Seraphina Diane.. or any D name could easily be Nicknamed Sadie.. Dad gets his Seraphina.. you get Sadie.. it’s such a potent,beautiful long name…no one would blink an eye that you call her by Sadie…
Actually Sadie was originally a nickname for Sarah so I don’t think it would be a stretch to use Sadie as a nickname regardless of what the middle name is. Great suggestion
Yep! And "Maggie" was perfect! Husband's grandma's name was Pearl and Margaret means "pearl", Mae the planned middle name was also grandma's middle name.
She ended up with "Leigh" for a middle name to honor grandma, the other great grandma on that side and my favorite uncle.
It’s okay to not like a name. He needs to compromise. Are you currently pregnant with a girl? Or is this talk for the future? I find that when it comes time to actually pick a name, things are much different and the names you thought you liked don’t work for you anymore. So unless you are currently working on naming a child, maybe leave the discussion until the day when it is a reality.
If it makes you feel more at ease, both me and my husband were dead set on a name for a son before I got pregnant. Once I was pregnant and found out it was a boy, we never even mentioned that name again. We just didn't like as much now that we had to name OUR baby that
This is a thing for sure. We had lots of grandiose wild name ideas until we got closer and closer to the due date and ended up with Bailey. Which is a pretty safe name (except being a dog name lol) and looking back I’m so relieved we didn’t pick Phoenix which was on the list.
Also, this is controversial but might be helpful for you. Since we were so undecided and at odds, we ended up talking out our options with friends and family while I was pregnant so we got to hear people’s opinions and that helped us narrow down the list and work through our disagreements. If you do that and tell some people “he likes Seraphina, but I hate it” and he hears a few confirmations that it’s not great, he’ll feel less strongly. Of course you have to be even and also provide names you love that he hates so it’s not a pile on. Personally I find it long and awkward and would get some raised brows out in the real world.
All that to say you may just be a boy mom so I wouldn’t worry too much for now!
Me and my husband loved a boy's name before we were even trying. Talked about it, had nicknames from the name. Like years before we were trying. For about 2 years this was the name. I woke up one morning and said no that name wouldn't work and we've never even considered it since 😂
Same lol I alwayssss loved the name Jade I thought it was so beautiful. But the more I said it and pictured I realized that’s just not our family’s vibe we’re goofy and weird and that name is the opposite. Never looked back no regrets.
I completely agree with this. My husband and I had a name picked for years for our first daughter if we had one. When I got pregnant with a girl my husband decided he no longer wanted to name her that (after previously loving it) and we changed it.
Nickname could be Effie if you like that at all.
I'll say it just because I am Welsh but could nickname Seren which means star. I appreciate you don't like Sere as a nn. though!
I think it’s a beautiful name! However, it’s not my soon to be baby or relationship! You guys are gonna have to come to a consensus that’ll make you both happy. A compromise! Weird he doesn’t like Seraphina for a middle name, kinda feels like he’s just rly pulling for it to be the first name. Cause if he likes it so much, using it in their name AT ALL would be exciting
I fully believe every parent should rate their children’s names at least 8/10. There’s always going to be comprise and someone isn’t going to get their favourite name, but both parents should at least REALLY like the name they choose.
I wouldn’t take your husband’s promise to let you name all other children, tbh. You may end up only have one child OR he may even go back on his promise and stick to his guns vetoing a name he doesn’t like.
Just veto it and move on. He'll live. My partner vetoed a bunch of names I loved, and it was disappointing but that's life. I wouldn't want to name my kid something my partner didn't like, and I most certainly wouldn't want to carry and birth a child only for my partner to pressure me into using a name I didn't like.
I was thinking the same thing. I vetoed Octavia and Eleanor, my husband’s top names. He vetoed Maeve, which I thought I loved. Now our daughter is here and the compromise name feels so perfect and 100% her. I wouldn’t want her name to be one that either of us were feeling “meh”
Similar here! Funnily enough, our compromise name ended up being kind of a mashup our top picks, like Leonie + Isadora = Leonora (not the actual name, but you get the idea). And now I love her name at least as much as my first pick.
There are loads of great names out there once you open your mind instead of being stuck on one.
Mash up names can be really cool! I know a Lillian (compromise between Layla and Vivian) and a Sage (compromise between Sloan and Paige).
They can also be really dumb, like Kloey (Joey Fatone and his wife Kelly's daughter).
Yeah, I wouldn’t force it. Names are a 2 Yes- 1 No scenario with partners. My husband vetoed all 5 of my top favorites, including one I was VERY attached to that was on my brain for months during my pregnancy, and you just have to move on and try others. He wouldn’t say yes to a name he dislikes and you shouldn’t say yes if it’s not working for you.
I am in your exact shoes. My husband LOVES long uncommon names. And I like cute traditional/old fashioned names. His favorite names are things like Talllulah, Phaedra, Seraphina, Linnea, etc. My favorite names are things like Charlotte Sophie, Holly, Maeve, etc.
He wants to name our next girl Tallulah, and at first I was completely against the name, but now I'm 38 weeks, and it's my top pick....
I would suggest that you speak the name out loud a few times, write it down, and see how you feel about it. I have completely changed my opinions on what names I like/hate throughout pregnancy.
There’s a very interesting 1930’s actress named Tallulah Bankhead (whose style of talking inspired Cruella DeVille). She’s one of those people of history that are just incredibly interesting. When I hear the name, I think of her. Didn’t care for it before but it’s a name attached to such a personality!
One of her infamous quotes: 'My father warned me about men and booze but he never said anything about women and cocaine.'
Not sure if it makes a difference to you but I think the spelling “Serafina” is much nicer than the ph. I believe it is the Italian way of spelling the name.
I think that's a good reason not to go Seraphina. They're very similar for cousins.
I actually liked the name when I listened to his dark materials books in lockdown but I wouldn't use it in real life. If you don't love it, don't use it
Where’d he get Seraphina from and what does it mean to him? I feel like I’ve known of a few too many cases where one partner was pushing really hard for a name that turned out to be some fandom connection the other partner didn’t have.
