Molly writes:
My name is Molly and my husbands name is William, but he always goes by Will. Our last name sounds like Sarah, but starts with an M. Our first baby, a little girl, is due in 3 weeks, and we can’t come to a consensus about a name! We are attracted to classic, traditional and feminine names. I tend to shy away from super popular names in this category (like Charlotte), and love names that have a nickname (Rosie for Rose, for example). We plan to have at least one my child, and if this baby were a boy, we likely would have named him Charles (nn. Charlie).
As of last week, we had narrowed our name choice down to either Eloise Audrey or Jane Audrey. My middle name is Jane, and I have always wanted to name a daughter Jane, nn. Janie. My husband “likes” it, but it’s not his favorite. I have also hesitated, as my sister thinks it’s a bit egotistical to use your name for your child? Is that a common conception? As for Eloise, my husband loves it, and I like it. My concerns include pronunciation (I pronounce it EL-oise, but many others say elo-EEZE…is there a right way?), as well as the trendiness of “El” names (Ella, Ellie, etc.). I am also a little cautious, as the popularity seems to be rising quite quickly. My husband thinks it is an elegant, versatile name that lends itself to a variety of nicknames. Any other first names come to mind?
Other first names we like but have ruled out:
Grace (family member named her daughter this)
Rose (Rose M. sounds like Rosemary)
Elizabeth (bad association)
Audrey (husband doesn’t like it as a first name)
Charlotte (too trendy, would like to “save” Charles for a boy)
Elsie (too nick-namey, and we don’t like Elsa or Elspeth, though husband thinks we could use it as nn. for Eloise, while I think it’s a stretch)
In regard to a middle name, we had planned to use Audrey, as it’s a family name. However, last week, my sweet grandfather died. He has been a large part of my life, and the last time I spoke to him, he joked that I should try and have our daughter on his birthday (3 days after our due date) and name her Roberta after him (Robert, called Bobby). Though I am 100% sure my feisty grandfather was joking, I am now inclined to incorporate his name into our daughter’s, somehow. The problem is this: we don’t like Roberta, and can’t come up with a suitable alternative/derivative as an honor name to potentially use in the first or middle position. I have toyed with using his last name (Gallivan) as her middle name, but it certainly doesn’t have the same “flow” as Audrey with our current top contenders. Could you or your readers help us out?
Thanks!!
Certainly it’s a long-standing and familiar practice in our society to hand names down from parent to child. It’s much more common to do so with the father’s name, which I find a little annoying considering it’s also so much more common to hand down the father’s surname. Well. In any case, I can tell you that I don’t think it’s egotistical to hand down a name from mother to daughter, especially when it’s a middle name; and in fact I think it’s a very sweet connection. If your sister wants to spin it as egotistical, I’m not sure we can stop her, but I don’t think you should let it stop YOU.
If Eloise is close but not quite right, I suggest Eliza. Perhaps you and she could share a middle name? Eliza Jane is such a great combination, and gives you other good nicknames such as Ellie Jane and Liza Jane.
The Baby Name Wizard pronounces Eloise the same way you do, and so do I (based on the pronunciation used by the single Eloise I’ve known personally). If I hadn’t searched online and found many, many, many pages devoted to discussions on the topic, I would have thought the other pronunciation resulted from confusing Eloise with the name Louise/Louisa or with the French Eloise in the children’s book series (the French pronunciation is ello-WEES, with the S pronounced as an S rather than Z). If you know many people who pronounce it that way, that’s definitely something to take into account when considering the name. I wouldn’t think of it as a deal-breaker, but the hassle of correcting people (or choosing to let them pronounce it differently than you’d prefer) would be part of the package deal of the name. Louise or Louisa might be easier (though there is still the issue of how the S is pronounced), and would also avoid the recent popularity of El- names.
Part of the reason honor names are so honor-y is that they generally involve using a name not to the parents’ usual tastes: it’s an unusual coincidence when someone we want to honor has a name that’s already on our favorites list and also works perfectly with the other names involved. And so that becomes part of the honor: we give up other preferences (flow; getting to choose any name we want) for the happiness of remembering a particular person every time we use our child’s name.
