Abby writes:
Hi! My husband and I have found ourselves in the middle of a baby name dilemma and if I trust anyone for their opinion/advice, it’s you and your readers. We currently have one daughter, Eleanor nn Nora and are expecting twin girls in May (!!) Our last name is two syllables and sounds like Cutler but with a ‘B’.
Before discovering that we were pregnant with twins at 22 weeks, we had tentatively agreed upon Amelia nn Mim for a girl and some combination of August Mack, to be called Mack, for a boy. All names have family significance but I should note that I just love Amelia, and that the nn Mim is actually honoring my husband’s grandmother, Miriam, who answered to Mim most of the time. For some reason, I find Miriam to sound rather harsh and I just can’t get on board.
Our second favorite girl name, collectively, is Magnolia nn Maggie. He is in love with the nn Maggie, and I have a love for Magnolia but would never consider Margaret for the harshness and a negative association I have with an old ‘friend’. So basically our problem is that we are both very happy with Mim and Maggie, but I am happier with the individual names of Amelia and Magnolia (although unsure about them as a twin set) while my husband would gladly use Miriam and Margaret to get the nicknames.
So…. That brings us to a place where we are currently wide open to suggestions. He likes very few names and while I can appreciate the “quality” of his names, they are not my favorite. I am open to many more names, but I had so many names get vetoed with our first daughter, that I’m not even sure what my style is.
His favorites:
-Josephine “Josie” (I don’t like)
-Penelope “Penny” (I actually love but not as much as Amelia or Magnolia and don’t know which it goes with better)
-Miriam “Mim”*He doesn’t want both names/nicknames to end in the “ie”/”y” sound.
My favorites:
-Hattie (Although he despises Harriet)
-Clementine (no good nicknames)
-Phoebe
-Louise “Lula”
-Ruby & Stella- each of our top favorites for baby #1, but they feel used to himBoth:
-Amelia
-Magnolia
-Chloe and Harper… we both agree on these names as a twin set, but they seems a bit too trendy for our tasteNames we agreed to for #1 but ultimately didn’t work and we can’t/won’t use now:
-Lucy (although we love)
-Etta
-PerryEven if not ideal, can Amelia and Magnolia work as sister names? If it’s too ridiculous, what are some suggestions for a compatible twin set? Thank you for your input. Sorry this is so long, feel free to shorten or edit as you see fit if you do post the question!!
If you wouldn’t mind losing the name August for a potential future boy, I suggest Augusta. Eleanor, Amelia, and Augusta; Nora, Mim, and Gussie.
I really like Amelia and Magnolia with the nicknames Mim and Maggie. My main hesitation is the large popularity gap: Amelia was #23 in 2012 and still rising, while Magnolia was not even in the Top 1000. In 2012, there were 7191 new baby girls named Amelia, and 218 named Magnolia: 33 Amelias for every one Magnolia. It’s not even so much the popularity gap as it is the gap PLUS the difference in reactions: the name Amelia is familiar enough to elicit no comment, while the name Magnolia will cause a stir. I have the same hesitation about my suggestion of Augusta.
For Amelia and Magnolia, it helps that the nicknames are swapped: Amelia would have the familiar name with the surprising nickname, while Magnolia would have the surprising name with the familiar nickname. Also, they both have four syllables ending in -lia, with the same emphasis, which should make them seem nicely twinny. And I find I’m very reluctant to remove the favorite name for an issue like this. I guess my inclination would be to see if I could find a second name to go with Amelia, something more similar in style and popularity. With sisters Eleanor/Nora and Amelia/Mim, I think I’d be looking at a list something like this:
Annabel/Annie
Catherine/Kate
Charlotte/Lottie (maybe not with the surname—lot/butt)
Clara/Clare
Grace/Gracie
Julia/Jules
Julianna/Jules/Annie
Lillian/Lily
Lydia/Liddy
Olivia/Livvy/Liv
Violet/Lettie/Vi
Vivian/Vivi/Viv
While I’ve listed a common nickname for each, I’d consider using something less intuitive/well-known in order to coordinate the name with Amelia/Mim—something like Caroline with the nickname Rory, or Sarah with the nickname Sally or Sadie, or Lillian with the nickname Lee, or Grace with the nickname Grey. I’d thought Audrey and Lila and Alice might go well with Amelia but didn’t put them on the list because I couldn’t think of nicknames for them; if we could come up with something like Mim, that might work.
Or I might find some names that don’t usually have nicknames (when I made the list I was specifically looking for names that had nicknames) and pair them up with one—something like the name Hannah with the nickname Nan. Ooo, I kind of like that: Eleanor, Amelia, and Hannah; Nora, Mim, and Nan. I like the twins both have a nickname with three letters and a bookends consonant.
The name Eleanor is fairly common right now: #135 in 2012 and still rising. Penelope at #125 is a very good popularity match, but that still leaves Amelia out a bit—much less so, though, than with Magnolia or Augusta. Eleanor, Amelia, and Penelope; Nora, Mim, and Penny. I like that very much.
Clementine could conceivably be called Minnie; it’s a bit of a stretch, but no more than Mim for Amelia. But again, we’d have one name that is very common and familiar, paired with a name full of whimsy and surprise. I would be more likely to pair Clementine with either Magnolia or Penelope.
