Completely Different Naming Styles

[eddagirl1]

My husband and I were talking about potential girl names this weekend. We already have a boy name picked out and we have a girl middle name chosen, Renee after my Mom. I threw out 10 or so different girl names that I liked. I really like Cordelia, Margaret, Eleanor, Evelyn, Georgiana, etc. The sort of Victorian style classics. With each name his expression got more and more repulsed. I finally asked what names he wanted...Shaniqua (shuh-nee-kwa) or Jessica. Wow. Not even close to what I wanted. Shanique is considered a trashy name in my area and Jessica just had bad connotations for me.

I want a name that can be shortened to a cute little girl nickname but can be a longer more elegant name if she wants that when she is older. I also am pretty sure I want to include part of her middle name like Cordelia Renee, but call her Cordy Rae (or Ree with the accent mark I can't decide). My DH likes the nicknames, he really likes Maggie. So I thought Margaret Renee, called Maggie Rae would work but he hates Margaret. Same with Allie, he loves Allie, but hates Aliena. Siiiigh.

So two questions:
1) Do you have any name suggestions that we could possibly both agree on?
2) Rae or Ree`?

[etoile]

Would you be able to love variations of the name Margaret?

Because there is Marguerite? Margery? Magnolia... All of which could give you the nn Maggie.

P.S. Rae.

[spring13]

Allie can be short for lots of things - Allison, Alicia, Alexandra, Alyse, Althea, Almira....
Maggie can also be short for Magdalena/Magdalen, Margo, Megeira...

In terms of Victorian-esque names that you both might agree on - what about Ruby, Selena, Claire, Charlotte, Aurelia, Lydia?

[alzora]

I agree with the above poster, that Allie seems to be the only one in common, and can be a nickname for a TON of names. I like Alicia and Alisa best, personally.

Also, I'd go with Rae, not Ree`. It would be way too hard for her to type out Ree` all the time with the correct kind of accent--not that we type our nicknames all that often I guess.

Would your husband like Meg? Keep having him list names he likes. Sounds like you won't persuade him to like yours, and you'll have to listen closely to his to figure out how you could compromise. If you're absolutely hooked on one of your names, try calling the baby that a few times during the pregnancy and he may find that he gets attached. Once he pictures it on his child, it will be hard for him not to like.

[eddagirl1]

Thanks for the input!

My DH would like anything that is nickname like, especially anything that ends in -ie or -y. Those seem to have a little girl sound. He wants a little daddy's girl so badly that I think when he hears a doctor say "it's a girl!" that he won't care what her name is.

I am wondering if maybe our inability to come to any sort of naming common ground is because he pictures "the" name on a little girl on a playground or being tucked into a toddler bed, while I picture "the" name written in glitter pen on high school notebooks and embossed in black on her first business cards. The different mindsets can lead you to different names for sure. (These are the things you think when you can't sleep and it's nearing 1am! haha!)

I'm glad too that everyone likes the R-a-e spelling of Rae. I was concerned it might be too derivatized for some. It's definitely my favorite and lends itself to more accurately being pronounced.

Thanks again for the help. If you think of more ideas shout them out!

[essjay]

You like vintage, he wants cutesy nn, let's see...

Antonia nn Annie
Lillian/a nn Lily
Natalie/Natalia nn Tally/Natty
Alexandra nn Ally/etc - you mentioned above he likes this nn, so maybe it's a case of finding a different full name.
Rosemary/Rosalie etc nn Rosie

You could try and compromise on Georgina nn Georgie or something, a lot of your names lend themselves to cutesy nns.

[hazelybasily]

I think Cordelia would be perfect, no? You can get so many nicknames out of it- Cori, Cora, Cordy, Cody, Dee, DeDe, Delia, Celia, CeCe...would he like any of those?

[iwillpraise]

Natalia can also lend itself to the nn Talia or Thalia as well. Love that it means "gentle dew from heaven". It would personally be my choice instead of Tali/Nattie. Just a thought.

*Abigail is timeless, and Abby totally cute.
*Katherine can be either Kate, Kit, Kathy, Katie... it's classic and lovely for any age. (Keturah is also REALLY cool and unique, using any one of Katherine's nns, but especially Kit)
*Evelina is one of my FAVORITES. She could be an Evie Rae.
*Another one of my all-time Victorian favorites is Lavinia, Vinna (possibly prn Vee-na or Vin-a?) or Vinny.
*Caroline/a (my SIL's name) could be shortened to Carrie; really neat if you have some sort of connection to the Carolina's (my DH and I honeymooned there, but for obvious reasons wouldn't use it since it's already a family name)
*Chloe and Zoe/y are two names that are older than they seem and don't need a nn because of its already existing -ie ending, and makes a great impression.
*Claudia is another Victorian love of mine. Claudie? (read this link if the name's meaning bothers you --> http://www.abarim-publications.com/M...l#.UEr5_lLE7AZ )
*Sarah-- Sadie or Zadie. The meaning is "princess". Can't get more daddy's little girl then that!!
*And Sadie makes me think of Josie, short of course for Josephine.

The first time I heard Adelaide about 10 yrs ago, my heart melted. It was so different, vintage but somehow not too frilly, easily pronounced and can be shortened to Addie/Adie/Addy or for the braver sorts, Lady/Laidie. As far as my research has taken me, Lady Adelaide, a German princess who married into English royalty, was the original bearer, and ppl loved her so much they named a city in Australia after her. I believe it became popular in Victorian society soon after the beloved Queen bestowed it upon one of her daughters as a middle. After all this time, it is still my number one, and surprisingly, my husband agrees with me! Our first daughter will be Addie Corinne. When? I don't know, but we have a name when she comes one day!

Alberta is one of my guilty pleasures right now. A place name (Alberta, Canada) and speaking of Queen Victoria, the feminized version of her husband, Prince Albert's name, seems to me so stately and eloquent a name. You could call her Betty/Bertie/Birdie/Albie/Alta? I know it's kinda out there... don't mind me. Like I said, guilty pleasure taking over here.

I've always loved my own name, Kimberly, and even tho I'm 26, I've always been known by Kimmie.... thought I'd throw that out there too!

[jesba]

Jessamine jumped out to me immediately. To me it feels very Victorian, and it touches on Jessica/Jessie which we know he likes and Jasmine which seems like it might also be his style. You could also use Minnie if you both like it - Minnie also feels very Victorian.

Unless your association with Jessica is so negative that Jessie/Jessamine is off limits too : (.

Genevieve nn Jenny or Vivi or Evie also seems like a candidate?

[sodallas3]

I am sorry you've had a bad experience with Jessica! It's my name and although its not even my own style, its sad when a bad experience ruins the name for you!