If you dislike the name Roberta too much for this to be worth it, one possibility is Robin, an old nickname for Robert. Or I suppose Robert to Bertie to Birdy might work, though it seems as if Birdy wouldn’t make you think of your grandfather; I’d be more inclined to use Roberta as the middle name and take advantage of Birdy as a cute nickname option. Or I do think Gallivan is a nice idea; I love the way a family surname honors a whole branch of the family. Or you could change direction entirely and look for a name with the initials R.G.—though, again, that idea seems less likely to make you think of your grandfather. Or you could save Robert for a future possible son, since you already have the family names Jane and Audrey to use for daughters: Charles Robert is a very handsome name. I might also base it on the baby’s birthdate: I’m not sure I could resist using Roberta as the middle name if she were to be born on your grandfather’s birthday.
What about Jane Robbie M@r@h? or Jane Bobby, and use as a nn Janie B?
I don’t think it is strange at all to use your own middle name. I actually think it is quite sweet :) Jane M@r@h sounds great.
I prefer the flow of Eloise Jane or Eloise Roberta to Eloise Audrey. Also, Eloise and Audrey seem like good names for sisters, so maybe save one of them? Similar to Eloise but slightly more unusual is Elowen, both lend themselves to the nickname Elo, which is much fresher than Ellie et al. (Or Lou/Lulu for Eloise.)
Violet also seems to fit, and sounds really sweet with Roberta. I don’t think it’s a negative think that Rose sounds like Rosemary with your surname, and using Rose would be a nice way to honor your grandfather, as would Robin or Robina.
My favourites would be:
Eloise Robin
Elowen Rose
Violet Roberta
Rose Audrey
Robina Jane
My daughter Robin goes by the nickname of Robina to friends & family…or maybe it’s more of an alter ego, but that’s part of what a nickname is all about.
If we have a girl, we are planning on naming her Eliza, so naturally, I love that option. We chose it to honor of the many family members who have a variation of the name (Elizabeth, Elisabeth, Liz) but no one shares the actual name. My great-grandma went by Elsie, so I plan to use it as a nickname for my little one too. Maybe that would work for you.
I thought Eloise was pronounced Elo-weez. The other way sounds very awkward to me but if probably adjust if I heard it a couple time. Eloise and Jane are great choices, one of you just needs to join the other’s camp. I like the suggestion of Liza, too. There is an adorable children’s song from the 1910’s called” Li’l Liza Jane”. That would be so cute to have a Liza Jane and for her to have her own song.
Also, Naming your daughter Jane is not egotistical. I think ya sad your sister would try to make you feel negatively about using your own middle name.
You have great taste in names: Eloise Audrey and Jane Audrey are both fantastic and you really couldn’t go wrong with either of them. I don’t think that it’s the least bit egotistical to use your middle name for your daughter’s name. Those darn men of ours get to give the baby their last name so why don’t we get to have some input? We’re the ones pushing the darling little beauties out! :)
I have a friend with a beautiful girl named Eloise, and she pronounces it “Ell-oh-Weez” — perhaps it’s a regional thing for pronunciation? I am on the West Coast of BC and have noticed that our pronunciation and general naming styles sometimes differ significantly from our American counterparts. (For example, you would NEVER find a baby Harper in Canada as he is our much-detested Prime Minister.) We err towards French pronunciation at times as well. Anyway…
I think Jane and Eloise are both gorgeous options with plenty of cute nicknames. Eliza is a terrific suggestion too. I don’t think that Jane or Eloise will ever get overly popular. If the fear of popularity strikes you, do the math on classroom usage and it will likely be reassuring (Swistle has done a great post on this). Namely, even if Eloise is high on the ranking list, there will likely be only a couple per school and still far less than one per classroom.
Molly, Will, Jane and Charles M@r@h – perfect!
Molly, Will, Eloise and Charles M@r@h- very nice
Molly, Will, Eliza and Charles M@r@h – very nice
Written like this, I have to say that Jane is my favourite. Jane and Charles are beautiful and classical names. I think your husband is right that Eloise is an elegant and versatile name that lends itself to many nicknames.