I love Phoebe and Louise together. I like their shared long-E sound, and their matching number of syllables and letters. Eleanor, Phoebe, and Louise; Nora, Bee, and Lou.
If you like Hattie and your husband likes Maggie, I wonder if Matilda/Mattie would work.
If Amelia is a definite for one twin, I would be tempted to use it for Baby A, and find a B name for Baby B. Amelia and Beatrix. Amelia and Bianca. Amelia and Bridget. This causes alliteration with the surname, which you may or may not like. Oh, since the surname starts with B, it would be cute to choose a C name for the second twin, to make ABC. …I have such a soft spot for this kind of thing. Amelia and Clara B.; Amelia and Cecily B.; Amelia and Catherine B.
It’s too bad Ruby and Stella are out; I like them a lot together.
Looking at the lists, I thought of the name Genevieve. Eleanor, Penelope, and Genevieve; Nora, Penny, and Evie. Both nicknames then end in the -y sound, which your husband would prefer to avoid. Other nickname options would be Nell or Pip for Penelope, or Genna or Eve for Genevieve.
I find, though, that I keep coming back to this: if you LOVE the name Amelia/Mim, and you LOVE the name Magnolia/Maggie, then those might just be the names; I definitely wouldn’t call the combination ridiculous. My twins’ names are a common/uncommon combination, and it hasn’t been the issue I’d imagined it might be—but then, they’re boy/girl twins, and the boy’s name fits with the other boy names in the family, so perhaps the difference is less noticeable than with two boys or two girls. I’d notice a William and Maverick combination much more quickly than I’d notice Sophia and Maverick.
Well, I just don’t feel like I know. I think at this point I’ve thought about it to the point where I can’t even tell anymore which names go together, so this is one of those times I am particularly grateful to know this is a group effort. What does everyone else think?
Name update! Abby writes:
Thank you swistle & readers for the fantastic feedback on Amelia & Magnolia as a twin set! It reinforced my love of the names , while it opened my husband’s eyes to many more lovely twin combos. We agreed on many sets as the final and ultimate names, just in time to turn around and change our minds the next week or even, sometimes, the very next day!
All along, we were fairly confident that Amelia nn Mim had to be baby A’s name. However the week of their expected date of arrival, there were twin girls born in our small town with one named Amelia. Once we got to the hospital to be induced, we discovered multiple Amelia’s had been born recently which led to our daughters being unnamed for their first 2 days of life. But we needed to make a decision!!
…So we changed it up completely; naming our daughters…
-Ingr!d @dele nn ‘Indie’
&
-0dette Fr@nces nn ‘Etta’And we are in love!!
Thanks again for all the insight & advice!! It really helped us get into the deeper naming discussions that needed to happen.
I really like Eleanor, Amelia, and Magnolia. I see the name Magnolia more and more these days (met one at church last month!), and because it’s a flower name rather than something truly unfamiliar, it seems like no problem to me. Honestly, I’d not notice a difference in popularity or style when being introduced to the sibset–they seem to go together very well. And even the things I’d normally worry about for myself (like the matching -lia endings) sound just fine when said aloud.
And, I love that Amelia gets the uncommon Mim while Magnolia gets the familiar Maggie.
Amusingly enough, Miriam and Margaret are two of my favorite names. They sound warm and gentle and strong to me, not harsh in the slightest. But it sounds like you’ve found much better ways of honoring people with names that work for you.
Swistle’s suggestions were lovely, and my favorites were Cecily, Matilda, and Clara. But I love Amelia & Magnolia, and I think you do too. That, more than anything, has me thinking these are the names for you.
Do Ruby and Stella feel “used” to him (and you) because you already know babies with these names, or because of their rankings on the SSA charts? Unless they have been used by close friends or cousins, I think you should consider bringing them back into play since you say they are your #1s and in reality they aren’t enormously popular. Amelia, for example, is much much more popular than either Ruby or Stella. Both of those names have lingered at the end of the top 100 for several years but I don’t think they will skyrocket in popularity. They’re comparable to Eleanor, just slightly more common.
I also think the full names with surnames are much nicer with Ruby and Stella. Ruby Cutler-with-a-B; Stella B… Much more melodic than Magnolia B…, for example.
What about Ruby Miriam and Stella Magnolia? I love that!
Oh, this was such a fun post to read! So many cute girl names with cute nicknames. I don’t find Magnolia to be surprising or quirky sounding, really. I think Amelia and Magnolia sound darling together! Along with Eleanor, all three of them sound very feminine and beautiful to me. I think if you love those two names the most for your twins you should use them.
I also loved Swistle’s suggestion of Amelia/Hannah with nn Mim/Nan. Those sound so cute together, and I just love the nickname Nan.
I grew up with a Magnolia nn Maggie (until she declared that she HATED Maggie in junior high and went exclusively to Magnolia except people who couldn’t get it through their thick skulls that her name was no longer Maggie). ANYWAY, I think because of that, I don’t find Magnolia to be that unusual, and I think it goes nicely in sound with the rest of the sib set.
This might be wildly out of your style range but I also went to grade school with a Maggie named Magdelena. Well, and a Maggie named Margaret. And a Maggie named Margot! I do not come from a large metropolis or think of Maggie as a common name for my age group but I seem to have a large Maggie sample set from my age group (age group is 30-year-olds, basically).
