Sarah writes:
We are expecting baby #2 on April 12th and within the last week, I have started to seriously question our “potential” names. Our first daughter is Maggie (Margaret) Sue, last name sounds like Milchak. We don’t know the sex of this baby. We are pretty settled on Henry for a boy first name, but I like Daniel for a middle name, my husband likes George (both are family names). We tend to go for “older” names as opposed to new/trendy names. Our girl names… well, we just don’t have a clear winner. We like Emma, Alice, Katherine. I think Emma is a front-runner but again the middle name hangs me. Let’s face it, I really only use our daughter’s middle name when she’s doing something wrong or needs to come back to reality…. Margaret Sue just snaps her into attention. I would like #2’s name to do the same.
Any and all help/comments/ concerns/suggestions will be much appreciated. I’m sick of losing sleep over this :)
I too get all doubty right at the end. It could mean that the names need re-working, or it could be last-minute nervousness.
I suspect that either middle name you choose for Henry will work equally well and be equally satisfying. We were down to three middle names for our fifth child, and we finally narrowed it to two, then back up to three, and ack! But when I think of it now, I think any of the three would have been very good choices, and I think the same about George and Daniel: they’re both family names, they both work with the first name and surname, and you’ll probably be happy with either one.
With Margaret (Maggie), my favorite sister name is Katherine. Would you use a nickname, so it would be, for example, Margaret and Katherine / Maggie and Katie? I like Katherine Jean: Margaret Sue and Katherine Jean. Or Katherine May? Or Katherine Ava? Katherine Jane? Katie Ava doesn’t work as well, but Katie Jean, Katie May, Katie Jane—all cute.
My second favorite with Margaret is Alice, and it is only the smallest smidgen behind Katherine, mostly because of it not having a nickname compatible with Maggie (maybe Allie?). I like Jean again here: Alice Jean Milchak, Maggie Sue and Allie Jean.
With Emma, I think I’d use the middle name Katherine. This gives you Maggie Sue and Emma Kate—or, for reprimands, you’d have the full Emma Katherine, just as you have the full Margaret Sue.
I’m on board wtih Swistle’s girl preferences/suggestions. I even like them in the same order. All cute – you simply can’t go wrong!
For Henry’s middle name, I prefer Daniel. Mostly because of the initials. I like HDM. HD even works for an occational nickname. HG makes me think of HGTV. :)
Congrats on your new addition! :)
Like the first commenter, I prefer Henry Daniel to Henry George.
I like all three girls names, with a slight preference for Emma, and I think Swistle’s suggestion of Jean as the middle works well with all of them.
Both George and Daniel are great middle names! I happen to prefer George slightly more with Henry (rhythm-wise), but I think you can’t go wrong with either.
As for girl names, my favorite is also Katherine (nn Kate/Katie) and I am putting a vote in for middle name Anne!
For a middle name with Emma I like Louise. Emma Louise.
Emmy Lou and Maggie Sue.
Congratulations
I like both Daniel and George, leaning just a smidge toward George. Either one would work well, though.
For a girl, I like Frances or Grace with either Alice or Katherine. With Emma, something like Josephine or Julianne (or Katherine, if you’re not saving it as a first name for a future girl) has a more pleasant flow to my ears.
Definitely LOVE Maggie&Kate. Katherine Grace, Katherine Jane, Katherine Jean, etc…are all fantastic. I love Emma and Alice, too, but prefer Katherine with Margaret.
Other one syllable middle names that work with Katherine, Emma and Alice:
Belle
Eve
Mae/May
Ruth
Pearl (Emma Pearl is SO cute!)
True
Lark
Maeve
Rose
Paige
Claire
Kate (although not with Katherine, obv)
As for a boy, why not use both George and Daniel as middle names? Henry Daniel George or Henry George Daniel are both fine names. A mouthful, sure, but like you said- you really only use the full name once in a while, and this way you’d honour BOTH family members.
Henry is perfect with Maggie (Margaret), and I agree that either family name works. But if it’s a toss up, I think Henry George sounds better than HENry DANiel (although I personally prefer Daniel to George for a first name).
For a girl, I thought of two of the names Swistle suggested (I like traditional names too) as I was reading along: Katherine Jane “Katie” (I’m not a fan of Jean) or Emma Kate (or Emma Katherine), who could be called Emmie if you want another end in ‘y’ sound name like Maggie and Henry, your boy’s name choice. If Emma is your favorite name, then I’d use it.
Margaret Sue – “Maggie” and
Emma Kate – Emma – or –
Henry George – Henry
How about Anna Katherine for a girl?
Also, I like George better as a middle name.
PS Swistle–I used this blog to get ideas on what to name our newest kitty. His name ended up being “Miles.”
I know this is an older post but I am going though the older posts looking for Girl names right now and i cannot help commenting!! I have 3 sisters,and you mentioned the names of 3 of the 4 of us!! I am Katie ( Katharine spelt with an “a” after Katharine hepburn), then we have Allie( Allison) and Maggie ( Margaret) it made me laugh out loud :) And I have to tell you that all of our names work wonderful together :)