Thursday, October 6, 2011

What's in a Name...Again!

We cannot, yes, CANNOT decide on a name for Little Miss! I say cannot, I mean it! Oh my goodness, it's driving me crrrraaazzzyyyy!!!!!
When I was pregnant with the triplets, Tim and I had no problem coming up with three girl names and three boy names and the moment we found out it was three girls (for sure) they each had the most perfect names for our family, even before the sonogram was over. After the girls were born, I thought I knew exactly what I would name another girl, if we were so blessed to have one, but now I have no idea and everything I come up with, sounds good for a day and then it just doesn't seem fit for her or our family.

Here our my issues:

1. I want something traditional but not too uncommon. I'm not a fan of super modern names. I picture this little girl as a little girl, a 16 year old, a CEO of a company, a grandmother...all with a name and what it would be like for her at every age and stage of life.
2. We might change our last name. Long story, but since we don't have any contact, nor want any contact with Tim's biological father, Tim came up with the idea to use his mother's maiden name, since it will not go on to another generation, since his PopPop had all daughters too (five daughters....girls run in his family...shocker, right?!?!). It's something we have been thinking a lot about and praying over to see if it's the right thing for us. So the name has to sound ok with Gaydos, if we keep it, or Steinert, if we choose to change it before the girls go to Kindergarten. I won't change it once the girls learn their "full name" because I don't want to confuse them. (Personally, I would love to change it because my initials would be the same as I have always had, H.S....but I am leaving the decision up to Tim and I support him either way.)

3. Tim hates everything I come up with but hasn't come up with the perfect name to offer to the table! He likes names with nicknames and we already agreed awhile ago not to do that. He currently like Allison, and call her Allie, or Abigail and call her Abbey.

4. Since we have a "Natalee", I don't really want to name any future daughters with the ending of "lee/leigh". Silly, maybe but oh well. For example, I love Emily, but I don't like the "lee" ending, but I hate Emma (the number one name in 2011 so far). I keep coming up with "lee" ending names that I like, but if I go with anything "lee" ending, I might as well go with Emily!

5. Since we are very firm about Madelynn being a Madelynn, and NEVER a Maddy (Tim thinks Maddy is a dogs name, and we have a few friends with dogs named Maddy), we don't want to name another baby with anything that has a nickname. For example, we love Abigail, but I know I would call her Abbey and I don't want Madelynn wondering why she can't be called Maddy when she a teenager, if Abigail can be an Abbey. Maybe silly again, but I don't care! Tim loves Abbey and Allie for Allison. We always say and still continue to think that if Madelynn ever has a nickaname, it will be Lynn, since Tim loves that name and it's my middle name.

6. I love the name Caroline and was almost positive that would be the name of Little Miss but I don't want two children with the same first letter initial. I silly too, right!

7. It has to "fit" our family. I don't want Madelynn, Claire, Natalee and some super modern name that doesn't "fit". It needs to be something a little older and more mature and not something "made-up", like so many horrible names are these days!

8. And just like I said when we were coming up with names for the girls, I want something that sounds nice when I'm yelling for them across a crowded swimming pool or gym when they are playing basketball! I always cringe when I'm somewhere and I hear some horrible name of a child, and I just think about the poor kid growing up with such a terrible name and what those crazy parent's were thinking!

9. I want our children to always know that each of them are a special gift from God and we took time and effort to put a lot of thought into the perfect name for them. If God chose them specifically for our family, we want a name that is specifically for them and what God sees fit for them.

So.....names I like and are still considering (no real order):
1. Emily ("lee" issues...but still my number one)
2. Abigail (nickname issue, but still my number two)
3. Avery (a little more modern than I would like, but for soem reason it draws to me)
4. Caroline (same first initial issue, still close to number three at this time)
5. Leah (loved at first, but not anymore)
6. Savannah (Tim hates and says it's too southern, but I still love it)
7. Ava
8. Samantha (if we change our last name to Steinert, than two of the same initials..a no no)
9. Anna (Tim likes this)
10. Sydney
11. Allison (this is Tim's current favorite)
12. Lindsey
13. Sofie/Sofia
14. Makayla (first initial issue)
15. Julia
16. Julianne

Middle name that I want, pretty sure of at this time: Kate or Katherine. I think Kate is super cute, but may be a little more modern with some names than I would like. Katherine goes well with most of my names I like too though. I love Emily Kate, but I like Abigail Katherine too! But I would not like Makayla Kate or Allison Kate..for obvious reasons...it sounds horrible.