I think Amelia and Magnolia are lovely together. I would bet that outside of the ‘naming community’, no one will even notice that one is much more popular than the other. And if they DO notice, it wouldn’t be in a negative way. Perhaps slight surprise. Also I think it’s helpful that though Magnolia isn’t all that common as a first name, it IS a familiar word. People shouldn’t have particular trouble reading/spelling it. I say go for it!
I think Amelia and Magnolia are wonderful together and with Eleanor!
If you love the names, their nicknames, and the twinniness of them, then you should go with them! I don’t think that the difference in popularity will matter at all–people will have other things to comment on like how adorable your baby girl twins are!
If your husband can’t get on board with “your” versions of the twins names, could you do one of each of ya’lls preference that would still get you the nicknames? Maybe even with your top choice names as middle names.
Miriam Stella and Magnolia Ruby
Miriam Harper and Magnolia Chloe
Amelia Ruby and Margaret Harper
Ameila Harper and Margaret Chloe
Another affirmation that Amelia and Magnolia are just fine to my ear! :) My second choice would be Swistle’s suggestion of Hannah with the delightful Nan as a nickname.
Is the situation is that you prefer Amelia & Magnolia, and he prefers Miriam & Margaret? I wasn’t quite sure from the wording he’d “gladly use” the second pair. Would he also gladly use the first? If so, I’d do that as you clearly prefer it.
Or would it be possible to mix and match here and use one of each parent’s favorites? Magnolia & Miriam, for instance? Or if you’d like another route to Mim, I think Naomi would work. Amelia & Naomi?
I think the previous commenters made some great points about how well Amelia and Magnolia go together. The other suggestion I might like better is Amelia and Olivia. You still get that matching -ia sound and both names start with a vowel and have an L (which makes them match well with Eleanor too). Nicknames for Olivia could be Liv, Livvy, Olive, Ollie, Vivi, so you can go the unexpected route with that twin’s nickname as well.
The only other thing I would say is that there seems to be a lot of concentration on the nickname, but remember that the given name is the permanent one, the nickname is subject to change, especially as the kids grow older and want to have an opinion on the matter. So whatever names you choose, be sure you do so because you like them, not just their nicknames.
Soooo many great suggestions, wow! I don’t have much to add — though Abigail came to mind; Amelia & Abigail, Mim & Abby. But I did want to throw up a caution flag on two suggestions.
Amelia & Beatrix — too close to popular storybook character Amelia Bedelia and her sister Beatrice.
Penelope & Genevieve — just in case your chosen nicknames don’t stick, or people use the traditional ones without asking, or later they choose their own… You may end up with Penny & Genny
I love Beatrice/Beatrix (nn Bea) as a suggestion. I actually came to the comments to suggest it!.. And I guess I’d disagree that many people would know Amelia Bedelia’s sister’s name. I certainly didn’t!
Nora, Mim and Bea is just too cute.
What about using Margot to get Maggie as a nickname? To me, it’s a bit softer that Margaret…
Eleanor/Nora, Amelia/Mim, and Margot/Maggie
I love Mim & Maggie as a twin set and don’t see anything wrong with Amelia & Magnolia together. Stick with it!
I think Amelia and Magnolia are great!! But then again, I live in the South where Magnolia is much more common than Amelia. I know several Maggie’s (short for Magnolia) and no Amelia’s in fact. Love the combo! Congrats on your twins!!
Really? Where in the South do you live? I just did a quick scan through several southern states’s name statistics and in none of them was Magnolia more common than Amelia. Magnolia usually was used under 10 times, while Amelia was used more than 100 times. I don’t double that you know several Magnolias, but I don’t think that’s common across the South.
Who knows? Guess it’s just here specifically. I really have been thinking since this post, and I cannot think of one little Amelia. Still love the combo!
I actually can’t understand why Amelia and Magnolia would be a problem together as twin names or sibling names! I do understand that they’re vastly different in popularity but I actually wouldn’t say they’re different in style. They both have the -lia ending and 4 syllables, but the first 2 syllables are different enough that they don’t sound overly matchy, and they just sound good together to me. I would absolutely go for using these names together with the adorable nicknames that you’ve already chosen!
If you’re really not sure about Magnolia, I have a good friend whose name is Magalie and she goes by Maggie most of the time. It’s French and I think it’s lovely!
To me, I don’t find Eleanor, Amelia, and Magnolia THAT different. To me, they are all older, classic names that feel fresh and spunky. Although, the trendiness is quite a bit different for Magnolia (as Swistle pointed out) I still see it as a name that someone’s grandma from the deep south would have had, just like I see Eleanor as a very typical grandma name, and Amelia as a few of my friends grandmas with European/Italian roots (depending on spelling). All three names peaked in the late 1880-1920’s. The common -lia ending also makes them pair together nicely. Plus, if you plan on calling the girls mostly by their shortened nicknames of Nora, Mim, and Maggie then the longer versions don’t come into play on a day-to-day basis. If we focus on the similarities then they don’t seem that different?? I think all three names are very feminine and sweet and I say, if you love them THEN DO IT!!! I would hate for you to choose a different name because you felt like it was a better sibling set name and then regret it forever.
