You see, the minute I know this is my little boy/girl we're talking about, names that I would ordinarily say, "Oh, that's wonderful!" about are simply not right.
Baby-naming is tricky stuff, especially for girls. I mean, at some point, pretty much every little girl dislikes her name, so as the mom and one responsible, I want to be sure I really, really, really like her name when that day comes. When I told Daniel all this, he laughed. You actually thought about your name when you were a little girl? Of course I did. Didn't you?
(In case you're wondering, when I was 8 years old or so, I wanted nothing more than to be named Julie.)
And then there's the whole meaning of the name thing. I like when names have significant meanings. But I also really like some names that, upon close inspection, have weird, makes-no-sense meanings. I mean, do you actually know how many names are out there that have meanings like, "From the west meadow," or "Bald eagle," or "Fire?" Well, there are a lot.
All that to say, in the last week I went from completely rejecting every name on my list of potentials to coming to the conclusion after talking with Daniel last night (and he just loves these discussions!) that Aubrey is by far and away the front runner when both our opinions are considered. I can't find much of a concrete meaning for the name (it's either "Elf king" or "Noble leader," whatever that means
) and I am at a total loss for a middle name that sounds pleasing alongside it, but when the lists have been crossed out and re-written 100 times, it keeps showing up because both Daniel and I just plain old like it.(For all the Honora-lovers out there, don't despair-- I may yet have a Honora one day, after I've had several years to work on plead with Daniel!)
This is not a declaration that our daughter is officially Aubrey, because I've a feeling I won't commit myself until I see her face to face. It's actually more a desperate cry for help: if you've got middle name suggestions, I'm interested. Like, really interested. Please, please, please do share.
Because I agree with Anne: a rose by any other name just isn't as sweet.
P.S. Can I just say that I laughed out loud in a hysterical sort of laughter when I read this. What does that say about my sense of humor?
How about Aubrey JoLynn?
ReplyDeletei love the name aubrey. i have always wanted to use it when/if i ever have kids, but actually, for a son. i know, a person's fondness for a name also depends on which gender it is used for (for instance, i dont like jamie for a girl, but i like it for a boy) but in this case i like it either way.
ReplyDeleteand i also wanted to have a gabriel. think im going to have to come up with some new names since youve got the headstart and are taking all of mine. ;) just kidding. i do like your names though. :)
well you already know i'm jealous. i love the name aubrey... too bad my husband didn't agree. but i'm quite content and happy with annabelle just the same. aubrey is a tough one for middle names i'll agree. i like aubrey lynn and aubrey lee (danica might fight you for rights on a middle name of lee though) :)
ReplyDeleteUgh! I just typed a(n incredibly insightful =) comment and then accidentally navigated away from it.
ReplyDeleteAnyway! Though we share a fondness for unique names, I think you are even more creative than I. Many of your proposed names had never previously entered my consciousness which probably explains why a complimentary middle name suggestion isn't springing immediately to mind.
I must be getting rusty as my brilliant name ideas go stale... (I think we also share a tendency to fall in love with unusual names which seem to become the height of fashion as soon as we pen them to our lists.)
You may occasionally feel frustrated with Daniel for striking down your name ideas, but I'm guessing you still hold the position of primary child namer in your home, due to your prolificity in suggesting- or your husband's (very typical) lack thereof, if nothing else. But, in this house, Joe has taken the responsibility of appropriately prophetic names upon himself and my one victory thus far is having dissuaded him from choosing "Emmanuel" as Joel's middle name. Now if only I can convince him that God is not calling us to name the next one Ezra.
The first combination that popped into my head was Aubrey Rose but maybe that was just because of your title...
ReplyDeleteAhhh, I love the name Aubrey. I could have never thought of it myself and then it would have been rather difficult to have my Spanish speaking people learn it, so I can't really pull off names like those. As to the meaning, I liked Adriana and it happened to be the Spanish variation of Ben's mom's name, but it means "rich" (like you'd call a color, not as in wealth)... And then, of course after having "Faith" as Elena's middle name, Ben wanted to follow the line and have "Hope" for Adriana's. My brother is concerned that if we ever have a boy we'd call him something like "long suffering"! As for a middle name for Aubrey, what do you think of the feminine version of Daniel, "Danielle"?
ReplyDeletelove you!