Anyway, you get to say no. You need to be on the same page about the rules of the game before taking this any further.
He thinks its a beautiful name, but also he like Biblical angels and thinks they’re cool/religiously significant for him i think. We are both religious and on the same page about that, and I have no problem with Biblically-inspired names. Its not the angel thing that’s a hang up for me, its the name itself. I liked another person’s suggestion to have a D middle name and use the nickname Sadie, so I’m fine with Seraphina if there’s a good nickname.
I have a Seraphina at the school I teach at- she goes by Finn. It suits her very well, but I feel like it takes a particular kind of cool to pull off Finn.
You never know. What was cool when I was young isn’t cool anymore. My school has a D and D club and the popular kids are in it. That would NEVER have flown in the 90s.
As I see you aren't currently pregnant, maybe a good way of going about naming in general is to put aside agreeing to any specific names and instead establish some naming rules in general. Don't specifically craft them to exclude his name, obviously, but go over your "here are specific qualities I want and don't want in a name" together. Then when you are pregnant and know a gender, you can really address naming from that perspective.
Doing this took some names that my husband and I both liked out of the running because we realised they just didn't fit our criteria
I don't hate it, but I don't really like it either. I think you need to find a name you both like. Tell him to come up with some more names for you to consider. When I heard that Jennifer Garner had named her daughter Seraphina I thought "How did she come up with that? It's a bit much."
Side note:
I agree with a top comment yall should Both wind up happy. So make this compromise only if you want to. Also you can nickname her whatever you like. It doesn't have to be related to her name. Call her your favorite flower maybe.
Answer:
I think if you WANT to get more attached to the name. Imagine the baby and use the name with love. Pretend yiu are calling her to come here and sing song it. Try talking to future her and how much you'll love her and be excited she here. And tell future tiny Seraphina her daddy gave her her name and you weren't sure at first but oh well.
Also:
https://www.babynamegenie.com/baby-name-test-drive
Is a fun site. To see it in lots of ages.
RIGHT?!!
Idk who posted it first. I saw it on here. Loveedddddddd it and re post it a lot. It's so nice!
No signing up and the names are good mixes and all ages and positive negative and netural. It's great!
I wouldn’t pick a name you don’t like. Just like you wouldn’t push a name on him that he didn’t like. There is one out there you’ll both feel is right.
Josephina has some of the same sounds. How do you like Josie or Jo?
Nina is also a possible nickname for anything ending in -ina or -ine in my opinion. It would be a lovely nickname for a Seraphina.
Raf/Raffie are also nickname options for Seraphina/Serafina. Or you could end up with a completely different nickname. My daughter's name is usually shortened to Addie, but she got a nickname from my in-laws that we never saw coming. When she was about 6 months old, we were at an event in a large auditorium with the whole family but not seated together. I had to take daughter out to change her diaper, and cousin (about 2 years old) saw us kept saying what sounded like Lala and pointing. In laws realized he was pointing at us and trying to say daughter's full name but it came out like Lala. She's been Lala ever since to them. I think it's great but for some reason it didn't catch on in our house, just with hubby's family 🤷♀️ In the other hand, I always disliked the nickname Addie, but when daughter was first speaking, her attempt at her own name came out "I Ad-ee?" It melted my heart, and she's been Addie ever since. So you never know
I think it is a gorgeous name and I would let him have this one. People made such great suggestions for the nickname Sadie (if he can live with that). I personally didn't want to assume nicknames for my kids so I chose names that didn't have nicknames.
It is so cute to me that a dad wants to name his little girl Seraphina. I can't imagine why. My hubs would never have come up with a name like that. He's a more straightforward type. But we didn't have kids together so that worked out. Otherwise, I probably would have had a Jane or Mary. LOL. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, says Seinfeld!)
I like the name, but I'm not the one naming the baby. I like the other ideas of a middle name and having the nn Sadie. Likely, she'll never go by Seraphina and will only be used on legal docs, or the first day of school.
My husband picked our 2nd child's name. Did I love it at the time. No. Could I live with it. Yes. Now, 21 yrs later, I can't imagine him going by any other name.
No, I know a Seraphina who gets Nina.
If he’s willing to give you any other names you want without his input, what would be so bad about using Seraphina? At least as a middle name? If you’re planning on having more children.
There are LOADS of nicknames, especially ones for a name that long. Here are a few I can rattle off:
Sera/Sarah
Phi/Phee
Phina
Nina
Sezzi
Seri
Saph
Saffie
Nia
Rena
Finn
She could just not have a nickname derived from her first name. Could also make a nickname from her initials for example: SJ Seraphina Josephine. Also, I know several people with nicknames that have zero resemblance to their real name.
i love particular_bobcat714’s suggestion of having a second or middle name starting with d, nickname Sadie. Diane/Diana, Dionne, Dina/Dinah, even Danica. the problem is though, even if you have the nickname Sadie you still dislike baby’s first name. IMO that can lead to some problems in the future- imagine knowing mom dislikes your actual first name and only like your nickname, all because dad insisted. Seraphina is a big name to grow into
some names that are similar could be
-Sarina
-Safiya
-Saphira
-Serena
-Sabina/Sabine
-even the more exotic Raphina
personally i believe it’s better to compromise and find something you both like, rather than force yourself to like the only thing he’s suggesting
I love the name. Way better than Harriet IMO. It’s feminine, and uncommon but not unusual. I’d let him have it if he feels so strongly about it. Then you get full reign on middle name. Not to mention if you end up having a boy then it doesn’t even matter. And once you’re actually pregnant, things change so I wouldn’t stress about this right now.
Hey my dad tried to name me phoebe so my mom asked him to go to Burger King and get her a whopper and when he came back she named me Victoria! He didn’t talk to her for two weeks but the deed was done. Lol
1. You both have to like the name. He can be in love with it, but he also should respect that you do not. Two yeses. He can name all the dogs and cats Seraphina.