As for your husband preferring Miriam and Margaret… is he willing to meet in the middle? If you are both wanting to use the shortened nicknames then is he willing to come to your side and agree on the longer version of both names? I hope so.
I LOVE Stella and Ruby. Great for twin set, go well together, and also fit in nicely with Eleanor. BUT if your heart is set on Amelia then maybe these two are also out for you as well.
My next pick would definitely be with Swistle’s of: Genevieve, Penelope and Eleanor. You could always put Amelia or Miriam in the middle name spot and still use Mim as a nickname (either on its own or in combination). Example: Genevieve Amelia Cutler. Evie Mim. That sounds pretty cute! PLUS… lots of people use nicknames that are derived from their middle name.
I know I am biased towards this name, it’s my daughters and we absolutely love it, but what about Juliette? Amelia and Juliette? To me they give the same feel, fit well with Eleanor. Plus BONUS, you could use the nn Etta or Ette!!! (or Jules). What about Juliette Magnolia OR Juliette Margo. Then you could still have a Maggie as nn if wanted? Eee… totally loving this combination!!!
If you like Louise and you both liked Lucy what about Lucia (Lou-see-a)?
I also like the idea of a previous commented using Harper and Cleo in the middle name spots as well.
Other names I like:
Grace/Gracie.
Beatrix/Bea.
Brigette/Birdie.
Eloise/Lou or Lulu
Rosalie or Rosalind or Rosalina/Rose or Rosie.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Hello! I’m one of twin girls too :)
I really love Magnolia nn Maggie – it’s been one of my favourites for a long time! For Magnolia/Maggie’s twin and Eleanor/Nora’s little sister, I suggest Clementine (I see it’s on your list) nn Minnie or Mintie (or Mim!). I absolutely adore Clementine. I also think Cleo or Clea could work as a nickname.
I also totally love Penelope. If you don’t want both nicknames ending in the -ee/ie/y sound, what about Nell, Elle or Pen?
Best of luck!
I really like Amelia and Magnolia together, as twin names. Especially with your chosen nicknames. The fact that you love both names is great.
I personally don’t know any children named Amelia (though I did spot an Amelie the other day) so the popularity of Amelia vs Magnolia doesn’t bug me. It usually would, but I think the matching syllables and endings, plus your love for the names overrides that. :)
I love the suggestion someone made of Amelia and Olivia; Olivia has such fantastic nickname potential and the twinness is definitely there without being overwhelming. My next choice would be Penelope: Eleanor, Amelia, and Penelope. Nora, Mim, and Penny. I also think Penelope is a great choice because that way you’re including a favorite of yours and a favorite of your husband’s.
How about Marisol or Florence? I also like Greer, Maryam, and Kealy.
What about Adelaide?
Mim and Addy
Amelia and Adelaide
I think the “A” names are dissimilar enough that they don’t sound too “twinny”. I also think that if you intend to call Amelia “Mim” most of the time it won’t be a big deal.
I really like Amelia & Margot as a way to get to Mim & Maggie.
These also sound like good options:
Amelia & Lillian: Mim & Lily
Amelia & Violet: Mim & Vi
Amelia & Matilda: Mim & Mattie/Mim & Tillie
Amelia & Cecily: Mim & Cece
Phoebe & Penelope could make good twin names: both Greek, starting with P and ending with E…but that might also make them too similar. (I don’t love the similarity in sound of Amelia & Magnolia, actually [4 syllables, ends in -lia.])
I like Phoebe Louise as a first/middle, though. What about Phoebe Louise & Magnolia Ruby? Phoebe & Maggie.
A nickname for Clementine could be Clem. Probably too similar to Mim. Clementine & Magnolia: Clem & Maggie? I actually like pairing a fruit name with a tree name.
If you like August, what about Autumn?
Autumn & Phoebe?
I also like Ruby and Stella and would encourage you to consider them as middle names.
Love Cecily or Cecilia, nn Cee perhaps?
Another one that came to mind as I read Swistle’s list is Jillian, nn Lia or Jia.
I do think the Amelia and Magnolia combination is quite lovely though. Agree with Brigid that Magnolia doesn’t feel too uncommon since it’s an English word most everyone has heard.
Amelia and Magnolia are both so lovely together, and go right along with Eleanor/Nora. I can just imagine these three little sisters at their little lemonade stand in the middle of summer! What a perfect little trio. If your husband is open to the compromise of “your” preferred full names with “his” preferred nicknames, don’t change a thing. I think the difference in popularity between Amelia and Magnolia is a non-issue and, for me, that whole discussion is just overthinking it way more than anyone else would. Mim and Maggie make such a sweet pair, I don’t know how you can resist going for it!
What about Aurelia? nick names Leah or Auri? I love that name and i think it would sound nice with Amelia, but also it would sound nice, if not better with Magnolia.
Magnolia and Aurelia (mim/maggie and Leah)
Or
Aurelia and Amelia (Leah and Mim)
I also thought that Elena would sound really nice with Amelia. I have an Elena and we call her Nin all the time! We also call her Nina and Nayna. You would have and Nin and a Mim! I love it!!!!
I think my original comment got deleted? : (
I like Mim, but would like Magz better than Maggie. I also like the sound of Mim & Magz.
I think Amelia and Magnolia work – esp with the nicknames.
I might suggest Camilla and Magnolia – Mim & Maggie / Mim & Magz.
