Indulge me? baby name poll

[Susie]

We've been trying to make a final decision on DS's name, because we've been calling him Due (2 in Italian) the whole pregnancy, and now Hobbes thinks that's his actual name -- he's her brother, Due.  I'd like to give her an actual name to use sooner than his arrival so he doesn't wind up literally being "#2" forever, ha.

I think we have a first name:  Sean.  We have always entertained 3 choices for a boy middle name:  Bradley, Collins, or my maiden name, which is now my middle name and is similar to Rami Malek's last name.  All 3 of these are family names.  Our last name is 3 syllables, ends in -lli.

While I'm committed to one of the family names, I'm having doubts about each one in context:

C after a monosyllabic first name sounds too much like a drink -- like you are ordering a Sean, Tom, or John C- from the bar.
B ends in an -ley sound that is the same as the -lli sound that our Italian last name ends with.  It's a little rhyme-y when you say Sean Bradley ___lli out loud (as infrequently as that occurs).
M just sounds so choppy and abrupt with a monosyllabic first name.  It's also a distinct ethnicity that differs from both the very Irish Sean and the very Italian ___lli, and doesn't flow very well.

Calvin has proposed Sean Robert instead of Sean [C/B/M], and it probably sounds the best of the group, but I really wanted to name him after my dad (B- first, M- last).  DD is named after my mom and MIL.  R- and C- are both after my mom's family, so they're kind of going back to the same well.  

So, it's Sean _____ ***lli.  Which option for a middle do you like best (or dislike least)?

(PDQ the actual names/use initials if you can, I'd like to be able to later edit out the family names.)

[goldengirlz]

I agree Robert sounds the best but if it’s important to name after your dad (and I totally get why it would be), I like Bradley. So I vote Bradley.

[scm1011]

I like Sean Bradley or your maiden best, leaning towards Bradley. Before I even read your reasons my mind immediately went to the drink with Collins (I do like the name alone, just not with Sean). I’m also of the mind that middle names should have family significance, and I don’t see a dealbreaker with either in conjunction with your last name, so Robert would be my last choice.

[countthestars]

I voted B. I typically either say First Last or First Middle and very rarely say all three when I'm talking to or about my kids, and I like that B is a nod to your dad.

[hamster]

I like C the best, followed by B. But mostly I'm jealous you've decided on a name.

[hbomdiggity]

I voted for M because I share your exact concerns with C and B (though B isn't a huge concern and if that is your dad's first name then I would still consider it). I much prefer family middle names, so R doesn't get much love from me as it seems otherwise generic.

[Mrs.flang]

I like B but I tend to focus more on actual name vs flow of how it sounds. It wouldn’t bother me either to use another ethnicity for the same reason. I think the middle name is the perfect opportunity for using a family name or name of significance without having to worry so much about anything else besides that.

[CrazyLucky]

I like the idea of using your maiden name. SB makes me think of the NBA player.

[pandorica]

I think C sounds the best, just based on name flow. I think B is best if you want to name him after your dad. How often do you say a full name together anyway?

[mbcdefg]

I would go with your dad's name or your maiden name. 

I would only really consider how well a middle name "fits" your child if you plan to use it as a double first name, like how everyone always says "Neil Patrick Harris." Or if he's going to go by his middle name, like "W. Kamau Bell."

Obviously take a second look at the middle name if it really clashes against the first name, like "William Schmilliam Lastname" or something ... otherwise I'd just pick whichever one means the most to you.

We used my late MIL's middle name as DD's middle name. We initially didn't want to use it because we thought it didn't flow well, but we never use her middle name for anything so we figured it didn't matter much. And MH doesn't have a middle name so he didn't feel strongly about using one ... we agreed that, if we couldn't pick a middle name of some significance to us (either honoring someone we love, or just something we really liked) we'd just nix a middle name entirely.

If we'd had a son I would've wanted to use my maiden name for his middle, especially since my maiden name is a boy's name. 

[kitkat1502]

I had the same though about Collins

I actually love using your maiden name and the fact that it has distinct ethnicity. To me that makes it more special. DD's middle name is an extremely rare ethnic name, it's beautiful and I hope she loves it's significance and importance.

[Susie]

Interesting, I appreciate all the different perspectives!

Robert Collins was my maternal grandfather, and while I'd be happy to name my son after him, he died in 1992, and most of the people to whom one of his names would mean the most have also already died.  My grandmother (his wife), my mom, and 3 of her 4 siblings are also all gone.  So while it would be meaningful to me, my dad carries more sway in my decision.

It's too bad I don't love my dad's middle name - Alan - or that could've been another option.  He hates Alan, so that also makes it doubly a bad choice/not really an honor.

[minniemouse]

C. It flows the best. I wouldn’t worry about it sounding like drink if you aren’t regularly calling him first and middle together. And...I know many little boys named Jameson so...not a big deal. lol. R is also good.

[joy]

Now I’m very curious about your maiden name as my own is veeeeery similar to that. I’ve never met or known another.

[clseale]

I voted M. I love the idea of using your maiden name. The drink similarity of option C does bother me a little, and while B doesn’t totally bug me with your last name, I like M best. (But I do think B is a nice option.)

And sidenote, but I went to your FB page to remind myself of your maiden name...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[brooke77]

My mom used maidens for middles, so I love that and it gets my vote.

Other than avoiding terrible initials, I didn’t give full names TOO much thought. We chose our middle name choices (team green) because they were meaningful and not necessarily because they flowed great with the first and last name. I figure no one really knows the middle name and it’s more important that the first and last name flow.

[drloretta]

I voted B, as it has the most sentimental meaning you're going for. We had a similar situation with DD. Initially the only middle names we came up with were "filler" names (Ann, Rose). We ended up going with DH's beloved grandmother's maiden name, which is also MIL's middle name. It fits perfectly and DH's grandma was thrilled. Good luck with your decision!

[followyourarrow]

I voted M, but also like B. I agree with you about C.

[redpenmama]

I would definitely do a family name if it's your preference. We have always chosen meaningful family names as middle names and just opted for the one that sounded best with first/last (even if there was another non-family name I may have preferred). I like Collins as a MN but I did immediately think of the drink when paired with Sean. So, I voted B.

[boiler717]

I vote M

[cabbagecabbage]

B or M for sure. Meaning always ranks a but above style for me but both of those sound fine. I don't think the repeating y sound or the clipped shorter sounds are problematic.

The only one I'm not into is C. It does sound like a cocktail to me.

[brooklyn]

I like B or your maiden name (can’t figure out exactly what your maiden name is, but I like the idea of honoring it). Middle names are used so infrequently that I don’t think you need to worry about it being too rhymy with your last name.