Would you name LO after MIL? And other girl name questions...

*sparky* · November 2013

Naming this child is a real challenge - I still want to use the girl name we loved the first time around, but since someone else used it DH wants to consider some other choices. The first choice girl name may end up being the MN if I can't get DH to change his mind.

One of the names we really like is Madeleine - I think it is classic and not trendy, without being odd or too unique. But it is MIL's name. So is that weird to name your LO after your Mother/MIL?

The other top choice is Clara, which I have posted on here before, but that is the name our friends named their LO 8 years ago.

Some of the others on our list right now are:

Catherine
Sophia
Madison (similar to Madeleine - maybe too trendy though)
Kaitlyn (I don't love this one)
Claire
Diana (DS's choice)
Elizabeth

So which of these names do you like? Would you name your LO after your MIL/Mom? And do you have any recommendations in a similar style to these names so we can add to our list and confuse ourselves further?

TIA!

Scarlett&Gatsby · November 2013

There's nothing weird about naming a child after a family member. If you're comfortable naming your daughter after your MIL, then go for it. Maddy-related names are insanely popular right now, but if that's not a factor, there's no reason not to use it. From your list, I really like Sophia (also pretty popular) and Diana (really refreshing and unheard of), but they're all pretty nice names. Madison is the only one I dislike.

ThereBeDragons · November 2013

Our girl name is Elisabeth- after MIL. But she passed away 10 years ago and I'd be hesitant to choose a first name after a still living relative. We are adding in my (still living) mother's middle name as one of the middle names though. So apparently it's just the first name spot I'm avoiding. Well that and Elisabeth is a little more our style than my mom's name.

The one thing we did want to be sure of is that LO would have a different nickname and so it'd be easier to establish her own identity apart from MIL. So she won't be another little Lisa- more likely a Beth or Ella.

Helenahhandbasket · November 2013

Not weird at all-- unless you have a less than great relationship with her. I think if it feels strange or uncomfortable though, maybe choose something else.

My MIL was Maria and we have considered that name as well as variations on it.

On your list-- I really like Elizabeth, Catherine and Diana.

I don't like Madison for you-- it feels like a sore thumb among your other classic choices.

Ceridwen21 · November 2013

I'm not crazy about naming children after living people, but if you love the name and love your MIL, go for it.

From your list, I love Madeleine, Diana, Claire and Clara.

*sparky* · November 2013

Thanks everyone - I do really like the name Diana and I am surprised my DS threw that one out there - no idea where he got it from. I don't love Madison either, but was trying to come up with something similar to Madeleine. The other option is Madeline, but I don't love that one either.

We have a simple one-syllable LN, so my only heistation with Claire is that it is also one syllable and it seems so plain sounding to me.

Ceridwen21 · November 2013

I would chose at least 2 syllables for a short LN.

NerdyLucy · November 2013

I feel like Madeleine is miles better than Madison.

I'm indifferent regarding Kaitlyn, but the rest are great. I particularly like Diana.

Any of the rest on your list could all be paired up to make a great FN MN combo.

emmy236 · November 2013

The inner brat in me wants to say "Oh hell no" because in the beginning she bashed our baby names even though she knew they were family names from my side. DS is named after my father and dying uncle and she thought the name sounded old and "foreign". My uncle is Danish but everyone loves the names. Our girl name was my grandmothers name and DH's sister as a MN and she even remarked on that, which had to just be out of spite because she was bashing the name she gave her daughter! Granted now things are a lot better between us and if down the road we have like a 3rd girl (we have 0 now) and DH wants to use it as a MN I'll probably let him.