Hmmm. I’m feeling for your husband, here. I’d so much rather be a Margaret or a Miriam than have a girly name that ended in “lia.” To me, Margaret and Miriam fit right in with Eleanor in an irresistibly timeless Proustian manner, whereas Amelia and Magnolia seem more like all those current “ia” names–Olivia, Julia, Cecilia, Lydia–names that seem too sweet to me, buttercream frosting names. Others find feminine names classic, I know. Margarets, Miriams, could be spies, explorers, inventors, rock stars. Amelias and Magnolias? Maybe writers…..Yes, Amelia Earhart, it’s true, gave the name plenty of mettle. But somehow, I just picture little Amelias in Pottery Barn bedrooms, whereas I picture little Miriams and Margarets out doing more interesting, less suburban things. Totally subjective, sorry if it’s too much that way.
Ruby and Stella both seem so versatile, spunky and wearable, too. But Miriam and Margaret just have more depth.
(I’ve got payback coming here. My daughter is again expecting, and should this baby be a girl, the top name choice is Emilia.)
Interesting associations and I see much of what you mean. But, for a dissenting voice (though one just as subjective!), let it be heard that the #1 reason I’m not fond of Amelia is that I’ve always found it quite dowdy. Miriam sounds much more romantic to me than Amelia. Perhaps Amelia Bedelia made too strong a childhood impression?
I don’t like Magnolia either, but that’s because there is a very prominent bakery by that name where I live and I can’t shake the “brand” quality of the word/name in my mind. (Speaking of buttercream frosting, though…)
I made a case for Ruby and Stella in my earlier comment– I think they are a very plucky pair of twin names! Good with Nora, too.
(By romantic I mean sweet and girly!)
I think you have a great selection of names to choose from. I just have a few thoughts to add. Another way to get to “Mim” would be Imogen. And if you are looking for a cool nickname for Clementine I suggest “Cleo”. Happy naming! I think you are very much on the right track…
If I understand the question, you like Mim and Maggie but aren’t keen on Miriam or Margaret as full names (although your husband doesn’t mind). You’d prefer Amelia and Magnolia but aren’t sure if they go together? Does he agree to Amelia and Magnolia or does he prefer the other names?
If I met you in real life I’d think “Eleanor and Amelia, old fashioned yet popular names. Magnolia? Oh that’s a bit different. Ok, whatever” and I’d carry on and not give it another thought because, really, what I think doesn’t matter as their names are already set.
However, if you’re still not sure I guess you’ve got a few options:
1. Go with Amelia and Magnolia anyway.
2. Choose two completely different names.
3. Ditch Amelia and find a different way to get Mim. In my opinion, unless it’s some old nickname I’m not aware of, I don’t really see the connection between Amelia and Mim other than two of the letters are the same (but not the sounds). Clementine from your list would be just as good. Or Imogen. Or something using the intials MIM such as Michaela Marie or Milly Magnolia (if you decided you couldn’t do it as a first name).
Eleanor, Clementine and Magnolia
Eleanor, Imogen and Magnolia
Eleanor, Michaela/Millicent/Milly and Magnolia
4. Ditch Magnolia and find a different way to get Maggie. If Maggie can be short for Margaret then I would think it could be short for Margery too, although I much prefer the spelling Marjorie.
Eleanor, Amelia and Marjorie
Eleanor, Amelia and Margot
5. Ditch Mim and use another derivative of Miriam. Mira perhaps? Still stylistically different and no nickname though.
Eleanor, Mira and Magnolia
6. Ditch Maggie and choose another old fashioned nickname to complement Mim.
Nora, Mim and Hattie – Eleanor, Amelia and Henrietta (on your list already, doesn’t have to be short for Harriet)
Nora, Mim and Kitty – Eleanor, Amelia and Katherine/Kathleen
Nora, Mim and Poppy – Eleanor, Amelia and ?
Nora, Mim and Pippa – Eleanor, Amelia and Phillipa (I also kinda like Mim and Pip but could be too much like Mom and Pop)
Nora, Mim and Nan – Eleanor, Amelia and Hannah/Nancy/Nanette (per Swistle’s suggestion)
Nora, Mim and Floss – Eleanor, Amelia and Florence
Nora, Mim and Fliss – Eleanor, Amelia and Felicity
Nora, Mim and Betsy/Betty – Eleanor, Amelia and Elizabeth
Shame you’ve already got Eleanor, as I love Mim and Nell together too.
Good luck with your two new babies! Please let us know what you decide.
I love Imogen for Mim!
I actually quite like Amelia and Magnolia together. I also agree with swistle that it’s really neat how the more familiar Amelia would have an uncommon nickname (Mim), while Magnolia would have the more common nickname (Maggie). This combination would be my first pick. My second favourite would be Amelia and Penelope (Mim and Penny).
If you absolutley love Amelia & Magnolia, and your husband agrees, then you should go for it! I think Eleanor, Amelia, & Magnolia all have the same “feel” even if the popularity is different.
If I were you and faced with choosing between Amelia& Magnolia and Miriam & Margaret, I would for sure choose Miriam & Margaret. They are so classic and feminine and work so nicely with Eleanor.
Im starting to tire of all the girl names ending in “ia”. While they are beautiful names, I think Miriam & Margaret would be unexpected and beautiful at the same time.