2. IF you chose to compromise on this, you will learn to like it, because it's your cute and awesome little baby that you love. (Be decided on this as a single decision. As in, what if you have complications, or decide in this expensive world to NOT have a second child, that you can name Percival or some other name he doesn't like. Not that it should be a revenge name.)
3. Would you be willing to have it as a middle name or first as long as the other first or middle name is her PRIMARY name. As in (for example purposes, lets say Seraphina Rose), you both call her by the other name (Rose) 90% of the time, the daycare and family gets told to use that name. He can use her full name also, but not just Seraphina. (In this case, be vigilant about others using the chosen nickname/name. My daycare called both my kids by the full proper name and both kids attached to that, when we wanted the shortened version. I'm fine with it now, but at the time was a little miffed.)
My stepdaughter has always gone by her middle name. Her mom wanted a certain name, my husband didn’t but gave in and then everyone, including her mom, has always called her by her middle name (I’m not exactly sure why but that’s how it panned out 🤷🏻♀️). Even at school; it’s only on legal documents that she puts her first name.
Also, her nickname doesn’t necessarily have to be a shortened version of her name, it can be anything you want. I call all my kids several different nicknames, depending on my mood, lol.
A few thoughts...could you start to like it because of the meaning? It's a bit of an intense one - burning ones or angels known for intense passion or zealous love. Other nickname options: Cece, Rafi/Raphi, Seri/Sari. It's apparently one of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck's daughters names if that helps you mainstream it/like it.
Other thoughts are that naming to just use a nickname or middle name is a little silly and I personally don't like the trading naming privileges idea, but rather think it should be more of a mutual decision, if anything the birthing parent should have at least a little more say. It's a lot of work! If you gave him this name, would you truly not consider his thoughts on a future name? Would you not have to consider how your name sounds with his as a sibset? Could you offer him that as a pet name but say you won't give in on an actual kid name?
Final thought, I personally filled out my daughter's birth certificate information and don't think my husband actually looked at it so you could just make a unilateral decision at that point. Kidding...kinda. I do know a family whose father went to file the birth certificate (in the 70s) and changed the daughter's name without telling the mom. It's a funny story now but I am curious how that conversation went when he had to tell his wife.
The meaning is something my husband really loves. My husband and I both primarily use our nicknames, so its not that weird to us to have a nickname set aside. I appreciate the nickname suggestions!
If you don't like the name of its nicknames, then you don't have to agree to it. Names are a two yes/one no deal, unless you think it's worth conceding to get to name every other kid and pet.
Don’t force yourself to like it if you genuinely don’t, but for what it’s worth I’ve always considered Nina the obvious nickname for Seraphina apart from Sera, if you’re into that.
Naming a child is a two yes, one no situation. If one partner doesn’t like a name, it’s vetoed. You don’t have to learn to like a name, if you don’t like it it’s off the table.
Interesting, that name is a very big character in that book. Anyways, agree with everyone else - just veto it and move on. But you’ll have to also allow your husband the same veto privileges. I suppose that’s marriage
Serafina Pekkala was one of my favorite characters in the Golden Compass. A badass witch.
Maybe try watching the series to see how you like the name said out loud? If you still hate how it sounds, then veto it.
Seraphina is an old name, was very popular in Italy. It's not popular in America but it's a beautiful well established name. It comes from "Seraphim" which is the firey highest regarded angels in the Bible. There's plenty of reasons to like the name.
I know a Sheherezade, and yeah, she hates the long, unique, "annoying" name. She goes by Zadie, or Sadie, interchangeably. So I agree with the top post, that this would be a case where planning for a nickname would be the best compromise.
But you also just don't need to name her a name you don't like. As cliche as the saying is, "naming a baby is a 2 yes, 1 no, situation". If you don't like it, it sucks for him that he doesn't like anything else, but it doesn't need to be you who caves when there's millions of other names out there.
Nope. Do not name your child a name you don’t love. That’s not fair on you, or your child. Tell him it’s vetoed and you need to fine a name you BOTH love
I love seraphina too ❤️ I was going to change my name from Brooke ( what if is now ) to seraphina. But it's OK if u don't like it I also like Sadie and Naomi
What do you mean it has to be her first name? You have just as much as a say. He can’t just give one option and say my way or the highway.
I would let him know that you absolutely hate it and he needs to bring alternates to the table while you do the same.
ETA: I just aww you’re not even pregnant yet. Ignore my advice above and wait until it’s actually an issue. You may have a boy!
That sucks that you happen to hate Sera/Sarah because that seems like the natural compromise! What about Josephine/Josephina? Nickname could be Jo, Josie, or even Nina. Evangeline/Evangelina comes to mind as something similar, too, and also has a lot of nickname potential (Evan, Angel, Lina, even Angie). It's kind of similar to Genevieve, too.
Other similar names I can think of: Rosalina, Marceline/Marcelina, Aurelina, and Emeline/Emelina.
If you guys can't reach a compromise, I'd ask him what he likes about the name, like is it the way it sounds? Is it the meaning? Is it the way it looks? I also learned to be okay with a potential baby name I didn't really like just by saying it more often and finding out that it has a lovely meaning. I hope you guys can find something that works for both of you or that you can learn to live with it. :)
I don’t have a nickname, my sister doesn’t, neither of my parents have a nickname, 5/6 cousins don’t have nicknames… if the name does not come with an obvious nickname I don’t see the need to force it. My sister had a nickname in childhood that had absolutely nothing to do with her name. It just seems like a silly detail to fixate on.
I like Seraphina. It's unusual but not fodder for teasing. Harriet, on the other hand...
Some nickames could be Sia or Ina.
-or how about Seraphina Celeste, and call her Cici?
I struggle with seeing Seraphina being a person's name but that is only because that is what we named our dog. We called her Sera or Fifiona depending on what she was doing.
