Friday, December 16, 2011

Stuck In the Middle.

Our precious unborn daughter still lacks a middle name.

Poor third child. Poor, poor third child.

You see, I have a middle name that I really like. But before I share it, let me share something else: I'm kind of big on names that are easy to pronounce. Everyone has a personal preference, I understand, but I'm in the simple name camp where the spelling is original and the name is pronounceable (take, for example, "Leah" versus "Leighugh"). Easy is good.

Which brings me to my conundrum.

We have a pattern with our kids thus far where their first names are biblical names and their middle names are family names. That wasn't necessarily an intentional plan, but it's the way things have turned out and we like it. Easy. I would like to continue this trend with Lydia, too.

The family name I would like to use?

Bourgette.

It is the maiden name of my French-Canadian great-grandmother, Maria Prefontaine, who had a fascinating life story and who is, I believe, a very worthy namesake. And it is, all things considered, a bit of a difficult name to pronounce upon first glance.

("Bore-jet". But with a soft "j", almost like "bore-shet".)

So.

Does sentimentality trump easy pronounceability?

Thoughts? Opinions?

Have a lovely weekend, friends!

13 comments:

  1. I admit that I would probably mispronounce the middle name, but I think you should use it! It is a beautiful name with a special meaning. Since it is a middle name, the opportunities for mispronunciation are less. Good luck deciding!

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  2. I love it! A middle name that is harder to pronounce doesn't seem like as big of a deal as with the first name. My husband's middle name is a family name, Duininck, and I love it.

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  3. I say go for it! I am also in the "simple and easy to pronounce" category, but I also think that for a middle name it's not as important to be simple or easily pronounced.

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  4. There is a huge difference between a weird spelling of a common name and a beautiful old family name that is difficult to pronounce because it is French. Go for it! Also, my daughter Caroline has another girl in her class at school with the same name--only hers is spelled Kearowline. I am not kidding. Why would you do that to a kid???

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  5. For what it's worth, I pronounced it correctly when I saw it:) And, I don't think it's as imperative to have a middle name that is easy to pronounce as it is a first name.

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  6. As a teacher, I dislike hard to pronounce first names, but middle names don't bother me. They are rarely used, and the most common practice is to just use the middle initial. If you love it, then that's all that matters. It's a beautiful name.

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  7. It's just a middle name... I wouldn't fret over it.

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  8. What about her first name, Maria? Too rhyme-y? Marie? I like her last name, too. Win win. :)

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  9. I love it! I think for a first name it might be tricky, but for a middle it works!

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  10. I have never had a French class in my life, but I did pronounce "Bourgette" correctly at first glance, for what it's worth! I think it is a beautiful name and I love the namesake connection (but you're also talking to the girl who named her kid Riggins after a family member, so I am obviously willing to take risks on unusual family names! ;) And I think Lydia Bourgette is a pretty awesome combo. Also like Erin's suggestion of Lydia Marie.

    My rule of thumb is to pair an unusual name with a classic name, so with a classic like Lydia I think you can afford to go different on the middle name! (Hence, Riggins' middle name is Thomas!)

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  11. I think that would be a beautiful name!!

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  12. I totally mispronounced it, so if that is your main reservation then you might not stick with it. But if that doesn't bother you then go for it! Besides that, most people don't need to pronounce middle names anyway. (-:

    ~Kathryn

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