Good luck!
Thank you, everyone, for sharing your thoughts!! Swistle, I am so happy you posted our question…my husband & I are truly enjoying the input. It’s funny (& so helpful) to share our reactions to the feedback and see how similar our taste in names has become. Thanks again.
Keep the comments coming…we will report back in May!!
I agree that Amelia and Magnolia can work I have boy/girl twins and Amelia was on my list as well. Other names on my list were Audrey, Chloe, and Pippa. Maybe those will be helpful. Congratulations!
Since your husband likes the name Josephine and Swistle suggested Genevieve, and I have two daughters named Josephine and Genevieve, I felt compelled to tell you that our Genevieve goes by GiGi most of the time, and I sure love it as a nickname. Of course, she could also be Gen, Genna, Genny, or Vieve (my sister’s special name for her). Just a thought if you started leaning toward Genevieve.
I agree that Clementine and Magnolia would work beautifully together! Mim and Maggie! Tina and Leah! Minnie and Nolie! These are full of charming combos. AND they are both botanical… nice and subtle twin connection there!
Best wishes as you welcome your wee ones. :)
Oooohhhh Clementine and Magnolia is perfect!!!
I love Amelia and Magnolia together! I think they go together beautifully.
PS I have a baby Marigold—but we considered Magnolia as a name too. I love it! Especially with nn Mim.
Ok one more!!!
If you like(d) Ruby and Stella but feel that you are past these names what about:
Rose Amelia and Thea Magnolia. Rose and Thea. Eleanor, Rose, and Thea. All have the same feel but the twins have the shorter names which make them more twins-y but are definitely not matchy-matchy. Eeee love love love this combination!!
I wouldn’t focus on what other people think with the differences in the popularity of the names but I would be concerned about how it would affect my little girls. Will Magnolia be jealous that her sister can find items in the store with Amelia on them but Magnolia is no where to be found? Will Amelia be jealous that Magnolia never has anyone else in class with same name but she shares a name with others?
I would also worry that names might “typecast” the girls as well. Eleanor is a strong name and brings to mind Eleanor Roosevelt. The nickname Nora is also strong. I picture a very accomplished woman with that name. I find Amelia is a very solid, adventurous name that brings to mind Amelia Earhart. Mim is also a solid, no nonsense nickname. Unfortunately, Magnolia brings to mind southern belles and mint Julio’s. It seems fluffy. (I so prefer Margaret as it has the same strength as Eleanor and brings to mind Margaret Thatcher.). Maggie is a fine nickname but more diminutive than Nora or Mim.
Now your little girls won’t know any of this but will there names effect how others treat them subconsciously? Will Amelia be expected to the smart one and Magnolia the dreamy one so teachers treat them as such? Will people rather assume that Amelia is more reliable than Magnolia and act accordingly? Will differences in the way people perceive them based on their names influence their personalities in any way?
I totally agree with this comment! Someone several posts up suggested Margo….I think that is a rather “strong” name and sounds great with Amelia if you don’t like Margaret. I love Amelia for a name, seems fun. Magnolia just seems boring. Like Amelia would be the “fun” twin and Magnolia would be shy etc.
I say go with Amelia and Magnolia. It’s great to have the nicknames that you’ll use more often, and if you LOVE Amelia and HATE Margaret, and he likes the NN’s he gets to call both of them, then what does it matter? It’s not like he HATES Amelia or Magnolia, right?
I personally always like to choose names with great nicknames as I think I’d be more likely to use them frequently than their full names…and not that Megan goes with Amelia, but some people do use Megan and then Maggie for a nn:) Also Margo or Magda or Margery
Swistle mentioned Clementine. What about Clementine nn Clem?
Or (by far and away) my favorite – Matilda nn Tilly? Nora, Mim, and Tilly. Perfect!!
This is a little different, but how about Millicent, nn Millie or Mills? Mim and Mills is ADORABLE! Amelia and Millicent don’t look like twin names, but to my ear at least, they do sound very similar in style. I’ve always thought Millicent works for both a little girl and an adult, strong woman. Mills is also just as unexpected as Mim, and I think the twins’ nicknames would be perfect. Whatever you choose, enjoy them! Good luck!
I love Amelia and Magnolia together, I love the nicknames Mim and Maggie, and I think because Magnolia is a flower and just sounds like a great name for a girl and sounds great with Amelia, that fixes the issue of being so uncommon. I certainly wouldn’t raise an eyebrow if someone introduced their twin girls Amelia and Magnolia.
My daughter’s name is Penelope, so I adore that and many other of Swistle’s suggestions, but since you and your husband already agree, I really think you should go with Amelia/Mim and Magnolia/Maggie.
I don’t think you need to look any farther. I think Amelia and Magnolia (Mim and Maggie) are perfect. I think the difference in popularity is fine, especially given the nicknames, and that Magnolia is on the rise.
I like the two names you have- they work nicely together. Two other options:
Margot would get you Maggie without being Margaret, and I think might be more appealing to your sensibility. (Eleanor, Amelia and Margot: Nora, Mim and Maggie)
Laura or Lucille could get you Lolo or Lulu, which could be nice with Mim and get you closer to the rest of the sibset. (Eleanor, Amelia and Laura: Nora, Mim, Lolo, OR Eleanor, Amelia and Lucille: Nora, Mim, Lulu or Lucy)
just FYI, Lolo means a lowrider car on the west coast, “crazy” in Hawaii, and “grandfather” in the Philippines.
