My husband and I have somewhat different opinion on names. I like older classic names where he likes more of the popular classic names. I like the name Eleanor with a nn Nora (or Ellie). DH despises the name Eleanor saying it is an old lady name and she would get made fun of, etc. He does like the name Nora though and it was actually on his list. I am unsure about using the name Nora as the full name as I feel it is more of a nickname. I don't like any other of the full names for nn Nora that I am aware of - Honora or Lenora.
DD#1 is Josephine with a nn Josie. Thoughts/opinions on Nora vs Eleanor or suggestions or a compromise or other similar name with both might like??
Re: Eleanor vs Nora
DS born at 34 weeks with (surprise!) gastroschisis turned short bowel syndrome.
131 days in the NICU, 7 trips to the OR, G-button, daily TPN....
I think Nora can stand alone, but I prefer Eleanor w/ nn Nora.
Your husband is badly misinformed about current naming trends if he thinks your little Eleanor is going to be made fun of. Especially since you live in a city. Eleanor is the #107 name in Illinois and it's a safe bet that it's more popular in Chicago and its suburbs than in rural areas. Consider Eleanor's rank high ranking in DC (#19), Minnesota (#42), Oregon (#55), Vermont (#71), Massachusetts (#77), Virginia (#82), and Wisconsin (#87). Basically, if there are a lot of relatively affluent white people around, Eleanor is very common.
Baby Name Popularity by State
Eleanor is a form of Helen. How about using something within that family of names?
Helena, Helene, Helen, Elaine and Elena all go well with Josephine.
I think it can totally stand alone as a full name..
Think of all these short and acceptable full names..
Anne
Ava
Jill
Julie
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I don't think Eleanor is any older than Josephine. Did he have to be talked into your DD's name?
I actually love Lenora, but I could see how it's not everyone's style.
Nora or Norah could totally stand alone.
You could use Honor (without the "a") and still nn her Nora.
Other Nora names:
Alianora, Senora, Norine, Noor, Helen, Ellen, Lora, Annora, Onora...
No, he absolutely loved Josephine right from the start. To me the styles are very similar so it is surprising that he is so adverse to this name.
Nora can definitely stand on its own. However, like you, I prefer it as a nickname for Eleanor. Especially since the older daughter is Josephine, nicknamed Josie, I would tend to want to give the younger daughter a nickname-able name, too. Josephine and Eleanor. Josie and Nora. Could it be more perfect?
You may be able to convince your husband that Eleanor is coming back into style. Show him the Social Security Administration's website. Eleanor peaked in 1920 at #20. In the 1970's, it was definitely an "old lady" name, ranking in the 600s. Now it's back up to #150. People like it again, and people are using it. And he wouldn't have to call hear Eleanor -- she could always be Nora to him.
If you can't convince him, just using Nora might be a good compromise. Granted, she wouldn't have a nickname like Josephine/Josie, but it's a name from both your lists. It definitely has the old-fashioned style you want, and it doesn't feel old-ladyish to him.
Other names to consider:
What other names are on his list? Is he the Sophia/Emily/Lily type? If so, does he realize that not so long ago, THOSE were seen as old lady names?
this
Nora can definitely stand on its own.
Our Nora is an Elinor, after her great-grandmother. We get tons of compliments on her name, but who knows how her peers will react to it. "Old lady names" are "in" and seem to be gaining popularity, so I'm not too worried about it.
How is Eleanor any more old lady than Josephine, in your husband's opinion?
Josie and Molly are cute together. Josephine and Emma.
I don't feel like Dawn and Jessica fit as well, but Jessica was coined by Shakespeare, so technically, it's a pretty old name too.
Jess and Josie. hmmm I can't decide if it's cute or cartoony.
This!
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Eleanor is our number one girl name.
I nannied a girl named Norelle, which is so like Eleanor to me. They called her Nori for short but you could easily go with Nora I think.
Evelyn (3.24.10), Graham (5.30.13) & Miles (8.28.16)
Josie and Molly are really cute, but I almost feel Molly is a little too informal to go with Josephine.
Jessica and Dawn are dated. Does he realize that those will soon be "old lady" names? So many husbands seem to think "pretty girl name" means "name of pretty girl I knew in high school."
And, yes, Emma is too popular.