9 weeks left - one last poll??????????

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2006
9 weeks left - one last poll??????????
7
Sat, 12-30-2006 - 9:53pm

9 weeks left - one last poll??????????



  • Last name Smith and we really love
  • Ella - give it up or keep it?
  • Give it up

  • Keep it
  • Use DH suggestion Mallory
  • Use DH suggestion Gwendolyn
  • None - please suggest


You will be able to change your vote.


iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Sun, 12-31-2006 - 12:20am

Ella is so popular as a nn, it's become pretty boring and may become dated (think of all the Jenns, Beckys and Nikkis from a generation ago). It's also really hard to judge it's popularity since it's used for so many given names. Given that, it wouldn't be quite as bad if it WERE a nn in this case, because at least then she'd have something else to fall back on should she ever want (like if she ends up with six other Ellas in her class -- or in your case, one or two Ella Smiths in full! -- and wants a way to distinguish herself).

With the ln Smith, I'd be especially careful about choosing such a popular fn. It's not just a matter of not wanting to have the same name as another in your class or at work or whatever, it can be quite a hassle. My MIL has a common name and found out the hard way it's much easier to have your identity stolen when that's the case. Mix-ups and errors in credit and things of that nature are also very common, she was told. She now uses her very UNcommon maiden name as her mn to help avoid this (my dh can't even spell it from memory, so it's very effective LOL).

Both Mallory and Gwendolyn are great options, but I prefer Gwendolyn myself. Gwendolyn Smith seems a nice balance, and of course it's just beautiful. ;)

HTH

~Kelli


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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2005
Sun, 12-31-2006 - 2:50pm

Mallory is gorgeous! It is uncommon (whereas Ella is very popular), although it isn't unknown. It is spunky, feminine, classic. I LOVE it!

-Nikki


                             
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2006
Mon, 01-01-2007 - 9:59am
Thanks for the advice. I am a Jennifer and I didn't mind it growing up, but my last name wasn't Smith then! Now it does kind of bother me, so I probably shouldn't do that to my daughter! People sometimes think I'm giving them a fake name. :-) I really like both of DH's suggestions, but the names seem to have such different personalities to me that I probably won't be able to decide until I meet her!
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 01-01-2007 - 1:04pm
If you really love it then use it!






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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2001
Mon, 01-01-2007 - 3:11pm
I would "give up" Ella, only b/c I find it to be very simple and plain, as is your last name... I would pick something with a little more pizzazz- for your poll, I picked Gwendolyn, but I also do like Mallory. I don't think you could go wrong with either, though with your last name, I think I prefer Gwendolyn...
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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-01-2003
Mon, 01-01-2007 - 3:58pm
Ella is a very common name.
Smith is a very common name.
Ella Smith would just be so run of the mill. She might actually KNOW people with the same FULL name as her!
With a popular last name I would pick something more unique for her given name.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-27-2006
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 4:17pm
Seriously, I know sooooo many new parents who have named their babies Ella. I think it's become way too popular.