January 01, 2005

Baby Names

Happy New Year!

Can you believe we haven't selected a name yet? We talked about it a little over the past year, but we are now just putting a list together. We plan on keeping her Chinese name, You Mei Xiang, as her middle name.

Here's a cool site that looks at popularity and naming trends - Baby Names

This is a list of names that we are currently considering. It doesn't necessarily mean we will use one of these names. But here's the current list.

  • Emiko (im ee ko)
  • Keiko (kay ko)
  • Keila (kay la)
  • Lilianna (lili anna)
  • Malana (ma lana)
  • Mele (me le)
  • Nalani (na lah nee)
  • Noelani (no eh lah nee)
  • Pualani (poo ah lah nee)

Any thoughts or opinions? :-)

Posted by Mark at January 1, 2005 11:33 AM
Comments

Nalani
Keila
Wonderful keeping You Mei Xiang given name also...LLF

Posted by: Auntie Fran at January 2, 2005 12:35 PM

Hi Mark and Naomi,
My vote would be for Noelani,but I also like Lilianna and Malana.
People always give your children nicknames so do you like Noel,Lili??
I also prefer Target.My daughter won't even go in Walmart.
I know is is hard to be patient,but she'll be worth waiting for.
Love, Marilyn

Posted by: marilyn at January 2, 2005 06:20 PM

If we went with Noelani we would want her nickname to be Noe (No-E). That's actually one of the reasons we like that name. We like Noe. :-) We also like Lili. I think it would be neat if it was pronounced LeeLee. But I also like the name Lily.

This name thing is going to drive us nuts. I guess Naomi and I never spent time thinking about names. Well, we are going to have to make a decision pretty soon...

Posted by: :: m a r k :: at January 2, 2005 09:25 PM

I adore the name Keiko! Noelani is cute too. Remember kids in school can be mean. Think of all the nicknames she'll receive in school that aren't so nice. Good luck!

Posted by: Cindy at January 3, 2005 09:45 AM

Are there any nicknames from our list that could cause problems? We've been trying to keep this in mind.

Posted by: :: m a r k :: at January 3, 2005 09:57 AM

Hi Mark. I'd vote for Noelani, though I'd be curious to know meanings behind these names. Take care and happy New Year!

Posted by: Bern at January 3, 2005 10:30 AM

As far as nicknames, I have no idea. Since your in an area where these names are more common place I don't know. I just know I personally wasn't very nice to a few kids in school and I regret it now :) Good luck!!!

Posted by: Cindy at January 4, 2005 09:39 AM

Not that I'm bias or anything but my name is Keila. Pretty name is I may say so. 8op Seriously thought these are very unique names you've got on this list. I like the name Keiko but serious it reminds me of the famous whale. We too have a page of baby names on our adoption site with names we like.
Best of luck finding the right name for your baby. 8o)

Posted by: Keila at January 4, 2005 11:07 PM

In terms of nicknames the one that I could potentially see teasing (especially in the elementary/middle school years) would be the name: Pualani ("poo" ah lah nee) or pull-on-me.

I'm a teacher and you'd be surprised how creative these children can be when coming up with nicknames... my goodness!

Posted by: Keila at January 4, 2005 11:14 PM

I personally love Keila, because I have a daughter named Kayla. I love the names you have picked out, they are all adorable!

Posted by: NANCY at January 8, 2005 02:05 PM

Thoses are pretty names.

We are adopting from China as well. One of our choices is Lilianna, too. So, I'm a bit biased about that one. Her nickname would be Lily, which is fine with us because we think it's beautiful (obviously!)

I am also a teacher and I would caution against Pualani (Poo). I'll tell ya when I taught the lower grades they can be obssessed with body functions.

Keiko does remind me of the famous whale, but I doubt her generation will know that bit of history.

Keila might have her name mispronounced often, due to the rule i before e except after c. Now, there are exceptions, which are commonly pronounced with a long i sound (fiesty, height) or the long e sound (receive, neither) or a long ay sound (neighbor.)

One other thought, if I may. Children ages 6 until ??? want to fit in. If you are both a different race than your daughter, she will most likely struggle with this at times. Having a name that will make her stand out even more may bring up more feelings of being different. Now, you and I know that being different can be a good thing, but young children tend to feel differently about this. Not only does this come up with my students, but it often a frequent conversation at the FCC meetings.

I don't mean to overstep here, (maybe where you live these are more common) just wanted to throw it out there.

Good luck!

Posted by: Marlene at January 8, 2005 08:42 PM

Okay, I just read your story, so disregard the last 2 paragraphs above!!

Take care--

Posted by: Marlene at January 8, 2005 08:48 PM

I'm biased -- my daughter is katherine noelani. It means "heavenly mist" and also I've seen it as "beautiful one from heaven."

Posted by: Lori at January 18, 2005 10:41 PM

I Love the name Malana because that is what we are using for our little one, it's a name you just don't hear and that is what we are looking for. People can call her Lana but not Mall or Mell.It's so hard to pick the perfect name and I think somone will always be able to come up with a strange nick name for them! good luck!

Posted by: karrie at January 8, 2006 06:27 PM

Hi My name is keila. i think that it is awesome that you all are adopting from China. I have a friend who just did that and she named her daughter kiki.
The way i pronounce my name is (key-la). My teachers did have a hard time trying to pronounce my name. I like the way i pronounce my name it sounds hawaiian.

Posted by: keila at March 4, 2006 10:18 PM

hey my name is noelani. and you should call her that. my parents and everyone else called me noe till i was in like 8th grade, and i got a bunch of annoying comments on the 'noe' thing. but my nick name is ani now,

Posted by: noelani at April 1, 2006 01:47 PM