Choosing a Baby Name

Updated on April 29, 2010
K.E. asks from Marietta, GA
24 answers

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't finish writing everything...this box does a wierd thing where it scrolls up by itself, so I can't get to the bottom to write anything else...my apologies...at the end I meant to say thank you in advance and also say thatif you have any names other than the ones on the list that you think would be pretty to feel free!!! THANK YOU!

Hi everyone...So, I'm starting to think of names for my second daughter and it's proving to be much more difficult than choosing the first name! So, I thought I would ask for some opinions...

Some of the names on my list include...

Eleanor (my favorite, but my husband says no...I still have hope)
Samantha
Megan
Jillian
Alice
Heidy
Joanna
Peyton

What are your opinions on those names? I like Samantha and Joanna a lot, but am worried about the name ending in an 'a' and then transitioning to the 'E' in Estrada...it's sounds mumbled to me. What do you think? Also, if you really like a name, ideas for middle names would be very helpful as I'm drawing a blank (my sister has 4 girls and their middle names are Ellen, Claire, Grace, and Elyse...so I don't want to use those)

Another thing I'm trying to think of is how it sounds with Linley....I don't think I want another L name, just because then we have a 3rd child, I'd feel the need to continue the trend and at some point it becomes to cliche..

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So What Happened?

thanks everyone for such great suggestions and advice! I finally gave up on Eleanor and it worked out ok, because just knowing that my husband didn't like it, I lost some of my love for it. We have decided on Alice as a first name. Our middle name right now for her is Josephine (my grandmother's middle name). But, my husband is from a latino country and wants to keep looking for a Spanish middle name so that she'll have some of that tradition in her name...any suggestions for Spanish middle names would be great! Thanks again for your help!

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R.C.

answers from Atlanta on

I love Eleanor. I would have named my girl that, but I only had boys!

I agree with you, though, about names that end in a vowel, like Samantha. I think if you go vowel to vowel it does sound a bit awkward.

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D.V.

answers from Atlanta on

We have 2 girls and they are Aislin Robin & K. Reann. Of the names that you picked I like Jillian Robin & Megan Reann or Megan Renee. Aislin is my favorite girls name but we have some problems with people spelling it correctly. It is Irish and pronounced (Ashlyn) I LOVE that it is not common though.

Good luck and CONGRATS

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M.D.

answers from Atlanta on

I think Eleanor is pretty especially if you called her Ellie while she's young. I also think Jillian goes well with Linley. Jillian Marie would be pretty.

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L.F.

answers from Minneapolis on

Jillian Alice Estrada is cute!

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S.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

I LOVE the name Eleanor. Alice is also beautiful. Other girl names I love are Vivian, Evelyn, Eloise, Natalie, Diana, Gloria. I'm having a girl soon, as well, and am having fun thinking of names. The name I've pretty much settled on for my little one (which I won't share because I haven't told anyone yet!) was one of the top 20 most popular girl names in the early 20th century, but in 2008 had dropped to being in the 800th-range for most popular! Amazing how times change... (I don't like Peyton at all, but that's just me... The "new" names have never appealed to me. I like all the names that were really popular in the 1920s...)

For fun, you can go to the social security admin website and choose any year dating back to 1890, and see what the 1000 most popular girl and/or boy names were for a given year. If you know you like names, say, from the 1950s (like Debbie, Sally, Barbara) or whatever, it's fun to check it out as way of getting ideas. Just a thought. Good luck and have fun!

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K.B.

answers from Houston on

I like Eleanor. I'd call her Ellie which is adorable for a little girl but then when she's an adult if she needs a more "professional" name she can go by Eleanor or Elle. Great name!

My daughter is Paige, so I have to throw that one out there and my friend named her daughter Bonnie which is a name I hadn't heard in a while.

Good luck!
K.

E.F.

answers from Casper on

K., I adore this site....
http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#prefix=el&ms=fa...
It is so fun! I could spend hours on it! ( I have, actually).
I think Eleanor is cute but then her name would have two "e"'s might be too much. I like the "a" going in to the "E"strada, I think it sounds lovely. so any name that ends in a I think sounds good. It is similar to "e" sound in Linley Estrada. Any vowel ending would do nicely.
I love the name Monique, maybe one you haven't thought of:)
There are so many good names, check out the baby name wizard and have fun!
E.

