Allen...but for a girl?

Greco1014 · December 2011

Whether we have a girl or boy, I want to use some variation of Allen as mn. Allen is DH's mn, and it's also the mn of his father (and I believe it goes back at least three generations now). So, we're going to come up with an original first name, but are pretty sold on using some form of Allen as mn.

So no brainer if it's a boy, but for a girl, I'd consider either Alaina or something like Allyne (which is real name).

One girl's name we're considering right now is Emery. Our last name is one syllable and sounds like Rose. So, we could be looking at something like either:

Emery Alaina Rose

Emery Allyne Rose

I like the sound of Allyne better, but because it sounds the same as Allen, I'm not sure if it's fair to do that to a little girl... I think the name looks pretty spelled out, but when people hear Alllyne they're sure to think "Allen," right? I think that's a given...

On top of that, while we both really like Emery, but that's not the most feminine sounding name to start with. Do you think Allyne would be possible with a more feminine girl's name? Or should we stick to Alaina and call it a day?

kellyrn9956 · December 2011

I don't like Emery Allyne. No point to spell it silly like Allyne - it's still Allen. And I can't get Ethan Allen out of my head. I do like Emery Alaina though. IMO, a more appropriate way to honor your H's family.

magsugar13 · December 2011

please please please stick to Alaina

kelle017 · December 2011

Greco1014:

Whether we have a girl or boy, I want to use some variation of Allen as mn. Allen is DH's mn, and it's also the mn of his father (and I believe it goes back at least three generations now). So, we're going to come up with an original first name, but are pretty sold on using some form of Allen as mn.

So no brainer if it's a boy, but for a girl, I'd consider either Alaina or something like Allyne (which is real name).

Emery Alaina Rose

Emery Allyne Rose

I like the sound of Allyne better, but because it sounds the same as Allen, I'm not sure if it's fair to do that to a little girl...

I don't think Emery Allyne sounds that bad, but I don't like the spelling. I think Emery Alaina sounds really pretty and would still be a good way to honor your dh and fil

TapDancingLlamas · December 2011

Allyne looks awful. But I am almost certain that Alyna is a legit name.

mrscmomtobe · December 2011

I might be biased because my MN is also Allen!! But I knew a girl in high school named Allyn, and I always liked it. Personally I like Allyn better than Allyne, because people might think that's pronounced "All-eeeen" (like Aileen?). Just a thought, but I like the thought of Allen as a girl~ we're using it as our middle name for a boy.

BackseatDriver · December 2011

I met a girl once whose name was spelled Alynn and most people guessed her name was pronounced Allen.I thought it was probably a-LIN and turned out I was right. I actually like it as a nickname for Madeline, but it is hard to convey the pronunciation. Just thought I'd throw it out there in case you like it.

I also knew a girl named Lena (Leh-na) which kind of reminds me of Allen.

kms34 · December 2011

I dislike Emery so I, personally, would pick a new, more feminine first name and stick with Allen for the MN.

ames71 · December 2011

I wouldn't use Alaina or Allyne or any other Allen-ish name if what you're intending is to pass down the name Allen. Just use Allen as a mn and pick a distinctly feminine fn. I'm not a fan of Emery at all.

sweetpea2003 · December 2011

Either do Allen or skip Allen. Don't strap her with Allyne which just looks like a butchered form of Allen (and makes me want to say "A Line" or even "A Leen".

Emery Allen is too masculine (I don't care for Emery for a boy or girl)

Emery Allyne is horrible

Emery Alaina is fine but nms. If you are 100% set on Emery, I would definitely go this route.

If you could agree on a more feminine name, my suggestion would be to put Allen as a middle name. Something like (just pulling names out of the air here) Caroline Allen or Grace Allen sound fine. I grew up with a surname for a middle name (my grandmother's maiden name) and, to me, that is what Allen looks like. Nobody would bat an eyelash at Allen in the middle name spot.

BrideBuddies · December 2011

What about Ellen?

I'd make that connection to Allen moreso than a strangely spelled version of Allyn.

MommaG123 · December 2011

mrscmomtobe:
I might be biased because my MN is also Allen!! But I knew a girl in high school named Allyn, and I always liked it. Personally I like Allyn better than Allyne, because people might think that's pronounced "All-eeeen" (like Aileen?). Just a thought, but I like the thought of Allen as a girl~ we're using it as our middle name for a boy.

That is how I took it to be pronounced when first reading it.

Just use Allen, it's a middle name. People use weird/non conventional middle names all the time.

CiderWench · December 2011

ames17:
I wouldn't use Alaina or Allyne or any other Allen-ish name if what you're intending is to pass down the name Allen. Just use Allen as a mn and pick a distinctly feminine fn. I'm not a fan of Emery at all.

All of this.

imimahoney · December 2011

Allyne is NOT a name.

sugarpumpkin716 · December 2011

emery alaina rose is GORGEOUS. allyne...not so much. it doesn't look nice spelled out at all. i'm fairly certain if you said her name out loud people would assume allen was for a family member, no problem. so if you're going to use allen, use allen, and don't kill the spelling. or just use alaina because it's really pretty.

cmhicklin · December 2011

Another suggestion is Alanna (for the middle name I mean) It is my DD's first name and is pronounced like Alaina but with -anna instead of -aina.

Greco1014 · December 2011

I actually never thought about just using Allen as a middle name, but I guess a lot of you seem to think it wouldn't be such a problem to go that route. I actually like the idea of giving a new baby a slightly different version of a family name, so that it's a shout-out but still new. I could get behind the idea of Allen for a little girl, though...only prob is we would need a a more feminine sounding name, and DH hasn't been a fan of feminine sounding names so far...I guess it's a good thing we've got about 7 months to work this out...

Anyway, thanks for giving me some things to think about!

benmel31 · December 2011

I don't know if this is too much of a stretch, but you could use Allison if it is a girl. My grandfather's name was Albert, I am have considering Allison to honor him.

MelleTX · December 2011

I think Allen is fine for a middle name, boy or girl. It's a middle name. As long as her first name is not Ellen, then it works. I think it is a nice tradition.

+katie+ · December 2011

Emery/Emory is terrible for boys or girls. Allen / Alana / Alaina would all work for middle names, but I'd go back to the drawing board on the first name. Or call her Alana / Alaina

hmr22 · December 2011

Emery Alaina!

cmeinla · December 2011

I would use Allen as a middle name, but I would pair it with a very feminine, traditional first name.

Elizabeth Allen Rose

Emilia Allen Rose

jess9802 · December 2011

The reason Emery is not the most feminine sounding name is because it's a boys name. Its growing popularity for girls is a pet peeve of mine.

Alaina is a lovely, feminine name (though not my style), and far better than Emery or Allyne.

desabean · December 2011

I actually know a woman named Allen. It is a tradition in her family to name the first daughter after the father....and historically all the daughters have just gone by their middle name, but Allen decided to stick with Allen....I actually really like it. I have a daughter named Garrison so I clearly don't mind a more masculine sounding name for a girl but I love the tradition of it too.

tnywndy · December 2011

If your LN starts with an R, the initials would be EAR....something to think about.

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