Family names vs non family names. Tell me your favorite!

2babesandcounting · August 2014

Well we ended up finding out we are having a girl. I am still feeling pulled to try to find a family name that DH and I both like but we are struggling. I have come up with some variations to our grandmothers' names which are Helen, Betty, Louise, and Audra. I have also found a few non-family names that I am considering. Please let me know your opinions on these names and if you have any suggestions for other names that might go well with our other 2 kids and our last name I would love to hear them!

Just FYI - it is very common to use a more "old fashioned" first name and call a child by his/her middle name where we live. Double names are extremely common here. Also, calling a child by a nickname that may not sound like it directly relates to either the first or middle name happens a lot here.

Our other DD is named Ainsley Marie and DS is named Salter Bradley. Last name is Melton.

These are in no particular order.
1. Betty Helene - call her Helene
2. Helene Louise
3. Louisa Moss - Moss is DH's first name
4. Audra Cate - call her by both for a double name.
5. Helen Eloise - call her Eloise. I know Eloise is not actually a variant of Louise but it sounds close.
6. Helen Louisa - call her Louisa.
7. Helen Louise - call her Lena.
8. Leighton
9. Rosalie
10. Rosalind
11. Everly

Helen is very rhymey with our last name so I don't want to call her Helen. Helena is not an option. Betty is not short for anything and we can't use Elizabeth because my SIL just used it for her little girl. I am not a fan of Bettina as a variation of Betty.

Let me know your thoughts and any suggestions for other names you may come up with! Thanks!

LadyXaverian · August 2014

My favorites are Helene Louise and Audra Cate.

Congratulations and good luck deciding!

pippacricket · August 2014

I like Everly and Rosalie from your list. What about Everly Helene?

neverblushed · August 2014

Here are my thoughts on the names you have listed.

1. Betty Helene - call her Helene -- eh, I'd avoid the whole "go by the middle name" thing unless you have no other options. You've got other options here.
2. Helene Louise -- Nice! A great name option!
3. Louisa Moss - Moss is DH's first name -- also not bad, and it pulls in your DH's name in an interesting way.
4. Audra Cate - call her by both for a double name. -- plain Audra is fine, but Audra Cate is also fine! Good choice!
5. Helen Eloise - call her Eloise. -- again, I say don't do the "go by mn" thing unless you have to. Plus, these two together are REALLY old-ladyish. I think you have better options on your list.
6. Helen Louisa - call her Louisa. -- ditto #5
7. Helen Louise - call her Lena. -- No. It'll just invite too much confusion.
8. Leighton -- very masculine. Even though Leigh is often a girl, this just screams boy to me.
9. Rosalie -- like it! What about Rosalie Helen? or Rosalie Moss?
10. Rosalind -- like it, not quite as much as Rosalie. Almost as much, though!
11. Everly -- Eh, you have better names on the list.

My top 2 choices: Helene Louise and Audra Cate. Rosalie is a close 3rd.

jburdet1 · August 2014

My favorite is Audra Cate, but I love Louise as a fn. It's my DD1's mn and also mine, my mother's, and grandmother's, but I kick myself for not using it as a fn.

firsttimeauntie · August 2014

Audra Cate is my favourite. My second favourite is Louisa so Helen Louisa is my second choice.

DaisyZH · August 2014

I like Audra Cate and Rosalie best.

midwestmom12 · August 2014

LadyXaverian said:
My favorites are Helene Louise and Audra Cate.

Congratulations and good luck deciding!

This.

strawberrytree · August 2014

I like Louisa Moss (if she'd go by Louisa), Rosalind, and Audra Cate. I like the idea of Helen nn Lena but I'm not loving Helen Melton if she decides to go by that name some day.

HeavenBlessedMom · August 2014

Audra Kate or Eloise ___.

Dr.Loretta · August 2014

I love Louisa Moss and Audra/Audrey Cate. Love Rosalind

erinms · August 2014

HeavenBlessedMom said:
Audra Kate or Eloise ___.

This, exactly. I prefer the K for Kate, but the name Audra Cate/Kate with your other kids' names.

ashiscute · August 2014

I love Audra Cate and Louisa Helen/Moss. Either of those works for me. I really like Louisa.

sharksfan · August 2014

I love the name Audra, so I vote Audra Cate.

Rebis58 · August 2014

1. Betty Helene - call her Helene - One of my top pics of your options
2. Helene Louise - pretty. I prefer Betty to Louise but prefer to put the name you plan to use in the first name spot
3. Louisa Moss - Moss is DH's first name - not my favourite but pretty and I like the homage to YH
4. Audra Cate - call her by both for a double name. - Love this. My top choice of your options
5. Helen Eloise - call her Eloise. I know Eloise is not actually a variant of Louise but it sounds close. - I don't love Eloise or Helen, but the name is nice enough
6. Helen Louisa - call her Louisa. - see above
7. Helen Louise - call her Lena. see above
8. Leighton - nms
9. Rosalie - I like this one but prefer your names with family significance
10. Rosalind - I prefer Rosalie but this is pretty as well
11. Everly - nms

2babesandcounting · August 2014

4. Audra Cate - Like, though I prefer Audra Catherine, and call her Audra Cate

This is exactly what we would do. Full name would be Audra Catherine Melton but she would be called the double name Audra Cate. We would use Catherine/Cate with a "C" due to family significance. I figured this way, if she feels a double name is too juvenile when she gets older, she could choose to use Audra, Catherine or Cate in her professional life.