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HELP with Baby Name ASAP - Allison or Alexandra?

Name?

  • Alexandra

    Votes: 32 57.1%
  • Allison

    Votes: 24 42.9%

  • Total voters
    56
  • Poll closed .

Emeraldfan

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Apr 27, 2006
Messages
299
Hi everyone. Sorry I haven't posted in awhile but my life had been completely crazy and getting more so now that I just gave birth to a baby girl 4 weeks early.

My dilemma now is the name. My husband and I thought we had more time to decide but she came early and put a wrench in our plans. Anyway, we have it narrowed down to two names. He likes one and I like the other. Either way her nickname will be Ali/Allie.

We have to put it on the birth certificate in the morning so please help me.


Alexandra or Allison? If so, why??
 

slg47

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 4, 2010
Messages
9,667
first of all, congratulations!!!

is there a name that you could both agree on? (Alyssa? Alexis?) or you could go with Allison Alexandra Lastname?
 

Laila619

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Apr 28, 2008
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11,676
I like Allison better. Just personal preference!
 

Dandi

Ideal_Rock
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Jan 9, 2006
Messages
6,652
I prefer Allison, particularly if her nickname will be Ali or Allie, I would think Alexandra would be shortened to Alex more than Ali. They are both beautiful names though! Congratulations on your bubba girl!! :appl:
 

dani13

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Nov 12, 2004
Messages
6,183
Hi EF!!!

Congratulations on the birth of your baby girl!!!! I hope you are all doing well!!!!

I LOVE the name Allison, nickname Allie. It's just a classic name that will never go out of style.

Good luck with everything and keep us posted!!! :appl: :appl:
 

mayerling

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 4, 2010
Messages
2,357
Although I like Alexandra, I only like it in cases where it's used as it is: Alexandra. If you intent to shorten it, I'd rather go with Allison.
 

TooPatient

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Sep 1, 2009
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mayerling|1319184219|3044706 said:
Although I like Alexandra, I only like it in cases where it's used as it is: Alexandra. If you intent to shorten it, I'd rather go with Allison.

I agree.

Also, the girls I knew in school named Alexandra all shortened to Alex. I think with Ali/Allie people just assume the name is Allison.
 

Puppmom

Ideal_Rock
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Jun 25, 2007
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3,160
I think Allison is a lovely name but I do prefer Alexandra.

ETA - Congratulations! :appl:
 

soocool

Ideal_Rock
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Jan 10, 2009
Messages
2,827
My DD's name is Alexandria (with an "i"). She is Alex to her friends and I call her, Al, Ali or Alexandria (when I am angry or annoyed with her) and Xandy to her cousins (they call each other weird names). In college now, she wants to be known as Alexandria (though I am sure it will be Alex again soon to her friends).
 

bibiloves

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Sep 21, 2009
Messages
169
Congratulations!

I personally like Allison better than Alexandra especially if her nick name would be Ali/Allie but both are beautiful names.
 

Emeraldfan

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Apr 27, 2006
Messages
299
Thanks everyone for the best wishes and for helping with the name! It has taken us a long time trying to conceive and get to this point so we are thrilled that she is here. Maybe that's why I'm/we're having such a hard time with the name - I want to get it right and not have her hate it down the road.

I prefer Alexandra but DH prefers Allison. I like Alexandra because we can go by Ali now and then when she gets older if she doesn't like the nickname she has options like using her full name or Lexi, Alex, Xandra, etc (we would probably switch to calling her Alexandra when she got older/school age if she liked).

With Allison there is only really the nickname Allie - so its more limited. My husband prefers Allison though because its 7 letters, easier to say/less syllables, and won't be shortened automatically by people as much if she wants to use her full name. My problem with Allison is that there are so many different spellings. We have to spell our last name to everyone so giving her a name where it also has to be spelled bothers me (is it Allison, Alison, Allyson, Alyson, Alicen??).

Also, her middle name is going to be Adelle after both our grandmothers.
 

mayerling

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 4, 2010
Messages
2,357
Emeraldfan|1319205773|3044761 said:
Thanks everyone for the best wishes and for helping with the name! It has taken us a long time trying to conceive and get to this point so we are thrilled that she is here. Maybe that's why I'm/we're having such a hard time with the name - I want to get it right and not have her hate it down the road.

I prefer Alexandra but DH prefers Allison. I like Alexandra because we can go by Ali now and then when she gets older if she doesn't like the nickname she has options like using her full name or Lexi, Alex, Xandra, etc (we would probably switch to calling her Alexandra when she got older/school age if she liked).