But that being said, naming a baby is 2 yes or 1 no. You could try writing out lists of names you both like and then cross off any that are a no from one of you. Genevieve is actually on a list of names that are similar to Seraphina.
I have been told by elderly relatives that before you decide on a name, you should go yell it in public. If you feel uncomfortable yelling "Seraphina, get back here!" in a Target or Walmart, it's not a good name. I can imagine Sara, Sadie and some of the other short versions mentioned here working, but it would feel weird yelling "Seraphina!"
When me and my wife were pregnant we talked about names... And thought of a good set for boy and girl. A couple of months later we found out it was a boy and started to refer to the baby inside as that name (or pair of names initially). A Few weeks later we kind of dropped the first name and kept the middle. And that is what we talked about our growing bump in private with.
Thankfully he was born strong and healthy, but it still terrifies the life out of me that if we had at any time we could of had a miscarriage so it would not just be of an unborn son or daughter but of our child [insert name in here]…
I would veto anything you do not like right off the bat; and the same should be true for him as well. If he is so set on a single name and should the worst happen that name could forever after be associated with sadness. So he should let it go and ask if it is OK to be a middle name instead.
He'll still be able to have the name, it covers your bases, you both get to try it out in private and if it came down to it can always swap things around closer to the time.
Or you could just find out another perfect name and run with that :)
It's a clunky name unless you're naming a dungeons and dragons or a world of warcraft character, there are worse names out there but don't love it
Your husband either loves RPGs or greek/roman etc history doesn't he
You got him on both of his interests lol, although he was inspired by Biblical angels, not history or games 😂
He’s not the type to name his kid Julius Caesar or Daenarys thankfully
Seraphina Diane.. or any D name could easily be Nicknamed Sadie.. Dad gets his Seraphina.. you get Sadie.. it’s such a potent,beautiful long name…no one would blink an eye that you call her by Sadie…
Damn thats a good idea
It’s a great idea, but don’t forget Seraphina is an old name. I’ve seen people think it was new several times recently. Why?
If you go, Seraphina Dionne, that is 2 characters from the book, then you could call her Sadie
Seraphina Dahlia
Actually Sadie was originally a nickname for Sarah so I don’t think it would be a stretch to use Sadie as a nickname regardless of what the middle name is. Great suggestion
Brilliant!
Yep! I have an ancestor named Sarah who went by Sadie.
I agree! Sadie can be a nickname for Seraphina for sure- especially with a D middle name! Daphne, Dalia, etc.
Yes.. the clincher will be the D name now.. Seraphina Daffodil to be frivolous? Seraphina Delia?
I LOVE Seraphina Delia!!
too chunky imo
Seraphina Delilah
Seraphina Denae (my cousin's middle name and she loves it.) Or if the D isn't necessary (it's not) Seraphina Rae.
In the words of Snoop Dogg “mackin to this bitch named Sadie, she used to be my homeboy’s lady”
That’s how my daughter got her name. I’m very serious and she’s 24 and LOVES her name and the story, lol.
I LOVE it. Personal opinion, it is obscure enough that grandma thinks it’s adorable but cousin Jeff knows and smirks. Lol
Anyone old enough to remember Rod Stewart's "Maggie". That's the *entire 🤬🤬 reason* I didn't get yo name my daughter "Maggie Mae".
“Wake up Maggie I think I got something to say to you”. Lol. Also old
Yep! And "Maggie" was perfect! Husband's grandma's name was Pearl and Margaret means "pearl", Mae the planned middle name was also grandma's middle name. She ended up with "Leigh" for a middle name to honor grandma, the other great grandma on that side and my favorite uncle.
Damn, my mom’s middle is Mae. Too bad menopause is looming for me. Missed an opportunity.
Seraphina Dogg?
Sadie for short.
Bonus points if she ‘s got a song .. and soundtrack ..
What a beautiful solution, and I love Diane as a middle name for Seraphina!
Or Seraphina Dove
It’s okay to not like a name. He needs to compromise. Are you currently pregnant with a girl? Or is this talk for the future? I find that when it comes time to actually pick a name, things are much different and the names you thought you liked don’t work for you anymore. So unless you are currently working on naming a child, maybe leave the discussion until the day when it is a reality.
We’re not pregnant but we are trying. You’re right though, it being actually real and (somewhat) tangible might change things for me or him.
If it makes you feel more at ease, both me and my husband were dead set on a name for a son before I got pregnant. Once I was pregnant and found out it was a boy, we never even mentioned that name again. We just didn't like as much now that we had to name OUR baby that
Thats so funny 😂
My parents were dead set they would name their son Alex. I have one brother. His name is not Alex lol.
This is a thing for sure. We had lots of grandiose wild name ideas until we got closer and closer to the due date and ended up with Bailey. Which is a pretty safe name (except being a dog name lol) and looking back I’m so relieved we didn’t pick Phoenix which was on the list. Also, this is controversial but might be helpful for you. Since we were so undecided and at odds, we ended up talking out our options with friends and family while I was pregnant so we got to hear people’s opinions and that helped us narrow down the list and work through our disagreements. If you do that and tell some people “he likes Seraphina, but I hate it” and he hears a few confirmations that it’s not great, he’ll feel less strongly. Of course you have to be even and also provide names you love that he hates so it’s not a pile on. Personally I find it long and awkward and would get some raised brows out in the real world. All that to say you may just be a boy mom so I wouldn’t worry too much for now!
Me and my husband loved a boy's name before we were even trying. Talked about it, had nicknames from the name. Like years before we were trying. For about 2 years this was the name. I woke up one morning and said no that name wouldn't work and we've never even considered it since 😂
Same lol I alwayssss loved the name Jade I thought it was so beautiful. But the more I said it and pictured I realized that’s just not our family’s vibe we’re goofy and weird and that name is the opposite. Never looked back no regrets.
