Trying to Decide Between Two Girl Names?

Updated on June 13, 2011
N.T. asks from Macomb, MI
44 answers

thank you everyone for sugestions for my daughters name:) You have been wonderful:) We are down to two names and I would love your opinion! The final choice is between Tessa and Lainey (pronounced Lay-ne). Please tell me what you think!

thanks,

N.

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K.O.

answers from Atlanta on

I would presonally prefer Tessa. I think they both work well as a little girl, but I don't think I'd like to be called Lainey in an adult, professional setting.

4 moms found this helpful
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L.S.

answers from San Diego on

I think Tessa is sweet and strong name at the same time. It sounds like a name of someone to be noticed. As she gets older, she can call herself Tess for short or not. As she gets into the working world, Tessa sounds like a name of a competent and responsible person.

Not too fond of Lainey for some reason it sounds too much like a "made up trendy name".

These are my thoughts. Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Detroit on

I named my 7 year old daughter after my Aunt & Grandmother. Her name is Jacqueline Elaine and we call her Lainey. It's a great name. It seems to really be gaining popularity.

2 moms found this helpful

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A.P.

answers from Chicago on

I like Tessa. Lainey is pretty but sounds like a nickname or a little girls name to me.

4 moms found this helpful
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T.J.

answers from Seattle on

I love Tessa! I like Lainey but can't imagine being an adult professional with that name. Maybe Laine or Lane and call her Lainey when she's little? My daughter is Olivia Lane, so I vote Tessa Laine! And of course how your last name sounds with them. I too like Lainey if short for Alaina or delainey!

3 moms found this helpful
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K.R.

answers from Spokane on

I would choose Tessa simply because I feel it "grows up" better. When I hear a name that ends in the "ey" sound I think of a small child. Of course she could just go by "Laine" if she wanted to!

3 moms found this helpful
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J.F.

answers from Omaha on

I vote Tessa.

My best friend in college (15 years ago) had a hyper-active dog named Lainey.

2 moms found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Ahhh... You do know that Lainey is a nickname for either

- Elaine
- Helena
- Helen

yes?

I think it's an adorable nickname for a young girl, that could well carry over into adulthood by family, friends, and lovers... but now picture a 30yo or 50yo woman named Lainey. Zero authority, but very cutesy.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My vote is for Tessa, simply because you don't come across that name very often. I have met a lot of Lainey's but only ever met one Tessa. Obviously I like to go for the name that is a little more rare :)
Good Luck

2 moms found this helpful
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R.Y.

answers from New York on

I like Tessa because I had a favorite teacher by that name. I like both names though. Also either could be a nickname of a more formal name if you want to go that way.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

N.,

I love the name Lainey!! Do you have a middle name yet? If not, here are some suggestions:

Lainey Marie
Lainey Grace
Lainey Arabella
Lainey N. :)
Lainey Tessa
Lainey Brielle (pronounced BRE, elle)

GL!

M

1 mom found this helpful
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S.A.

answers from Dallas on

Lainey would be a great name.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

Lainey for sure!!! I love that name! Or, Delainey is also pretty :)

1 mom found this helpful
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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

I wanted "Tessa" for our daughter, but I had a cat with that name, so it couldn't be...

I like both your choices! Either have options for nicknames, or sound just fine the way they are.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.P.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I like Tessa myself. With Lainey she will have to spell it for everyone.

1 mom found this helpful

H.G.

answers from Dallas on

Lainey. Although im a little partial. My daughters middle name is layne!

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

Tessa is sassy and unpredictable.

Lainey is cute and sweet, possibly demure.

What do the two names mean to you?, Why dont you wait until you meet her and see which one she fits better?

1 mom found this helpful
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J.K.

answers from Sacramento on

LOve LOVe Love Tessa!!!

1 mom found this helpful
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K.M.

answers from Denver on

How funny, a teaching team at my daughter's old preschool has one of each in their families. Either is nice. I think that names tend to fit instead of the other way around that you have to know the person to know if the name fits. That being said see how the first name fits with your chosen middle and determined last name. Also think initials. I was initially thought to be an LSD until my parents thought the better of it

1 mom found this helpful
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E.F.

answers from Detroit on

I have not read through the respsonses, so I apologize if I am redundant here. What about Tessa Lane? You could call her Tessa or Lainey, if you like. It has a pretty flow, and I will admit, my middle name is Lane, and I love it! Just a thought.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I know a Tess which is short for Theresa.

