Agnes

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

Our beloved midwife is named  Agnes.  She has caught many babies in the course of her career but none named after her.  We were thinking of doing her the honor with our next baby if we have a girl.  Our daughter is named Abigael Catherine Dora (family names), my name is Melissa Eve, my husband is Liam and we have an Irish last name.
What do you think?  Do you find Agnes too old fashioned?  What are some good middle names to go with it?   So far we like:

Agnes Grace
Agnes Elizabeth
Agnes Meredith
Agnes Mira
Agnes Brigid
Agnes Claire
Agnes Clementine
Agnes Eve
Agnes Beatrice
Agnes Molly

Comments

[bloomingtulip.livejournal.com]

I think of Agnes more as a middle name, maybe because it's too old-fashioned for my taste.

Mira Agnes
Mary Agnes
Brigid Agnes

Those all sound good to me if you like it as MN.

From your list, I wouldn't do Agnes Clementine or Agnes Beatrice because each of those combos has 2 old fashioned names and that could be a bit much for once child.

[so-there.livejournal.com]

I don't really think of clementine as an old lady name...

[sarahrose.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, but I think Agnes is one of the ugliest names on the face of this planet. I don't think it sounds good with anything, sounds good by itself or looks good written. It's just literally disgusting to me.

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

LOL! I never used to like it either, it was always one of those "old people" names like Mildred or something. But we love our Agnes so much that it's grown on us and we're considering it. Thanks for your honesty though :)

[girlsknowbest.livejournal.com]

i rather like agnes. it's so strong.

i liked your top two choices agnes grace or agnes elizabeth.

but what do i know i wanna name my future daughter georgia or meredith

[cathkitten.livejournal.com]

I love Agnes. I think Agnes Grace is the best.

[trissyd.livejournal.com]

Middle name?

I'm sorry... I love your idea of naming your baby after her, but I despise the name... mainly because my old angry boss had that name, that and I hate the way it sounds... oh and "Aggie" is a not so great nickname IMO.

With your current daughters name I really like:
Gabrielle Agnes
Madeline Agnes
Rachel Agnes

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

I don't like "Aggie" either, though I like Maggie as a NN.

[coconutchica.livejournal.com]

I went to college with a girl named something that started with Ag, i think it was Russian (none of us could prn it) and she went by Aga (ah-guh) which wasn't so bad

[anapology.livejournal.com]

like the old school oven thingys?

[arbus.livejournal.com]

i went to a private catholic school from k-8 and it was st. agnes school, so i cant shake that.

but i dont think its a bad name. i think its really lovely that you want to name your child after her. how thoughtful. how about as a middle?

from your list, i think agnes elizabeth is best. or maybe agnes clementine, but that sounds a little odd, even though i like the name clementine, personally.

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

I think using it as a MN is a defimite possibility, although I think she would be tickled pink to finally have a baby named after her after a long career!

[tinylittlestars.livejournal.com]

I like it in the situation, and I think it goes well with your other daughters name. I really like it with Elizabeth, Grace and Madeline as trissyd suggested!

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I like those MN's too.

[queen-mab.livejournal.com]

I love the fact that you're honoring your midwife, but I do think Agnes should be kept as a middle name. I actually really like how Grace Agnes and Elizabeth Agnes sound. :)

[heyitsrebecca.livejournal.com]

Well.. she'll be the only one in her class.. that's for sure.
I don't love it, sorry.

Are you pronouncing it Agg-niss, or Awn-yes?

My favorites from your list are Agnes Claire, and Agnes Elizabeth. =)

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

Meredith is such a wonderful name, I almost want to save it for a FN...

huh?

[stardustic.livejournal.com]

there are reasons why no one has named a baby after her...I am pretty sure SHE doesnt even think her name is a good choice. My wonderful midwife's name is Louis but even she doesnt have children named after her. Why dont you send her a card and some flowers thanking her with a picture of your baby. Thats what I did, and stay with your trend of picking beautiful baby names..like your other daughter's name, Abigal.

Re: huh?

