Family Names: Naming from the Heart

Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. It affirms our own decision to name our daughter, Roseanna, after her deceased paternal grandmother. The name would never have been on our lists if not for its inspiration (although the somewhat similar Rosamund was on my top ten). After many days and nights of name conversations — enthusiastic on my part but less so on my husband’s — we realised that we were never going to agree on a name just because we both liked its sound.

She’s only six months old, but Roseanna’s already growing into her name. We neither of us really call her by any nicknames that directly relate to her name, but I can see myself eventually abbreviating it to “Rosen” or “Rosa”. For right now, she’s my beautiful little Roseanna, and [almost] all of my post-birth certificate doubts have gone away.

I absolutely love the name Dorothy, and am so happy to hear that you went with your heart! Dorothy feels so spunky and cheerful to me, and on an adult, I think it’s quite elegant. I really enjoyed your blog!

And to Charlotte Vera (the above poster), I love Roseanna, too.

Best wishes to you!

Ilya, what a beautiful blog! Even though I knew the punchline, I was fascinated to hear all the ins and outs of your naming process and absolutely charmed by your voice. Thank you for writing your story for nameberry!

This post is so reassuring. Lately, I’ve been thinking I really want to honor my husband’s special grandmother and my beloved favorite great-aunt, but even baby naming sites seem to think Dorothy is kind of borderline for the “old-lady cool” factor.

pdzlibrarian – I know the feeling! That’s one reason why I decided to share my story. I guess nameberry is a step ahead of the other sites – and “Dorothy” may soon be dusted off for others too.

But seriously, I was surprised to see how much I loved the name once it had a cute little face to match!

This is post is really timely for me too. I have to admit I’ve been having nagging second thoughts about using Louisa for this baby — I love the name, but am having trouble picturing calling my child that — I think it has something to do with how feminine it is, while my other daughter is named Jane, so simple and direct. But I have always thought of this baby as Louisa (provided its a girl) and my mom is “Lou.” Even Lulu as a nickname is a little frilly for me, so it occurs to me I might resort to Lou (at home, I mean)! My mom says she doesn’t even like Lou so she probably won’t be enthusiastic about Louisa either, but its important to me to honor her.

I really love Dorothy too, by the way, but that its my mother-in-law’s name – Dorothy Jane – and since we have a Jane, I think it could hurt my mom’s feelings to name another after Dorothy. I also wanted to point out that we NEVER would have thought of Dorothy six years ago (we felt slightly out on a limb with Jane), but now it seems a very very cool name, and I love the nicknames Dot and Dottie!

Thanks for sharing this. Such a beautiful story- I actually got a little teary eyed! Little Dorothy is lucky to have such a wonderful namesake to hear stories about. Plus, I think Dorothy is a vintage cool name

I secretly keep my beloved grandmother’s name – Vera – in the back of my mind for a daughter, although it is a bit old fashioned.

What a great story! And your grandmother was beautiful.

I really like Dorothy and have only had positive associations with it. I’m not sure why people would think of it as an old name. I knew a Dorothy in college who was smart and interesting and in the environmental awareness club before it was popular.

Great story!! We got a lot of negative feedback when we named our daughter Margaret after Great-Grandmothers, and we consoled the naysayers with the nickname Maggie, but most of the time she is a little Margaret to us, and we think it fits her perfectly.

I’m a Dorothy! I was named after my grandmother too, and am the third generation of Dorothys (all with sisters named Margaret). I used to be jealous that my sister had the cute “Maggie” nickname, but after being known as Dot in middle and high school, and De in college, I’ve settled into Dorothy for good and I really love my name and my connection with my grandmother (I’ve never warmed to Dottie though!). It’s a great, classic name, and you know what, most people don’t even ask me where Toto is anymore. Good name choice, Ilya!

Ilya, I loved reading your blog! Your grandmother was so beautiful. She looks so much like my friend Dasha who grew up in Moscow and looks like Audrey Hepburn. I am so happy that you named your daughter after her. Dorothy is a beautiful name, and I predict that in the next few years it will become more and more fashionable.

Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story! My great-aunt’s name was Dorothy and I have always loved that name. Sometimes the old fashioned names are the best! It does have a sweet retro feel, great choice.

I’m so glad to have read this blog! My husband and I decided back in January, after the death of my Nana, that if we were ever blessed with a girl her name would be Theresa Catherine, in honor of my grandmother. As much as I love the sentiment, I’d had second guesses about Theresa, because it’s on the old-fashioned side. We love the nickname Tessa though, so maybe we’ll use that. I’m not even pregnant yet, so we have a while to figure it out.

