Is the baby getting your last name or his? If the baby is getting your last name, he should choose the first name, and vice versa.

I don't agree entirely w/Anon but that is a very nice approach depending on circumstance. If they are married as traditionally and have the same last name, the choice shouldn't just be determined by one parent. My spouse and I have different tastes, upon discovery, and with three girls we manage to work it out. We have generally narrowed it down to 2-3 then we wait to meet her. We're most inspired that way, that it isn't solely what we want. And also that any negative associations get swallowed up in the choice, because-- you're holding her! She's here! Yay.

Half joking, but as my OB told me when I was pregnant, you will have a lot more clout at choosing your favorite name after you've just pushed that baby out and your husband is in awe over what you've just done!

In all seriousness though, my husband and I were in a similar position when naming our first daughter. We decided on a few top choices and then waited until she was born to decide. She was a day and a half old by the time we decided which name fit her best. Now I can't imagine her having any other name. Good luck!

Well, honestly, it depends on which name sounds best with your LAST name. Is your last name long? Does it start with the "Aye" sound? Then, don't use Adriana. If it's a one-syllble name that doesn't start with that "Aye" sound, then I think Adriana would be better than Noelle. The names are different enough that I believe one of them sounds better with your last name -- I'm just guessing it's not the name you like best ... ;o)

I heartily agree on the importance of the middle name and even how well it goes with the first name. In many ways middle names are like your pair of underwear. Most people aren't aware of it except accidentally or because you want them to be although it can make you feel special, comfortable or uncomfortable in a way that nobody else needs to know about.

I don't ever think it's right for one parent alone to decide on the name of a child, regardless of the last name. I do like, however, when a family name from the mother's side is given as a middle name, when the father's last name is used.

I prefer Noelle Elizabeth, myself. Noelle is a strong, not-too-common first name, and Elizabeth is a classic. As a compromise, however, how about Noelle Adriana? You would get both names you want, only in a different order, and he would get the first name he likes best. Plus, the names sound good together. (My grandmother's name was actually Adriana. But I still prefer Noelle as a first name...feminine, yet strong is always a great combination for a girl's name.)

You aren't 1/2 way in agreement. He wants Noelle and you want Adriana. You've offered what seems like a compromise-using the name you want with his first choice moved to the middle slot. My suggestion is you come up with a new first name you both like. You need to come up with a name you can agree on, even if it means you both have to give up your favorites.

At last! Someone in the name community realizes that middle names aren't as important as most name enthusiasts may think.

Well.....sorry to say, but Adriana isn't the prettiest name. It has that "dr" together in the middle, which makes it hard-sounding.

How about Elisabeth Noelle?

Elizabeth is a 5-star name. She can go by so many beautiful nicknames. Betsy. Ella. Elsa. Liz. Bess. Elspeth.

Just sayin'. My cousin named her baby Adriana, and not only does it not have a good nn, but it just sounds harsh every time I hear it.

Good luck with your little one.

It would be better if you both sit down and talk. Why not come into agreement to name your baby with the combination of the two names. - Michael Courouleau

Easier said than done; especially if you have taken a long time already to even get to the place these two have. (IF that is the case). And I respectfully disagree with you that they are not halfway. My husband and I had the same situation. I wanted Evan as the first name; he wanted the name to start with a "C" (too long to explain) and liked Cole. And believe me, we had already spent hours and hours trying to find a name we both liked. I was thrilled when I suggested Evan and he didn't immediately dismiss it. What you say only "seems" like a compromise, to me, actually is just that. To have a compromise, someone has to move from their position. Ex: "Since I am not "OPPOSED" to that name, I will agree to it if we can use it as a middle name." I would rather compromise and be happy to have at least one name that we each like, regardless of the positioning, than to go back to the seemingly endless and frustrating task of going over all the names again. (Which we had probably already discussed!) lol.