Rainbow baby dilemma

Hey mammas- We tragically lost a little girl in June of 2024 at 14 weeks. We hadn’t officially chosen a name for her yet, as we typically wait till birth, but at the time we liked Fiona best and told our families her name is Fiona Marie. We also told our toddler her sister Fiona is in heaven and we speak fairly often about her. Miraculously, we got pregnant soon after with our rainbow baby (Due this June on the SAME day we lost our girl last year) and it is also a girl. I’m super torn on naming her. I can’t find any girl name I like other than Fiona. Nothing feels right but I also feel guilty and like I’m cheating my angel babe and using a name I’ve already given her. And wondering if my daughter will feel weird growing up knowing we gave her the same name as her sister that died. And that my toddler will be confused! 😵‍💫 I can’t use a different middle name as Marie is an honor name for my MIL, and I don’t want Marie to be the first name. Any advice? Anyone go through something similar? Also- please know we are religious and DO believe we will meet our angel baby Fiona one day. I kindly ask you please be respectful to our beliefs. TIA 💗
Like
Share Mobile
Share
  • Share

Show your support

How do you and your partner feel about two middle names? Then you can do Fiona Marie (or vice versa) and honor both Baby Fiona and your MIL. Or you could try a double first name with Fiona being one of them.

I wouldn't use the name Fiona for this baby since you named your angel baby that. My husband had actually asked me after we decided on Scarlett for our baby born last month, if we were to lose her during pregnancy would we no longer use the name for another girl. I said we wouldn't because this baby has already been named that. I do like Elizabeth's idea of two middle names to honor your MIL and angel baby. I would feel weird to be given the same name as a sibling that has passed, whether it was during pregnancy or after.

I’m so sorry for your loss and understand your dilemma. I also love the idea of using Fiona Marie as middle names. Perhaps your daughter can offer some ideas of how you can name your rainbow? You could also do something like refer to ‘baby Fiona in heaven’ & ‘_____-Fiona’ as a point of difference? You are also still grieving, feeling attached to the name is natural. You have some time to find something new as you continue to bond ❤️ Congratulations 🥳

I also wouldn't use Fiona again. You might like Freya or Catriona or Liora

How about Flora or Fiorella?

I can never understand the tremendous amount of emotional turmoil parents go through. I find so much admiration in you guys strength. But, I do understand the "hmmm" factor on names. So, to be in light of it all? How bout using her name as a middle name? Your baby girl will always know her middle name is after her sister 😊

Why can't you use another middle name?. You've honoured your MIL by naming your beautiful first daughter after her. I wouldn't use the complete name for your rainbow baby girl. I'd either use Fiona Marie as middle names, just Fiona, just Marie, or find a whole new name. Did your MIL have a middle name? What your family has gone through is truly awful, and my heart breaks for your loss.

We used the name we had picked as our rainbows middle name. It really is going to come down to what you are comfortable with. I love my earthside daughters name but it still brings me some sadness not to have used the name as her first name. It's a complicated situation. I hope you figure out what works for your family.

Fiora is similar to Fiona To honour Marie you could do Marielle or Rosmarie So Fiora Marielle or Fiora Rosemarie are my suggestions

If u talk about Fiona that's in heaven to your daughter, who may also be Fiona it may be weird . Wb Faye, or Alora means beautiful dream

Oh my, thank you all for your thoughtful advice and insights. Definitely still grieving as I read your responses and cry. I think I knew deep down that I can’t use Fiona- at least not as a first name since I already have a Fiona ❤️‍🩹 likely I’m just struggling to accept and move on. I feel better about it know have just had a good cry and typed that. There are some great ideas and suggestions here that I will have to ponder! Hoping by June something will feel right in my heart. Thanks again 💓

@Elizabeth ooo love this idea

@Hayley oddly my daughter suggested we call our new baby Fiona too. But she also suggests every princess name as well, she’s 3 🥹

@TAS those are beautiful names and great ideas, thanks!

@Kiera thanks, I think I’ll always feel a sadness as well. ❤️‍🩹

Try today for free
Scan the QR code and join the app
to connect with women at a similar stage in life.
Download Peanut to connect with women at a similar stage in life.

StarStarStarStarStar-Half

Trusted by 5M+ women

Logo
Try today for free
Scan the QR code and join the app
to connect with women at a similar stage in life.
Download Peanut to connect with women at a similar stage in life.

StarStarStarStarStar-Half

Trusted by 5M+ women

Logo

@Hannah she does- Jane. Thanks for the idea!

You can’t use Fiona

I’d do Fiona as the middle name to honor her… or a possible nickname of Fiona as the first name if you want to do Marie for the middle such as Fia.

Ok getting kind of philosophical here but…could this new baby be your angel baby? I think it’s possible she was just waiting for you until your body was able to grow her the perfect body 💕

Incognito, I hope you find the perfect name for your perfect rainbow, baby 🌈

@Christine I was about to make the same comment! The timing wasn’t right so maybe she’s just been waiting in the wings 🪽 to make a reappearance. We had named a baby we lost very early on a few years back and although we are pregnant with a different sex now, are still considering giving the same name to our next baby. We got so used to saying the name it seems natural to us that the same soul will make a reappearance. If they chose us once why not again? 😍

So sorry for your loss. I personally wouldn't use it as a first name but could you use it as her middle name perhaps?

So sorry for your loss! I wouldn’t use Fiona again, but you could give a connection to baby by using a name with the same meaning? Fiona means white/fair, names with the same meaning include Gwen, Guinevere, Alba, Jennifer and Nola. Alba Marie or Guinevere (Evie) Marie could be super cute 🩷

@Jacinta such a good point! I didn’t mention this in my original post, but my husband has mentioned this perspective and is okay with using Fiona. It is pretty magical that her due date is the day we lost our previous baby.

@Christine my husband, and a few other people have mentioned this too. I guess we’ll never know, but something to definitely think about. 🥹🫶🏼

Read more on Peanut
Trending in our community