We are due with our first child on November 17, 2010. We are not sure of the sex of the baby. Our last name is Hockey. My husbands middle name is Travis ( which I really like), and mine is Lillian Rose (after both my grandmas). Other possible middle names for girls might be Lynn (his mothers and sisters middle name) or Jean(my mothers middle name). Possibilites for Boys Daniel (my Dad's name) or Laverne (his Dad's name) I find that I like more unique names or old fashioned names such as Olivia and Jake and my husband like the VERY POPULAR modern names like Jasmine and Carson.
I have a baby girl name I have loved forever. I can't picture it any other way, BUT my husband hates it! I think the first name is perfect and the middle name is my middle name and also my grandma's. My mom also loves this name. I have told others and have gotten mixed feelings so let me know what you think.
Ireland/Irelynn Rose
The names I like:
Girls:
Olivia/Alivia
Kate
Leyton
Lachlan
Boys:
Jace
Jake
Rylan
Jaxon
Leyton
I could do his choice but spelt Karsen
Names he likes:
Girls:
Jasmine
Haylee
Kate
Boys:
Carsen
Rylan
Besides Irelynn, none of the above names just out at me. Maybe its because he never really Loves anything I suggest. Can you give me any suggestions?
Thanks! xx
I think we need to start by tidying up some terminology. The names Olivia and Jake are much more popular than Carson and Jasmine: Jacob has been the most popular boy name in the U.S. since 1999, and Olivia has been in the Top Ten for ten years and was #3 in 2009 (source: Social Security Administration). Looking at your lists, it looks to me as if you and your husband have very similar tastes: for the most part, you both like modern names.
The trouble with Irelynn is it's ALMOST Ireland but NOT Ireland, which I suspect will lead to confusion. But the biggest trouble of all is that your husband hates it. I too have felt this despair (in my case over the name Millicent), but there is no way around it: if he hates it, it doesn't matter if you love it and your mom loves it and all the commenters on this blog love it: it's OUT.
Would he prefer the name Eidolyn/Idolynn? We know an Eidolyn who also goes by Eidie, and it's very cute and we've found it fun to say.
You both have the name Kate on your lists. Would he agree to Kate Irelynn? The rhythm isn't perfect, but it gives you the name you love in a position where he might hate it less. There are plenty of names I'd never consider in the first-name slot but would be willing to use in the middle-name slot---especially if there was something in it for me, like getting more say on the first name. Perhaps he would agree to it as a way to have the name-discussing done with. And you could then legitimately call her Irelynn sometimes, maybe as an affectionate nickname only you use.
One exercise I recommend for first-time namers is to imagine names for future siblings. This, right now, is the moment to decide if your family will be more likely to include girls with names like Lachlan or girls with names like Olivia: the route you choose now doesn't HAVE to dictate your later choices, but it's likely to at least be of influence.
If you decide to go for boyish names for girls, a name that comes to mind from your Layton and his Haylee is Hayden.
If you want more girlish names for girls, Leyton can become Layla, or Lila, or Leta, or Laney.
If he likes Jasmine, might he like Jessamyn? It has more of the rhythm of Irelynn.
Avelyn is another name with a similar sound to Irelynn.
I think Iris would be a beautiful choice. If you pair it with Lynn for his mother and sister, you have Iris Lynn---which you needn't point out to him is very similar to Irelynn.
For boys I see you both have Rylan. Is that a name you can agree on? Rylan Travis, maybe?
Or I wonder if you would like Corbin?
Leyton and Jaxon make me think of Lennox.
Would you like Xavier? It's an old name but recent usage makes it feel modern.
I think Kiefer is a great name for a boy. Kiefer Travis Hockey.
Jake and Jace make me think of Jude. Jude Travis Hockey.
Or would you want to use Travis as a first name? Travis Daniel Hockey---or if you want just one namesake name, maybe Travis Carson Hockey or Travis Rylan Hockey.
(I recommend not spelling Carson "Karson" for a boy: changing a C to a K is a common way to make androgynous name more feminine, as in Kamryn, Kori, Kodi, etc.)
I think my favorites are Travis Carson Hockey and Iris Lynn Hockey, with runners-up of Kiefer Travis Hockey and Kate Irelynn Hockey.