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

Thank you! She caught Abigael, and we gave her a card and some wine to thank her, but I think naming a baby after her would be the ultimate. She's been a midwife for 30 years, and has no children. It would be great to pass on the name.

[so-there.livejournal.com]

I don't particularly like it, but mostly because of the "old lady" connotaton. but then, old lady names are kind of "in" now anyway, so you may as well.

I decided years ago that my oldest daughter would have Evelyn as a middle name, even though I think it's old lady sounding, because it's my (late) grama's name. well, wouldn't you know it, I used it in 2004 and now it's up there in the top 100! I'm seeing little Evelyns all over the place. and here I thought I was just using an old lady name as a middle name...

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

Evelyn is a gorgeous name! I decided on Abigale a lont time ago too, and had no idea it was in the top 10. There are Abigails everywhere! I'm in Canada though so it's not as common here.

[maude.livejournal.com]

I love Agnes. Screw the "old lady" thing. Tons of old ladies are name Elizabeth, Sara, Isabelle, etc, but that doesn't stop the same people who hate Agnes from using them, does it? I love Agnes Claire.

[qalanjo.livejournal.com]

I like it and I would use it...but I'm sure she would be just as honored if you used it as a middle name too ; )

[kedinger.livejournal.com]

I think Agnes is a really nice name - I really like Agnes Eve or Agnes Claire

[anapology.livejournal.com]

I can see the possibly cuteness of Aggie, but i really dont like Agnes, i think it's too old fashioned and quite ugly sounding.
I do like Maggie :-)

But, Thom Yorke of Radiohead has a daughter named Agnes Rose, if it's cool enough for him I say it's cool enough!

I've never seen Abigael spelt like that before, any reason?

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

French is my first language and it is a french way to spell it. My French relatives pronounce it Abi-gah-elle.

[ewaeva.livejournal.com]

I love Agnes. So there!
Agnes Eve sounds lovely.

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Passing on my MN would be nice.

[adamant-turtle.livejournal.com]

Growing up Polish, I came across many girls with the Polish form of the name - Agnieszka. I always thought that was kinda pretty, but the English Agnes? Eh.

[jaydoz.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, but I hate it.

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

LOL I like blunt honesty :)

[ashadelic.livejournal.com]

I can't say it's a name I would ever consider, but I really like the reason you're considering it. I also like the suggestion of using it for a middle name!

Of your listing, Agnes Mira is my favorite, followed by Agnes Meredith, Agnes Eve, Agnes Claire and Agnes Brigid (in that order). Grace/Elizabeth sound like filler names and I'm not a big fan. I don't like the names Beatrice and Molly at all, and when I see/hear Clementine I just want to break into the song: "Oh my darlin' Oh my darlin' Oh my darlin' Clementine. You are lost and gone forever dreadful sorry Clementine."

[poespretty.livejournal.com]

while I don't love Agnes, I don't hate it either. and of your combos I think Agnes Meredith sounds nice.

[angelovernh.livejournal.com]

Agnes is the name of my best friend's mother and grandmother. The grandmother is 91 yrs old. I find it quite old fashioned. It doesn't seem very Irish, either.. Maybe ok as a middle name, though. How about Molly Agnes or Mira Agnes?

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

It's funny because my midewife is actually from Belfast. I should look up how common it is over there.

[naturalgoddess.livejournal.com]

My mother's middle name is Agnes, I personally wouldn't use it... (we've decided not to name ours after no one in our family), but it is very pretty.
I think as long as your last name doesn't start with a C (A.B.C.), Brigid is very lovely.

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

I love Brigid. It's the name of the church where my husband and I were married (St Brigid's).

[alluminor.livejournal.com]

Agnes is one of my favorite names.

[maine-girl.livejournal.com]

I like Clementine but it doesn't sound quite right with Agnes. And my husband HATES the name Clementine, so I think I'll have to shelve it.

[sotypical42483.livejournal.com]

Agnes is awesome. WTF I can't believe so many people hate it. I like Agnes Claire and Agnes Meredith. I think Aga would be a cute nn :)