With Allison there is only really the nickname Allie - so its more limited. My husband prefers Allison though because its 7 letters, easier to say/less syllables, and won't be shortened automatically by people as much if she wants to use her full name. My problem with Allison is that there are so many different spellings. We have to spell our last name to everyone so giving her a name where it also has to be spelled bothers me (is it Allison, Alison, Allyson, Alyson, Alicen??).

Also, her middle name is going to be Adelle after both our grandmothers.

OK, change my vote to Alexandra. After having spent my entire life having to spell both my first name and last name (thankfully the last name issue has been resolved now that I've taken DH's surname), I vote for Alexandra because of the peace of mind it provides. But I still vote for sticking with the full name and no nicknames.
 

April20

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 1, 2008
Messages
3,372
Congratulations!

I voted for Allison because I don't think I hear it as much as Alexandra and I think the nickname goes with it better. Plus I have a younger cousin named Allison and she's cute as a button.
 

somethingshiny

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jul 22, 2007
Messages
6,746
I prefer Alexandra, but I voted Allison because you want to shorten it to Ali. Alexandra nicknames (to me) are Lexie or Alex, not Ali.

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! I pray that she and you are recovering well!
 

amc80

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jun 18, 2010
Messages
5,765
Emeraldfan|1319205773|3044761 said:
Thanks everyone for the best wishes and for helping with the name! It has taken us a long time trying to conceive and get to this point so we are thrilled that she is here. Maybe that's why I'm/we're having such a hard time with the name - I want to get it right and not have her hate it down the road.

I prefer Alexandra but DH prefers Allison. I like Alexandra because we can go by Ali now and then when she gets older if she doesn't like the nickname she has options like using her full name or Lexi, Alex, Xandra, etc (we would probably switch to calling her Alexandra when she got older/school age if she liked).

With Allison there is only really the nickname Allie - so its more limited. My husband prefers Allison though because its 7 letters, easier to say/less syllables, and won't be shortened automatically by people as much if she wants to use her full name. My problem with Allison is that there are so many different spellings. We have to spell our last name to everyone so giving her a name where it also has to be spelled bothers me (is it Allison, Alison, Allyson, Alyson, Alicen??).

Also, her middle name is going to be Adelle after both our grandmothers.

OMG, this is so relevant to me....since my name is Allyson!

I think if you are going for the nickname Ali/Allie, you should go with Allison. But please, PLEASE, spell it Allison. That is the normal, most common way. I can't tell you how many times I've had to spell my name out, because I have to do so EVERY time someone needs to write it down. The go-to spelling is always Allison (except some weird people at Starbucks who will write Alicyn, ick). Usually people will start spelling it and ask if that's right, then I have to correct them and say "No, it's with a Y," at which point they get totally confused and I end up spelling the whole thing out.
 

jstarfireb

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 24, 2007
Messages
6,232
I like both names, but I prefer Allison Adelle if you're set on Adelle as the middle name. The reason is that Alexandra Adelle has the 2 A sounds in the middle next to each other, so you have to do a glottal stop to pronounce the whole name. Allison Adelle flows better. Otherwise I like both first names equally.

ETA: As for the spelling, I love Alyson, but that's because I had a friend growing up with that spelling, so it was normal to me. Allison is definitely the norm for spelling.
 

Pandora II

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 3, 2006
Messages
9,613
LOL, I was about to say please spell it ALISON as I've never seen in spelt as ALLISON and she'd continuely have to correct the spelling. Maybe Alison is a UK thing.

I have a HUGE preference for Alexandra, it's such an elegant and pretty name.
 

wyndham

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
162
Pandora|1319222991|3044907 said:
I have a HUGE preference for Alexandra, it's such an elegant and pretty name.

Ditto!
Congratulations on your daughter's arrival!
 

nfowife

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
544
I love Allison. I'm a bit impartial because that's my daughter's name :) . We thought we'd call her Allie but we've always called her Allison and that is what she prefers (at 6 years old). I like Allison Adele, flows very nicely. My DD is Allison Stella. Best of luck!
 

diamondseeker2006

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
58,547
I think as long as you spell it Allison, it won't be an issue except to people who can't spell anyway! But to answer your question, I also think Allie is the nickname for Allison. I wouldn't even do Ali if you plan to spell it Allison. I do like both names and like both of them without nicknames. But I do like Allie best for a nickname, so Allison would be my choice!