What about Elise? Or Violet, Clara, Celia, Louisa, Maeve, Hazel, Amelia? They all go nicely with Charles.
Now for middle names. I think that if this baby is indeed born on your grandfather’s birthday then it makes sense to bite the bullet and give her the middle name of Roberta. The story is just too sweet to pass up! I don’t think that you’d regret it for a second, even if you don’t like the name much. Truth is, middle names are hardly ever used. If the baby arrives on another day, I think Audrey or Jane are great options. Perhaps future baby Charles could receive the middle name of Robert (Charles Robert flows very nicely).
Eloise Jane
Jane Audrey
Elise Jane
Eliza Jane
Hazel Jane
Amelia Jane
You have many gorgeous options. Please keep us posted! All the best to you.
Harper was the #73 most popular girl’s name in Canada in 2013, ahead of names like Georgia, Violet, Scarlett, Mackenzie, and Nora/h. I too live in BC and know several little Harpers. The connection to our PM is fleeting at best. He’ll likely be out of office before most of the little girl Harpers are even in kindergarten.
My husband’s grandfather died while I was pregnant with our daughter also, and we ended up using his mother’s name for her middle name. It was one we liked but hadn’t even considered until we heard it at the service. So instead of being named her great grandfather, she has her great great grandmother’s name. We felt that worked well as a honor name in the case of different genders. Maybe something like that would work for you too? If not, I like Gallivan. It’s different enough to be an obvious honor name and makes a good story.
Personally, I vote for Jane over Eloise. You seem concerned about popularity, and Eloise is VERY popular in our area (suburban Chicago), and all the El- names are popular in our home state as well (Nebraska). I have two friends with babies named Eloise. They both pronounce it they way you do. I do think you can easily get Elsie from Eloise, for what it’s worth.
But Jane Audrey M____ is so lovely! Janie is a great nickname! I love Jane Robin M____ as well, and I think Jane Roberta works–especially as an honor. I’m with Swistle, though. I’d save Robert for a future son, if you plan to have more children. If not, and it’s important to you, go for it.
Whatever you choose will be lovely. Good luck.
I also agree that using your middle name as your daughters first is not egotistical and I do not see the problem with that at all. In fact, I wish that I liked my middle name so I could pass it on to my daughter. I think Jane is lovely and simple and not commonly used as a first name now a days.
Audrey is a sweet middle name, I’m curious did the Audrey in your family ever have the last name Gallivan? Either way, you could always go with two middle names and place them as such… ________ Audrey Gallivan Sarah. Would be sort of a neat way to remember two different people. That way you still have the nice flow of the first and middle name of Audrey in case you ever choose to call her by both. I also like using Gallivan as that potentially honours several people in your family and would make you think of not only your grandfather but other family members that you feel close to. What was your grandpa’s middle name? Could you use that? I also love Swistle’s suggestion of using a relative of your grandpa’s name, like his favourite sister or his mom’s name. Our first born we used my husband’s grandpa’s sister’s name and are so happy that we did. It’s a nice tie to the family, and it helps us remember not only him but honours his relationship with his sister as well.
As for first names, although I do agree that Jane and Eloise are both fabulous names but it doesn’t sound like you and your husband are both loving the same name. It may mean that it is time to look for an alternative and maybe consider keeping these names for a future child where they may at that time feel like the perfect one or you could place Jane as a middle name, _____ Jane Gallivan Sarah.
I’m going to list off some of the names on our short list as it seems like we have very similar naming styles.
First off, I love Rose (if we have another daughter this will be her name). I see the problem with Rose Sarah with an M. What about Rosa or Rosalie or Roselyn (with Roselyn you could use Roz or Rosie as nn). Rose + variations are such pretty names.
What about Juliet/Juliette. My daughter is named Juliet and we honestly get compliments on her name every single time someone hears it. It’s a beautiful, elegant name that is classic but not too common. We love it and are so glad we choose this.