I know a little girl named Magnolia. She goes by Noli. It’s a spunky and totally beautiful name.
I didn’t make it through all of the comments, so I apologize if this is a repeat, but I know a Magdalena nn Maggie. It is still pretty uncommon. I love Beatrix/ce and have a Penelope, so yay for both of those!
I wonder how much you plan to use the nicknames? If you will likely call both girls by their nicknames almost exclusively, perhaps the answer is for you to name one twin & let your husband name the other. So, twin A could be Amelia/Mim and twin B could be his favorite. Amelia & Penelope, Mim & Penny or Amelia & Josephine Mim & Josie. I have to admit it does strike me as a bit unfair that he’s willing to go with 2 of your favorites, while all of his have been rejected for one reason or another.
I’m sorry but your comment comes across as being quite harsh. Likely we do not have the full details as it is very difficult to demonstrate what each and every conversation and why one name has been thrown out but not the other. The writer does indicate that their second favourite name, collectively, is Magnolia. Mentions that husband is more than happy to use Margaret and Miriam but does not actually indication whether or not husband dislikes or is unhappy with Amelia and Magnolia. Let’s keep this board positive!
I love Amelia “Mim” and Magnolia “Maggie” SUPER CUTE!
I think Amelia and Magnolia, Mim and Maggie, make a great set of twins. I have been trying to brainstorm some suggestions for alternatives that remind me of Eleanor, but I don’t have much. I went to look for real-life Mimis to see what other names lend themselves to Mim, and pretty much any Mary-related name can be shortened to Mim, like Maria, Marion, Mariel, Marlena could be a long form for Mim. There’s also Melinda, Melanie or Melissa, but those feel dated with Eleanor. As for Maggie, I also love Maggie but dislike Margaret, and I found Madigan and Marguerite in my family tree as potential names that can shorten to Maggie.
From the suggestions above, I love Clementine (Mim) with Magnolia (Maggie) or Imogen (Mim) with Matilda (Tilly).
This is the first time I comment here and I had to because I think Amelia and Magnolia are lovely together and the whole sib set sounds wonderful.
I just thought of something else– it’s funny, I’m not a fan of Amelia, but I love the name Amalia. I think it is a little stronger, more distinctive, and interesting. Does it appeal to you?
Also love the suggestions of Imogen and Clementine to get to Mim. Also thought of Wilhelmina. A rarer one would be Minerva– I do like it though. And if Mim can come from Amelia (which I absolutely think it can), I would say Marina is a possibility, too.
Both Amelia and Magnolia are lovely names but Magnolia seems to be quite different to Eleanor and Amelia to me. More whimsical and dreamy somehow, it makes me think of names like Rosamund and Lavinia.
Margaret does seem to ‘fit’ perfectly with the other two but I totally understand what you mean about it having a ‘harshness’ about it.
I really like Margot here. It does have similar qualities to Margaret, with the natural nickname of Maggie too, but the ‘o’ sound on the end ‘softens’ the name giving it a perfect balance with Eleanor and Amelia in my opinion.
Have you considered the spelling Emilia? Emilia and Margot both have that European feel to them and, as Eleanor of Aquitaine always pops into my head whenever I hear Eleanor, just seems to tie all the names together.
All the best!
Ooh just thought (can’t believe I didn’t think of this earlier) that you could definitely use my name, Jemima, as a full name to get to Mim (I’m often called Mimi/Mimey).
Eleanor, Jemima & Magnolia; Nora, Mim and Maggie
Best of luck!
The more I think about it the more I like Amelia and Magnolia together, although Magnolia is certainly less popular and more whimsical. Although Magnolia is much less common, I have seen the name discussed on name boards quite a bit for the past few years, and more people are using the name – although I do not think it will become very popular.
Amelia and Magnolia are adorable together, stick with them!!
I do think Amelia and Magnolia work for twins. Personally I don’t love their matching “-lia” endings, but if you’re not planning on calling them Amelia and Magnolia anyway I don’t think it would be a problem. (It wouldn’t actually be a problem per se anyway, it’s just not my preference.)
Several people have listed some alternate ways to get to “Mim” already – I wanted to add Mariska, Milena and Miranda as possibilities too. I agree that basically any “M” name, especially “Mary”-derived ones, would work for this.
Also, as I think about it, I could see Mim being more a family-used nickname for Amelia/Miriam and I could see people outside your family (friends, classmates, teachers) potentially using it less often as she gets older. The nickname has a family origin and I’ve never met anyone who goes by Mim. Maggie is a more popular name/nickname that I imagine would stick more with other people regardless of what full name it originated from. I can’t tell from your letter if you would mind Mim potentially not being used outside your family. Either way, I’d caution you from selecting a full name for the express purpose of getting to the nickname Mim. (I don’t mean to imply that you’re not paying attention to this, just wanted to point it out.)
While Amelia and Magnolia don’t quite “match” to me, they don’t sound bad together. What would bother me is Magnolia combined with the last name. That combination makes me think of the movies Steel Magnolia and Gone With the Wind….sort of a caricature of a Southern belle. If Magnolia will be almost exclusively introduced as Maggie, that might not be an issue.
