Girl name help

KareBearKCD

So DH and I are stuck on 3 names. Being Jewish we name after family that have passed away.

DH grandma (his mom's mom) name was Goldie. He is the only grand child that his grandma Goldie has so we are the only one to pass that name on. We would name our daughter Gabriella. A concern is, I know we want more kids but what if we don't have another girl. If we do have another girl his mom has many years to live to see her grow up.

My great-grandma (my grandpa's mom) name was Rosa and hebrew name Razel. My grandpa is getting very old and does not have much more time to live. This year he had a stroke that left him partially blind in one eye. He has been VERY generous with DH and I. He has paid for our new house and has supported us financially through a lot. It would mean so much to my grandpa to see his first Great grand-child named after his mother. We are stuck between 2 names that would go for my Great- grandma. Rachel or Raquel

So what are your thoughts... Do we name her after my Great-Grandma? OR do we name her after DH Grandma???

StefB28

Is it tradition with your family (or DH's family) to say that a child is named after someone, but choose a different (somewhat similar) name than the person being honored? Just curious, since the names you are considering are not the actual names of your family members.

I'd choose whichever one you like the best! Rachel is my favorite on your list.

KareBearKCD

StefB28:

Is it tradition with your family (or DH's family) to say that a child is named after someone, but choose a different (somewhat similar) name than the person being honored? Just curious, since the names you are considering are not the actual names of your family members.

I'd choose whichever one you like the best! Rachel is my favorite on your list.

It is tradition in both our families to name after someone who has passed away and for it to not exact, it can be similar.

StefB28

Got it! I still like Rachel-- it's been stuck in my mind ever since I read "The Red Tent" several years ago. I grew up with a few Rachels, but it's not a super common name. Very pretty! 

ArcadianDreams

Okay now don't laugh at me, but if you are following the Jewish tradition of using the first initial, isn't it weird to choose a Catholic name like Gabriella (Gabriel)? Or do most people not worry about that anymore.

As for the other one I think both versions are fine and would go with whichever flows better with your last name. Personally I think Raquel gives more of a high-powered vibe and Rachel a little warmer.

Twin.Peaks

Can you do some combination? My oldest is named Rachel Ann. Rachel for DHs grandmother and Ann is the middle name of his mom. Can you do middle names? Combine them? Im sorry, Im not familiar with Jewish traditions.

jjswife08

Twin.Peaks:

Can you do some combination? My oldest is named Rachel Ann. Rachel for DHs grandmother and Ann is the middle name of his mom. Can you do middle names? Combine them? Im sorry, Im not familiar with Jewish traditions.

This!  Can you combine them somehow? 

rachaelski

Twin.Peaks:

Can you do some combination? My oldest is named Rachel Ann. Rachel for DHs grandmother and Ann is the middle name of his mom. Can you do middle names? Combine them? Im sorry, Im not familiar with Jewish traditions.

 

Hi, I am Rachael Anne! Haha! Great name for your daughter. 

 

Based on the familial happenings, I'd probably go with naming the baby after your great grandmother. It sounds like your grandpa would enjoy having the baby named after his mother, and the time he has with your LO would be precious. 

 

 

riagal82

StefB28:

Got it! I still like Rachel-- it's been stuck in my mind ever since I read "The Red Tent" several years ago. I grew up with a few Rachels, but it's not a super common name. Very pretty! 

 

I love the book "The Red Tent" I was bored and just reading it for like the 100th time yesterday in fact!!! So funny you mentioned it I have never met anyone else who has read it!!!!

KareBearKCD

Twin.Peaks:

Can you do some combination? My oldest is named Rachel Ann. Rachel for DHs grandmother and Ann is the middle name of his mom. Can you do middle names? Combine them? Im sorry, Im not familiar with Jewish traditions.

We do not feel like combining the 2 names is good. No one ever knows peoples middle names and we do not want to waste one of our gorgeous names on a middle name when either we could use his grandma's name for another LO or my great-grandma's can be used in one of my siblings LO. We want to stick to the first name being named after a lost one and a middle name that just flows with it.

klreese0213

can you use one as a first name and one as a middle? put them together?

StefB28

riagal82:

StefB28:

Got it! I still like Rachel-- it's been stuck in my mind ever since I read "The Red Tent" several years ago. I grew up with a few Rachels, but it's not a super common name. Very pretty! 

 

I love the book "The Red Tent" I was bored and just reading it for like the 100th time yesterday in fact!!! So funny you mentioned it I have never met anyone else who has read it!!!!

It's my favorite book! I'm like you-- when I'm bored, I pick it up, open to a random page and just start reading. I know the story so well by now that I can just jump in and start anywhere. It's such a fantastic story and so well written.

novlove11

I like Rachel and Gabriella. Both are pretty names. I say name girls after mom's family and boys after the mans family. Just my opinion

cikangell

What if you used DH's Grandma's Hebrew name for the Hebrew name, and Gabriella Rose for the birth-certificate name? That's what my sister did for my niece.