Eleanor and Theodore?

[mammabear4]

Hi all :)
I'm due in august and we didn't find out the gender. We love love love Theodore (nn Teddy) for a boy, but as for girls names we're quite stuck, and seem to disagree on a lot!

We did mutually like Eleanor with nn Nora but have two issues - one, hate the nn Ellie and would be worried she would inevitably get that, and two, if we did go on to have a boy we wouldn't want to rule out Theodore...?

So two questions here really:
Is Eleanor and Theodore acceptable as a sibling pair?

And any suggestions for girls names?
Last name is two syllables beginning with "green"
Names that we kind of like (but none that we are absolutely in love with):

Beatrice
Kitty
Martha
Matilda
Clara
Florence
Isabella

Thank you!

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

If you have a girl and don't call her Eleanor you might not get a boy next time. Then you won't get to use either of your favourite names

[grocklebox]

Honestly? No. Way too rhymey. Love your list though. Id add Christabel to it.

[ThingsThatShine]

My first thought is Roosevelt! that said I do really like both names.

[PoppyAmex]

Not if your surname is Roosevelt

[PoppyAmex]

Snap, ThingsThatShine

[calzone]

I say Ellenna for Eleanor so no focus on nor.....

I hadnt noticed they could rhyme.

[Seatedhere]

I would assume you were massive fans of US Presidents with the last name Roosevelt.

[mammabear4]

Haha no last name is not Roosevelt! I would really hate to have to rule out Theodore so I think if it's a girl twice I'd go for Eleanor for the second.

I included Kitty because I love that name but DP hates it - all he can think of is cats. I think I just need some more options to explore, still got a couple of months to go I suppose but I'm getting more convinced it'll be a girl!

[CinnabarRed]

Yup - Roosevelt was my first thought too.

Although Eleanor was married to Franklin (32nd president) not Theodore (26th). And one was Republican and one was Democrat, so they're politically balanced....

[Montsti]

It depends on how you pronounce Eleanor - if it's like Theodore then I wouldn't have both. I like Eleanor - really don't like Theodore though love Edward nn. Teddy. Sorry not helpful!

[TheWholeOfTheSpoon]

I wouldn't worry too much. None of my children have been called names I was going to use for their older siblings. I'd gone off them a little bit down the line. So just go with the name you like now.

[mammabear4]

calzone I would also pronounce Eleanor in that way but know many wouldn't, but also if I would generally introduce as Teddy and Nora maybe that would make it less of an issue (very aware I've not even had one child yet and I'm preempting a future of son AND daughter but got to cover all possible eventualities!)

[calzone]

I would use both then.

Sounds to me like Teddy and Nora will be their real names that you use so unlikely you would say

Eleanor and Theodore.

I love Theo as a nn for Theodore.

[basgetti]

I love them, they are a chipmunk and a chipette! Teddy and Nora are gorgeous too.

[CinnabarRed]

OMG - I never realised that Ellenna and Elinor were different ways of pronouncing the same name!



I thought they were different names.

[mammabear4]

I love Theo too so maybe he could adopt that as he got older as a more "grown up" nickname?! DP thinks I overthink these names he may have a point!

Thanks everyone for replying - would also love any alternate girls names suggestions or opinions on the list I gave? :)

[SoftSheen]

How about Eleanora? Lovely name, less popular than Eleanor and Nora is a more natural shortening.

Both Eleanor and Eleanora sound fine with Theodore, especially if you plan to use the nn Teddy.

[mammabear4]

Ooh SoftSheen that's a good suggestion actually, I do quite like Eleanora but am worried it's a bit too floaty if that makes sense (probably not) I'll run it by DP anyway!

[Swisskissingisbetterthenfrench]

Nell is a lovely nn for Elinor

[nooka]

I wouldn't personally use that combo because I pronounce Eleanor in the same way as Theodore (so much so that if someone said their name was 'Elena' I'd not think that they were actually Eleanor)

However I have never met a Theodore that used their full name (they were all just Theo, I've never met a Teddy) so it's probably not that big a deal.

[Edgarallan]

A friend really regrets using Ellena spelling for her daughter as everyone thinks its Eleanor and hasn't head of the former. Would say Ellie/Elly is unavoidable as a Nickname though! Theodora for a girl a la Robbie Williams?

[Teds77]

Isadora? With Dora as a nickname? I might be alone in liking this

[mammabear4]

I do like Isadora! But it reminds me of Wizardora!! Maybe overthinking things again...

[HazleNutt]

I never understood the angst about matching or rhyming sibling names. I have a sister, our names would not be approved by MN (mine rare, hers very common), but it has not caused any issues for us. I would expect that Theodore and Eleanor will manage just fine as well.

[grocklebox]

its not angst, its just that they sound stupid.