Just to clarify a few points…
-Mim & Maggie are both nicknames that my husband adores. I think they are lovely as well.
-In suggesting Mim, he understands that she will most likely use her full name for purposes outside the family as she grows. Therefore, although he would gladly use Miriam, he is 100% into Amelia. Trust me, he is absolutely NOT shy about vetoing the majority of my suggestions! :)
-Amelia & Magnolia were names we considered separately, as we were unaware that we were pregnant with twins until later in the pregnancy. As individual names, we love them both very much. However, we are confused if it sounds like we are trying too hard with the matching endings.
-We originally decided on Amelia because it ‘goes’ better with Eleanor. But we are curious if the nicknames make all three names flow well enough for a sibset to just choose our favorites for the twins.
*thanks again, we really appreciate the help!
I don’t think it sounds like you’re trying too hard with the matching endings. The names don’t rhyme (i.e. Rob and Bob, TIm and KIm) so I think it’s more of a nice thing that ties the names together.
I like Magnolia but it is different that Amelia and Eleanor. That wouldn’t stop me from using it but it might matter to you. It’s also worth thinking about how often Magnolia will be called Maggie.
I do think Amelia and Eleanor go nicely together, and Magnolia is the odd one out. How much that matters is up to you and your husband entirely!
Personally, in thinking about how I would feel if my name were Maggie and I could choose between Margaret and Magnolia for a full name– well, it’s a tough call but I think I’m on board with you in picking Magnolia. It feels more distinctive and feminine. Margaret is a little stodgy. But– I’d pick Miriam over either of them, nickname aside! Miriam has verve. Also Stella and Ruby are very nice and nice with Nora.
I mentioned this in an earlier comment but my #1 problem with Magnolia is inescapable associations with a prominent bakery with multiple locations in my city. I just checked their website and it doesn’t seem like they’re expanding nation-wide, but they did just open a half dozen locations overseas as well as stores in Chicago and LA. It’s a nice bakery and everything but it does scream “brand” to me and would for almost anyone living here, so I’d avoid it for that reason.
I like Amelia and Magnolia together, but if you’re still looking for options, how about:
Felicity nn Fliss. Eleanor, Amelia, and Felicity. Nora, Mim, and Fliss.
Annika nn Kiki. Eleanor, Amelia, and Annika. Nora, Mim, and Kiki.
Georgina. Eleanor, Amelia, and Georgina. Nora, Mim, and Gigi.
Eleanor, Amelia, and Lucy or Lydia are calling me… Magnolia seems too much of a standout. I also love the name Hannah with your set. So many great options w/ your last name. Nora, Mim, and Liddy…! Nora, Mim, and Nan… Nora, Mim, and Lulu… best wishes to your family!
Love Magnolia nn Maggie! Some great suggestions by swistle and commenters above. One other suggestion if no one else has said it: Aurora nn Rori. Magnolia & Aurora, Maggie & Rori?
I think you have your answer!!! Your last line was “to just choose our favourites for the twins”. Choose your favourites!!!!!!!
Who cares if the names go 100% together. Chances are all three of your kiddos won’t be 100% alike either in personalities or in looks … So their names don’t need to be either. I don’t think the names or the nicknames are that vastly different to really take notice. And although the girls would have the matching -lia, it is nice because it ties them together as the twins but I don’t think it’s two matchy-matchy as to me the emphasis of both names are different. a-ME-LIA and mag-NO-lia. Does that make any sense? To me, even though they are the same ending for Magnolia I don’t put as much emphasis on the -lia as I do with Amelia.
I say just do it if you love them both! They are all lovely names :)
I know a Clementine who has the nickname Clemi
Second comment.
While I am not crazy about Magnolia, I think it causes zero issues. All three names are great, and I think it’s really great that the names aren’t two A names, or something like that. I’m not a twin, but I feel like it would be important for each twin to feel unique. Amelia and Magnolia would do the trick! Although, I really like Amelia and Margo together. Can’t think of a nick name for Margo….
Personally I don’t like nick names. (probably because my family calls me Chris…hello I am a woman lol) I call my two boys by their full names. Robert and Carson. Mind you, they don’t “go” together but that is what we agreed on after 3 days of no name for Carson! It just felt “right”. Which brings me to my next point. If those two names just feel “right” then go for it. Hope you have a healthy pregnancy and healthy girls
I agree that you should go with Amelia and Magnolia if they are your favorites, but I also think Marguerite would go really well with Eleanor and Amelia and would give you the nickname Maggie. I have a 6-month-old Marguerite, and I do not like the name Margaret at all for the same reasons you have listed. It isn’t as popular as Amelia or Eleanor, but it feels more classic than Magnolia, which is more outright whimsical, I think. Might be a good compromise. Good luck! I love all of your potential names and nicknames. You can’t go wrong.
Those are particularly amazing choices you ended up with — I especially love the fresh nicknames paired with more retro full names. Congratulations!!
Oh, Ingrid!
Love it!
Made a concerted push for the last with my (now) three-month old, but I couldn’t get my husband on board.
Excellent names with fun nicknames – well done, you!
Well those names are lovely.
Oh, how I love Ingrid!
You have strong, unusual names that are great individually and together. I can imagine them as spunky little girls and accomplished women.