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[Opinions] Athena and Michelle.
Rather odd together but I have a few questions on them both.Nearly 10 years ago my fiance and I had the name for our first girl picked out - Lily Athena. I tired of the name far more quickly than he did - in fact he told everyone he met that he wanted to name his first daughter that. Fast forward to now - I have a nice named Lilyanna who goes by Lily, so it's out. Plus our name tastes have changed as well. That stated I've begun to think about using the name Athena as a middle name, just as a nod to our beginnings. I'm not sure what I would pair it with - our favorite girls names are: Miriam, Veronica, Judith, Magdalene, Katarina, Rachel. None really seem to go well with Athena. (Besides Judith, but Judith Cecilia is more or less in stone for our first child - more or less being the key words. :-D)The second question is Michelle. My fiance's father was over and I discovered that he wanted a daughter named after him. I like him and I think it would be humorous to use the name. The problem is that it violates my rule of not using names of living relatives and it's never been a top favorite. Still, though, I really like Rachel Michelle or Katarina Michelle. Opinions?Also, Raphael Cosmas - too much? If I used Michelle I would feel obligated to use Cosmas for his mom, plus it's a cool name.
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I love Athena as a middle name:-)
Magdalene Athena is my fave from your combos.
I also like Veronica and Katarina, but the -a ending + Athena is not a good fit to me.
My fave combo is Josephine Athena.I don't like Michelle, and if you're honoring a Michael (is that his dad's name?) I prefer Michaela.Raphael Cosmas - I prefer Rafael Cosma or Rafael Kuzma. Why would you feel obligated to use both his mom's and dad's names? Personally, I feel that one honoring per grandparent set is more than enough (I'd use the other from my side of the family, if you were going the honoring route).
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Athena is very cool, and I like the reason why you're thinking of using it. I think, of the names you listed, Miriam Athena and Rachel Athena work the best in terms of sound, and I like Rachel Athena best as a whole, feel, sound, etc included. Judith Athena makes me giggle - it feels like I have suddenly acquired a bad lisp when I say it! Besides which, I agree that Judith Cecilia is a fab combo and breaking it up would just be sad.
Michelle I like. I never used to but I've been thinking about it a lot lately and it's been growing on me. It's almost in PNL territory. Rachel Michelle is a tiny bit rhymey, but I do like Katarina Michelle. Is the namesake called Michael? Another option could be Michala (prn mi-KAH-la), which I find infinitely preferable to Michaela in sound.
Raphael Cosmas is kind of awesome. Raphael is normal enough that most people would have heard of it, and Cosmas is pretty cool as far as quirky middle names go. I wouldn't use it in the same sibset as Rachel though coz Raphael and Rachel are a bit matchy.

This message was edited 3/25/2009, 5:50 AM

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I think using Athena in the mn position is a really nice idea and it is a really cool name as a mn. You know, mns should be a little interesting I think. Having a boring one like Rose or Marie kind of makes the whole thing kind of negligible- it makes it a complete non-event. It is is barely worthy of a conversation. Having a cool one like Athena (or Cosmas) means that if you don't want there to be a conversation about it or you're uncomfortable about having an uncommon mn, you just don't discuss it and you have that option. But if you do like it, you have a great conversation and something that makes you a little different.Umm, yes, anyway...I am in a rambling mood. Over-tiredness and writing a gazillion essays does this to me. I think Rachel Athena and Akua Topaz's suggestion of Miriam Athena would be lovely. Both would sound beautiful with Judith Cecilia. Michelle is really nmsaa. And both Rachel and Katarina as a fn with Michelle make the combos sound like they are straight out of the 80s. At least with a fn like Veronica for example, Michelle wouldn't date the fn so much. Any chance of using Michaela as a mn option to honour your soon to be father-in-law? I think Michaela is less dated. I think Rachel Michaela would be quite pretty actually. Miriam Michaela sounds nice too- but I have a thing for alliteration so I may be a tad biased.

