Erika writes:
My husband and I are expecting our second baby very soon (3 weeks) and we don’t know the gender so we’ve been having a difficult time picking out two names.
Our 2 year old daughter is Lucia Mae, sometimes called Lulu. Our surname is short and sweet – Coyne – pronounced “coin.”
My father passed away a few months ago and I would really like to honor him my naming the baby after him. His name was Michael, a classic name, but perhaps too simple or popular for our taste. My husband really likes the name Anderson, so I suggested Michael Anderson Coyne, in which case we would call him Mac as a nickname (from his initials). In many ways it’s perfect because Max was a front runner for baby#1, so it’s clearly our style.
My question is: is it weird to name our baby something that we never intend to call him? I would plan to introduce him as Mac not Michael.
Would we be better off picking another name and using Michael as a middle name? Other choice is Samson Michael (nn Sam).
As far as girl’s names go, our top choices to go with big sis Lucia Mae are:
Macie Jane (my dad’s initials are MJ, like it for sentimental reason, but worry that Macie sounds like a nickname)
Ruby Jane
Cecelia/Celia Jane (love, but wonder if Cecelia and Lucia are too similar)
Hope to hear from you!!
Sometimes I think it’s a little weird to give a person a name that will never be used, and other times I don’t. My own favorite place for an honor name you don’t want to use is the middle name position: it’s definitely an honor-name place, but it doesn’t come into everyday life, and it doesn’t make a daily issue out of not liking the name enough to call the child by it. It also avoids the confusion and hassle and corrections, as well as avoiding any feeling that future children also need to be given honor first names. So a name like Samson Michael would generally be my own first choice.
However, I think the idea you came up with is a good one—good enough that I think I prefer it to Samson Michael in this case. Mac sounds quite a bit like Michael, so it doesn’t seem as confusing as, say, if you named him Michael but wanted him called Gus or Xavier. And I do have a soft spot for initial names. Furthermore, in this case every correction/explanation is an opportunity to tell the naming story, which is a sentimental one: “Oh—no, his first name is Michael after my dad, but we all him Mac.” Everyone is familiar with the concept of using a different name to tell namesakes apart. Mac Coyne runs together a bit, but I think you’d get used to a little half-pause between them.
Plus, the important thing is do YOU think it’s weird to name him something you don’t call him? If you’re worried about what other people think, the good news is that none of them truly deep-down care. That is, if you took a national survey you might find tons of people who think it’s weird to name him something you don’t call him—but they will think it only for a moment, and after that it will leave their minds because it doesn’t really matter to them what someone else names a baby. And this will be balanced anyway by all the people who don’t think it’s at all weird to name him something you don’t call him, since people do that all the time.
A third possibility would be to name him Anderson Michael Coyne. Anderson seems like a great fit with the other names on your list.
If you pronounce it loo-SEE-ah, then Lucia, Macie, Cecelia, and Celia all have very similar sounds. I’m not sure if they’d be too similar to put together or not. Celia is definitely too similar to me: it seems like it just rearranges the sounds of Lucia, and the two names are almost anagrams. Cecelia’s extra syllable helps reduce this issue. Lucia and Macie don’t necessarily feel too close in sound, but Macie seems so much less formal than Lucia: it fits well with Lulu, but feels as if it ought to also have a coordinating long form. But I do think of it as a stand-alone name, not a nickname, and I can’t think of a long form for it—it’s just that it suddenly seems nicknamey next to Lucia.
Michaela is probably too common for your tastes, but would be a nice honor name for your dad. It might make a nice middle name if you don’t like it as a first name. Ruby Michaela is pretty. Do you mind the repeating -oo- sound with Lucia/Lulu and Ruby?
There’s a Marguerite in one of my children’s classrooms this year, and I’ve been surprised how well it works: I would have thought it would make me think of margaritas, and it did, but only slightly, and not for long. I like it with Lucia.
Or maybe Margo would work better.
Or I love Maribel. Lucia Mae and Maribel Jane; Lulu and Bella.
Or I like Mariella almost as much. Lucia Mae and Mariella Jane.
Lucia and Matilda; Lulu and Tilly.
Lucia and Mattea; Lulu and Mattie.
I feel like Macie could actually be used as a nickname for Michaela. I mean, there’s probably no logical reason for me to think that and I’m sure others will disagree. But if I met a little Macie and discovered that her full name was Michaela, I’d just think “oh, that’s different and really sweet” – and I like Lucia and Michaela together, and I like Lulu and Macie together, and that would cover honouring your dad, too.