Eve. nn Evie. I don’t know why, but Evie Sarah with an M sounds like a superhero name or a great stage name for a jazz singer or something… haha, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it is a happy sounding name that people would remember. I feel like if someone said the name, that it must be someone famous as it is just too fabulous. Evie Jane. Super CUTE!! Ok.. the more I say Evie Sarah out loud, the more I’m thinking I would almost name her Evie and use Eve as a backup nn. Totally swooning over this right now.
Ottilia. Nn Tilly. Tilly Jane sounds soooo cute together!
Thea or Theodora
Isadora
Vienne. I find that Vienne is a nice, refreshing and more feminine-feeling spin on Vivienne.
Genevieve. nn Genny, Viv or Eve/Evie (although I think this is becoming more popular)
Geneva
Good luck and keep us posted please!!
i pronounce Eloise it the French way but I’ve never known anyone with that name. I think you’d have a few corrections here and there but I would doubt enough to warrant throwing it out. I don’t think using Jane is egotistical at all. I think it’s a great name and a great connection, particularly since it’s your middle name. My favorite is Jane but I also like Eloise very much too. I think the middle name is the perfect place for a name you don’t necessarily like but want to honor someone. Jane Roberta is really a great name.
I think Jane Gallivan M@r@h sounds super cute. And it’s not egotistical to want to give your nickname as a first name or middle name to a daughter. It’s got a lot of tradition backing it up.
This is my favorite name option!
Mine too!
Ditto.
I wanted to comment to encourage you strongly to use Gallivan as a middle name. I love family surnames as middle names – all of us children (all girls) in my family have them and they make our classic first names sound strong and unique. I always liked explaining where my middle name came from (my great-grandmother’s maiden name) and it made me feel connected to my family’s history. It sounds like you were close to your grandfather, and I like how you describe him as “feisty,” and I think this would be a wonderful story to tell a little girl.
I think it would be nice if you used Jane. For one thing, it’s your middle name, so most people you encounter won’t even make the connection. Also, I think it sets up a nice tradition – wouldn’t it be nice if your granddaughter or great-granddaughter was naming HER daughter, and looked back to the Janes who came before her?
Jane Gallivan (S)arah sounds lovely, I can just hear it being read at a graduation ceremony! :)
That being said, Eloise is very nice. I pronounce it with an emphasis on the EL.
Random names from my own list, which is probably close to yours, style-wise:
Alice
Caroline
Eleanor (Ellie)
Emily (Emmy)
Evelyn (popular, I know)
Genevieve (Jenny)
Jocelyn
Katherine
Lillian
Lucy
Vivian
Best of luck and please send an update – I love your choices!
My first choice would be Jane Robin. I’m one of those people who would probably pronounce Eloise Elo-EEZ and annoy you, and it seems like one of those mispronunciations that could persist even after you pointed it out. I also think Robin and Rose are similar in style, and so maybe Robin would be a name that you would really love aesthetically in addition to being a great honor name.
Jane Roberta actually has a good flow to it too though. I think it’s very unlikely that you would regret it.
I second this. I don’t think you’d regret picking Jane Roberta. The joy and sense of purpose from giving your grandfather’s name to your daughter seems much more longlasting than picking something based on personal taste (or a more distant family name– you don’t specify why Audrey is meaningful).
My mom gave me her first name (Kathleen) as my middle name and I plan to pass it on to a future daughter as her middle name, too. I never thought it was egotistical of my mom to do that, especially because my brother’s middle name is our dad’s first name. It’s just a nice way to honor lineage, I think.
It’s also too bad that the motivation to pass on a name gets questioned for women, but it’s super normal for men to pass on their names. Let’s break that trend and give our daughters our names!
I’m a bit superstitious about the wishes of beloved people at the end of their lives. I would probably use Roberta as the middle name, full stop, no changes to Robin or Gallivan or anything like that. Not because I think something bad would happen if you didn’t…but because it seems lucky, somehow. And it has integrity in a way, making it simple like that. Simple and deep.
Jane Roberta M. would be my pick. I think it’s a gorgeous name. Also it avoids the initials JAM, which are not horrible but not great either.
For what it’s worth, I also think Jane M. has better full-name flow than Eloise M. (however you pronounce Eloise– I’ve only ever heard it said EH-low-eez).
Good luck!!!
Jane Roberta, no contest!
