My mom had a friend in grade school named Melanie. I know nothing about the girl except my mom loved her name, but decided that Melody sounded better with our last name. I think my dad probably liked Melody better too, because he loves music. My middle name is Linnea after my great grandmother. It’s a fairly common Swedish name, so it’s a connection to our past as well.

I also love names! I’m all about family names. We picked Nolin as homage to my grandfather and dad whose first names are Olin, and then Samuel for my husband’s grandfather. I’m pregnant with our daughter and she’ll be Mabry Campbell. Mabry is just a name I love but Campbell was my middle name and my mom’s maiden name. I also keep a running list of favorites.

We named our daughter (8 months old) Eloise Virginia. Eloise was a name we both loved the sound of, but my husband and I are writers and we also love the storybook character from Eloise at the Plaza and hope some of her zeal and creativity is channeled through our daughter. And Virginia is her middle name because that is where my husband and I met, fell in love, and were married. We love names that have place or literary significance!

Danny and I selected baby names for any possible child we might have the first year of dating. This planner mentality was especially important because Danny’s mom passed away a month before we got married and we were able to tell her what our kids names would/will be.

So far we have our Lucas Mikhail. Lucas after St. Luke because Danny insisted his parents would want a biblical name. I am a Rusaphile and Mikhail is the Russian form of Michael after my mentor/high school history teacher. I loved the name before Danny and I started dating but now it also works because Mikhail is Polish too – Danny 100% Polish – and his Dad’s middle name is Michael.

Love these! My parents are very Catholic and my mom always loved the name Regina (which as I’m sure you know, Mary is often referred to as Regina because it means queen in Latin). So she chose that and my middle name is Mae which was my grandma’s middle name. I also love hearing people’s name stories and the meaning. If I am lucky enough to have a baby it will be family names for sure. xxx

Caeli Marie- named after Regina Caeli meaning Queen of Heaven, and Marie as a derivative of Mary
Maryn Elizabeth- named after the feast of the Visitation when Mary went to visit Elizabeth
Cazimir Kolbe- St.Cazimir of Poland and St. Maximillian Kolbe
Aquinas Joseph- St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Joseph
Pregnant too- waiting to name our next baby in a few weeks!

This is so sweet. I love the thought and effort put into your childrens names.

Is there any chance you would do a post on a baby items must have list. I figure after 4 children and growing up with a big family you would have a very good idea on the necessities vs luxury items.

Thanks!

My name was just one that my parents liked (and later swore up and down that it wasn’t popular when they named me!), but my middle name, Bennett, is my dad’s middle name and my great grandmother’s maiden name. And, coincidence, I was born on her birthday! I kinda love that it’s not a girly name and people are always surprised to hear that. 🙂
My daughter, Margaret Elisabeth followed the same pattern- the first was just one we loved, and the second is my sister’s middle name. I wanted to give her a good, strong name- one that could sound like a Supreme Court justice if she wants.

I am obsessed with baby names! I’m many years away from having one of my own but I always have a list so I can see which ones will stand the test of time. My name is Annaliese but I have the nicknames Liesey and Lulu which is fun, but sometimes confusing… But I like that different aspects of my life call for different names! Loved this post!

April 2012 5th