I also love Grace for a middle name, but I wouldn't want to use it if we keep our "G" last name, because I don't want two of the same initials, like Ava Grace Gaydos - AGG or Makayla Grace Gaydos - MGG. No way, even though I think both sound really nice!

So, can anyone help me out here.... What do you like? Little Miss needs a name!!!!

33 comments:

  1. I love the name Emily!! (my name is Emily!)

    Even being completely unbiased, I feel like it is the best option for you guys. Traditional but a generally popular name - all your darling girls names rank well into the top 100.

    It doesn't generally get shortened, not like Abigail where I haven't met a single girl who has got to her teens without always being called Abbey.

    And it doesn't repeat an initial! Something that also thing is very important, especially when you have kids of the same gender :)

    I wouldn't worry about the repeated lee sound to be honest, it is not the same spelling.

    Best of luck finding a name :)

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  2. My daughter's name was supposed to be Abigail, but we changed it 5 days before she came out. I never wanted to call her Abby, and my hubby did, so that is now my daughter's middle name, instead of first name! Her first name is Kathryn and we call her Katie.

    How about Kaitlyn, Gayle, Emilyana (combo of two names you love), Carly, Paige, Jessica, Jacqueline, or Heather?

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  3. Olivia, Nora, Rachael, Lola, Aimee

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  4. I was the person who sent you the first comment - just thought how about Emmeline or Emilia (pronounced either like Amelia with an E or Emily-a)

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  5. What about Hannah it seems to fit with the other girls names and it's traditional but not crazy common..

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  6. I really like Ava Kate or as someone else suggested - Hannah. Hannah Katherine.

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  7. My brain is spinning for you! I think Emily, Ava, or Hannah all fit very nicely with your girls' names. I wouldn't do Abigail if you hate the nickname. I have to agree...I have never known an Abigail that isn't called Abby. As much as it might drive you crazy you could wait until you meet her? Have the list narrowed down to 2? Best of luck!

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  8. Just picked the winner for the GoGreen diaper and it's YOU!!! :) Congrats!

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  9. Stumbled across your blog from another. You could always spell Caroline with a K. I had a friend from college who spelled her name like that. There is also Amelia. Popular, but not too popular.

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  10. I like Caroline also.. and I thought it fit well being... MCNC (Madelynn, Claire, Natalee, Caroline) I also am a fan of Hannah, it fits well with the other names

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  11. I love the name Anna Katherine. It sounds traditional, but I think it's classic. Also, then you would have 2 long names ( madelynn and natalee ) and 2 short ( claire and anna )

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  12. I feel for you. Naming is hard business. I'm impressed you named your triplets so easily. My husband and I had a hard time at first naming our triplets. I had a weird strong desire for all my kids' names to end the same way (Anson, Reagan and Madilyn) so I know what you mean about having a strong opinion about certain things with naming! It's funny so many commenters have suggested Hannah. That was our top girl name until we found out it was triplets. Then we didn't want to use it because our only friends with triplets already had a Hannah. I think it's neat you want Madelynn to stay Madelynn instead of "Maddy". We're the same way. Have some people called her Maddy anyway? Some people call my Madilyn Maddy and I used to dislike that nickname, but it's growing on me. I figure if she really wants to be a Maddy when she is older it is her decision. But I sure hope not or else that throws off my naming coordination of them all ending the same way! Anyway, I really like Ava, Caroline and Emily too. Good luck!

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  13. How about:

    Sarah
    Hannah
    Rachel
    Anna
    Eliza
    Kristen
    Ashley
    Jenna


    Maybe since you have 2 girls with 3 syllable names and 1 with a 1 syllable, this one should have a 1 syllable?

    Beth
    Paige
    Brooke
    Anne
    Brynn


    Whichever name you decide on will be perfect for her. You'll know it once you hear it.

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  14. I have to say, I agree with all of the posts of Hannah. I think Hannah Kate would be wonderful! And it sounds nice with the rest of the girls names too.

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  15. What about...