I think that it is hilarious that the meaning of Aubrey is "elf king". Is that for real? It took me and Jason FOREVER to come up with names when I was expecting Logan. His middle name was easy, as it is Jason's middle name...Michael. What about Aubrey Honora? You love the name and Daniel doesn't really have to get "used" to it too much because middle names aren't used often, at least not until children turn 2 and then it seems like you use their full name quiet often. :) I agree with you about girls hating their names at some point in their lives. My six year old niece, Megan, went through a period that she wanted us to call her Emily. My sister compromised by buying her a doll in which she named Emily. It did the trick! As for me, I so badly wanted to be Heather. Everytime I played house or school, my name was Heather. My sister's name was always Madeline. Isn't that weird? I wonder if boys go through the same thing. ????
ReplyDeleteJust for fun, some of my favorite name-searching web tools:
ReplyDeleteThe NameVoyager shows you name popularity over time:
http://www.babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/
Nymbler searches based on names you already like:
http://www.nymbler.com/nymbler/
ok- I know it's totally not original, but when I think of this little girl, I just think of the amazing faith and trust that I have seen in you and Daniel for the past months. I think of a little girl who is being fought for on a very spiritual as well as physical level, so... what about Aubrey Faith? (or something else with a similar meaning?)
ReplyDeleteI hope to be able to come over to see you guys soon. Jocelyn has been wanting to see her cousins, but I'm waiting to be sure that we are done with the vomiting virus that we picked up at Cook Forest. Hopefully by Sunday I will know that it's done with!
what about aubrey colette? kind of sounds the same vintage, and very european. have no clue of the meaning, however...
ReplyDeletei think i do like a two syllable middle name, emphasis on the second, for the name aubrey.
or maybe i'm just subconsciously thinking of bronwyn's name. :)
p.s. i just noticed the title of your last post, and i thought, "now, WHY are we laughing at gabriel for his fire hydrant comment? 'cause i think it's genetic!!!"
:)
When I was 8, I was so frustrated with my name. C'mon, Mary has been the most common name in the world (with variations, of course) for so many years. I like names that aren't as widely used. That said, you will probably laugh at what I wanted my new name to be...Rose. Yup, I was set on it!
ReplyDeleteI first thought of 'Elizabeth' (or any variation in spelling) when I heard the first name of Aubrey. I also really like Danica's suggestion of Colette.
Baby names are so tough. Some just sound silly or perhaps, too pompous. Sometimes we try to avoid names, bc we've known someone with a name and that person may not have been very kind. And then, we may love a name, but a friend or friend's/relatives child has already been given that name. I wonder what God thinks about this whole process.
I often consider the way the name sounds, as a whole, the initials the child will have, and what the child will be called, during different stages through their life or what could sound professional, but also good as a kid's name. (Westley/Wes/West...you, know, from the west meadow! Hehe.)
P.S. Where did you get that gift box?? So cute!! It'll be hard for me to give it up!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to be Elizabeth (or Emily) when I was about 10 years old!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, it's funny to me about meanings of names. Especially the newer, non-biblical names. Who makes them up and why can't they be the same on every web page?? Matt didn't want to use "Shay" as Ally's middle name because it meant "from the fairy palace" or "from the fairy fort". I'm pretty sure that with Matt and I telling her where she came from in the future and with just plain common sense, she won't have issues with that meaning of her name and question where she came from! Anyways, I searched every name website until I found one that had a meaning of "beautiful" for Shay. That did the trick and he gave in. But I still tease him about it.
So if your little girl is "elf king" and Ally is "from a fairy fort" I think they'll be great friends!
Angela Sundaramurthy
ReplyDelete14239 Nelson Hill Road
Milford, VA 22514
And I like the name Beatrice.
Since all your kids have 2-syllable middle names, I'm guessing that's the direction you're heading. My personal middle name faves are Claire, Violet, and Grace, mostly because I really like those names and Dan sort of... doesn't... :)
ReplyDeleteI love the name Aubrey. Aubrey Adelle? Aubrey Elaine? I like Danica's idea of Aubrey Collette. Aubrey Jasmine? Or one of my favorite names as the middle name...Aubrey Jeannette? Aubrey Miranda...but I always think of Miranda rights when I hear that name, even though I really like it! I have a friend named Laurelle, with emphasis on the second syllable....Aubrey Laurelle? Some of my favorite names are German...what about Aubrey Lisette or Aubrey Maike (pronounced like Micah) or Aubrey Maaren? I would say Aubrey Landra, but it sounds like a kind of laundry... :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you settle on a name soon...that's prob a decision I'll majorly struggle with if I have children. Good luck!
