classic first name to pair with middle name Laura

[lo]

My name is Laura and I'm named after my maternal great-grandmother and my dad Lawrence. (Lawrence also happens to be a family name on dh's side) So I'd love to use Laura as a middle name for a future girl. However, Laura always sounds a little off in the middle spot perhaps b/c I'm use to hearing it first =) Our last name is two-syllable starts with T and ends with -son. To give you an idea of our style my other daughters names are Clare and Katharine (nn Kate/Katie/Kat). I'd love some suggestions. On my own I came up with Elizabeth Laura. I'm not very excited by Elizabeth though. My favorite girls name is Theresa nn Tess but I think the repeating -a ending of Theresa Laura sounds a little off and I'm uncertain about the alliteration of Theresa with my last name.

[jesba]

Hi! Love the name Laura!

Would you consider Lauren and Laurel since the family tradition includes both Lauras and Lawrences? Or even consider Lawrence in the middle (looks a little more fem spelled Laurence)?

I love Laura, but agree with you that the matching -a endings with Theresa might be too much. But Theresa Lauren or or Theresa Laurel or Theresa Lawrence could solve that.

I think Theresa T-son is fine, same with Tess T-son. It's alliteration that works. There are different numbers of syllables, and the endings and other sounds are different.

I think Elizabeth is very nice! But I can also understand if it feels a little too staid. Eliza Laura might have the -a problem, but Eliza Lauren, Eliza Laurel, Eliza Laurence might be options.

Eleanor Laura might capture some of that feel of Elizabeth but be a little bit more off beat?

Margaret is another classic, and I like Margaret Laura. Lots of great nn's with Margaret, like for Katharine.

I'd also love:
Beatrice Laura (although initials BLT might or might not be OK)
Caroline Laura (very close to sisters' names, for better or worse)
Charlotte Laura (Charlotte Lorelei would break up the rhythm, although Lorelei's a very different name)
Eve Laura
Helen Laura / Helena Lauren / Helena Laurel
Jane Laura
Louisa Laurel / Louisa Lauren (to me, alliteration that works)
Mary Laura (Mary Lauretta might break up the rhythm more?)
Rosemary Laura
Violet Laura

Sure there are more. Good luck!

[lo]

I've given some thought to using Laurence as a girls name - I know they do in France - I'll have to see what dh thinks. I haven't given Lauren much thought b/c I have a natural bias against it b/c of being mistaken for a Lauren on some occasions but maybe it deserves a shot.

My favorite of your combos is Margaret Laura. I know dh will have a hard time with Margaret but he never uses Katharine's full name either so as long as I can sell him on the nickname...I'm sure dh would love Maggie though I'm partial to Mae or Meg.

[ellenelle]

Hmm, I like Theresa as well (can have Tess, Tess, or Reese!), and I think that alliterative names can be charming! But I see the Theresa Laura dilemma... Have you thought of using another variant of Laura? Maybe Theresa Laure, Theresa Laurel, Theresa Lauren, Theresa Laurence (a French girls' name), or even Theresa Lorelai would still honor your family and you, but allow for a name with an -a ending?

Elizabeth Laura is lovely, but I can see how it might feel a tad unexciting. Perhaps you could use a great nickname; Bess and Beth are very similar to Tess! Or with Clare and Katharine, what about...

Molly Laura
Alice Laura
Charlotte Laura
Anne Laura
Caroline Laura
Ellen Laura
Eloise Laura
Evelyn Laura
Margaret Laura (Mae, Margot, Maggie, Greta...)
Violet Laura
Vivian Laura
Marian Laura
Felicity Laura
Anneliese Laura
Bridget Laura
Juliet Laura
Adeline Laura
Briony Laura
Emmeline Laura
Rosalind Laura

[ellenelle]

Didn't mean to repeat--jesba and I must be on the same page!

[lo]

Okay, so I think you are both on to something.

Before when I've tried to come up with a middle name for Theresa I've been wanting something that while still classic sounded slightly more modern. I see Theresa as timeless, classic, beautiful (I could go on and on) but I know the general perception is that it's dated to the 1960s so I want to find a classic middle name that sounded fresh. Does Theresa Lauren or Theresa Laurence fit the bill better.

[ellenelle]

I like them both. Theresa Lauren might be a tad more approachable if you took a poll outside of NB (I'd say it's a modern classic, though I know a lot of Lauren's in their 20s so I don't know if it will become dated...). Though perhaps not a classic, I think Theresa Laurence is particularly smashing; Laurence is elegant and unusual (and I like the way the French emphasis on the 2nd syllable sounds with Theresa, though you could just as easily pronounce it like the boys' name). I don't find Theresa too dated, though--maybe if you planned to call her Terry, but considering the more modern nicknames Theresa can take, I think it's golden. Clare, Kate, and Tess sound like sisters.

[lj]

I'm a Laura too and agree with you that it sounds strange in the middle.
Have you considered using two middle names so that it has got something to follow.
For example
Theresa Laura May
Amelia Laura Kate

If you went with Elizabeth you could always use the nickname Bess which is similar to Tess.
I believe you can also Tess as a nickname for Elizabeth too.


Some other suggestions:
Emily Laura
Madeline Laura
Danica Laura
Ruby Laura
Scarlett Laura
Annabel Laura

[jesba]

of Theresa Lauren or Theresa Laurence...it's a tough call, but I'd probably go with Laurence since your heart seems to be there more.

However I really like Theresa Laurel, but it seems like you don't? just making sure you saw it.

Margaret Laura is really smashing, and Maggie, Mae, Meg, Maisie, Daisy, Margo, there are just so many options!

[lo]

of Theresa Lauren or Theresa Laurence...it's a tough call, but I'd probably go with Laurence since your heart seems to be there more.

However I really like Theresa Laurel, but it seems like you don't? just making sure you saw it.

Margaret Laura is really smashing, and Maggie, Mae, Meg, Maisie, Daisy, Margo, there are just so many options!

Not a huge fan of Laurel.

Still liking Margaret Laura except after my last post I realized I should have mentionned what my sons names are - Paul, Mark, and James. Mark and Margaret are too close although Margaret would likely be Meg or Maggie or Mae.