And She Shall Be Called…
When we found out we were expecting again, by far the most common question we were asked was, “What are you going to call this one?” Not “what will her name be?” or “have you thought of any names?” Oh, no. People wanted to know what nickname we were going to give this baby.
I mean, let’s face it, Bean set the bar pretty high as far as nicknames go.
New Guy was a nice little name place holder until we found out the gender, but now that we know it’s a little girl, that nickname obviously won’t do. So, Chris and I began to try out other nicknames. Sweet Pea (which neither of us liked), Sugar Boo (which Chris didn’t like), Lady Bug (my personal favorite), and Sprout (the opposite of my personal favorite). But nothing seemed to fit. Nothing felt natural.
And then I got to see her.
After that 3D ultrasound my sister gave me for my birthday, I just couldn’t call her something like Spud Head. She was too sweet. Too small. Too perfectly feminine for me to call by any other name besides her own. I can’t explain it any other way. She just didn’t fit with a nickname.
So, we cut through the nicknames and gave her a name. A beautiful name. A name that makes my heart feel warm whenever I say it.
Grace.
Her name is Caroline Grace Brown, but we’ll call her Grace. Actually, we’ve been calling her Gracie. Even Bean can say it, though it sounds like, “Gayce” when he says it and that makes my heart even warmer.
Caroline has always been a favorite name for both Chris and I since we were pregnant with Bean and didn’t know if he was a boy or girl. I just think it’s so Southern. So sweet. Every Caroline I’ve ever known has been a sweet person.
But Grace was the name. THE name. I wanted a little Gracie Girl.
In the past year as we have gone through all of these changes and adjustments, it has been God’s grace that has seen us through. He’s seen us through hard times and celebrated with us in good times. But more than that, in these past few months as I have struggled with my faith during the middle of this dark time, He has continued to shower me with his grace and with his patience as He sits and waits with me until I’m ready to move through this.
We don’t have much right now and I’m adjusting to that. But we have God’s grace in abundance.
And in April we will have God’s Grace right there in our arms.
With a name like that, how could we ever call her something else?
108 Comments
Renee
Such a sweet name. I love it. 🙂
Alicia
So absolutely perfect!
Beth Shelton
I love it Katie, it’s perfect.
Mary Michal
Grace is a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl. Congratulations!
Katie @ The Quiroz Family
I love this name! So pretty, so girly, so wonderful! Such a great reason to name her Grace too!
Lori @ I Can Grow People
Grace was on my list of Girl Names (but Aaron didn’t dig it like I did.) And Caroline is my mom’s name.
But why not just make her first name Grace? Just curious.
Beth
As the mom of a “Gracie Girl” (Grace Elizabeth) I couldn’t agree more. Beautiful choice!!
Margaret
Love it. Love. Love. Love.
Dyanna
Such a beautiful name!!!!
Linda
A perfect name for such a sweet little girl to add to a wonderful family. Congratulations Katie & thanks for sharing it with us!
Laurie
Really beautiful!
Jaclyn
Wow, such a great name for such an obviously sweet little girl! Some people just AREN’T nickname people. Gracie is a great “nickname” though 🙂 My friend and her siblings all go by their middle names too.
Carrie
I love it Katie! We had our little Lady Bug in September. I spent my pregnancy reading your archives from day 1, and Morgan’s nickname is Buggie. Congrats, I know you can’t wait to hold your Grace and we internet friends can’t wait to meet her too!
Phoebe
oh my gosh Katie that is the perfect name! & a perfect way to put it!
Jess M
I love Gracie, and I love that it is her middle name. There is something beautiful about Caroline Grace, that just looks and sounds right!! Also, to me, there is something very cool about being called by what is actually your middle name! My best friend is called by her middle name, and it is just another thing that makes her unique!
Renu
Very meaningful.. It is perfect!!
Grace
Thats my name! And people always call me Gracie Girl! Love it 🙂 Can’t wait to read about her 🙂
Amy @ Serve At Once
Katie, what a beautiful, perfect name. She is SO precious already, and I know little Gracie is going to be such a wonderful addition to your family. Congratulations!
P.S. My mascara is running.
Megan @ Red Dirt and Crazy
Perfect! I LOVE Gracie! I is just perfect!
🙂
Megan
Abby @ They Lend Me Their Hearts
That is a beautiful name, I love it!
Cassi
LOVE! the name. Its absolutely perfect! 🙂
Gin
That is a beautiful name, and a great reason to name her such. It even sounds cute with Bean’s other (real) name.
anne
Grace…. is the perfect name. Absolutely. positively. perfect.
Nova Kristin
Love Gracie. Curious tho, Carolynn or Caroline like you draw a line?
Trish
My lifelong best friend has a 14 year old daughter named Caroline Grace! She is the most kind child I’ve ever been around. I adore this kid. She plays varsity basketball as an 8th grader…she’s long and leggy and her daddy likes to call her Miss Gracie. I think this is a wonderful name for your new blessing!
