final choices-frusterating!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2006
final choices-frusterating!
8
Sat, 02-18-2006 - 3:38pm

Thank you all for your insight into my name choice dilemma-Mary, Catherine, Hannah, Grace, Margaret. We have ruled out Margaret even though I like the nns Meg or Maggie. And I think Hannah is out because of its sheer popularity. But we are torn between a couple of great suggestions from all of you. So maybe I can get some opinions on these combos:

Mary Catherine (would call her Mary-really like just the sound of Mary alone but is it too boring?)
Mary Grace
or-
Catherine Grace
Catherine Louise

My mother suggested "Elizabeth" after Grandma, leave it to her to suggest one not even on our list, but I must say I have always loved that one too, problem is too many nns for that, and I'm not crazy about them. Could she just be called "Elizabeth??" would hate to have to tell people, you have to call her Elizabeth. My husband says we should just stick to original list. Whenever it gets close to baby time, I start going off list, looking for new ones.

still torn on Catherine with a "C" or "K" though. Which one looks prettier, I can't decide. husband really doesn't care about spelling, but I do. Please help ladies! Judging by the way things are happening around here, I'll probably have another boy! Just in case, we like the name Samuel (Sam) already have Matthew(Matt) and Benjamin (Ben)
Thank you!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2005
Sat, 02-18-2006 - 3:54pm

Calm down.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2006
Sat, 02-18-2006 - 4:19pm

Thank you mommyquris! You are absolutely right, people usually respect a name choice. Unless it is your own mother... I am encouraged by your mother's use of the given name "Christian" and by the way I love that name! It helps to know other people really like the names you're thinking of outside of your own circle, wish I'd known about this site when pregnant with my last two-its so much fun! You will no doubt pick out a great name for your next one, as you started with a terrific name. There are a lot of great choices that would sound nice with Christian.

Thank you for your helpful and thoughtful suggestions! Matt, Ben and Mary are very nice together. My name is Molly and dh is Josh so they all work together well I think. will keep you posted!
Best, Molly (my own mn is Kathleen-but its not one of my favorites)

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-01-2006
Sat, 02-18-2006 - 5:29pm

Mary Katherine sounds great. Mary is a name you don't hear very often anymore, and I think it fits well with Matt and Ben, Molly and Josh. I'm only spelling Katherine with a 'K' because that is the spelling of my name, and I prefer it. The problem is there is SO many spellings! Mary-Kate is also a cute nn!

I hope you get some great feedback that doesn't confuse and frustrate you more!!
Good Luck
Katherine

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2005
Sat, 02-18-2006 - 5:31pm
I have to say, I like Elizabeth best. Catherine isn't too popular, but will the nn Caitie or Cate be used? Because that is SO incredibly popular. I love Mary, but I don't like siblings with repeated beginning letters. If this doesn't bother you, having 2 kids starting with M and another not, then use it! Its a fabulous name and I really love it, that's the only thing. Elizabeth is beautiful too.

                             
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2005
Sat, 02-18-2006 - 6:49pm

I love Mary Catherine, Catherine Louise and Elizabeth.


I think that people will respect your wish to call her Elizabeth and not shorten it, if that's what you ask them to do. And I personally like the C spelling of Catherine, though really both are very nice. I just see the C spelling less frequently and I think it's a little more classic. Also I LOVE Cait/Cate/Caty vs Kate/Katie. I've only ever known one Cate (as opposed to countless Kates/Katies) and I absolutely fell in love with it.


I think my personal favorite is Catherine Louise with Mary Catherine as a very close second. Both names are utterly classic and will serve your daughter well her whole life. I really don't think you can go wrong. You may even want to wait until she is born to decide, since you've narrowed it down really well. Maybe once you see her you'll just know whether Mary or Catherine seems to fit her better.


Good luck!




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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2005
Sat, 02-18-2006 - 11:35pm
From your picks - I think I like Mary Catherine the best followed by Catherine Grace, Mary Grace & then Catherine Louise.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Sat, 02-18-2006 - 11:57pm

I think you have a great list there! :)

Mary Catherine is far and away my favorite. Mary is not at all popular at the moment, and is adorable and sweet on a little girl and fits perfectly on an older girl or woman as well. A true classic! (Oh, and I really prefer the C spelling of Catherine, mainly because the only women I've known with the K spelling are now in their 40s/50s so that particular spelling seems dated to me, but the name itself is a classic, so I'd stick with the C if that makes sense).

Mary Grace sounds great as well, but Grace is a pretty popular mn right now (if that would bug you) and it does make me think of "Mary, full of grace" KWIM? ;)

Both Catherine combos are fine as well (although, the popularity of Grace again, if that's a factor), but I really prefer Mary. Also, as I think someone else mentioned, if you would use the nn Kate or Katie in any form, she'll be one of many in her class! I don't think you'll have that problem with Mary at all.

Elizabeth is ok, but I prefer it as a mn for some reason. I'm not sure if that would work here, though, because Mary Elizabeth has the repeating E sounds and Catherine Elizabeth might be too long for your taste.

So Mary Catherine gets my vote! :)

HTH

~Kelli


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Registered: 05-29-2003
Tue, 02-21-2006 - 9:41pm

If Catherine (and that is my preferred spelling -- softer, more old fashioned) is in your family tree, I'd go with either

Mary Catherine or
Catherine Grace

I like them both very much. If catherine is not in your family tree, USE ELIZABETH! It is a beautiful name and captures the same feeling as Mary and Catherine. Plus, it honors Grandma! Don't worry about the nn's. You can have her go as Elizabeth when she's young and later, believe me, her nn's are the least of your worries! I like:

Mary Elizabeth or
Elizabeth Grace

What classic, perfect names you have on your list! Good luck!