Would this lock mr into a theme?

[malaria]

My current favorite name is Marina, but for a boy my favorite name is River.

Would this lock me into a theme if I had more than two kids?

Would it make it alright if I had boy/girl twins with these names and another kid with an non-watery name (not that I can be sure this would happen lol)?

What would you put as a middle name for Marina? I really like Marina Pearl but maybe too wordy? And also Pearl makes me think water too for various reasons..

[kala_way]

I think it's fine.

Despite the water connection the names are quite different in feel. One very direct one less so and more classical.

[gwensmom]

I think because of the water connection they seem matchy or theme-y, even without taking into consideration other possible children. Something like Pearl and River are less matchy because although Pearl does have water associations, they're not as clear as between Marina and River.

[thompssn]

The pairing does lend itself to a theme. If you're ok with doing Theme names there are a lot of options though. Maybe you could broaden it and not necessarily have a Water theme, but more of a Nature theme, which includes water/sky/seasons/flowers/etc.... Maybe even Colors (since color's appear in Nature, especially blue/grey/green colors). Color names would also tie into Pearl. There are really good theme lists on this site with some suggestions that you wouldn't otherwise think of. You may find there are other similar water names that you do really like too and wouldn't mind adding for "future" children.

If you really Don't want to do a theme though, I would probably rethink one of the two.

[malaria]

Thanks for the feedback!

I feel like I could easily do a nature-y theme, as I can be a bit of a hippy lol, but I'd rather not get tied into a water theme, as I might want more than two kids.

[dancersventure]

LOVE both names. I'd do it!

[lucialucentum]

I think Marina & River would be all right. People will make the connection but it's not like you're using Lake and River or something. Marina is a lot more subtle.
I think people are only stuck in themes if they believe they are. I personally don't go looking for themes and I'm not afraid to make a perceived theme in to a "not a theme anymore" by breaking the cycle with the 3rd child's name.
Marina, River & Eden (for example) would be great.
Marina, River & Waverly would grate on me, I think.
Marina, River & Ethel would make me raise an eyebrow, haha. I mean, break the perceived theme by all means, but I do like it when names compliment each other.

[malaria]

@dancersventure I love them too!

@lucialucentum I guess it's a good thing my tastes run on the hippy side of names because I do think that most names I like would fit in pretty well lol.

[mikayla]

i honestly think its a bit silly, and that it would lock you into a theme. maybe not so much if you have marina, river, emily and jacob, then you have two theme names and two just random names. But with three kids named example marina, river and jacob...then i would wonder why jacob didn't get a themey name...