Congratulations on your baby GIRL!!! :appl:

(Our oldest daughter's due date is Nov. 18th, also a girl, so this is about what it would be like for her to have her baby now!)
 

megumic

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
1,647
Congrats on your baby girl! I prefer Allison and Allie for short. Beautiful name. Alexandra just isn't my taste. Good luck choosing!
 

VRBeauty

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 2, 2006
Messages
11,211
I voted for Alexandra because both Allison and Allie are just a bit too "cute" for my taste - but for goodness sake, don't ask me why, it's just one of those "gut" things!

Congratulations!
 

swingirl

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 6, 2006
Messages
5,667
Allison is quite common. I don't know many Alexandra's. I vote for Alexandra. When she is old enough to pick her own nickname she can pick Ali or Alex or Lexi.

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter!
 

Saoirse2

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Oct 1, 2011
Messages
112
Allison is a beautiful name but I know too many =) Alexandra sounds powerful, love that. I've seen Andra & Aly [and Ali] on several gym bags.
 

KaeKae

Ideal_Rock
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May 27, 2009
Messages
2,390
Congratulations on the arrival of your little one! I love both names, but agree that Allison Alexandra does flow nicely. However, I do like Alli even for Alexandra. If by chance, there are two Alexandra's in her class, that would distinquish her from the other. If there was another Alli in the class, they both could spell out their full names on papers. My daughter has a classic name, with a popular nickname. We spell her name with a y instead of the usual ie, so that has helped her on paper. (Might not help verbally, but at least she would get credit for her own work.)
 

Miss Sparkly

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jan 2, 2010
Messages
1,664
Emeraldfan|1319205773|3044761 said:
Thanks everyone for the best wishes and for helping with the name! It has taken us a long time trying to conceive and get to this point so we are thrilled that she is here. Maybe that's why I'm/we're having such a hard time with the name - I want to get it right and not have her hate it down the road.

I prefer Alexandra but DH prefers Allison. I like Alexandra because we can go by Ali now and then when she gets older if she doesn't like the nickname she has options like using her full name or Lexi, Alex, Xandra, etc (we would probably switch to calling her Alexandra when she got older/school age if she liked).

With Allison there is only really the nickname Allie - so its more limited. My husband prefers Allison though because its 7 letters, easier to say/less syllables, and won't be shortened automatically by people as much if she wants to use her full name. My problem with Allison is that there are so many different spellings. We have to spell our last name to everyone so giving her a name where it also has to be spelled bothers me (is it Allison, Alison, Allyson, Alyson, Alicen??).

Also, her middle name is going to be Adelle after both our grandmothers.

I like Allison but please don't give your baby a "unique" spelling. The whole idea of alternate spellings just appears low class and uneducated to me (I'll probably get a lot of heat for that one). It bothers me personally to have my name shortened by others. If I introduce myself as Sparkly Blonde I should be called Sparkly Blonde until I say, "Please call me Sparkly." Another reason (as mentioned by your DH) for Allison :)
 

diamondseeker2006

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
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Jan 11, 2006
Messages
58,547
Okay, so what is your new baby girl's name????
 

iheartscience

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 1, 2007
Messages
12,111
swingirl|1319241290|3045149 said:
Allison is quite common. I don't know many Alexandra's. I vote for Alexandra. When she is old enough to pick her own nickname she can pick Ali or Alex or Lexi.

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter!

Ditto! I love the name Alexandra. Congratulations!
 

phoenixgirl

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 20, 2003
Messages
3,388
You've probably already decided, but I like Alexandra too. For some reason it stands out as more classic/timeless to me. Plus I knew an Alexandra who went by Ali growing up, and it never seemed strange. It's also a little bit lower on the popular baby names US Census list, and I prefer a name that won't belong to a bunch of other girls in her class. So that's my vote, but either way, you've got a beautiful name for your beautiful girl!
 

Emeraldfan

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Apr 27, 2006
Messages
299
UPDATE: Thanks everyone for the advice!! It did help a lot. Sorry I didn't write sooner but we've just been trying to get settled here and have had family staying with us. In the end, and with much soul searching, the name we ended up choosing is ...... ALEXANDRA!

I think it came down to the fact that it won't be as confusing to spell out and it is just more of a classic, timeless name in my mind. Hopefully, when she's older she will agree :)

Thanks again everyone!!
 
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