Ella
What a beautiful name! Its actually one of my favourite girls names. Its so pretty & elegant 🙂
Nikki
I love her name! Speaking from experience though, going by the middle name can be confusing for friends and teachers. I was not a fan of being called by my first name in school because everyone called me by my middle name. In fact I still get called by both names, but my family and close friends call me by the middle and everything else is the first. So confusing!
Dani
Thats a wonderful name. Oddly enough I know a woman named Grace Caroline, and she works at Hudson!
Betty
Beautiful name, even more so because of what it means to you
Randall
A lovely name for a lovely little girl!
Leslie
LOVE that name, and this post made me tear up a little! 🙂 Can’t wait to see her when she makes her debut !
Jenny J. @ Fondant Is Gross
What a lovely name for a beautiful little girl! I’m sure she will be everything you think she’ll be!
Mrs. Jen B
Lovely name!
Amy
Grace. I think that’s just perfect.
Jen C
perfection. so happy for you and chris.
Ashley @ According to Ashley
Fabulous! You’re right — all Carolines are sweet. And I looooooove “Grace” as a middle name (always have). Oh, and I have a kindergarten student in my class this year named Gracie (I think that’s her actual name on her birth certificate – not Grace). She and her twin sister are the SWEETEST and I could eat her with a spoon.
Maggie
I love it – it’s such a great name! Can’t wait til little Grace makes her appearance!
Window On The Prairie
What an adorable face. And a perfect name too.
Suzanne
Gale
You made me cry. What a perfect way to end a difficult year — with your arms full of Grace 🙂
Dawn
I love the name. Thanks for sharing on here. I think it is perfect.
Ashley
I love it! Thats what I have always said I wanted my little girls middle name to be Grace as well! Such a sweet name for a sweet little one 🙂
HollyT
Perfectly beautiful!
HollyT
Forgot to mention that my friend, Grace, is called GG by her family…short for Gracie Girl. 🙂
Jen
I LOVE the name Grace. I am sure you’ve heard the Ben Folds song “Gracie”, right? It is one of my all time favorite of his songs. So sweet!
Jennifer
Beautiful name Katie. I’m such a klutz my mom keeps telling me if I ever have a daughter that she has to be named Grace. I think it’s to counteract how un-graceful I am
Lisa
Gorgeous beautiful name! Love love love it!
Katie M
Beautiful! God’s Grace always pulls you through and He always gives you just what you need – your beautiful little Gracie girl!
Laura
Lovely, lovely, lovely name. Grace is my little sister’s middle name as well. And Ben Folds wrote a song for his daughter, Gracie, which is one of the sweetest songs ever. I bet you’ve already heard it, but if not watch it here… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bR1-sV2Hnc&feature=related
laurenbtrain
couldnt be more perfect!
Michelle
… and now I’m crying. Oh well, it’s not your first post that has made me cry… I’m sure it won’t be the last. 🙂
Kelly P
What a lovely name! Both Caroline and Grace are beautiful and Gracie is especially sweet. Very happy for you both!
Lisa
Caroline Grace is one of the prettiest names ever. And calling her Gracie…aww. She looks like a Gracie. Can’t wait until we all get to meet her!
Kristen
What a beautiful name! So feminine and classic.
Isabel
What a pretty name! It sounds perfect.
Alaina
Aw, I love that name! So beautiful and so fitting!
jessica
Congratulations! What a sweet little girl she will be.
Jen
Such a wonderful post! A perfect and beautiful name for a perfect and beautiful little girl.
I have a sweet little Gracie girl at home too!
Tiffany
Love the name. A wonderful name for a sweet little girl. Congrats!!!
Amber Barnum
Love, love, LOVE it!!! That is one of my favorites also! 🙂
Tiffany
I forgot to tell you that I am due in March with a little girl. And her name will be Katie. Kaitlyn Elizabeth Ann is her full name but we are going to call her Katie.
Staci
I love Caroline and I love Grace. What a perfect combination. And, you couldn’t be more correct about the meaning. Congratulations on making the choice!
Erin R.
Aww, what a perfect and sweet Southern name!
Katina
Beautiful.
Simply beautiful.
Life of a Doctor's Wife
Beautiful name – just perfect!
Cindy
Beautiful! I LOVE that name!! Congrats to you on your Gracie girl!
GirlyGreenGirl
What a lovely name! In fact, I have it stashed away on a list for when we find out the sex of the baby. My husband has vetoed EVERY name I’ve come up with, but if it’s a girl, I’m naming her and that’s all there is to it. But you’ve won Gracie fair and square. =)
courtney
And now I will cry . . .
Emily E
Tears all over my face! Thats absolutely beautiful, congratulations!
