Third baby name help!

[Blacktommer]

I’m expecting my third baby in a couple of days. We don’t know the gender so we have a couple names for each.

The dilemma I am having is with one of the boys names.

I already have a son called Cael (pronounced as Kale) and a daughter called Eden.

One of the names we have on our list is Cian but I’m not sure if this sounds too much like Eden? What do people think?

The meaning is both ancient and enduring and ironically this baby was an embryo in the freezer for over 10 years and it’s been a pregnancy that had the odds stacked against it but we made it through so I do feel it’s quite fitting! But will we live to regret the similarity with Eden?

Yes.

Congrats to you!

They’re all quite similar. You might like that though?! What else do you have on your list?

Shem is our other choice. Not because I’m religious (Shem was Noah’s first son), but because I like it as an alternative to Seamus. My uncles name was Seamus with the nickname Shim which I thought was the coolest growing up. I’m not keen on the standard alternatives of Shay or Shea. There’s a couple hurlers nicknamed Shem with the name Seamus. It’s unique I know so not all will be a fan!

Cian is lovely! And it goes well with Cael and Eden, not too similar.

It’s a beautiful name (they all are) but I think that they sound too similar. Try calling both Eden and Cian down for dinner!

Shem is gorgeous.

It’s like you’ve mixed their two names together.

I think Cian goes really well

Thank you! I think the key is the pronunciation but I can’t help but thinking it will sound too similar if said quickly!

This was my thoughts exactly re: calling them for dinner! Or trying to get them out of the house on the school run. My daughter Eden already has her name called 1000 times at least a day (She’s that kind of second child!!).

Thank you for your positive comment on the name Shem. I know its niche and not everyone’s cup of tea!

Sorry replied to the wrong person which I can’t seem to change/delete!

I agree even though unintentional. That said they were all created at the same time. All ivf babies. Only three embryos yet all took so feel incredibly blessed. My daughter recently told the teachers in reception how she was in the freezer for 3 years 😂

Thank you! I think so too! It’s just the small hang up on it sounding similar with Eden which has given me small niggling doubts.

Your kids names are lovely and I think Cian goes well! I prefer it to Shem.
Do you like Cillian?

Ah thank you! I do like Cillian also and it was on the list at one point but my husband isn’t too sold on it unfortunately so we took it off. These are the two it’s been whittled down to. Have found it so much harder to select names for a third!

Cian does sound a real mix between Cael and Eden to me, so personally of the two I prefer Shem for a sibset - as I think then the individual names stand out more. I also like similar Hebrew names Bram or Oren/Orin if that’s any help (but they may not be to your taste).

Congrats on managing to get 3 DC out of 3 embryos btw - that’s amazing, just shows it really is quality over quantity (just about to have a FET myself, I only got a few embryos too).

Cian sounds like a mix of Eden and Cael. Cain and Cael sounds very much like Kenan and Kel. So I say no don’t name him that. I like Shem.

I rather think that Carl, Eden and Cormac roll off the tongue nicely. Or loudly.

Sorry, Cael. I did write Cael.

@TheSandgroper Cormac is nice but not for me. Also I’m due Tuesday, no time to add another name to mull over lol!

And no worries on the Carl. Predictive text doesn’t like Cael lol!

@Overthebow I hear that for sure, but do millennials even know who Kenan and Kel are? My eight year old certainly doesn’t. It’s Mr Beast and KSI these days 🤪

@LucasBuck I do agree with the individuality of Shem compared to Cian. I had said this to my husband a few weeks back also but he didn’t agree and favours Cian. My son Cael also isn’t keen on Shem (it’s a family counsel now lol!). Those names you mention are nice but not for me. Also too late to add anymore names to the mix now to try mull over given I’m about to give birth any day. It’s definitely going to be either of these two if it’s a boy. I guess the crunch will come when he/she is born. I just hope I’m not one of those ones who is still undecided right up to the time we have to register lol!

And thank you! My first two were 4BBs and this one was a 4BC. I don’t think people understand how mentally and physically gruelling it can be. I really wish you all the best! You have got this! Xx

I love Shem. It has it's own distict sound and it has a lovely family history.

@user1492757084 Thank you! It’s reassuring to hear some positive feedback on it from others. I told two friends and both gave me a negative reaction so haven’t mentioned it to anyone else.

I agree.

I practised shouting out prospective babynames across the play park to my DH on the other side along a similar vein as calling them down for dinner. 😂 It definitely changed our perspective on one of our possibilities and we struck it from our list 😂

I would vote for Shem - then each of them would have a different initial, so no confusion if they are sent cards through the post!