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V.T.

answers from Atlanta on

I think Samantha Estrada sounds lovely! I'm responding because my niece just had a baby and she named her Finley Sophia and I was laughing because you could have Linley and Finley! Just kidding! My daughter is Abrianna Elyse and we call her Brie. I thought I made up the name Abrianna because I liked Aubrey but wanted it more feminine but then I saw someone on a talk show named Abrianna. I also like Alana Brooke - maybe if I had another girl. If your husband doesn't like Eleanor what about Norah - my friends daughter is Norah Abigail. Whatever you pick will be great :)

M.S.

answers from Columbus on

Oooh. I like all your choices. I guess I would still keep trying for Eleanor. However, Alice, Joanna and Peyton are my next choices. I absolutely LOVE Jillian, but a nickname for Jillian is Jilly and Linley and Jilly might be a little much. My older daughter is Alexandra (we call her Ally). For our baby, Jillian was our first choice for a while, but when it came down to the nickname, it was too....illy to add to Ally. We went with Vivian and love it. We call her Viv or Vivi for short. Anyway, middle names...... Joy, Rene, Margaret, Victoria.......What about names in your family? Do you our your husband's mothers have names you could use? If you have Italian, Irish, etc. in your family, going with names that correspond would be nice - Gina, Giovana, Sophia, Olivia, Erin, etc. They are common for first names, but would be nice for middle names. I wouldn't worry about the "a" going into Estrada. I think it flows. Good luck and congratulations!!

J.M.

answers from Dallas on

Maybe instead of Eleanor try Ellie. That's what a friend of mine named her baby girl in honor of her husband's Aunt Eleanor. I thought it was so cute! :)

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R.J.

answers from San Diego on

You can always use Eleanor as a middle name

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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

I love Megan! That was almost our daughter's name. It works really well with both your daughter's name (Imagine calling out to both of them frequently) and your last name. Megan Louise? Megan Alice? Megan Rose?

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M.B.

answers from Athens on

I like the names Jillian and Peyton, my favorite all time is the name Hannah.. I wanted to name our second daughter that, but my husband won out and we named her Holly. for some reason the name Rena' comes to mind with any of these three...can also be spelled Renee or Renae?
One of our co-workers named their daughter Julianna - I think that is very pretty but it would be the same ending with an 'a'.
Good luck!

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S.W.

answers from Denver on

I don't know, but I'm going to throw this out there...I always wanted to name a daughter Caroline. That is a name I had chosen for a girl since I can remember. My husband doesn't like the name much...so now I have 3 daughters and none are named Caroline and I'm so sad! I don't dwell on it, but it's a bug that pops up in me from time to time that I have to dismiss. I don't know how important that name is to you, but if it really is, don't drop it...let him pick the middle name! Btw, all my girls names start with an A...it has helped with all the labels...all the hand-me-downs are labled A. and our last name. It's a nice little convenience I've found! And since I didn't get the name I really wanted, I'll take the little convenience.

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K.M.

answers from Boston on

I like the ones that end in an "n" sound because the last name starts with a vowel, easier to say.

Here are some middle names that might work with Megan, Jillian and Peyton:
Noelle, Brooke...

If you use Heidi, please consider spelling it with an "i"

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C.M.

answers from Macon on

I like Eleanor the best also. You'll find the perfect name, I'm sure. Our daughter's name is Caitlin Elizabeth.

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J.K.

answers from Atlanta on

Try for no alliteration, or rhyming with her sister or your last name... not very "strong" in the sounds, and perhaps, being #2 she'll need a strong unique name too?:)

Peyton doesn't rhyme, and is still very unique. Maybe Peyton Alice or Peyton Eleanor? But then her initials are PAE or PEE:)

What about Amber, Riley or Brynn? I always liked Jaxon or Reagan for a girl, but got Morgan and that's cool too:)

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K.P.

answers from Atlanta on

Elanor Ruth is the name I picked if I ever have a girl (2 boys so far)!

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Eleanor Ann Estrada
Samantha Jean Estrada
Megan Marie Estrada
Peyton Marie Estrada
???

My favorite is Eleanor Ann or Peyton Marie.

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B.P.

answers from New York on

Definetly Alice! I goes so great with your last name. Feminine, yet strong. Joanna is so pretty but it does not sound as clean. I also like Jillian as a second choice. All your middle names sound pretty.

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K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

Oh I like Eleanor too. Tell your husband while you are the middle of labor that you just loooove this name. He'll be happy to give you whatever you want. From the rest of your list, I also like Jillian and Peyton. I am partial to names that end in the "an" or "en" sound.

J.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Congrats on your growing family! I don't think the 'a' to 'e' thing is a problem, particularly when you are dealing with well-known first names like these. Megan, Alice and Heidi don't sound quite right with your last name. I love Eleanor and Jillian. Maybe Eleanor could be a middle name I'd also say stick with the traditional spelling on names like 'Heidi.'

Joanna Elinor
Jillian Lenore
Samantha Anne

Good luck :)

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T.A.

answers from Toledo on

I know that you don't want a name ending with 'a' but what about Layla. Linley is such a unique and pretty name and I don't think that Megan even compares to a name like Linley. Layla Estrada is unique and very feminine just like Linley.

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M.G.

answers from Atlanta on

My 15 year old granddaughter is named Eleanor and everyone calls her Ellie. Also, she's the only Ellie in her school which is handy because noone has to say Ellie who? I think it's such a cute sounding name and not just because she's ours. Best of luck on your choice

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