Jane/Janie is one of my favorites too! But if your husband doesn’t like it as much I wouldn’t suggest using it.
Could you use Bobby/Bobbie as a middle name? It’s a little nickname-y for a middle name position, but if that’s what your grandfather went by it might be a good way to honor him, plus it can be used as a girl’s name. I also like Swistle’s suggestion of Robin. Or if you decide to just go a different route and not use an honor name, I would suggest Jane as the middle name. It’s a good compromise if you want to use Jane but your husband isn’t as crazy about it, it flows really well as a nickname with a lot of first names, and it might be fun to share middle name with your daughter.
First names (not on your list) that I’d suggest:
-Rosalie–One of my own favorites, and you could use Rosie as a nickname. Robby/Robin probably wouldn’t work as middle names, but Rosalie Jane, Rosalie Gallivan, or Rosalie Audrey would be pretty.
-Amelie/Amelia –Amelie has the same French origin as Eloise. Not sure about nicknames though. (Amy/Amie, pronounced ah-mee instead of ay-mee? Maybe not if pronunciation is a concern for you…) Amelie Jane, Amelie Robin, Amelie Gallivan, Amelie Roberta.
-Violet–Vi as a nickname? Works with a ton of middle names: Violet Jane, Violet Robin, Violet Robbie, Violet Gallivan, Violet Audrey, Violet Roberta, the list goes on…
-Genevieve–Jenny/Jenna/Genna as a nickname. Genevieve Robin or Genevieve Audrey would my favorite middle name options, but others would work. (However, the French pronunciation is different from the English pronunciation if that’s something you’re worried about. Sounds similar to jen-vee-EV with a soft “j” instead of JEN-a-veev with a hard “j”.)
-Lillian, nn Lily
-Annabelle, nn Annie/Belle/Bella
-Isabelle/Isabella, nn Izzy/Belle/Bella (might be a bit too popular though)
-Isadora, nn Izzy/Dora/Dory
-Matilda, nn Mattie/Tilly
-Josephine/Josephina, nn Josie/Jo/Joey, etc.
-Estelle/Estella, nn Stella or maybe even Ellie?
-Adeline, nn Addie
-Margaret, nn Maggie, Meg, Peggie, Margo, Margie, etc, etc.
-Alice, nn Allie
-Eleanor, nn Ellie/Ella/Nora
-Seraphina, nn Sera
Wait, nevermind about the last one. If your last name rhymes with Sarah I wouldn’t recommend naming your daughter Sera :P
This might not quite be along the lines that you were thinking, but going with Swistle’s R.G. train of thought, it reminded me that I have a cousin who goes by the nickname “Argie” and has since she was a teenager. I wonder i that’s a cute option? Jane Argie M@rah, or Eloise Argie M@rah? I think both sound quite sweet.
Bobbie Jane! I love Bobbie, I think it is so cute and vintage. Bobbie can be a nickname for Roberta or Barbara. I also know someone named Roberta who goes by Robbie. I think Robin is a great suggestion as well. I would pronounce Eloise “ell-oh-weez” and I do not think it is a stretch to use the nickname Elsie for Eloise. I do not think it is egotistical at all to use the name Jane; I love it! I just did a quick search on Nameberry and it says the meaning of Robert is “Bright Fame.” The name Ellie means “Bright shining one” so there is a similar meaning there… Good luck!
I also love family surnames as middle names. Jane Gallivan Sarah – love it!
My husband and I were in the same boat for first names – I liked one, he liked something else, and we were both “ok” with the other’s choice but they weren’t favorites. So, we decided to go back to the drawing board and find something we both liked equally as much. Once I got over having to let go of my favorite name, I felt a lot better about this. And once we (finally) decide on a first name, it makes me happy to know that it will be one that we both adore and chose together. But, that kind of compromise is a very personal decision!
If you decide to take another look in the hopes of finding a name you both like equally as well, here are some for consideration that I think are classic & feminine…
– Hope … Hope Gallivan Sarah
– Genevieve … Genevieve Gallivan Sarah, nn Ginny or Evie
– Camille … Camille Gallivan Sarah, nn Cami
– Poppy … Poppy Gallivan Sarah
– Aubrey … Aubrey Gallivan Sarah
– Lucy (or Lucille) … Lucy Gallivan Sarah
– Vivienne … Vivienne Gallivan Sarah, nn Viv or Vivi
Best of luck!
