easier? From what I’ve read, I think it doesn’t? If so, I won’t bother.

thanks for the help!

I really love Edith! I really love Tabitha too, so that gets my vote, but it sounds to me like Calliope might have more significance to you? And it is also a lovely name. So regardless of what people say here, go with what is right for you!

Calliope gets my vote. Don’t worry about the last name. If you’re travelling alone overseas with your kids you may get asked to show birth certificates and/or other documentation from the other parent proving that you aren’t kidnapping them but that’s the same whether or not you share the same name with the child.

I like Edith Tabitha the best. I don’t think adding your surname as a middle name would make anything easier so I wouldn’t unless it’s really important to you that she has it in her name somewhere.

I'd chose both names! I think Edith actually works better as a middle name too personally, but both Tabitha and s calliope are lovely names

Surname - I'd use both there too

I love Tabitha, and the meaning behind it. Congratulations!

Edith Tabitha is quite a mouthful.

I'd choose Edith Calliope [your surname] [DH surname] as the full BC name.

Edith is so nice.

DS has my given surname as his 3rd name so X Y( middle name ) then my last name then DH last name. It is on his passport and also mine as I never changed my name - no idea if it would help for travelling but I have never had a problem travelling with DS solo. I did say when he got older he could hyphenate but he thinks too much of a faff and doesn't much like hyphenated names

This is my favoured combo too.
I like the connection of using Caliope with the rest of your family's names.

Edith is at least 100 years old, I cannot see a little baby. Tabitha was a cat.

Edith is lovely with either of the names.
Edith and Tabitha both have a strong TH sound so I would not use it. I would go with ..

Edith Calliope

Other suggestions ..
Edith Photini
Edith Clemency
Edith Annabella
Edith Mary

Edith Calliope Wilson (or whatever your DH’s surname is) flows well.

I would do Edith Calliope Your two surnames hyphenated.

Naming our child after both of us was important to me but it’s personal choice.

Personally I think you just call her Calliope.

But that’s because I don’t like Edith, sorry.

Plus Callie is a cool nickname.

I love both Tabitha and Calliope as names. I think I would put Calliope with Edith.

She's got good first name and surname so I'd pick Calliope so it's an actual tie to your families names not just one you like best

I think Calliope goes better with Edith (avoids the two "th" sounds) plus there's the nice family connection

Tell that to my beautiful 5yo niece who rocks her name (and doesn't go by Edie)

Honestly................

Very helpful 🙄

Calliope Edith.

Edith Tabitha!

Edith Tabitha! Love the double th

I prefer Tabitha but not only do the two ths make it sound a bit tongue twisty, the T after the th is hard to pronounce. So Edith Calliope. All beautiful names.

@Bbq1 , Babies called Edith in England & Wales since 1996 (darkgreener.com)
Babies called Edie in England & Wales since 1996 (darkgreener.com)
Babies called Eden in England & Wales since 1996 (darkgreener.com)

I did look it up before I posted and it's not in the current Top 100

@bbq1,The ONS data for 2021 shows it at #83. Other sites don't usually tell where they got the data.

The ONS is based on all babies registered.