Conference oass::babynames

    I know how you feel about boy's names being hard to decide on. I
    wanted a boy's name that was one syllable and masculine. My husband
    and I came up with a compromise name but I don't think either one
    of us was really decided on it. As I was in hard labor my husband
    asked if it was a boy what I wanted to name him and I replied -
    I don't care. Lucky for us we had a girl, Justine Emmanuelle. I
    must have known she was going to look like my husband, dark hair,
    eyes, and complexion because she looks like a Justine. Some people
    might not say we were so lucky, I know how personal opinions go
    for names. Her middle name is from my husband's grandfather, Emmanuel
    and uncle, Alvin Emmanuel.
    
    Anyway, since you asked I will give you some names I liked but would
    never go with a last name of Diaz.
    
    	Liam
    	Luke
    	Levi
    	

    I second Liam.  I don't think I like Luke or Levi (say that three
    times fast) with McDonald.
    
    What girl's names have you decided on?  That can give us an idea
    of what kinds of names you like.
    
    -Tracy
    

    Well, for a girl's name we have several choices and I don't think
    I'd be too disappointed with any of them.  My first choice is
    Kelly, even though it's a bit common and not unusual at all - it
    does sound good with MacDonald, though.  My husband is very fond
    of the name Roxanne even though it sounds a little harsh with our
    last name.  Another one he really likes is a family name (on my
    side, believe it or not) and that one is Valia.  It was my great-
    grandmother's name. (My mother's mother's mother)  The names I've
    suggested for a boy - and my husband has rejected ALL of them are:
    Ian, Evan, Colin and Ben.  I also kind of like Casey, but he doesn't
    like that either.  My favorite is Ian and that was the name he disliked
    the most - so I really doubt he'd go for Liam.  I'm also not too
    sure if I like a first name ending with the same letter that the
    last name begins with.  It seems to have a tendency to get garbled.
    But you know, I do like Luke...  I'll have to try that one out on
    him.
    
    Thanks...
    
    Kathryn
    

	Thanks for listing what you already had in mind -- it's
	always easier for us BABY_NAMers to shoot down something than 
	to have to come up with something totally from scratch.

	For the latter case, though, I can offer you some suggestions.
	Though I can't offer much advice on the meaning of a possible
	name or your subjective response to it, I can offer some advice
	on just plain sound:

	o  Make it short -- MacDonald already has 3 syllables.
	o  Avoid beginning it with an "m" -- to avoid alliteration.
	o  Avoid beginning it with a "d" -- MacDonald already has a
	   few.
	o  Think of beginning it with a softer consonant -- MacDonald
	   does not exactly trip melifluously off the tongue.
	o  Consider beginning it with an "n" or an "l" -- these satisfy
	   the previous bullet, and also play off the same letters in
	   the last name.

	I can make one suggestion about the meaning of the name.  If
	you're nationality is important to you, I would suggest some-
	thing Scottish, or at least Celtic.  At the same time, I would
	suggest AVOIDING anything with strong overtones of another
	nationality (e.g., Raoul MacDonald).  Also, MacDonald is NOT
	Smith or Jones -- so I wouldn't go too far out with a first
	name.  Also, avoid a name that is too Scottish (e.g., Alistair
	MacDonald) -- MacDonald is already very much so.

	Given all these considerations, a couple of ideas come to mind:
	Neil, Ian, Andrew, Alex, Kathryn, Kathleen, Eileen, Lee, Leigh, 
	Nelly ...

	Here's what I think of what you've already come up with:

	o  Kelly -- sounds okay, even though common and more Irish than
	   Scottish
	o  Roxanne -- okay, but do you like Roxy?
	o  Valia -- a little far out, but nice-sounding and with some
	   meaning (i.e., a family name)
	o  Ian -- great, but extremely Scottish
	o  Evan -- nice, but WElsh, not Scottish
	o  Colin -- bit of a tongue-twister WITH MACDONALD
	o  Ben -- okay, but will it be Benjamin (very long) or Ben?
	o  Liam -- nice, but extremely Irish, not Scottish

		-- Cliff

        
    
    What about Kyle or Adam??
      

    re:.5
    
    So far, two couples we know (one we're very close to) have little
    babies named Kyle.  I like the name, and I think it sounds great
    with MacDonald, but it might get confusing with 3 little Kyles
    running around!  Adam is a name that I like a lot and was considering
    but again, it ends with the letter "m" and for some reason, it just
    doesn't sound right to me with our last name.  I sure wish I didn't
    have to deal with the name MacDonald!  My sister suggested we name
    our child "Old" :-)
    
    Thanks again, everybody and keep those cards and letters coming!
    
    - Kathryn
    

    I too, am expecting our first in October!!!  I had an easy time
    with the girls names also.  We are still discussing boys names though
    which don't seem to be coming as easily.  The two we have both decided
    we like are Eric Ryan and Cory James.  I think Cory would sound
    good with McDonald...
    
    Good Luck!!
    

    re:-1
    
    My husband loves the name Cory...  And I've always loved the name
    Eric.  At first I wasn't too sure about Cory - but you're right,
    it goes well with MacDonald and it's starting to grow on me.  Thanks!
    We just may have this problem solved.
    