    Lindsay (Katherine)
    Hannah (Danielle? or Katherine)
    Danielle (Katherine)
    Ella (Katherine)
    Charlotte (Katherine)
    Sofie/Sophie (Katherine)
    Sofia/Sophia (Kate)

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  16. Of your list, Anna is my favorite. It goes great with Katherine or Grace, Gaydos or Steinert. It's a truly timeless, refined, cute and mature name. It "fits" with the triplets' names.

    I think Savannah is a bit trendy; it doesn't fit with Madelynn, Claire and Natalee. Sophia/Sofia is nice and timeless, but it is very popular right now.I don't know if you have an aversion to names that are very popular. She might have 2 or 3 other Sophias in her 1st grade class.

    Personally, I hate the name Makayla/Mikayla with that spelling. It looks too phonetic and "made up" to me, definitely not the name of a company executive. The original name is Michaela, a feminine form of Michael, and I like that spelling okay. Apologies if it's a favorite, just offering a perspective you may not have considered.

    Everyone can suggest names, but ultimately you choose a name for your own reasons. I guess just do a "name dump" and list as many names as you can from as many sources as you can think of including family, friends, famous people you admire, historical figures, fictional characters, names that reflect your heritage, saints/biblical names, etc.

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  17. Are "H" or "T" names out of the running as well?

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  18. What about Elise? I think it fits your criteria, and it definitely does not have a nickname to it.

    Check out www.babynamewizard.com. They have a pretty comprehensive search, allowing you to require or exclude a variety of characteristics. Plus, when you click on a name, you get to see the historical and geographical popularity or the name AND hear what others think of the name/people's experiences with having that name.

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  19. I vote for Anna. It's a classic name and will work well at any phase of life. Sarah is another classic name like that. Others that might work given the criteria you listed: Alisa, Kara, Kayla, Lauren. It's so fun to think about baby names for someone else, but so hard to actually pick one when it's for your own baby.

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  20. Hannah love the name!!

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  21. I loved this post! It's so fun to hear how other decide on names! I have to follow along with your other readers and say Hannah! Just seems to fit :)But I also love Anna Katherine, or Katherine for a first name also.
    I know the right name will come to you and it will be perfect!

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  22. So funny, we were almost almost going to go with Hannah Kate, but I started thinking with William and Kate's wedding this year Kate was going to blow up and lots of people were throwing around Hannah. I'm with you, i want traditional not weird and crazy but it is really hard to find! Can't wait to hear what you choose!

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  23. I really like Laura Katherine, or Anna Kate. Both are very feminine names that seem to go well with the other girls names, and will also grow with her, as she gets older. I think Laura Caroline sounds nice also. Whatever you decide will be special, and I'm sure it will fit your new little sweetheart just perfectly. Good Luck!

    A Mom-Mom in NJ

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  24. How about:
    Charlotte
    Lucy
    Elise
    Amelia
    Hannah
    Audrey
    Jocelyn
    Lillian

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  25. I was going to suggest Katherine as a first name, but then 3 of the 4 would have 3-syllable names all in the same pattern of syllables (stressed, unstressed, unstressed), and Claire would be the odd one out. Something with 1 or 2 syllables would be nice. I like Anna.

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  26. I like Kate for a middle name. Then you can tell her she was named after a princess.

    I'd change the last name if you are thinking about it. Going through middle school with the last name gaydos could be challenging.

    Don't do Allison. Allison will be called Allie or Ally. (Then you have the nickname and lee issue combined.)

    Maybe Susan, Jennifer, Holly, Helen, Charlotte, Adelaide, Cecilia, Eleanor, Hazel, Annabelle, Alice?

    Whatever you do, not Grace.

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  27. ok, since they-all 4-have been "little miss" i think the initials should be L-M. like leah michelle, or lauren melissa,

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  28. Brianne? (pronounced Brie Anne) Olivia? Hannah?

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  29. Whoever suggested naming #4 Holly...that's not going to work. Nice name though:)

    If you decide to change your name, your primary motivating factor shouldn't be what middle schoolers think.

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  30. I like Hannah the best. What about Lilly?

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  31. Have you thought about the grandmothers or great-grandmothers names? And just my opinion, but I wouldn't change your last name, it's too final, your husband should make ammends with his dad and be proud of the family name.

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  32. Alaina (or Alaena) is another name that isn't likely to be turned into a nickname. It sounds to me like a strong, intelligent, attractive girl or woman. Or maybe Kelsey?

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