I don’t disagree, in fact that idea makes me like Michaela more! All the letters are in there and Macie sounds really cute with Lulu. You could use the same logic to argue for Michael Anderson, the letters MAC will be his initials and can be found in his first name alone. In my book that’s more than enough justification for a creative nickname. My only hesitation with Michaela would be if you wanted to use Mac in the future for a son, but I gathered from your e-mail that the time to honor you father would be with this baby.
I love both of those options and they would be my top picks.
I agree with this completely. And Michaela (unlike McKayla, Mikayla, etc) still seems classic to me.
I was going to suggest this as well — it’s adorable and totally makes sense as a nickname! And, agreed, it parallels nicely with Lulu/Lucia :)
I really like the idea of naming him Michael Anderson Coyne with a Mac nickname. Saying it with your last name does make me hesitate, though – even with a pause between Mac and Coyne, it sounds like McCoy. Not terrible by any means, but I can see McCoy becoming his nickname with school friends.
How about Miranda Jane “Mira”: Lulu and Mira?
Miranda and Michael begin with “Mi”. I think that would be a nice way to honor you dad, and she would have the same initials as your dad too : MJ. Clearly an honor name.
I absolutely love your idea to use Mac! Please do it! Your girl choices are all lovely. I also like Swistle’s girl choices. I may be weird, but I don’t mind male honor names as girl middle names. Like, Ruby Michael Coyne. I love that!
I like the Mac idea, but Anderson Michael or Samson Michael work, too. Would you consider Micah? I don’t know if it’s related or not, but the sounds are there.
For girl options I think spelling it Macy or Macey makes it look less like a nickname, or using it as a nickname for Michaela was a great suggestion.
I love the idea of Mac. And Mac seems like a reasonable nickname for Michael, even without the initials, so I don’t see it as “weird” or potentially confusing at all. I agree that Mac Coin does sound like a surname, but that’s also not a huge problem I don’t think, especially with all the surname as firsts that are currently popular.
Maisie is traditionally a nickname for Margaret I believe. Margaret seems like a great namesake for a Michael to me, especially if the middle initial is also the same. I think Margaret related names would also work, such as Margo or Margery. I’ve also heard of Maisie being used as a nickname for Maeve and Mae. I quite like Lucia & Maeve together. Lucia & Maeve, Lulu & Maisie
Ruby Jane is very pretty.
I agree with Swistle that Cecelia & Celia seem too similar to Loo-see-ah, if that is how you are saying it.
I love Mac from the initials. i think it is so sweet. I wouldn’t worry about it all. Mac to Michael is not a crazy leap and it still gives him a more formal/traditional name if he ever wants to use it.
great choice and I love that it is a family honor name.
I was just going to say this. Mac is cute for a little boy but also suits a grown man, and Michael would work well if he wants to use his more formal name professionally. Win/win!
I love the idea of Mac as a nickname! Even if he decides to use Michael in professional settings as he gets older, it is always nice to have a somewhat unique nickname around friends so you don’t get into the “Which Michael/Mike are you talking about?” When I was younger I knew a girl named Mary Elizabeth but went by the nickname Emmy because that was how her initials were pronounce (M. E.). I always thought it was a clever way to give a nickname while still have a somewhat formal name to revert to in the future if she wished. And with the nickname Mac, I don’t have any specific long form name that I associate it with so it doesn’t seem out of place with Michael.
I was under the impression that Mac was a nickname for Michael. Mac Coyne does run together a bit, but not enough to scrap the name, I think.
I really love Michael Anderson Coyne nn Mac. I think it’s fantastic with Lucia Mae, and beautifully honouring.
For girls, I feel that Macie is a bit too nicknamey with Lucia. With Lucia, I love:
Eleanor Jane Coyne (Lucia and Eleanor; Lulu and Ellie/Lulu and Nora/Lulu and Nell)
Matilda Jane Coyne (MJ initials) (Lucia and Matilda; Lulu and Tillie/Lulu and Mattie/Lulu and Millie)
Juliet [Jane?] Coyne (Lucia and Juliet; Lulu and Jules/Lulu and Lettie)
My husband has an initial nickname –his name is Richard but he has always gone by the name Rush (initials are RSH). It has never been an issue for him!
I think Mac is a great nickname for Michael.
I like the suggestion of Michaela too, and I think Macie could work as a nickname. I also love the suggestion of Mattea/Mattie. I think Ruby and Macie by itself sound too nicknamey with Lucia as the sister’s name…
Good luck!
I like the initial nn Mac so much I actually hope you have a boy just so you can use it. It’s just so rad!
