Postal Letter

A few questions about names on our list?

Our last name is Walden. ISHMAEL: My husband pronounces it Ish-my-elle, (when said fast it rhymes with smile), and I pronounce it Ish-mail (like mailman) 1) How do you pronounce the name? How will it be pronounced most frequently? 2) Do you think the name is too "intense" for a little boy? HARPER: At first I thought this name was too modern, but then we love the writer Harper Lee. 1) How does the name Harper Walden sound? 2) Does the name sound too masculine? 3) What middle name works best? IRIS/ISIS: We love both Iris Walden and Isis Walden. Just so you know, Iris is on our list because they're my favorite flower, and Isis is a name my husband suggested because it's an Egyptian name and somewhat unusual, rhymes with Iris. Which do you prefer?

Public Comments

1. ISHMAEL: I would pronounceit Ish-my-elle like your husband, and I would think that's the way people would usually pronounce it. I don't know that I would call it intense, but I do know that I don't like it at all. HARPER: I like Harper Walden, Harper is a nice girl's name. No, I don't like Harper for a girl. Harper Grace Walden (assuming that Walden is the last name) Harper Ann Walden Harper Isabel Walden IRIS/ISIS: I like Iris better than Isis, but neither is my favorite. Iris is okay as a flower name, I just don't think it's a very pretty name for a little girl.
2. Ishmael 1. i pronouce it ish-may-ell, not -my-elle. I think most people would say it ish-mail. 2. I don't find it intense, but very mature. i think it would be great actually. it's a nice strong masculine name. Harper 1. Harper Walden is nice, but i prefer something like Warren. Harper Warren is a good strong combo. 2. It doesn't sound too masculine to me, i dont think you can get "too" masculine w/a boys name really. 3. As stated above i find Harper Warren very nice. Iris/Isis I prefer Isis, it's been a guilty pleasure favorite for me for years and years. i love it. Iris is lovely too, but i do like Isis a bit more.
3. ISHMAEL: 1. I say Ish-my-elle or Ish-mail, just depends on the moment. I think most people would do ish-mail. 2. No, personally I think it's fine. HARPER: 1. Sounds fine flow wise. 2. I don't mind it for either gender, just depends on what you like. 3. Harper Cordelia or Harper Carys used to be on my list. I'm still fond of them. Harper Lucille/Lucy or Harper Isolde are nice also. Eleanor, Maria, Saoirse. A lot of girly or old-fashioned names sound nice. I think I would go with girly or old-fashioned because A: I'm not fond of having both names be "unisex" in a name, but one is good. B: If you go with a really new-age name like Madison, Brynlee, Grace, [you get the picture], Harper will sound trendy. But with a really solid middle name, it'll sound thoughtful. ISIS/IRIS: I think both are lovely. I like Iris because of the song by the Goo-Goo Dolls which is a beautiful, sweet song. And I'm also a big myth nerd so Isis is cool, and very womanly sounding to me. I don't think you could go wrong with either, and it's hard for me to decide between them. If I had to choose, I think Isis because it's a twinge more uncommon?