Help! DH hates my favorite name

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Registered: 02-02-2006
Help! DH hates my favorite name
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Fri, 02-17-2006 - 6:41pm
I really love the name Ariana but my DH has informed me that he hates all names that end in 'ana or anna' :( I really like feminine sounding names that are not too traditional but he seems to like more unisex or tomboy style names. I am interested to know others thoughts on this name. WDYT? Explain why you do or you don't. I would love the feedback. TIA! Jen
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Registered: 09-29-2005
Fri, 02-17-2006 - 7:18pm

I wouldn't mention it otherwise, but since you asked what others thought, I will say that I've always thought of Ariana as very snotty-sounding (for lack of a better term) ... kind of whiney, KWIM? Also, VERY trendy, at least where I live, so I'm afraid it will be pretty dated in a few years, if that would bother you. I do know a few little girls with this name, and all of them so far have only reinforced this negative image (all are rather whiney, bratty and spoiled, if I'm allowed to say so LOL). I also know one in particular very well -- my cousin's daughter who is only a few months older than my own. Not only does the above description fit her, but she is also extremely antisocial (actually telling other children she doesn't like them for specific reasons and refusing to play with them) and physically overly-aggressive (literally "beating up" on others, especially children that are smaller than her ... she is currently in therapy for all of these behaviors). Obviously not a result of her name (LOL), so don't take it that way, but since every child I've known with this name has pretty much "fit" the description, I can't help but not like it.

I'd have to say that if your husband doesn't like the name at all, it's time to move on anyway. However, since his aversion is simply to this particular name (or, rather, one's ending in 'ana or anna'), and not to your entire style of naming, I'd think you'd be able to find a beautiful, feminine-sounding name he would actually like. For example (just off the top of my head):

Similar to Ariana -
Ariel
Ariella
Auriel
Auryn
Arianne
Erienne
Abrielle

Some with more of a unisex or tomboy feel -
Avery
Devin
(sorry, like you I prefer more feminine names, so I'm not so good here LOL ... but my point is you might be able to find a name that would suit you both)

HTH! :)

~Kelli


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Fri, 02-17-2006 - 7:55pm
Thanks Kelli,
these are just the things I need to hear. I was hoping by posting to do one of two things: either get enough pros for the name to sway my husband or to name avert myself so I don't feel so sad about it lol ;), keep them coming---Jen
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Registered: 10-03-2004
Fri, 02-17-2006 - 9:49pm
I understand about DH not liking your style of naming. DH does not like the name Anna, like at all. I got him to agree to Anastasia as a possibility. We named her Annelise after all. But he makes sure everyone says her name Ann-Eh-leese not Ann-uh-leese. He corrects anyone who dares to call her Anna. So I'd say you could possibly wear him down. lol.

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crazy

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Registered: 09-29-2005
Fri, 02-17-2006 - 10:04pm

Oh, thank goodness, Jen! I always feel horrible if I have a negative impression of a name someone loves, but figure you don't want everyone to simply say "it's fine" if they don't really like it. Hopefully I might have helped you not feel sad about it! ;) If you'd like, you could list a few examples of names you like and some he likes and maybe we could help with some suggestions that might work for both of you (or at least give you some ideas of the possibilities). Trust me, I know what it's like when you love a certain name and it's just not dh's style. Frustrating!

Again, HTH! :)

~Kelli


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Registered: 02-03-2006
Fri, 02-17-2006 - 10:07pm

I like the name Ariana, and my husband hates it too.

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Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 02-17-2006 - 10:14pm

Naming is hard, isn't it? For DD#2, DH hated all my favorite names -- Amelia/Mia, Eliza, Ava, Michaela, Eleanor/Nora, Elena, etc. It was killing me b/c I'd get so attached to them, and he'd even try to like them, but he just couldn't. Of course, I didn't love his favorite names either (Katherine and Erin).

We went through list after list after list of names and finally settled on Julianna. He preferred the nn Julie, and I liked Annie better, so he did give in there. We figured that when she's old enough, she can decide which nn (if any) that she likes best.

What if you two compromised on a feminine name that has a tomboy-ish nn?
Alexandra, nn Alex
Samantha, nn Sam
Charlotte, nn Charlie
Maxine, nn Max
Martina, nn Marty
Melissa/Melanie/Melinda, nn Mel
Lucille/Lucy, nn Lu/Lou
Mackenzie, nn Mac
Alyssa Jane, nn AJ (or some other name where the initials could be a nn)

Or maybe you could use a unisex name with a girly nn?
Avery, nn Ava
Emerson, nn Emmy
Macyn, nn Macy
Elliott, nn Elly

Good luck making a decision!
Stephanie w/ Megan (6/6/03) and Annie (11/10/04)

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Registered: 02-02-2006
Fri, 02-17-2006 - 11:03pm

You guys are the best :) Thanks Stephanie for the suggestions, it gives me other pretty names to start thinking about. Thank you Kelli also for your reply and here are a couple of the names I like:

Arabella
Celeste
Aislinn
Chiara
Gabrielle
Brinly
Abigail
(really I could just go on and on with the frilly girly names lol:)

DH's favorites:

Rowan
Arawen
Peyton
Cadence

As you can see, day and night. We have thrown around Rowan Arabella but there seems to be a strong reaction either for it being a tomboy name or for it being a rugged boy name. Maybe you have some other suggestions?

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Registered: 09-29-2005
Fri, 02-17-2006 - 11:43pm

Well with Arabella and Arawen on either list I'd think you might be able to find a good compromise there. Aralyn(n) maybe?? First one that came to mind.

I'd have to say your names are definitely more my style. Love Aislinn, btw, and this little baby's name will be Abigail Fiora (our third daughter). Our other girls are Kaitlyn Abrielle (pretty close to Gabrielle LOL) and Devanie Rose. I also knew a girl named Chara (pronounced shar-ah, with a soft ch sound) and one named Chandra (shan-drah ... her nn was Chaney/shay-nee, which is a little more tomboyish I think, so maybe something like that would be an option for you).

Anyway, HTH! :)

~Kelli


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Registered: 12-09-2005
Sat, 02-18-2006 - 8:01am
I like the name. Its cute. Maybe you can compromise with your DH by using the nn Annie, or by using similar names, Annalise or Anabelle or Ainsley instead.