Samantha Roberta - How terrible?

canhardlywait. · May 2012

I'm a lurker who needs help -- These are the only two names that we've ever really agreed on. Samantha because we like it, and Roberta after my grandmother.

I know that they are too rhyme-y, with the same amount of syllables and both ending in A. But I think I'm sick of thinking about it and ready to just throw my hands up.

Our last name is two syllables and rhymes with Chilling.

Our other frontrunner is Audrey Roberta, which I know flows better, but I can't help feeling like this baby is just Samantha. We also tried to pick a new middle name -- for example, both our moms are Deb/Debbie -- but we both dislike that name.

Do we need to just keep thinking? Will the world cringe every time we say our baby's name?

Thanks!

EGMphoto · May 2012

Yeah, it definitely does not flow well.

Surely you can find another middle name to work.

It not - Samantha Aubrey, Aubrey Samantha?

Katie996 · May 2012

I really don't think it's that bad......But, don't settle if you're not 100% in love... It will be her name the rest of her life.

Also, I have a Lillian Catherine -both the same amount of syllables and ending in the "in" sound... and I've always received positive feedback.

I definitely like Audrey better though... mainly because Samantha is just nms and dated, imo.

Aligator28 · May 2012

I can understand wanting to honor someone, and in that case I usually think that flow doesn't matter. However, I feel like Samantha Roberta is just not good, at all. Can you use your grandmother's middle name? Does that have any better flow?

07bride · May 2012

I actually think both Samantha and Roberta are beautiful names. Plus you wont always be calling her but her full name.

plunderb · May 2012

I understand giving a tricky/weird/ugly middle name to honor a loved one (DD's mn is Pasqualina, which I actually like, but is not everyone's cup of tea).

If you love Samantha and the only thing that bothers you about Samantha Roberta is the flow, I'd use it. In my mind, family significance trumps a lot of minor shortcomings.

If you decide it's a big issue, you could choose another name to honor your grandmother ? her maiden name, the name of a place or a flower she loved, etc.

chibride4 · May 2012

Samantha Roberta isn't bad at all, although neither name is my style. The most important thing is that you and DH love it, especially the first name. How often are you called by your full name? Typically just birth, graduation and when you're in trouble:)

zaramarie81 · May 2012

Since you feel attached to Samantha as this baby's name (and I think it's a beautiful name), I would just go with Samantha Roberta unless another way to honor your grandmother comes up. I don't think the names sound bad together - sure the flow could be better, but we're talking about a middle name that you will rarely say/hear. I def wouldn't go with a second choice first name you're not "feeling" just to make it flow with Roberta... you'll be saying that first name a lot for the rest of your life and that is the name she will most closely identify with.

strawberrytree · May 2012

plunderb:
I understand giving a tricky/weird/ugly middle name to honor a loved one (DD's mn is Pasqualina, which I actually like, but is not everyone's cup of tea).
If you love Samantha and the only thing that bothers you about Samantha Roberta is the flow, I'd use it. In my mind, family significance trumps a lot of minor shortcomings.
If you decide it's a big issue, you could choose another name to honor your grandmother ? her maiden name, the name of a place or a flower she loved, etc.

I agree with this. It might not be the most pleasing to the ear, but if you really feel like this baby is a Samantha and want to honour someone with Roberta, then I like it. I always go for a name with meaning behind it over a name that has great flow but doesn't have any deeper meaning.

alohamora · May 2012

As you said, Audrey Roberta has a better flow, but I don't think Samantha Roberta is that terrible if Roberta has meaning to you. How often will you be calling her by her full name anyway?

MicahBaviere · May 2012

It's not the smoothest flow, but as others have said, how often will you be calling her by her full name? Probably not often, if ever.

That being said, is there another family name you can use? Favorite aunt, grandmother, cousin, etc?

Or, do you have to use a family name in the first place? Could you just pick a name you like from the plethora of the baby name world and go with that? Just asking, because it seems like so many people feel they MUST use the middle name for a family name, and in my family only men pass their names so DH and I don't feel any obligation to name our kids after any relative.

canhardlywait. · May 2012

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! We definitely want to use a family name, we just can't seem to find another one that we both agree on and also flows well. I think we will just keep running through our options. Like I said, Samantha and Roberta were always our first choices, I guess we just never put them together until we actually needed them and realized they weren't great together.

I know that Samantha isn't as popular a first name as Audrey at the moment, but we don't care about that.

BLPL101 · May 2012

I don't think it's bad at all! I love Samantha!!!

Manderlin923 · May 2012

I would personally use Samantha but with a different mn that still honors your grandma- her middle name, her maiden name, her birth month, her birthstone, her favorite flower, etc...

jdk033 · May 2012

I find it a little clunky - but if you like it thats your call

I found myself, however, thinking 'Samantha Robin' when I saw the name. I love the name Audrey, btw, so I will always advocate its use. lol

JMU_Bride09 · May 2012

It is rhyme-y, but it's far from the worst I've ever heard. If you absolutely love it, I think you should use it. If you're still looking for something else, though, here are a few ideas: Samantha Joan Samantha Erin Samantha Gwendolyn Samantha Kathleen Samantha Elisabeth Samantha Wendy