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Name for our adopted baby girl

Started by Guest_Anneliese Claire_* , Apr 06 2012 10:12 PM

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4 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_Anneliese Claire_*

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Posted 06 April 2012 - 10:12 PM

My partner and I are in the process of adopting a baby girl from China--we'll be going to get her this June. Her name is Xiaonan Mei (prn. Shi-ow-nan May) and she is seven months old. We've decided we want to give her a more Americanized name, but we want to consider keeping a part of her real name/a name that reflects her culture.

The names we both like best as first names are:
Ella
Kayla
Tessa
Alexa
Teagan
Brenna

We have also talked about giving her a hyphenated middle name that includes a part of each of our names if keeping a part of her Chinese names don't work out. My name is Anneleise (prn. Awna-leese-uh) Claire and my partner's name is Stacy Lynette.

So far, this is what we were thinking:
Ella/Kayla/Tessa/Alexa/Teagan/Brenna Mei
or
Ella/Kayla/Tessa/Alexa/Teagan/Brenna Claire-Lynette

Playing around with our first names has been harder, and since Xiaonan is so hard to pronouce we don't think we're going to incorporate that.

Sorry that this was a lot, but we would really appreciate some more opinions. Feel free to play around with combinations, and please tell us what you think of our choices.

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#2 The Future Mrs B

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Posted 07 April 2012 - 06:50 AM

Congrats on your daughter!
I like Teagan Mei and Teagan Claire Lynette. I like Teagan Mei more because it incorporates her Chinese name but that is a decision for you and your partner.
Other middle name suggestions:
Layne
Annette
Clarice
Stacy Anne
Taylor/Tayler/Taylar
Lia

I tried to use letters from both of your names for other names. Another idea is finding an American middle name you both like or that is special to you and giving your daughter to middle names, one American and one that incorporates her Chinese name.

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#3 PaperHeart

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Posted 07 April 2012 - 09:38 AM

I like Ella, Tessa and Alexa best from your list. <_<

Teagan and Brenna are okay, but not my favourites.

All of the above work very well with Mei.
Ella Mei, Tessa Mei and Alexa Mei are all adorable.
I love them all!

Even just Mei or Mae/May could be lovely!

Here's a bunch of other names you might like:
Yi
Ling
An
Xia
Lee
Zi
Lin
Tao
Wen
Mi
Xue
Heng
Lian
Maylin
Wei
Jin

Though I do think Mei is much more "Americanised" and easily pronouncable.

As for Claire-Lynette, it's nice, but I'm fond of the idea of retaining a part of her culture and where she came from.
I personally think it's important.

You could always play around with the letters or initials of your names to create a new one.
I.E Alexa Sophie for Anneliese & Stacy OR Anastasia as a combination of Anneleise and Stacy etc.

Maybe even take "Xiaonan" and play around with the letters.
Anna Xiao for example. Though that may be a little too out there for your taste.

There's a bunch of ideas you could work with.

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#4 PdxSpinGirl

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Posted 08 April 2012 - 11:54 AM

Not a fan of any of them since they feel overly predictable and American. I would go with an abbreviation of her original name out of respect for her and her country. Shian Mei is my vote.