In any case, this was very well-written. I love your writing style! And your grandmother was a beautiful woman.

Dana: I love the name Louisa!!!

I have a family name and I can say that I have always felt special because of it.

I really loved this blog. I love the name Dorothy (I’m a big Wizard of Oz fan) and really adore the nickname Doe. For me, sentimentality is more important than using a stylish name. My son’s name is not something I ever would have picked in my fantasy naming world, but now I could not love it more. My beloved grandaddy is very sick and I know my little Dash will probably not get to remember him, but I’m somewhat comforted by the fact that he’ll always have a connection to him through his name.

I like how you pointed out the ways you love Dorothy’s name that you never could have imagined before she was born. I’ve found that to be true as well.

I love Dorothy. It is my step grandmother’s name, and is on my short list of first names.

This is a great post. I love how much thought you put into your choice. And if my husband didn’t hate it so much, Dorothy would most certainly be on my short list for girls. As its stands, it’s Daphne, Caroline, Jane, and Sylvia.

I’m also an Ashkenazy Jew and I’m named for three separate relatives. My mom and dad both had grandmothers named Rebecca. My dad has been fairly tight lipped about his Granny Rebecca, but my mom has nothing but glowing stories about her Granny Beccie. Her Granny Beccie was a Lithuanian immigrant who worked her tail off to provide for three children after her husband. So naturally, when my parents had their first (and only daughter), my first name would be Rebecca. My middle name is Pearl after my great aunt who passed away a few months before my birth. I love having two strong family names and I definitely intend to honor my relatives when I name my children.

Thanks for the wonderful responses! These are such special sentiments and some beautiful/amazing names mentioned here.

I think Dash is super cute with sexy potential, I am loving all of the “grandmother” names mentioned here. The truth is that names like Emma, Hannah were “grandmother” names until recently too. Max to a greater extent and Nameberry just dedicated a post to that name alone!

I think the funniest thing that has come out of this experience may be what happens when you click on my name above:)

One of my best friends had a dear Grandma named Dorothy as well so I’ll share this blog with her: your story, Ilya, is touching and beautiful! I, like nameberry, thought Ilya was a boy’s name as the only people I have known with this name were boys (in Ukraine). It’s amazing how names that seemed so “old” when I was little now are starting to feel fresh and precious. I am charmed by most of the “Grandma” names in these comments: Vera, Roseanna, Margaret, Rebecca, Jane, Louisa, Theresa. Great post!

I absolutely adore Dorothy – what a wonderful choice! Dorothea is right at the top of my list, and has been for a while

I am Dorothy’s daughter and Dorothy’s grandmother– the name is a gift, a memory, an inspiration, a treasure, hope–thanks to a wonderful daughter and son in law.

Well done! what a lovely story. My husbands Aunt is called Dorothy. You could be describing her when you speak of your grandmother. Our Dorothy is also strong loving and spunky, must be something in the name. We are very lucky to have her.

I too am named after my grandmother…It was a name I had to grow into, as its very “grown up”….My nickname was (and still is to a few family members) MaryBeth, but my full name is Mary Elizabeth…love my grandma for giving me a classic name that never went out of style!

What a lovely story. My daughter is named for her grandmother as well…first and middle!

Just found this on the Nameberry front page. Dorothy is the name of my little sister! She was almost a Michaela… would have been the 8th Michaela born at that hospital in the same week! She’s going into high school next year (I am 11 years older) and the name Dorothy fits her sassy, outgoing self perfectly.

I love your blog and I love Dorothy!
How can you not love Dorothy? It’s gorgeous, just like the lady herself. I had a distant aunt Dorothy who I never knew. If I have children my Grandma’s are Elizabeth and Barbara I love Elizabeth but Barbara not really hmmm Barbara as a middle name maybe? As for the other Grandma names there gorgeous. Louisa is simply stunning! Rebecca, Vera, Roseanna, Margaret, Rebecca, Jane, Louisa, Theresa Catherine. There all lovely.

Thank you for the lovely story about naming your daughter. It is important to go with your heart!

Dorothy was my mothers name. And had our third child been a girl, it would have been her middle name. My dad always called my mom Dottie Dear.

My hubby and I named our children after members of the family who meant something to us, but have gone before us. We never once looked back, and have a bevy of names to choose from.

I plan to use that tradition too
so far i’m working with George Peter (or either, but that was his full name, we might just go initials), Marcia (marsha), Wally (female person, baby could be either)
Any suggestions?
So far i have
George: Jordyn, Jordan, Gordon, Georgia (georgie)
Peter: Pierre
Marcia: Marcy, Macy
Wally: Willow, Willa, Fitzwilliam “fitz”
thx!