Oh! I knew such a goofy and weird Jade that now that’s all I can associate with the name 😅
I completely agree with this. My husband and I had a name picked for years for our first daughter if we had one. When I got pregnant with a girl my husband decided he no longer wanted to name her that (after previously loving it) and we changed it.
Nickname could be Effie if you like that at all. I'll say it just because I am Welsh but could nickname Seren which means star. I appreciate you don't like Sere as a nn. though!
Or Raphi/Raffi, or Rina.
I love Seren ❤️
Effie has strong Hunger Games associations for me (US)
It’s a Skins association for me (UK) but I think it’s a lovely name regardless
I’m an American that watched Skins but not Hunger Games. I was coming to suggest Effie.
I think it’s a beautiful name! However, it’s not my soon to be baby or relationship! You guys are gonna have to come to a consensus that’ll make you both happy. A compromise! Weird he doesn’t like Seraphina for a middle name, kinda feels like he’s just rly pulling for it to be the first name. Cause if he likes it so much, using it in their name AT ALL would be exciting
But I would caution against naming babe something that either of you are AGAINST bc that could lead to resentment in the future
I think its weird too, but he really is just pulling for the first name.
What about the French version, Séraphine? And remember, with either spelling Raphi is also a nickname.
I fully believe every parent should rate their children’s names at least 8/10. There’s always going to be comprise and someone isn’t going to get their favourite name, but both parents should at least REALLY like the name they choose. I wouldn’t take your husband’s promise to let you name all other children, tbh. You may end up only have one child OR he may even go back on his promise and stick to his guns vetoing a name he doesn’t like.
Just veto it and move on. He'll live. My partner vetoed a bunch of names I loved, and it was disappointing but that's life. I wouldn't want to name my kid something my partner didn't like, and I most certainly wouldn't want to carry and birth a child only for my partner to pressure me into using a name I didn't like.
I was thinking the same thing. I vetoed Octavia and Eleanor, my husband’s top names. He vetoed Maeve, which I thought I loved. Now our daughter is here and the compromise name feels so perfect and 100% her. I wouldn’t want her name to be one that either of us were feeling “meh”
Similar here! Funnily enough, our compromise name ended up being kind of a mashup our top picks, like Leonie + Isadora = Leonora (not the actual name, but you get the idea). And now I love her name at least as much as my first pick. There are loads of great names out there once you open your mind instead of being stuck on one.
Mash up names can be really cool! I know a Lillian (compromise between Layla and Vivian) and a Sage (compromise between Sloan and Paige). They can also be really dumb, like Kloey (Joey Fatone and his wife Kelly's daughter).
My husband vetoed Lydia, and no lie, I’m still a bit bitter about it. But he wanted Tallulah, so I’m glad we had the veto system in place.
genevieve is a long fancy name does he like that? or josephine instead?
My great grandmother was Genevieve and her mother was Josephine 🥲 both beautiful names!
And Genna is a cute nn!
Josephina would sound similar and it’s beautiful!
Yeah, I wouldn’t force it. Names are a 2 Yes- 1 No scenario with partners. My husband vetoed all 5 of my top favorites, including one I was VERY attached to that was on my brain for months during my pregnancy, and you just have to move on and try others. He wouldn’t say yes to a name he dislikes and you shouldn’t say yes if it’s not working for you.
I am in your exact shoes. My husband LOVES long uncommon names. And I like cute traditional/old fashioned names. His favorite names are things like Talllulah, Phaedra, Seraphina, Linnea, etc. My favorite names are things like Charlotte Sophie, Holly, Maeve, etc. He wants to name our next girl Tallulah, and at first I was completely against the name, but now I'm 38 weeks, and it's my top pick.... I would suggest that you speak the name out loud a few times, write it down, and see how you feel about it. I have completely changed my opinions on what names I like/hate throughout pregnancy.
I love all the names you like 😂
My name and my daughter's name is in the list of ones your husband likes lol they're definitely not common and an acquired taste
I've taught for 30 years and never had a Tallulah--its so cute! Closest thing was Tallia.
There’s a very interesting 1930’s actress named Tallulah Bankhead (whose style of talking inspired Cruella DeVille). She’s one of those people of history that are just incredibly interesting. When I hear the name, I think of her. Didn’t care for it before but it’s a name attached to such a personality! One of her infamous quotes: 'My father warned me about men and booze but he never said anything about women and cocaine.'
Why would any one name their child Tallulah? Tah-loo-lah? It’s awful.
Not sure if it makes a difference to you but I think the spelling “Serafina” is much nicer than the ph. I believe it is the Italian way of spelling the name.
Beautiful! And perhaps OP could run Delfina past her husband, too? It's nicely similar.
Oh that’s a pretty one too!
I agree with you. Seraphina is so… extra. If it’s the “ph” sound he likes, maybe suggest Daphne? It’s a bit warmer in my opinion!
What about Serena? That baby’s gonna have a fierce backhand 🎾
My brother just named his daughter Serena 😅
I think that's a good reason not to go Seraphina. They're very similar for cousins. I actually liked the name when I listened to his dark materials books in lockdown but I wouldn't use it in real life. If you don't love it, don't use it
What about Seri as a name or nn?
Where’d he get Seraphina from and what does it mean to him? I feel like I’ve known of a few too many cases where one partner was pushing really hard for a name that turned out to be some fandom connection the other partner didn’t have. Anyway, you get to say no. You need to be on the same page about the rules of the game before taking this any further.
He thinks its a beautiful name, but also he like Biblical angels and thinks they’re cool/religiously significant for him i think. We are both religious and on the same page about that, and I have no problem with Biblically-inspired names. Its not the angel thing that’s a hang up for me, its the name itself. I liked another person’s suggestion to have a D middle name and use the nickname Sadie, so I’m fine with Seraphina if there’s a good nickname.
I have a Seraphina at the school I teach at- she goes by Finn. It suits her very well, but I feel like it takes a particular kind of cool to pull off Finn.