Brittany
I adore the name Caroline and Grace. My cousin named her daughter Gracie so it definitely has a special place in my heart as well. I think the name is perfect and you’re right, no nickname could even compare!
Katy's Neverending Story
What a sweet post. And what a sweeter name! I agree- every Caroline I’ve known has been wonderful, and you’re right- there’s nothing more perfect than having God’s Grace in your arms!
Tiffany
It’s a wonderful name — so beautiful, and I love your reasons for choosing it. She’s definitely a lucky girl already.
Niki
Very pretty name! Caroline Grace sounds like a lovely Southern little lady. 🙂
Maren
Love, love, LOVE it!!!
Anna
Caroline is my little girl’s name too!! I love it!! And we were going to call her Caroline Grace, but decided to save Grace just in case we have another girl. So happy for you guys!!
Kat @ Living Like the Kings
AWW I LOVE IT! 🙂 So cute and perfect!!!!
Ashley
Love it! 🙂 What a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. How exciting.
Mindee@ourfrontdoor
Love it, love it, love it.
Our Faith sometimes gets called Grace. I think people figure it’s all the same thing. 🙂
Sahsha's Mummy
Precious!!! Love it!
Tricia
Beautiful post! Her name is perfect =)
Christy
I LOVE it!
KAT
Beautiful! Congrats. And to 6) Lori @ I Can Grow People – regarding your question (not to speak for Katie, of course) it’s a Southern thing! I know lots of folks who go by their middle names — actually 5 of 7 of my coworkers down here do that. It’s really only important when booking airline tickets.
melissa B
I love it! I love the name Caroline and the name Grace and my husband goes by his middle name too 😀 So I triply love this 🙂
Tressa
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! Grace….sounds PERFECT! I won’t lie, this post made me cry
Lindsay (YoungMarriedMom)
This brings me good chills and warms my heart at the same time. Congratulations again, and what a blessed little girl Grace is to have a mom, a family, who loves her so much already.
stephanie
What a beautiful choice! I too LOVE the name Caroline! If we had had a Girl (we have 3 boys!) he name would have been Caroline Denise. My sister’s name is Denise. Wonderful choice!
katrina
From your ultrasound pics Grace looks like Chris!
Emily
Beautiful!
molly
I love the name Gracie! My neice is named Gracie and we all call her Gracie Girl 🙂
Casey
1. What an absolutely beautiful, perfect name for your little girl.
2. I teared up a little when I read her full name, and then tears actually dropped when I read your explanation. 🙂
Jen at Cabin Fever
Oh, what a darling name. Nothing is more sweet than something that is from the heart 🙂
Cabin Fever in Vermont
Maybelline @ Naturalmente Mama¡
Just Perfect!!
Joke
Beautiful Katie!
I’m looking forward to meeting her here on your blog, especially after seeing the ultrasound.
Say hi to her from us!
Jessica
LOVE IT!
Grace has always been a favorite of mine and I’ve wanted to name my future daughter that for so long. It’s a beautiful name.
Congratulations!
Marie
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the name! Gracie is beautiful, it’s one of the names I’d pick if I was pregnant with a girl. Hopefully someday I will get the chance!
Sarah H.
LOVE the name 🙂 And glad I don’t have to keep it secret anymore 🙂
Sarah H.
LOVE the name 🙂 And glad I don’t have to keep it secret anymore 🙂
Regina
Love it- it is perfect.
Shelley
Warm and loving, all wrapped up in the beautiful name you’ve chosen!
Morgan G
I adore this post and it sounds like you have picked the perfect name for your precious little girl!
Alyssa
How did you do it? How did you come up with such a perfect name. Oh I love it! So beautiful, now I can’t wait to see her all decked out in the frilliest girly clothes you can find 🙂
Anne vdH
LOVE it!
Emily
Yay for your baby girl no longer being the New Guy! My puppy’s name is Gracie, and we call her Bean a lot actually. Her middle name is Jellybean. Hearing that you will now have a Bean and a Gracie made me really happy.
Kate @ Love and Kate
LOVE it! And I love that she will be called by her middle name. I was named Emily Kate and I always felt a special affection for others who went by their middle name. And Bonus! It’s easy to tell who the tricky telemarketers are.
Laura
Katie, what a beautiful name! I think it fits perfectly with your family and it’s classic and timeless 🙂 Hooray!
Megan (Best of Fates)
What a beautiful, blessed name.
Kind of like how she’ll be blessed in her parents.
Jennifer
LOVE IT!! So sweet that Bean can say it too.
Grace
I love the name Grace! Lived with it my whole life haha My sister used to call me gayce when she was a baby too, very cute
Jessica
love the name! my last name is brown, and i just had a baby girl 3 weeks ago. her name? caroline hannah. hannah actually means “grace” so we’re pretty much on the same track here! i laughed when i heard your selection… great minds, it seems! also, my mil is a katie and my fil is michael. 🙂