[TyAva]

So we accepted the referral of the sweetest little girl on Friday...now we are debating on whether or not to change her name. Her birthmom named her Mariela Victoria (her birthmom's name is Maria). So we are thinking that it would have such significance to keep it. If we change it it would be to Ava Marie. We just love both names and are not sure what to do! What would you do??????

[mommywannabee]

Mariela is a pretty name - and I LOVE Victoria...

Deciding on a name is difficult - after all, it's something we have to live with every day...

[PRINCESS1976]

If you like her "birth name" I would stick with that -- it is more special!!!!

[pvanabel]

I love her birthname -it is beautiful. I would keep the birthname for sure. And, what great significance that her birthmom gave her the name. I think it is simply beautiful.

[akasohappy]

Is Ava Marie-Victoria an option?
Marie/Mariela are very similiar.
A little bit from birthmom, and from mommy.
Good luck. Finding a name for our own daughter has been rough. I am sure you will make the decision that is right for your family.
All of the names are so beautiful, how could you go wrong!

[praying4rlittl1]

I love both names, but what about Ava Mariela?

[Mandy4President]

My vote is for Ava Mariela-Victoria. It is pretty, even though it's long, how often do you really use a middle name anyway?

[KKR213]

I love Ava (if John had been a girl that would have been his name!) and I think Mariela is very pretty. Ava Mariela is my vote.

[LadyTink]

That's tough since both names are beautiful. Is there any way you can combine the two?

[4onmybench]

That's a tough one! Ava is one of my most favorite baby girl names but her given name is so beautiful! I can see why you are having such difficulties. I would probably either keep her given name or use Ava Mariela Lastname.

Congratulations on your baby girl!

[yaddakal]

Okay...Honestly, I love...Ava Mariela!

I posted the same as you, I had a hard time with Maya's original name. I found out that the lawyer's sister named her Andrea and so that made it less significant for us to keep. We chose Maya Grace. We love the name Maya and we are honoring her mothers culture with her name. We chose Grace b/c it is with the Grace of God that she comes to us!

Go with your heart. Plently of people change the name, or part of it.

Good luck! The first of many decisions

[hesabanana]

I love Mariela. My son's classmate is named Mariella, and she is a doll...they call her Ella for short and it suits her.

We are sticking with our son's given name, Cristian for a couple of reasons. First, his bmom gave it to him. Second, we figure it will be one of the only familiar things to him when he comes home. Third, we would never be able to agree on another name!

[kvondera]

Love her birthname, it is so pretty! But I also love Ava Mariella. Either way you can't go wrong! Good luck,

[Tinkrbel]

Our daughter's middle name is Mariella, it was part of her birth name! It was orginally spelled "Mariela" , but looking at it all I saw was "Marie- La". We pronounce it "Maree-Ella", so we opted to add an extra "l".

How about "AvaMaria Mariela Victoria Lastname", so it's kina long... but I think it sounds beautiful!

Go with your heart, you'll make the right choice!

[avasmybabe]

Ava Mariela is my vote. My daughter's name is Ava. We are adopting a baby from Guat and we gave her a new first name- Lucia and changed her middle name to Rosa- after her Birthmom- something from her new family and something from her birth family.