Edit: I got so mad reliving that I forgot to comment on names. I like Madeline but dislike NN Maddy because there are so many. I really like Clara and I also really love Elizabeth. That name just can never be wrong. I think Elizabeth Madeline is a lovely combo

kelley72 · November 2013

I think Madeleine is a lovely name. I am "over" a few on your list but your choices overall are very pretty. Having a friend with a childs name I liked would not stop me from using it. order my preference: Madeleine, Claire, Clara, others to me are overused or not my style

mhickey426 · November 2013

Personally, I wouldn't. My fam and my dh's fam but name everyone the same name. The are so many people in our families with the names (and every nn associated with these names) james, gerald, Sean, Ryan, Emma/Emily, Jane, Ralph, Elizabeth and so on. I never want to name my child after someone. I made sure we picked a name that nobody in our family has. I think it is very nice to name a child after someone but when you go to a party and say "hey Jimmy" and 20 people turn around it is a little much.

*sparky* · November 2013

@mhickey426 - I completely get that. We don't see MIL that often as she lives about 7 hours away. We always call her Gran in front of DS. Her DH calls her "Mase" (short for her Maiden Name - Mason). My dad calls her Madeleine when they are together so when we had dual family gatherings would be the only time it would be confusing.

We may go w/it as a MN if we can settle on a first name we prefer.

*sparky* · November 2013

@Joy2611 - weird - I don't know a single Madeleine besides MIL. I don't think we would call DD Maddie - my neighbors had a dog with that name - but I suppose we run the risk of her being tagged with that NN by others.

mb314 · November 2013

We named DS after my FIL. It's not weird at all to name your child after your MIL, and I think it's nice to honor a family member, living or dead.

Irishcurls · November 2013

Hm, I wouldn't only because I dont love the name and I don't *love* my MIL (but I like her). If my DH really pushed for it, I would consider it though. It's not weird IMO. Love Madeleine, minus the Maddy phenomenon.

allardr · November 2013

Madeline & Clara were tops on our list too! I wouldn't name DD after MIL anymore than I'd name her after my mother. I just don't like that, a kid should have their own unique name. I'd be open to that as a MN. (also I nixed Madeline after realizing she may become mixed in the Maddy crowd from popular Madison)

I vote Clara, who cares if a close 8 year old has the same name. It's too classic for that to matter.

Dr.Loretta · November 2013

I don't think it's weird. But then again, I share the same name with my aunt and Nana.

blu-eyedwife · November 2013

I'm not a fan of naming after the living, especially a MIL where she would share the first AND last name.

diamondduck13 · November 2013

I don't see the issue, unless you dislike your MIL and don't want the association.

*sparky* · November 2013

@Idani - That's fine - I am not trying to start a fight over this. I know zero Maddies or anyone with a "Mad" name - seriously, none, except my neighbor's dog as I said.

Irishcurls · November 2013

*sparky* said:

@Idani - That's fine - I am not trying to start a fight over this. I know zero Maddies or anyone with a "Mad" name - seriously, none, except my neighbor's dog as I said.

I mean she's not fighting. They're popular.

queenbone · November 2013

I wouldn't have a problem naming a daughter after my MIL, in fact we were planing on using a variant of her name utill she started doing things last year and DH and I changed our minds. If you like and respect her I think it is fine.

I also like Claire and Diana o your list.

RedInLove · November 2013

I have no plans to name a DD after MIL, or even after my mother. Their names are NMS.

ashie624 · November 2013

DDs mn is MILs mn. We were also thinking of MILs first name being LOs mn. Had she been a boy we were thinking of naming him after FIL and calling him by a NN.

*sparky* · November 2013

Idani said:

*sparky* said:

@Idani - That's fine - I am not trying to start a fight over this. I know zero Maddies or anyone with a "Mad" name - seriously, none, except my neighbor's dog as I said.
No reason to get so defensive. Simply stating facts. You stated you liked it because it wasn't too odd or too unique. If something a bit different was what you were looking for, this wouldn't be it.

@Idani - Good lord this is going downhill fast. You are completely misunderstanding me so I will try one more time and then quietly back out of this board - I am not at all trying to be defensive just explaining that I had no idea it was a popular name. That is all. And I wanted to let you know I wasn't trying to argue that it's not popular - I just happen to live in a bubble where no one uses this name.

So I am sorry I seem to have come off completely the wrong way - I am just trying to explain this is not my intent.

Thanks everyone for the advice. We are still completely undecided on what we will do.

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