Gertrude is so old fashioned, even I think it's old fashioned and I'm probably contemporary with your grandparents. So don't miss the chance -- use it! It will probably get trendy in a few years and your daughter will be ahead of the game. She can be Trudy for now, and Gerty when it trends back in. Gertrude Stein is due for a revival!

OP - If your Dh doesn't give a rat's ass about your "family name tradition", why should you?

Do your own thing.

Are DCUMers really this stupid?

For real?

I vote for Norah. Beautiful name.

Norah or Laura for sure. I really dislike Rose, but Marie is my middle name -- for my grandmother -- and it's pretty boring.

Anonymous wrote:except for gertrude, those are all great names!

i totally agree! i would be very happy to pick from them.

Anonymous wrote:OP here! I do love the family tradition and it's been meaningful to both sides of our family. I wouldn't change the spelling, out of respect, and I want to use one of the first names, Cora, Norah and Laura (sorry about the rhyming!) with one of the aunt's names for the middle name.

Not to sound venal, but besides the tradition issue, there is also a bit of a financial incentive as well.

I am falling in love with Norah Rose!

Financial incentive??

I think Norah, Cora, and Laura are fine names, but TBH I find them very bland. I don't think they are that unusual though: I actually know a little girl named Nora, and 2 named Cora. (I know a young Cordelia (called Cori), too.)

Honestly, I think Trudy/Trudie is a great name. That's the one I'd pick. But it's similar to the kind of funky old lady names I like. Also, Sting's wife Trudie Styler is totally cool.

Hey, nobody thought Sophie would ever be hip again.

Anonymous wrote:I love Norah and Cora, especially Cora. The only one that's terrible is Gertrude.

I agree and I think your friends suck. Your original suggestions were great.

What about Coraline Rose? Or Lauren Elizabeth?

Rose is very trendy for a middle name now. Avoid.

OP here! I do love the family tradition and it's been meaningful to both sides of our family. I wouldn't change the spelling, out of respect, and I want to use one of the first names, Cora, Norah and Laura (sorry about the rhyming!) with one of the aunt's names for the middle name.

Not to sound venal, but besides the tradition issue, there is also a bit of a financial incentive as well.

I am falling in love with Norah Rose!

I like Cora, Norah and Laura and all the middle names except Marie. You have great choices! You should have seen what we had to work with!

I like Cora, Norah, and Laura. Not flashy, but pretty. Who cares if your friends are "underwhelmed"? There's a baby Cora in our daycare. I think it's not too common, but not strange.

All those middle names are good middle names.

Norah Rose is very nice. Or Norah, Cora, Laura (why do they rhyme?) Elizabeth are all nice. I think it could be a lot worse!

Love Norah or Nora.

I agree that you could also be creative in evolving them slightly to something you like better, i.e. Eleanor/Nora or Corinne/Cora.

FWIW, I think that middle names like Ann/Rose/Marie are kind of "we couldn't think of anything better" in a generic sense. All fine names, but kind of meh. To me, the middle name is where you can really get something meaningful or creative without saddling the kid with a bad first name for life.