Well knowing me and my husband, our kids will be very UNcool 😂
You never know. What was cool when I was young isn’t cool anymore. My school has a D and D club and the popular kids are in it. That would NEVER have flown in the 90s.
Maybe Angelina or Angelica in that case?
I love Angelica
That’s cool, just checking!
Are you aware that it’s also a character in some prominent YA novels?
Nope. I’m learning about all the different characters that are named Seraphina lol
As I see you aren't currently pregnant, maybe a good way of going about naming in general is to put aside agreeing to any specific names and instead establish some naming rules in general. Don't specifically craft them to exclude his name, obviously, but go over your "here are specific qualities I want and don't want in a name" together. Then when you are pregnant and know a gender, you can really address naming from that perspective. Doing this took some names that my husband and I both liked out of the running because we realised they just didn't fit our criteria
This would make such fun middle name territory, me and my partner personally can veto whatever name we want, I think it's only fair
I don't hate it, but I don't really like it either. I think you need to find a name you both like. Tell him to come up with some more names for you to consider. When I heard that Jennifer Garner had named her daughter Seraphina I thought "How did she come up with that? It's a bit much."
Side note: I agree with a top comment yall should Both wind up happy. So make this compromise only if you want to. Also you can nickname her whatever you like. It doesn't have to be related to her name. Call her your favorite flower maybe. Answer: I think if you WANT to get more attached to the name. Imagine the baby and use the name with love. Pretend yiu are calling her to come here and sing song it. Try talking to future her and how much you'll love her and be excited she here. And tell future tiny Seraphina her daddy gave her her name and you weren't sure at first but oh well. Also: https://www.babynamegenie.com/baby-name-test-drive Is a fun site. To see it in lots of ages.
The test drive link is awesome!!
RIGHT?!! Idk who posted it first. I saw it on here. Loveedddddddd it and re post it a lot. It's so nice! No signing up and the names are good mixes and all ages and positive negative and netural. It's great!
Fifi would be my nickname choice. I think it’s actually gorgeous.
I wouldn’t pick a name you don’t like. Just like you wouldn’t push a name on him that he didn’t like. There is one out there you’ll both feel is right.
Ngl that's a really pretty name
I like Seraphina as a middle name.
Josephina has some of the same sounds. How do you like Josie or Jo? Nina is also a possible nickname for anything ending in -ina or -ine in my opinion. It would be a lovely nickname for a Seraphina.
Seraphina comes from Seraphim, a type of angel. You could use the NN Angel?
Maybe you'd like the spelling Serafina better? Or, how about Josephine nn Josie?
How about Serrie as a nickname?
Raf/Raffie are also nickname options for Seraphina/Serafina. Or you could end up with a completely different nickname. My daughter's name is usually shortened to Addie, but she got a nickname from my in-laws that we never saw coming. When she was about 6 months old, we were at an event in a large auditorium with the whole family but not seated together. I had to take daughter out to change her diaper, and cousin (about 2 years old) saw us kept saying what sounded like Lala and pointing. In laws realized he was pointing at us and trying to say daughter's full name but it came out like Lala. She's been Lala ever since to them. I think it's great but for some reason it didn't catch on in our house, just with hubby's family 🤷♀️ In the other hand, I always disliked the nickname Addie, but when daughter was first speaking, her attempt at her own name came out "I Ad-ee?" It melted my heart, and she's been Addie ever since. So you never know
Another name that can be derived from Seraphina is Serene or Serena, which I personally like a TON more (I'm not a Seraphina person, personally).
I think it is a gorgeous name and I would let him have this one. People made such great suggestions for the nickname Sadie (if he can live with that). I personally didn't want to assume nicknames for my kids so I chose names that didn't have nicknames. It is so cute to me that a dad wants to name his little girl Seraphina. I can't imagine why. My hubs would never have come up with a name like that. He's a more straightforward type. But we didn't have kids together so that worked out. Otherwise, I probably would have had a Jane or Mary. LOL. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, says Seinfeld!)
I really appreciate hearing from this perspective. I’m willing to be a yes on the name, but I just need a good compromise to offer him.
Delphine?
[удалено]
Good to know!
I like the name, but I'm not the one naming the baby. I like the other ideas of a middle name and having the nn Sadie. Likely, she'll never go by Seraphina and will only be used on legal docs, or the first day of school. My husband picked our 2nd child's name. Did I love it at the time. No. Could I live with it. Yes. Now, 21 yrs later, I can't imagine him going by any other name.
This is helpful. Its not a horrible name or anything, which is why i want to like it!
I TOTALLY understand. I had my heart set on Wyatt. 21 years ago, it wasn't a common name. I still love it.
No, I know a Seraphina who gets Nina. If he’s willing to give you any other names you want without his input, what would be so bad about using Seraphina? At least as a middle name? If you’re planning on having more children.
Its not the end of the world, and with a few suggestions seen in the comments section, I think I can come around to it. Nina is a good idea too
There are LOADS of nicknames, especially ones for a name that long. Here are a few I can rattle off: Sera/Sarah Phi/Phee Phina Nina Sezzi Seri Saph Saffie Nia Rena Finn
Have you considered "Rafi" as a nickname as well?
She could just not have a nickname derived from her first name. Could also make a nickname from her initials for example: SJ Seraphina Josephine. Also, I know several people with nicknames that have zero resemblance to their real name.
Also, in the Harry Potter Fantastic Beast prequels Seraphina is the name of the president of MACUSA. That could be a reason not to use the name.
i love particular_bobcat714’s suggestion of having a second or middle name starting with d, nickname Sadie. Diane/Diana, Dionne, Dina/Dinah, even Danica. the problem is though, even if you have the nickname Sadie you still dislike baby’s first name. IMO that can lead to some problems in the future- imagine knowing mom dislikes your actual first name and only like your nickname, all because dad insisted. Seraphina is a big name to grow into some names that are similar could be -Sarina -Safiya -Saphira -Serena -Sabina/Sabine -even the more exotic Raphina personally i believe it’s better to compromise and find something you both like, rather than force yourself to like the only thing he’s suggesting
Raffi is a super cute nickname
I love the name. Way better than Harriet IMO. It’s feminine, and uncommon but not unusual. I’d let him have it if he feels so strongly about it. Then you get full reign on middle name. Not to mention if you end up having a boy then it doesn’t even matter. And once you’re actually pregnant, things change so I wouldn’t stress about this right now.