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I think Miriam Athena and Rachel Athena sound pretty good actually. As for Michelle... I wouldn't use it. My son's middle name is Josua, which is after his grandfather. And although I don't hate the name... my husband and I were never really in love with it either. So I kind of regret giving him that name. Unless you really love the name... I wouldn't use it even if it is after a family member. Raphael Cosmas is a bit much. Both names are great on their own, just not together.
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I think Athena Miriam / Miriam Athena would be spectacular, actually.I'm not sure how you meant your use of this word, but I don't think naming a child should ever be 'humorous'. Honestly, I've always found the name Michelle very ugly, and I can't see the appeal, but I do love the idea of honouring, so that makes it kind of neutral to me. I've had 'Michelle' by the Beatles stuck in my head all day today :PETA: Sorry, forgot about Raphael Cosmas. I don't think it's too much at all, considering most people have heard the name Raphael.

This message was edited 3/24/2009, 8:30 PM

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HumorousThe way I meant that it would be funny to use the name that he wanted for so long. It would have meaning to us, of course, and to the family - but the story behind the name would be a humorous one. I've heard plenty of those stories in the past.Miriam Athena - thanks. I like that a lot and I think Judith Cecilia and Miriam Athena would go well together.I'm neutral on Michelle myself. I don't hate it but I don't like it either - it's more of a way to honor a cool guy.
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Miriam Athena is *gorgeous*- seriously, sisters named Judith Cecilia and Miriam Athena would be made of all kinds of awesome. ...just my 2 cents :-)
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I like Magdalene best, and I think Athena Michelle is nice.
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?Did you mean you like Magdalene Athena? Because I didn't ask about our favorites....I wouldn't use Athena as a first name, but thanks. It would stick out too much in a very German/Scandivian area.
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rude
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Thanks
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Athena is a great mn. How about:Zoe Athena (Z to A in zero flat)
Chloe Athena
Athena Cosmas (nn Thea?)
Charis Athena
Theophania Athena (nn Tiffany? Tippy? Thea? Fawn?)
Theodosia Athena (nn Dosie, Dodie, Theda?)
Clio Athena
Nicolette Athena
Iris Athena
Pearl Athena
Sonnet Athena (nn Sunny?)That is not easy. I don't think I did very well, sorry. None of those really seem your style. Is Cosmas masculine or feminine. I can't tell. Cosima / Cosmina for a girl? Raphael Cosmas sounds great to me. Raphael is so chic he needs something stylish in the middle.I'm not really a fan of Michelle, but I'm all for honoring. Katarina Michelle sounds lovely. Cosmina Michelle (nn Coco, Mina?) sounds much more interesting and sure to bring a smile to Greek faces near you.

This message was edited 3/24/2009, 7:33 PM

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I love Clio.It's actually a name I've been digging for a while, but it gets a total thumbs' down from my fiance. Cosmina is another one I will love but he will hate - I tend to be more adventrous. Colette Athena is now on the radar, though, so thanks.Zoe Athena. I wonder if I could talk him into that one!
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Thanks. I'd love to hear if he likes it or not. :-) And you never know about Cosmina (Mina) -- if it's after his mother he might go for it.
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After the saint, actually.Cosmas.
I've tried for Cosima for so long that I'm not sure Cosmina would get anywhere, plus Mina is a less-than desirable character in a series of comic books he read. It's too bad - and Zoe Athena got a thumbs' down. It's Miriam Athena, Katarina Christine and Judith Athena at the moment, I think.
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Athena is a pretty name and would work great as a middle name. I think Rachel Athena is pretty. Veronica Athena is also alright.

I adore Michelle and think it's much better than Michaela (which seems to be so popular on BtN). Rachel Michelle is very pretty. I don't really care for Raphaela Cosmas
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Raphael Cosmas, not Raphaela. :-DCosmas is after a pretty cool saint - google Damian an Cosmas.I like Rachel Athena, thanks. I didn't know that Michaela was popular here - it used to get the thumbs' down.
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