Dear Swistle,
I am due in September with a baby girl. We have a 4-year-old daughter named Josephine Mae who often goes by Joey. Our last name is French and hard to pronounce and rhymes with ker-CHEW and starts with a “ja” sound. My name is very unusual but simple and my husband’s name is fairly common. Because the last name is tricky, we’d like to find a name for our daughter that people are familiar with but isn’t ultra-popular, either. We lean towards classic/old-lady names. We like either Pearl or Claire for a middle name. This will be our last child. If she’d been a boy, we would have likely named him August George.Names we both like:
Greta
Matilda (nn: Tilly, Millie, Molly) – this name would honor my grandmother
Sadie
ClaraMaybes:
Delia
Caroline (nn: Cal)
Edith (nn: Edie) – meaningful family connection
Hilda – would honor my husband’s grandmother
RubyNames I like:
Beatrice
Louise
Luisa
NellNames my husband likes:
Mariana
Priscilla
IdaNames we like but probably won’t use for various reasons:
Eliza (an Eliza and an Elizabeth already in the family)
Henrietta (close friend with new baby with same name)
Emmaline (close friend Emily; Emma is so popular)
Clementine (too spunky?)
Avelina (pronunciation an issue)
Adelaide (friend’s baby’s name)
Juniper (too much alliteration with Josephine and our last name)We’d love your (and your readers’) thoughts and suggestions!
Thanks much,
Nameless in Seattle
With the sibling name Josephine, I’d be inclined to go with the long version of Greta and then use Greta as the nickname. Josephine (Joey) and Margaret (Greta).
Sadie is more difficult, because it’s a nickname for Sarah but I’m not sure that’s well-known, and because I don’t think Josephine and Sarah go together better than Josephine and Sadie; in fact, I much prefer Josephine and Sadie. But Sadie still seems nicknamey to me with Josephine. Joey and Sadie are very cute together.
Clara is an excellent style fit, but it bothers me just a little bit that it doesn’t have a nickname similar to Joey. (But if you were writing to say it was your favorite and you were concerned that it didn’t have a nickname, I’d be brushing that concern aside.)
If Margaret/Greta is not an appealing option, then my top choice on your list is Matilda. I like that it’s similar in length to Josephine, with similar nickname options; I also like that it would honor your grandmother (and with the -ilda ending, it comes close to also honoring your husband’s grandmother Hilda). I immediately want to use a short middle name starting with J, to coordinate with Mae. Josephine Mae and Matilda Joy, for example: each girl’s middle name would start with the first two letters of the other girl’s first name. But that’s just playing around for fun.
I might also take Delia from your Maybe list and make it into Cordelia, which gives you Cory as a nickname option. Josephine and Cordelia; Joey and Cory.
Because you like Henrietta but can’t use it, I suggest Harriet. Josephine and Harriet; Joey and Hattie.
Because you like Eliza but can’t use it, I suggest Eloise. Josephine and Eloise. I’m not sure what to suggest as the nickname for Eloise. Ellie, I suppose. Or I’ve seen Lola suggested, but it doesn’t feel natural to me; perhaps it WOULD come about naturally, though, or perhaps another nickname would instead. (This is how I feel about Clara as well: perhaps she would be called Clary, or perhaps something else would develop on its own.)
Because you like August for a boy, I suggest Augusta. Josephine and Augusta; Joey and Gussie.
Edith on your list makes me think of Meredith. Josephine and Meredith; Joey and Merrie. But that may ruin the family connection element.
Name update!
Dear Swistle,
Thank you so much to you and your readers for your input on our naming debate! We loved reading through the comments and getting opinions from people who were not our family and friends.Our second daughter was born on September 25th and we named her Matilda Louise. We’ve been calling her Tilly and Tilly Lou. Matilda honors grandmothers on both sides of the family and Louise honors my husband’s great-aunt. Big sister Josephine is in love, as are we.
Thanks again!