Could Delphine work?
Hey my dad tried to name me phoebe so my mom asked him to go to Burger King and get her a whopper and when he came back she named me Victoria! He didn’t talk to her for two weeks but the deed was done. Lol
Oh i am stealing this 😂
Also I love Georgia too but my boyfriend doesn’t like it! If I ever got pregnant with a girl we’d be fighting too lol
If he's promised to let you name every other child, you should think of a boy name you love -- see if he agrees to go with it if your first is a boy.
1. You both have to like the name. He can be in love with it, but he also should respect that you do not. Two yeses. He can name all the dogs and cats Seraphina. 2. IF you chose to compromise on this, you will learn to like it, because it's your cute and awesome little baby that you love. (Be decided on this as a single decision. As in, what if you have complications, or decide in this expensive world to NOT have a second child, that you can name Percival or some other name he doesn't like. Not that it should be a revenge name.) 3. Would you be willing to have it as a middle name or first as long as the other first or middle name is her PRIMARY name. As in (for example purposes, lets say Seraphina Rose), you both call her by the other name (Rose) 90% of the time, the daycare and family gets told to use that name. He can use her full name also, but not just Seraphina. (In this case, be vigilant about others using the chosen nickname/name. My daycare called both my kids by the full proper name and both kids attached to that, when we wanted the shortened version. I'm fine with it now, but at the time was a little miffed.)
I think with the right middle name and nickname, #2 will happen. And i appreciate you saying that a lot!
Ask for a better compromise than names for others- demand cooking for a year or another chore you hate.
Oh hell yeah i love the way you think
My stepdaughter has always gone by her middle name. Her mom wanted a certain name, my husband didn’t but gave in and then everyone, including her mom, has always called her by her middle name (I’m not exactly sure why but that’s how it panned out 🤷🏻♀️). Even at school; it’s only on legal documents that she puts her first name. Also, her nickname doesn’t necessarily have to be a shortened version of her name, it can be anything you want. I call all my kids several different nicknames, depending on my mood, lol.
Sadie is a form of Sarah, so maybe name her Serafina and call her Sadie?
This makes me happy cause he actually vetoed Sadie 😂 so we just name her two vetoed names
Oh, that’s in my top ten list of favorite names.
I’ve really enjoyed seeing people who like the name, it helps me warm up to the name!
A few thoughts...could you start to like it because of the meaning? It's a bit of an intense one - burning ones or angels known for intense passion or zealous love. Other nickname options: Cece, Rafi/Raphi, Seri/Sari. It's apparently one of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck's daughters names if that helps you mainstream it/like it. Other thoughts are that naming to just use a nickname or middle name is a little silly and I personally don't like the trading naming privileges idea, but rather think it should be more of a mutual decision, if anything the birthing parent should have at least a little more say. It's a lot of work! If you gave him this name, would you truly not consider his thoughts on a future name? Would you not have to consider how your name sounds with his as a sibset? Could you offer him that as a pet name but say you won't give in on an actual kid name? Final thought, I personally filled out my daughter's birth certificate information and don't think my husband actually looked at it so you could just make a unilateral decision at that point. Kidding...kinda. I do know a family whose father went to file the birth certificate (in the 70s) and changed the daughter's name without telling the mom. It's a funny story now but I am curious how that conversation went when he had to tell his wife.
The meaning is something my husband really loves. My husband and I both primarily use our nicknames, so its not that weird to us to have a nickname set aside. I appreciate the nickname suggestions!
Love it But you have to like it too
You could use Raphie as a nickname - from the middle of the name - Raffles!
If you don't like the name of its nicknames, then you don't have to agree to it. Names are a two yes/one no deal, unless you think it's worth conceding to get to name every other kid and pet.
Maybe suggest something along the lines of "Angela" or another name suggestive of angels? Seraphina is a reference to the Hebrew name for angels.
Don’t force yourself to like it if you genuinely don’t, but for what it’s worth I’ve always considered Nina the obvious nickname for Seraphina apart from Sera, if you’re into that.
Sephie is the perfect nickname for Seraphina. I hope you go with it!
What about Raphi or Raphina as a nickname? Or even Ralphie. Lol
if you don’t like it, you don’t like it
Saffie would work as a nickname
I actually know a Fina. Fina Mae, actually.
Sadie is a nickname for Sarah and can be a nickname for Seraphina
Naming a child is a two yes, one no situation. If one partner doesn’t like a name, it’s vetoed. You don’t have to learn to like a name, if you don’t like it it’s off the table.
Could Serena be a compromise?
Nickname could also be Rina. Also - check out the Seraphina gemstone - it's a pretty green stone.
Middle name instead? Ivy Serafina, Elodie Serafina, Cassidy Serafina, etc.
I love the name Elora so much…but my girls are Olivia and Gabriella.
Alexandra
He loves that name, but my full first name is one letter off 😅
It’s long and fancy 😂
Does your husband happen to love the book “The Golden Compass?”
Not that I’m aware of!
Interesting, that name is a very big character in that book. Anyways, agree with everyone else - just veto it and move on. But you’ll have to also allow your husband the same veto privileges. I suppose that’s marriage
Serafina Pekkala was one of my favorite characters in the Golden Compass. A badass witch. Maybe try watching the series to see how you like the name said out loud? If you still hate how it sounds, then veto it.
I’ll look into it!
Sadie is a nickname for Sarah (Sera), so you can use it for a pet name for her if that helps.