    - Kathryn
    

    I like Cory too.  I think it sounds great with MacDonald.  It would
    not sound to great with Kulp.  I would have considered it otherwise!
    
    Robin
    

    How about Brice? Its very old and Anglo-Saxon, has one syllable
    and very uncommon. I want to use it myself but my husband says that
    we'll offend his family because it happens to be my grandfather's
    name. It does have more meaning being my grandfather's but I would
    like it anyway because its so unique. Good Luck!
    
    Cindy

    I like Brice very much. Cindy, I think you should use Brice for
    a boys name. I think names that have family history are very special.
    They give the child a connection to his family heritage. If I have
    I boy I would like to honor my father by using his name. Unfortunately
    his name is Cornelius, which my Dad is not too fond of and clashes
    with my last name of Diaz. I was thinking of using Neil as a shortened
    form of Cornelius. My grandfather went by Neil.
    
    

    re:-1
    
    Neil sounds great with Diaz, I think - but then I've always liked
    the name Neil anyway.
    
    The other night I made my husband write a list of ten boys' names
    that he liked and I wrote one also.  I was surprised to see that
    we had four names in common, although they weren't my absolute
    *favorites* (Ian and Evan) we've at least come to some kind of
    compromise.  He may even be swaying a little toward Ian...
    Anyway, the four names were :  Luke, Ben, Jake and Jesse.  Cory
    seems to have fizzled out and so far Jesse is the strongest con-
    tender.  He may end up with Ian as his middle name.  But watch...
    now that this is settled (sort of) I'll probably have a girl! :-)
    
    - Kathryn
    

    HI,
    
    I like Kelly, but Kelley is prettier - though maybe you otta keep
    looking .  Kelly MacDonald is real typical.  Though is does sound
    nice.  My cousin named her daughter Kelly Donaldson and now that
    she's 15, she preferrs to spell it Kelley.  (just an f.y.i. on how
    she prefered it).  She said it looked more feminine since a boy
    in her class spelt his name Kelly.
    
    Anyway,  how about Diana MacDonald - that sounds nice.   But, you're
    having trouble with the boys names right?  
    
    I agree with you:  Luke MacDonald is nice.  Wait, I just said it
    and for some reason it sounds like Loo MacDonald.  The M sorta knocks
    out the K sound in Luke.  What do you think?
    
    I knew a Joseph MacDonald...  That sounds nice! and if he gets called
    Joe - Joe MacDonald sounds good too (?)   how 'bout...
     
    David MacDonald?  That has a nice ring.  
    
    Michael MacDonald?  
    
    What about:
    
    Gregory MacDonald -> nice sound, Wesley MacDonald,...
    
    Bryan MacDonald, Kurt MacDonald, Bret MacDonald, Kyle MacDonald,
    Evan MacDonald, I like that one- I know an Evan DeMarco (the dad's
    Italian and Mom's Irish)  Paul MacDonald, Keith MacDonald, Curtis
    MacDonald, Kevin MacDonald.
    
    I honestly have never heard of the name Liam.  how in world do you
    pronouce it?  Ly Am?  or Lee um?  I don't think that sounds very
    well at all.  But that's just my  .02.               
    
    Good luck to you!
    
    
    -Christina

    It's Lee um.  It's a pretty popular Irish name.
    
    Just for a different opinion...I prefer Kelly to Kelley.  I think
    the former looks prettier.
    
    Re -2:
    
    There's a Linnea in my daughter's daycare center.  I like it.  I
    think Monique sounds too French with Swei.  Maybe that's just because
    it was one of the most often used names in my high school French
    book...
    
    -Tracy

    re:-1 (Tracy)
    
    I think you meant to reply to note 396 and not this one in the
    second part of your reply.  (about names to go with "Swei")
    
    As for your opinion on Kelly as opposed to Kelley - thanks.  I
    like it better without the extra "e" too.  For some reason, I
    don't like extra letters where they're really not necessary.
    

    More news...  Still no progress with a boy's name and our girl's
    name has evolved into Allyson.  Allyson MacDonald...  kind of long
    but I guess it isn't too bad.  Only trouble is, we can't come up
    with a middle name.  Any ideas, folks?  
    
    Thanks,
    Kathryn
    

    Why not a version of your own name?
    
    Allyson Kate MacDonald.
    
    Alan for a boy?
    
    K.C.

    Well folks, all the fuss I made about a boy's name was in vain.
    Allyson was born on October 16 and weighed in at 7lbs. 8.5oz.
    She was two days early and I was in labor for 2.5 hours before
    she emerged - what a good girl!
    
    - Kathryn
    

    Congradulations!
    
    What is her middle name?
    
    K.C.

    My husband chose Ally's middle name.  He wanted to use my mother's
    first name as her middle name... he never got to know her - she
    died 13 years ago.  At any rate, the name really doesn't go that
    well, but it's the thought that counts...  it's Therese.  Everyone
    called my mom Terry for short, and that's my husband's nickname
    too.  His name is Terence.
    
    - K
    

    MY middle name is Theresa.
    
    I think that it goes well enough, and it IS a touching tribute.
    
    K.C.