I like Lainy, short for Elaine.

I think too many people "name" kids nicknames!

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from San Antonio on

Love Lainey!

Updated

Love Lainey!

1 mom found this helpful
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P.W.

answers from San Francisco on

I like Lainey. However, I like it prefer it without the y, and pronounced Layne. It's less cutesy that way. But she can change it as she grows up, if she wants to.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.P.

answers from Pittsfield on

I like Lainey. My son has a Lainey in his class-she's so sweet. Her actual name is Alaina, but everyone calls her Lainey for short

1 mom found this helpful

L.G.

answers from Austin on

Tessa for me. ;) It just rolls off the tongue easily and sounds like a fun person!

1 mom found this helpful
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N.J.

answers from Peoria on

Love, love, love the name Tessa. It's lasting but still unique. My niece's name is Tessa and she is just adorable. Lainey is cute too so you really can't go wrong.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

I think Lainey is cute, but I don't think it sounds very "adult like" for the future. Maybe you could give her a more formal name, like Helena or Elena and call her lainey. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from Lansing on

Lainey! Love it! Tessa sounds like my great great grandmother or something...but then again the old names are coming back. Maybe wait until you see her :)

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

I think Lainey is great!

...As a real name all on it's own...sorry Riley J.

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J.J.

answers from Dallas on

i like Lainey...however, you chose great names, so very hard choices...but Lainey just sounds more fun to me! Tessa is also pretty though. good luck mama! and congrats on your baby! :)

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K.C.

answers from Orlando on

Our second daughters name was almost Lainey (after Lois Lane, hubby is a HUGE superman fan). But my husband wanted to name her Elaine and all I could think of was sienfield and I hated that show. It's funny how the mind works. Anyway I LOVE both Tessa and Lainey, so I guess I'm really no hope at all!

I love older, classic names like Tessa. My daughter's both have "old-fashioned" names Madelyn and Amelia. I love that classic names are coming back around.

Good luck! You can always wait until you meet her to decide between the two!

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

I love the name tessa althought I would suggest if you haven't considered it that Hannah Grace is a lovely name. If I had had another girl that would have been the name of choice.

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K.R.

answers from Seattle on

I think its funny how you ask a question between 2 names and ppl throw out completely different names lol I just recently asked a question about our baby names and got over 100 responses with novels of opinions lol I Love Lainey its very unique :)

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K.M.

answers from Memphis on

I like Tessa better but that's just my taste. I will say that even if you have it narrowed down to two or even pick one. Take your list of names to the hospital with you. We had decided that we would name our daughter one of two names and would decide when she was born. After she was born, we looked at her and neither of the names we had chosen seemed right. I had insisted that we bring our list just in case. We decided on a name that we had eliminated weeks before and it is perfect for her.

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F.W.

answers from Miami on

Tessa -
Meaning: Gatherer
Origin: Greek

Lainey -
Meaning: Bright Light
Origin: American

I like them both, Good Luck deciding. :-)

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M.W.

answers from Detroit on

I like Tessa the best. You could use both, and I think Tessa Lainey sounds better then Lainey Tessa. Both are pretty though. Good luck!

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K.H.

answers from Phoenix on

My younger sister's name is Lainey (nickname for Elaine). As an adult she now goes by Layne since it's a bit more mature sounding. I love names that can be redone to match different stages of life. My given name is Katherine (I put that on my resumes as it's most formal), my nickname as a kid was Katie, and then when I got into high school it became K..

I definitely vote for Lainey!

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S.R.

answers from Detroit on

I really, really like Lainey....spelled just the way you have it. Sounds
fun and "with it" and has a bright feeling to it. Tessa is way too old-
fashioned for me. Have you got a middle name to pair with each of
your two choices?
Best of luck with the birth of your daughter!!

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C.L.

answers from Dallas on

Tessa. Lainey is more "cute" so it doesn't age as well. Tessa is so feminine and pretty!

M..

answers from St. Louis on

I like them both! Have you looked up the meaning to the names yet? Maybe one will be more significant to you than the other?

S.A.

answers from Chicago on

I would go with Tessa and call her Tess for short.

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I knew a girl named Lainey once a long time ago, but she was a brat and I didn't like her much.
It just gives me an association with the name that just makes it not a favorite for me.
I like Tessa better.

S.L.

answers from New York on

Sorry,
I LOVE them both

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H.F.

answers from Pocatello on

I vote for Lainey, it sounds pretty! Congrats on your baby!

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