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Ellen

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I'd prefer Ellen and for some reason also think it goes better along with Miriam. Anne is a little out-dated in my opinion.

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Of the boys' names I really don't like Malcolm, the others are great.
I would stick with either Samuel oder Raphael since Miriam is a little biblical just like they are.

Ellen is gorgeous. It goes well with Miriam as well.

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Also, Samuel. So handsome.

I really like Anne as a first name. It's fresh and unexpected (though Anne Cecilia sounds like a stuffy old nun to me). Ellen has also been growing on me lately, but I think it and Miriam drag each other down. Too bad Laurel is out -- it's such a lovely, underused name.

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For boys, Samuel easily gets my vote. I also like Raphael. Malcolm and Miriam are WAY too matchy and Leonard is so ugly. "Nard" is not a nice sound to have in one's name.

This message was edited 9/12/2014, 4:29 PM

Thanks everyone - you guys brought up some really good points. Obviously I can't say what we'll use, as it's at least a year before we even try for baby two. I will say Anne is most likely off the table as I really don't like Annie.

I love Ellen, and I find Anne dated and boring. So I'd go for Ellen. I'm not loving how Miriam sounds with Anne or Ellen though, but the flow and such things might not be a problem for you?

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And yeah, Samuel of the boys names. It's great. I think Raphael or Leonard has the same kind of feel/style as Miriam though.

Ellen and Leonard. I like Samuel and Raphael too though.

Between Anne and Ellen: Anne wins, no contest. Anne Cecilia is gorgeous. Ellen, to me, is such a glum, oaffish kind of name. It seems so bumbling and completely without elegance.

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That said, if you're planning on using straight Anne without a nickname, I prefer any of your other girls names. I love Anne but only because of the nickname Annie, which just doesn't seem like it'd be up your serious naming alley. I must admit to loving Miriam and Judith together. I've been charmed by that combo ever since you mentioned it eons ago. They're so no nonsense cool. I love Laurel, but it doesn't work as well with Miriam, not that this really matters. Helen... I do like it, and I'd be super happy to see it used, but Miriam and Helen seem kind of like two perfectly nice no frills women. Miriam and Judith seem like two seriously smart badasses.

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As for your boys: I love Raphael and have ever since you loved it in our btn infancy. It's not as no-frills as your girl choices but I think it works well. I love Samuel also but think it's too predictable in comparison with your other names.

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Now, on to Leonard. If I met a sibset Miriam, Judith, and Leonard I would be filled with glee. It's so uncool that it's like, bam, COOL, librarian chic. I LOVE IT. Miriam and Leonard is cool too but Judith really sets this combination off.

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Malcolm, yeah, I like it. I think it's a neat name, but it's so in-your-face dark that it comes off as kind of calculated, less effortless than Leonard.

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Ok, well I've written you a novel. Really I like all your names. :)

I don't think Ellen is very special, but it's much better than dull flat lifeless Anne.

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Samuel. Raphael is silly, Leonard is unattractive, and Malcolm just makes me think of a Scottish terrier.

This message was edited 9/12/2014, 6:16 AM

Ellen and Samuel, no contest

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:)

Prefer Anne for the sibset, but love Ellen too.

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In this case, with the therpist reference and all - I would go with Anne Cecilia, which is top notch anyway.

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Lovely choice, and I think it's a refreshing moniker for a girl today.

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of your list, I would go with Samuel... but I do like Malcolm a lot.

This message was edited 9/12/2014, 5:18 AM

For a boy, Malcolm. If sharing an initial with Miriam bugs you, then rather Leo than Leonard.

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I was at school with an Anne Helen and an Anne Cecilia. Nice combos; nice people. Ellen just doesn't happen where I live, so all I think of is overworked Victorian housemaids with sore feet. Helen seems much more light and lively. I like Anne with Miriam. Judith would be heavy Old Testament. Laura beats Laurel all ends up. Judith hasn't turned the corner yet - the youngest Judith I know is in her early 30s - but it isn't bad. Judy, however ... not good.

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If it was me, I'd put Anne Helen, Anne Cecilia, Eleanor (or Elinor) Judith and Cecily Helen into the mix, and then wait to see which she looked like. Of course, I don't know your ln.

I love both. I'd go with Anne, though. I love Annie.

Ellen, Ellen, Ellen! My love for Ellen is not really logical, so I can't explain why I love it so much. I just do. I think it's the best name in the entire world.
Miriam and Ellen would make a lovely sibset.

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I like Anne Cecilia a lot.
Ellen is good, but I think it's a bit old sounding. (Not that the name is old or dated or anything, just that when I picture a person named "Ellen" it's always someone at least 20.) Because of that I'd be more inclined to use it as a middle name.
So, I like both but I'd choose Anne. Especially with Miriam as a big sister. Ellen
sounds older than Miriam, but Anne is more versatile in the age department.
For me, something like Elaine or Elena (with either pronunciation-- e-lay-na or ell-en-a) would be a good middle ground between Anne and Ellen, but that might not be true for everyone.
For a brother, I'd choose Raphael.

I much prefer Anne, but they're both fine names. I think Anne is a wee bit plain, but it's kida like Jane, so obvious that no one uses it anymore and it's become fresh again. Ellen is okay but I much prefer Eleanor so that she would have the option to be Ellen or Eleanor or whatever else. I don't like that it sounds the same as Allen, a name I really don't like. I think Miriam is quite feminine rather than unisex which Anne goes well with.

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ETA: Forgot to mention the boys names, I don't really like any of them sorry. Unbiasedly I would have to go Samuel but it is way way popular here and I have bad experiences with Samuels

This message was edited 9/11/2014, 11:56 PM

I like Judith and Laurel. Helen is haughty sounding to me, even weird on a child. Anne is meh ... Anna is more appealing IMO. Ellen sounds glum and plain to me. Both Anne and Ellen seem drab next to more colorful Miriam.

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Sam is such a nice name. I dislike the full name Samuel but if he were always Sam I would hardly mind it. Raphael is so pretty - my son's best friend's name - but a little difficult, TBH. Not so difficult that it's unusable. Both Sam and Raphael go well with Miriam, but Malcolm is the coolest, I like it the most.

Ellen and Malcolm.

I think I prefer Anne, especially if the possibility of the nn Annie is there. Miriam and Annie would be very cute. As for a boy name, well I love Samuel and Raphael, but I would go with Samuel. I love the nn Sam and the meaning of Samuel is a nice one.

Helen's my favorite of all the names previously in the running. I'm not excited by Anne or Ellen at all. I guess I like Ellen? better, maybe? I think I like Anne more in theory but Ellen in practice? Like, I like how Anne looks but when it's said, it's just so dull, imo. Neither really 'go' with Miriam either, to me at least.

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I like Samuel or Raphael best for boys.

Anne and Miriam would be beautiful as sisters! And I will always pick Raphael - such a cool name :)

I prefer Ellen, it works better than Anne with Miriam too.

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I like Leonard best of the boys, though Miriam and Raphael make a gorgeous sibset.

Annr
Leonard