I also think Macie would be a great nn for Michaela if it goes that way. Good luck!
Michael Anderson Coyne called Mac is a fantastic idea! In my opinion using a honour name as a middle name is nice, but actually using it as a first name — possibly sacrificing names that are more to your taste — is much more meaningful and special. And Michael is such a classic, strong, handsome name that will serve a boy well no matter where he goes in life. And of course, you can adapt it by using a cool nickname. It fits good with Lucia, which is maybe a little more unexpected but also fairly traditional.
Other nickname ideas for Michael — Mischa, Mick, Cal, Micah, Mika, Mikko.
For a girl:
Michaela – Mimi, Mia, Macie, May, Mica, Mila, Kay, Kayla, Kayley, Misha
Micaela [mee-kah-ella] (the Italian spelling, like Lucia) or Michaella – Mica, Ella, Ellie, Milly, Mel.
Michelina – Lina, Linny
same initals:
Margaet – Maisie
Madeleine – Maidie
Mary
Mirabelle
Mila
Millicent
Maia
Mabel
Maëlle
Joan
Josephine
Juniper
Juliet
Gabriel and Raphael (or the feminine forms) would also be a good idea — being the names of the 3 arcangels, these names are usually associated with each other. Same with Angel, Angela, and Angelica.
Good luck!
I think you are set for a boy- Mac and Samson are both great and although Samson is one of my favourite names, in this case I slightly prefer Mac.
It would be nice if you could honour your father in a girl’s name too. I don’t think Mieke isn’t related to Michael, but it would be obvious enough, especial with a tweaked spelling like Mika. I also like the idea or shared initials, and would add Mila Jane (all the letters are in Michael), Maia Jane and Milena Jane. Otherwise Michaela, or even Michael, would be a perfect middle name. Ruby Michaela is great, but Macie and Cecelia do seem to clash with Lucia a bit. Here are some alternatives:
Sylvie Michaela
Amelia Michael
Daisy Michaela
Lulu and Mila or Lucia and Sylvie would be my picks.
I really love the name Samson so Samson Michael would be my choice for a boy.
Suggestions for a girl:
Emilia
Antonia
Eloise (love this)
Julia
Joanna
Gemma
Aurora
All the best!
What about Marcella Jane nn Macie or MJ?
I agree with the other posters- Michael Anderson/Mac is just wonderful and perfect! Especially with the sentimental value!!
As for the girl, Lucia Mae and Macie Jane are just too visually and phonetically similar for me! I love the idea of MJ though. Maribel or Mirabelle is cool. Other ideas: Marcie, Merris, Meryl, Mercy, Millicent, Milagro, or Mavis.
First off, did’t have a chance to read above comments but here’s my thoughts:
GIRLS:
I LOVE Michaela. It is so unique, there is a fabulous story behind it, and there are so many great nicknames. You could easily use Macie as a nickname, a quarky twist to her name!
Michaela and Lucia. Macie and Lulu. SO CUTE.
My second favourite would be Ruby Michaela.
BOYS:
I love using Michael Anderson and calling him MAC. I do not think it is an issue naming your son one name when you intend to use a different name/nickname. When you think about it, you would do the same thing with Samson -> Sam. A TON of people do that exact thing, for example: Maxwell – Max, Matthew – Matt, Nicholas – Nick, Benjamin – Ben….. the list goes on. Do you think you are just questioning it because when you think of a typical nn for Michael you think of Mike? I honestly don’t think it is an issue and totally love the name, official and nickname of Mac. I wouldn’t look any further!
Love Mac ! and love that he can use Michael too.
Also enjoyed the comment about which Michael/ Mike are you? my hubby is a Mike and we go to weekly pub trivia with up to 4 Mikes on our team! My hubby has resorted to being Mitch!
I do worry about the Mac Coin sound but not enough to overrule the meaningful and awesome honor name of Mac.
I don’t think Macie sounds at all like a nickname at all! and I love it spelt with the ie seems softer and more feminine. I also think that you could call her Michaela and call her Macie for short. You could also call her Mac if it suited! Another nn for Michaela that I love is Mikki, it is also a Japanese girls name and I feel spelt this way is completely different to Mickey,like the mouse, and a very cute nn for a girl and a fun song too! Hey Mikki!
If you go with Ruby then I would go Ruby Michaela or Ruby Michael
To me Cecilia and Celia are out if you pronounce it Loo – see – ah.
Loved the other M name suggestions by Swistle as long as you couple it with the Jane for the MJ honor name.
My vote is for Mac and for Macie
Runner up Michaela nn Macie or Mikki
All the best