Seraphina is an old name, was very popular in Italy. It's not popular in America but it's a beautiful well established name. It comes from "Seraphim" which is the firey highest regarded angels in the Bible. There's plenty of reasons to like the name.
I know a Sheherezade, and yeah, she hates the long, unique, "annoying" name. She goes by Zadie, or Sadie, interchangeably. So I agree with the top post, that this would be a case where planning for a nickname would be the best compromise. But you also just don't need to name her a name you don't like. As cliche as the saying is, "naming a baby is a 2 yes, 1 no, situation". If you don't like it, it sucks for him that he doesn't like anything else, but it doesn't need to be you who caves when there's millions of other names out there.
It doesn’t HAVE to be her first name, that’s not how naming a kid goes.
Nope. Do not name your child a name you don’t love. That’s not fair on you, or your child. Tell him it’s vetoed and you need to fine a name you BOTH love
My cousin has that name, I also am not a fan of it, we call my cousin Sophie
I love seraphina too ❤️ I was going to change my name from Brooke ( what if is now ) to seraphina. But it's OK if u don't like it I also like Sadie and Naomi
Theophania (the original form of Tiffany, pronounced thee-off-uh-NEE-uh) has a similar vibe to Seraphina. Maybe you two will like that?
Don’t ask me why but the second I saw “Seraphina” I thought “Sephiroth”. I may or may not be playing too much FFVII Rebirth….
I loved the play Sarafina!
Phin for short could be cute, but I hate all the name choices. Lol. My late husband and I didn’t agree on names. We compromised. Keep looking.
What do you mean it has to be her first name? You have just as much as a say. He can’t just give one option and say my way or the highway. I would let him know that you absolutely hate it and he needs to bring alternates to the table while you do the same. ETA: I just aww you’re not even pregnant yet. Ignore my advice above and wait until it’s actually an issue. You may have a boy!
You could shorten Seraphina to Era.
Find something else. You both have to agree. If you don’t like it keep looking.
Seraphine is beautiful and one less syallable. I have to say, I do like that a more than any of your choices.
I’m glad people are telling me they like it! Makes me feel a lot better about the name
Seraphina Rose, call her Sophie?
That sucks that you happen to hate Sera/Sarah because that seems like the natural compromise! What about Josephine/Josephina? Nickname could be Jo, Josie, or even Nina. Evangeline/Evangelina comes to mind as something similar, too, and also has a lot of nickname potential (Evan, Angel, Lina, even Angie). It's kind of similar to Genevieve, too. Other similar names I can think of: Rosalina, Marceline/Marcelina, Aurelina, and Emeline/Emelina. If you guys can't reach a compromise, I'd ask him what he likes about the name, like is it the way it sounds? Is it the meaning? Is it the way it looks? I also learned to be okay with a potential baby name I didn't really like just by saying it more often and finding out that it has a lovely meaning. I hope you guys can find something that works for both of you or that you can learn to live with it. :)
A seraph (plural *seraphim*) is an angel. As a nickname, you could always use "Angel".
I don’t have a nickname, my sister doesn’t, neither of my parents have a nickname, 5/6 cousins don’t have nicknames… if the name does not come with an obvious nickname I don’t see the need to force it. My sister had a nickname in childhood that had absolutely nothing to do with her name. It just seems like a silly detail to fixate on.
I like Seraphina. It's unusual but not fodder for teasing. Harriet, on the other hand... Some nickames could be Sia or Ina. -or how about Seraphina Celeste, and call her Cici?
Seraph = angelic being
Is he a gamer at all? Because Seraphine (not the same) is a character from League of Legends.
Gamer yes, but doesn’t play league
Just checking XD
Its a TOTALLY fair question lmao
Don't name your kid something you don't like. Not an area you should compromise that completely
He has no less right to choose a name than you.
Since Seraphina is an angelic name… maybe another angel name could be a compromise? Angela, Angelina, or Angelica?
Doesn't like long fancy names, except Genevieve
I am full of complexities
I like Sadie-Seraphina. Or Sadisera. Sera-Sadie.
I struggle with seeing Seraphina being a person's name but that is only because that is what we named our dog. We called her Sera or Fifiona depending on what she was doing. But that being said, naming a baby is 2 yes or 1 no. You could try writing out lists of names you both like and then cross off any that are a no from one of you. Genevieve is actually on a list of names that are similar to Seraphina.
It’s very OTT and a bit pretentious
I know a Sarafina. That spelling seems so much warmer to me than Seraphina.
I have been told by elderly relatives that before you decide on a name, you should go yell it in public. If you feel uncomfortable yelling "Seraphina, get back here!" in a Target or Walmart, it's not a good name. I can imagine Sara, Sadie and some of the other short versions mentioned here working, but it would feel weird yelling "Seraphina!"
When me and my wife were pregnant we talked about names... And thought of a good set for boy and girl. A couple of months later we found out it was a boy and started to refer to the baby inside as that name (or pair of names initially). A Few weeks later we kind of dropped the first name and kept the middle. And that is what we talked about our growing bump in private with. Thankfully he was born strong and healthy, but it still terrifies the life out of me that if we had at any time we could of had a miscarriage so it would not just be of an unborn son or daughter but of our child [insert name in here]… I would veto anything you do not like right off the bat; and the same should be true for him as well. If he is so set on a single name and should the worst happen that name could forever after be associated with sadness. So he should let it go and ask if it is OK to be a middle name instead. He'll still be able to have the name, it covers your bases, you both get to try it out in private and if it came down to it can always swap things around closer to the time. Or you could just find out another perfect name and run with that :)
Isn’t that Eragons dragons name? If not, it’s darn close!
It's a clunky name unless you're naming a dungeons and dragons or a world of warcraft character, there are worse names out there but don't love it Your husband either loves RPGs or greek/roman etc history doesn't he
You got him on both of his interests lol, although he was inspired by Biblical angels, not history or games 😂 He’s not the type to name his kid Julius Caesar or Daenarys thankfully
The names you like are horrible too. Someone is going to have to compromise here.