What about a Jane/Eloise combo and compromise? Janelle.
My mn vote is for Gallivan, I was maternal maiden mn child. Loved being something other than Ann, Lynn or Marie in the 80s.
Can I vote for Eliza Jane? Perfect! Lizzie and Charlie, Liz and Charles, Elle and Charles, Ellie and Charlie … the cute options are endless if you ever had a little Charles! But, I also just prefer Eliza over Jane and Eloise.
First of all, I love the name Jane! It is my daughter’s middle name, and we named her after my sweet, intelligent, and wonderful grandmother. I personally like the sound of the name Jane better than Eloise.
As for the pronunciation issue, to me the question of “what is the correct pronunciation of Eloise?” is perhaps focusing on the wrong thing. If a lot of people pronounce it incorrectly (whether it is actually incorrect or one of several accepted variations), you and she are probably going to run into the unfavored pronunciation repeatedly. It also seems to me like a relatively subtle difference that a lot of people won’t pick up on even when corrected. So I sort of think of it like I would a name with a nickname I dislike – how does the likelihood of people using the incorrect pronunciation/nickname compare with how much I like the full name? There are several names that I like the full name but nickname or pronunciation issues would keep me from using it.
I say Eloise with the EEZ at the end. I think it’s pretty though.
I do not think its egotistical to name your child using your middle name. You are not making her a “junior” & everyone outside of those you know intimately won’t even know your middle name.
That being said, I don’t care for the name Jane, mainly because it’s very “plain jane.”
My suggestion would be Jayna or Jana instead.
I really dislike Roberta/Robin/Bobbi etc. Not nearly as timeless/classy as Audrey.
My choice would be Eloise Audrey from the two.
I would also like Jayna Audrey.
I would wait and see if the next baby is a boy because Charles Robert is very elegant/would fit in perfectly.
I would definitely choose Jane over Eloise if you are concerned about popularity. I know 3 Eloises and a lot more Ellies! Janie is adorable and would be on my list if we were having more children.
Jane Gallivan is my favorite, but I also like Jane Roberta or Jane Robin.
My daughter’s name is Rose nn Rosie, with a surname middle name, so I also like Rose Gallivan or Rosalie Gallivan.
Good luck!
I don’t think using Jane is egotistical. I also do love Eloise though.
I like Swistle’s suggestion of Robin.
Another vote for Jane Audrey. I love the name Jane, such an underused classic. I am due this March and Jane is our chosen name if it’s a girl.
I love Jane Gallivan so much I can barely stand it! I’m also not a fan of modifying honor names, so I’d nix Roberta.
I like both names, with a slight preference for Jane Audrey over Eloise Audrey. I also like Jane Gallivan but if you decide to use Roberta, I think it sounds better with Eloise. Eloise Roberta.
I love the idea of passing down your middle name. I share a middle name with both my mother & grandmother and have always loved the connection. I’m still a bit sad that I had all boys and wasn’t able to continue the tradition. FWIW, my oldest son’s first name is also my husband’s middle and we’ve only gotten positive comments on it. I say ignore your sister. :)
Jane Audrey is adorable, I prefer it to Eloise Audrey. I also like Swistle’s suggestion of Eliza Jane. Eliza seems more straight forward than Eloise and if you are still nervous about using Jane as a first, placing it in the middle might help you feel better about it.
I do like Swistle’s suggestion of Robin, I think it would be a perfect female namesake for a Robert. Jane Robin or Robin Jane are both sweet-I could see using Robin Jane as a double barrel first (or even first/middle but using both). Charles Robert is also lovely, though the honor aspect seems stronger to me on this baby since your grandfather passed away so recently.
I felt that I should comment, I have a son Robert, named for my grandfather, and I am constantly surprised at how fresh it feels. I never particularly liked the name, but it reminds me from time to time of a beloved grandparent, and now of course of my son. I am a Robert booster!
