having trouble deciding between 2 middle names

RedBird11 · March 2014

We have decided on Eli as the first name for our little boy due in 4 weeks. That is set in stone. We have had two middle names picked out for months and can't make any progress deciding ( mainly because DH doesn't see the point in middle names but I definitely want Eli to have a middle name).

The two choices are Thomas and James. Thomas is the name of one of my late grandpas. James, believe it or not, is from a dream a had a week before I found out I was pregnant. It was so vivid. I gave birth to a boy and named him Eli James. We had always liked Eli for a boy so I am not surprised that it was the name I used in my dream. James was out of nowhere but I like it. I had told my DH about the dream and the name kind of stuck.

I want a name with meaning which Thomas has, but I think James has meaning in a way too. Sigh. I change my mind back and forth every day. So what do you all think? Eli Thomas or Eli James?

brooksidebride · March 2014

Love Eli!

They both sound great, in my opinion, but I like the sound if Eli James a tad more. (Though I do think Thomas has more "real" meaning/significance.)

I personally like initial nicknames too, and EJ is cute to me. For some people, that would be a turnoff... I know not everyone likes initial nns!

Helenahhandbasket · March 2014

I like Eli James better, but both are fine.

oneblessedmess · March 2014

Eli James sounds better and it does sort of having meaning for you!

Harveys11 · March 2014

I'd honor my grandfather over a dream I had.

saham07 · March 2014

Thames?............JK, I like Thomas

RedBird11 · March 2014

Luhdashuh said:
Both sound good and both have meaning. Do you think you will regret not honoring your grandfather?

That's what I am trying to decide. But at the same time, I was close to my other late grandpa as well but my DH doesn't want to use that name (Richard) because his grandpa had the same name and they didn't have a good relationship at all. So I would almost feel bad using Thomas and not my other grandpa.

Thanks for all of the responses so far. I am an awful decision maker so I am taking the responses seriously. I need help!

Spin313 · March 2014

I prefer Eli James...great flow, solid choice!

RebeccaS6627 · March 2014

I prefer Eli James, but you can't go wrong either way.

firsttimeauntie · March 2014

Personally, I think family trumps any dream. I would go with Eli Thomas

jnnfrrose6 · March 2014

Just so I'm clear, Eli isn't short for Elijah, it would just be Eli?

Either way, not as much a fan of James in the MN spot. Elijah James is a lot of the "ja" sound together. Eli James sounds like a weird attempt at Elijah, but it 2 name form (maybe I'm just saying them too quickly together, but it starts to run together).

I do like Thomas, whether it's paired with Eli or Elijah.

RedBird11 · March 2014

Yes, Eli is the full name.

sunnyday016 · March 2014

Both are nice, but I prefer the meaning of Thomas.

Ceridwen21 · March 2014

Grandpa > Dream

genromeo · March 2014

I don't think you can go wrong here. Eli James flows nicely and E.J. sounds better than E.T. That being said, I think using middle names to honor family is really beautiful. Sorry if that wasn't helpful.

KayP79@msn.com · March 2014

Oh I really like Eli Thomas!

shamyfowler · March 2014

I like Eli James better. Normally I'd like the connection of Thomas, but you indicated you were closer/just as close to your other grandpa and would feel bad picking one over the other. And as someone else said, there's no obligation to use a family name.

englishtearose · March 2014

I like both names. I like the flow of Eli James better. I think Elijah Thomas sounds better than Eli Thomas, but I don't think you could go wrong either way.

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