Combining names to make a name. Help!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
Combining names to make a name. Help!
2
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 10:22am

For the middle name, we would like to combine my grandmother's names somehow. They were Kathleen Lydia (mom's side) and Emily Mae (dad's side). I don't want it to lean too heavily toward one name or the other (thus offending one of my parents). We are decided upon Madeline for the first name. Here are our front runners:

Madeline LydiaMae (obvious combo)

Madeline Kae ("K" from Kathleen and "ae" from Mae)

Madeline Emylia (combo of Emily and Lydia, but leans a lot toward Emily and I don't think mom would be pleased, although it flows well)

I hesitate to put the last name for fear of someone I know seeing this (we're keeping the name a secret from family and friends), but I'll take a chance so you can hear it all together: last name is Katona. Thanks all!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 10:48am

I'm not crazy about any of the combos you've listed, but I completely understand your desire to combine the names. Emilia spelled this way, is the nicest option you've listed. Another option would be to give Madeline 2 middle names. Madeline Emily Kathleen Katona. A mouthful, but all lovely names.

Some other ideas:

Madeline Eileen (combo of Emily and Kathleen)
Madeline Maely (pronounced Mae-Lee, combo of Mae and Lydia)
Madeline Milly (combo of MIL from Emily and LY from Lydia)

Or use a name using the letters from Kathleen and Emily, such as Lily, Lena, Halle, Helen, Amy, etc.

Even better, why not give Madeline your mother's first or middle name as her middle name?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-13-2004
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 10:52am

In all honesty, the made up names look...made-up. I think just using Lydia Mae (fn mn) is the cutest name. It also honors both people. If they aren't going to be happy to be honored because one person is being "more honored"...I'd skip it altogether.

Good Luck