Middle name help

[Cygnet09]

OK, so we have a first name for this babe, but the middle name is causing some aggravation. Poor DH hasn't named a single one of the girls - their names kind of came to me while I was PG. So I'd love to let him give her her middle name, but dang it, I really don't like his choice! LOL So I thought I would make up a list of names I am fine with and let him choose! Help me out!

Her first name will be Ella. These are the middle names we have considered:

Ella Grace
Ella Jane
Ella Rachel <---- Dh's pick and I'm sorry but it just doesn't work for me.

Our girls' names are:
Anna-Catherine Marie
Olivia Rose

I actually thought about combining the girls' middle names into her name, kind of as a way of sharing or honoring their bond, but DH thinks that will take away the uniqueness of their names and doesn't want to do it. My ideas were:

Ella Rose-Marie or
Ella-Rose Marie

Any ideas, criticism, advice appreciated!

[mataji4]

I agree that combining your girls' names as Ella's middle name isn't a good idea. Your other girls got original middle names, and Ella will probably want her own too, that isn't her sisters' names, especially when they aren't letting her borrow her makeup and clothes later on!

Ella Grace and Ella Jane? Both pretty, simple, and common. What about the one that goes better with your last name?

[Aliviasmom]

Is there a female version of your husband's name that you could use?

[saratchka]

Originally Posted by Aliviasmom

Is there a female version of your husband's name that you could use?

Or you could honor his mother or another family member on his side. My mother gave me "Allyn" as a middle name to honor her biological father, Alan, who died during her childhood. And my sister and father have the same middle name, "Lee" so you don't have to feminize it if you don't want to. Middle names are used rarely enough in most cases that they don't cause much confusion.

[brittneyscott]

I agree with not combining the sisters' middle names for the baby. But a version of your husband's name or another family member might be a nice idea. My DH has the same middle name as his father (it's a family thing in substitute to the Jr.), Levi. So for my DD we gave her the middle name Leigh as a variation of her daddy's. He wanted to give her my middle name but I just wanted to keep it to myself! I really like the Ella Grace though. Maybe you two could pick a couple possibilities and then when she's born you can look at her and decide what suits her the best.

[willoLevin]

What about Ella Raquel instead of Ella Rachel?

They are similar, but I think the second syllable emphasis on Raquel flows a bit better.

--willo

[Keeping up]

We haven't even settled on first names and the 2nd name is also causing us issues ...

but I like the idea of using family names.

Our first's middle - Mabel after MIL
Our second middle - Patrick after my paternal grandfather
Our third middle - James - after my maternal grandfather and my husband
Our fourth - no clue, but it might actually be something special to husband and I - maybe a place we have been, a restaurant or something like that(obviously that makes sense to the first name choice).

Good luck.

Think of the initials .... don't want something to funny!

[wombatclay]

Since DH and I have long last names, making for a really long/ethnic sounding hyphenated name we tend to go for short middle names...

The ones that spring to mind for Ella are:

Ella Mae (or May)
Ella Anne but that may be too close to your other dd's name)
Ella Fay or Ella Fia
Ella Amber
Ella Lia

But I like Ella Grace and Ella Jane too!

The middle name we're using (Sophia) is adated from one of my great aunts who was a real off the wall lady named Josephine. We thought Josephine a little long but Sophie seemed close and, well, shorter. But maybe there is a relative one or two generations back who has a nifty name you could adopt or alter a little?

[cjanelles]

My aunt and uncle just had a baby girl who they named "Ella Grace" but they're using it as her first name.

What about:

Ella Claire

Ella Janelle

Ella Elyse

[awallrising]

I agree as well about not combining your other girls' names. Seems like too much.

I think that Ella Grace flows well & it fits in with the tone of your other girls' name.

We ended up deciding on my maiden name as Ian's middle name. Ian Wallace, a good Scottish name. I like the idea of taking family names & altering them a bit too. We decided on Ian, a) b/c I've always liked it & b) it means "John", which is DHs name. DH finally got off naming Ian after him (really after his G'pa) so this ended up making him feel good plus we got rid of the whole "junior" thing which I wasn't too hot on.

[izandleo]

What is your heritage? I love Ella Grace, but if you have an ethnic or religious background, why not incorporate?

BTW, I love certain names combined that just "go well" or names with meaning like family names. Any good family names?

I LOVE female names with ELL in them! I am not in one bit French, but fall for each one of them!

I also like Ella Marie or Ella Claire.

[ericswifey27]

I love *Grace* for a middle name! So pretty! I've thought about using it for my babe if a girl: Eden Grace. But I think it's a boy, we'll see

[MandyB]

Well I like Ella Grace, but I may be biased as I have an Ellie Grace of my own.

[OTMomma]

Also instead of Rachel you could do Ella Richelle - I think the flow is better than Rachel.

[Margot Adler]

maybe your husband can make a list of his favorites and let you decide between them? this way he gets creative input but you still have a say?

[sebarnes]

I like Ella Jane. I think it flows well.

[adtake]

I'm voting Ella Grace!

[Cygnet09]

Thank you!!

I've been taking notes, and I really appreciate all the creative ways to change Rachel - I like it!

Thanks for the reminders of family names - both the girls were named with family members in mind. I'll have to dig out our genealogy notebooks. Although the only name I can remember from DH's side is Hortense! Ack!

Looks like Ella Grace is the popular one, though!