AND I am a huge fan of Roberta or Robin nn Birdie or Bird (quite traditional nn for Roberta and Robert). I think it is bound for a come back. Birdie has that buoyancy that is lovely in a little person’s name, while Roberta or Robin has the heft of a grown woman.
Good luck
Nice story. I love Birdie as a nickname for Roberta!
If I were the letter writer, I’d be strongly tempted by Roberta Jane as the name.
Thank you all for your thoughtful comments! You have given my husband and I lots to consider as we await our little one’s quickly approaching arrival. I will be sure to send an update! Molly
I say Jane Audrey is BEAUTIFUL (see the GIlmore Girls for how awesome it is to name a kid after yourself!), and save Robert for Charles Robert. I just really think thats the most beautiful option!
IF the baby does come on his birthday, consider a double middle name (Jane Audrey-Robin/Roberta/Ro/Bobbie/Birdie/Bee).
I also like the idea of the nickname Birdie, though I agree it’s a bit of a stretch.
My youngest is Julia Robin, after my grandfather Robert. For me, it was a no-brainer: Roberta feelsbig and clunky to me. Robin, on th other hand, definitely reminds me of my Papa, who was aBob anyway. I love the flow of her name, and ifind myself using her full name frequently. When she was a baby, I called her Juju bird, but it didn’t stick.
Have you considered giving this precious girl two middle names? You wouldn’t have to do it for every child (although you COULD if you wanted to), but what a touching story to tell her! “Your dear, dear great grandfather would have loved to meet you. In fact, right before he died, he asked that if you were born on his birthday…” You can imagine how special it would be to her. After all, he was special to you.
All of your first name options are lovely! If your sister’s comment is really needling you, you could always share a middle name… Molly Jane and Estelle Jane. I know of a family where the grandmother, mother, and daughter all share the same middle name, and they LOVE it.
Best wishes to you and your family! Hope your girl comes safely and peacefully.
I would like to suggest Eliana instead of Eloise. This would avoid pronounciation issues and Eliana Jane M@r@h sounds beautiful. I also like the suggestion of saving your grandfather’s name for a possible future boy.
I like Eloise Robin, it has a great sound and lends itself to a ton of nicknames: Ellie, Elsie, Elo, Lola, Lolo, as well as Robbie, Bobbie and Birdie from Robin. I know only one Eloise, a preschool aged girl, and the caregivers at the day care where she and my son attend call her Weezy. Not sure if that’s a turnoff for you or not.
Jane Gallivan and Jane Roberta are also fantastic, and I honestly like the flow of Jane Sarah better than Eloise Sarah, the combo just doesn’t lend itself to as many nickname options as Eloise. Jane/Janie are so lovely and I would not worry one second about seeming egotistical about using your middle name as your daughter’s first.
YES to the whole father’s-name-not-mothers-being-handed-down. YES!!
and the paragraph about honor names just got me to rethink some things- thank you! a very pleasant new light to think about.
I liked the Eliza Jane suggestion myself, but there’s a lot of good choices there…
I used my middle name as my daughter’s first name! It might help to emphasize it’s more of a connection between you and your daughter rather than a straight-out honor name (“because I’m so awesome and worthy of honor”). Maybe your sister just needs the choice reframed for her? Regardless, I think most people find it charming and sweet, not egotistical.
My mother, sister and I all share the same middle name. I don’t think it’s egotistical at all. Depending on what my husband and I choose for a first name I’m hoping to use my middle name as a daughter’s middle name, or my maiden name for a son’s middle name. If it sounded right I would even consider giving my first name to a daughter for her middle name.
Anyway don’t let your sister stop you from passing on your own name!!
I also pronounce Eloise the same way you do and I can’t think of anyone I know who would pronounce it differently.
Good luck choosing and congrats! :-)
Jan(i)e Gallivan Marah–swoon central!! Sweet, yet adventurous/fiesty, timeless and beautiful. I can picture it on your daughter at any age. Quite a lovely option.
I LOVE the name Jane and am crazy about the nn Janie! You have great taste – I am sure you won’t go wrong. I like the Jane Gallivan option the best.