Okay, now that I see the pattern of two syllable middle names I'll throw my favorite in the ring. Aubrey Janae (Juh-nay).
ReplyDeleteI don't remember having a problem with my first name, without it I couldn't have made Sheri and Sherry bombs with my best friend in fifth grade, but always wanted to ditch my middle name, Ann. It was so common, so boring; I wanted an exciting middle name. Although I am not sure if I ever decided on an appropriate one, I just wanted to ditch the one I had. It was, however, my mother's middle name too. When I didn't give it to Kara she mentioned it. I think I even told her that I never really liked it and wanted to be a more creative. Hence, the above mentioned name.
I just had to check back in... I figured after Shell's record number of comments on her name post, this one would be sure to bring plenty of opinions!
ReplyDeleteWow, Beth-so many creative suggestions! I'm in awe.
And I have always loved Elisabeth spelled with an s... so pretty. That would give both your girls that "consecrated to God" meaning, which I also love. Hmmm... so many choices. Isn't it funny though, how "picky" we get when it comes to our own. I remember when I really started to feel that Mariah was a girl (maybe at 3-4 months pregnant) and suddenly none of the girl names I'd always loved seemed right for her!
names are so hard. I am still trying to sell Danny on a Lalana Arria someday. I don't know...we'll see. Honestly, I liked D's suggestion. Aubrey Colette....beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYes, have heard from Michelle and Missa and Cade (obviously a BOY!) are doing well. They had a VERY scary experience though with the C Section but all are well now. From what Michelle said, the baby was in distress and Missa was not progressing at all so they decided to do an emergency C. I guess the movements of the baby had slowed dramatically. SO, they did the section and the poor little guy got stuck in the pelic bone and they could not get him out. They had to cut Missa 4 additional times and really pull (and push on her belly) to get him out. He didn't cry and was rushed off to be worked on. She had him around 1:30 and didn't get to see him until 6:00 PM. Pure agony, I am sure. I talked to Michelle this morning and she said that Missa was VERY sore but Cade is doing great. I believe that they will be home (mommy and baby) on Monday or Tues but Shell wasn't sure. Poor Missa! I can't even imagine!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, about the names I LOVE Aubrey Ann. I think that is cute but not cutesy. I like Aubrey Elizabeth, too. I think that 2 middle names are fine, but I think that it doesn't sound plain at all. More elegant than plain. I love family names, I am a true sucker for that! So, my vote is Aubrey Ann. No matter what you pick, I am sure that it will be beautiful. It is amazing how the name changes as soon as you meet the little person that is "owning it". When my sister told us that she was going to name my niece Olivia Natalie, we were all like Natalie? It didn't seem to go. She is 100% Olivia Natalie. It just fits her. I couldn't imagine her with any other name. Whatever you and Daniel pick, it will fit like a glove! I can't wait to see pictures of her!
These pictures are soooooo precious and will have memories that last a lifetme. I so enjoy the looks on each of the childrens' faces in the big chair, especially Jackson's--you can't keep me here long kind of look and the other pictures. You take wonderful pictures. They are a joy to see.
ReplyDeleteYou know, just to see what great parents Daniel and you are blesses me and yes, teaches me too, and in a world today of rush rush--kiss kiss-bye-yeah-yeah-I'll listen to !!!! later, AND TO SEE Your loving and caring ways for each of your beautiful and beloved children makes me smile inside.
You take the time for each of them to feel so important. I watched this with you, Brietta and all of your siblings, over the years and I found it amazing that your Dad could show all of his children such individual love. I see it now in you. I am thankful for the kinds of things God shows me and teaches me and this warms my heart.
How awesome that God blesses me to see parents who love and laugh so openly and show God's heart for His children and show it in all ways, love, chastisement, funtimes. Again, I am blessed and I, for one moment, have a thankful heart. Xanga is for so much, and I want to honor Daniel and you and want you to know that your love in action means much to those who did not experience that kind of love as children but who blossom in life now in just having the pleasure to see what God does with those who honor and love Him.
What great hope this brings to our WORLD to know that THESE children are going to shape the future that God has for His purposes and the love that will be known-because as God showed Daniel and you, you are showing your children His great gift----Love. Thank you.
How about Aubrey Grace?
ReplyDelete