Hello,

My husband and I are having twins (a boy and a girl)

We want to honour out roots and bring out some of our heritage through our children.

So we're thinking for a girl; Gretchen (German)
And for a boy; Sebastian (Hebrew)or Dakota (Native)

Do you think these names sound like they're from different worlds?

And any suggestions for middle names?

Thank you.

I think they are lovely names, I told my daughter about Gretchen a few months ago, it got turned down so I am glad someone is thinking about using it. Why not use you and your husbands middle names as your children's middle names or even your first names as your children's middle names.

I knew someone that loved Gretchen and then got turned off it because the word "wretch"/"wretched" was so similar. I don't think that's a big deal personally, but I thought I'd put it out there Gretchen's lovely IMO! It's a common nickname for Margaret (along with Greta), if that interests you as well, to give her more nickname options!

Sebastian's gorgeous. I love love love it. Dakota's much better on a boy than a girl, but it's just NMS personally.

Gretchen & Sebastian are nice together, but it's probably just me that thinks Gretchen's too nicknamey (it's a diminutive form of Margaret.. to me, it's like naming your child Joey instead of Joseph), but if you love it, then go with it.. most people won't see any difference, and the names are both stunning

Margaret (nn Gretchen or Greta) and Sebastian would be gorgeous as well!

Hope that helps

Love the boy name options!! LOVE Sebastian and Dakota, both on my list for boys
Gretchen is NMS but if it means honoring your roots, i think it's a great idea. It's you that has to say it everyday so it's up to you. Personally, i would go for Sebastian as a first name, only because Dakota is becoming slightly popular, but if that doesnt bother you, it doesnt matter. He'd more than likely be the only Dakota is his class.

I love Gretchen. I know it is a variant of margaret, but it stands on it's own as a first name. I do not see it as a nick name.It is lovely and one not used, so she will not be one of many in her classes.
the same can be said about Sebastion. I have never considered that at all, but hearing it with Gretchen, I think it is very nice.
Would you feel comfortable sharing you and hubby's 1st and middle names?

Otherwise;

Gretchen Elayne
Gretchen Hope
Gretchen Hannah
Gretchen Liann
Gretchen Susanne
Gretchen Kate
Gretchen Katrina

Sebastion Dakota
Sebastion Paul
Sebastion Joel
Sebastion Ryan
Sebastion Thomas (means twin)

Dakota Sebastion
Dakota Tavish (means twin)
Dakota Jackson or Jaxson
Dakota Thomas(means twin)

I love Gretchen and Sebastian! They go really well together, and are unique, yet not weird or unrecognizable.

I am not crazy about Dakota. It sounds nice, but it is becoming very popular. It is also used as a girl baby name a lot these days, and people might read his name and think he's a girl.