I went straight for Matilda, too, because it’s on the names-we-both-like list and it’s an honor name to boot. I like Tilly best of the nicknames for it, but they are all cute. I also thought of Augusta. Clara’s my second favorite from the both-like list and Caroline is a favorite of mine, too.
How about Rosemary or Susannah? (Rosie, Susie, or Sukey)
I wonder if spelling Matilda with an h would appeal. Mathilda, then you get bot grandmothers in one name.
Yes, this was my thought too. It is, from memory, the older spelling – Matilda is just Hilda with an additional element added, so the name would be a very legitimate tribute to both grandmothers.
Nicknames I’ve heard used for Mathilda include
Tilly
Tildy
Matty
Good luck!
Your daughter has a lovely name. – Josephine is a favorite of mine.
I also think a name similar in length to Josephine works best for a sister. Matilda or Mathilda is a great option with fine nickname potential. I also like Caroline with the nick name Cal. Edith is nice but seems rather plain next to Josephine and, while, I like Ruby, again I just see it fitting well with Josephine. I do see the other names on your “both like” and “maybes” list as better nicknames than full names
Greta – Margaret or Gretchen
Sadie – Sandrine or Allesandra
Clara- Clarabelle or Clarabeth
Delia – Delphine or Delilah
Hilda – Mathilda
I do like all the names on your list though i would use Nell as a nickname for Elinor or Eleanor. From your husband’s list, I like Marianne with the nickname. Mari.
Before I even got to Swistle’s response, I knew I’d recommend Matilda. It’s a great name, particularly as a sibset with Josephine. You can also do the nickname Mattie, which is again similar to Josephine; classic girl name with a more masculine nickname. Josephine and Matilda. Joey and Mattie.
I’m also a sucker for the nickname Cal, so Caroline is a great option as well. But I had such a eureka! moment when I saw Matilda on your list, so I hesitate to say much besides ‘go with that one!’
Best of luck!
I LOVE Josephine (Joey) – it was a top contender for our daughter . I’m in total agreement with Swistle’s suggestions. My favorites:
Margaret (Greta)
Matilda (Tilly)
Cordelia (Delia or Cory)
Eleanor (Ellie or Nora)
I love Greta! I’m wondering if Swistle (or anyone else) has other options for long forms of Greta. Margaret is the only name I can think of with the nickname Greta. Greta and Joey are super cute together.
My great aunt was Marguerite, and went by Greta. I always liked it! Her sisters were Florence, who went by Flo, and Cynthia, who was called Cyndie.
We have a baby Josephine and a very similar list of sibling names, shockingly similar (Matilda, Edith, Beatrice, Louise). If number two is a girl, we are torn between Beatrice Edith – “Bea” and Matilda Louise “Tilly Lou.” Maybe you’ll like those pairings. We also love the name Magdalena, nn Lena. We’ll see if we are that daring. Since you used the nickname Joey, I wonder if you’d like Georgia, nn Georgie.
I guess I’m in the minority – but a lot of these choices would be out for me with such a unisex/masculine nickname for Baby Girl #1. It would bother me if people ended up thinking Baby#1 “Joey” was a boy and Baby#2 Greta was “the girl” – but that’s just me.
My absolute favorite suggestion was Augusta nn. Gus/Gussie. Coordinates so well with Joey/Josephine.
I could get behind Matilda more if you would consider the nn. Matti.
I would also suggest:
Charlotte nn. Charli
Dominique nn. Dom
Francesca nn. Franki
Penelope nn. Nel
Philippa or Philomena nn. Phil
Theodora nn. Theo
Winnifred nn. Fred
Love, love, love Clementine with Josephine. Not too spunky at all!
Clementine with the nickname Minty is so cute! Joey and Minty.
I agree that Mathilda nn Mattie is lovely too. What about Susanna nn Zanna, Marguerite nn Greta or Nicolette nn Lettie?
All the best!
I was going to suggest Marguerite! It shares Josephine’s French flair!
Matilda and Cordelia are the front runners for me.
I also like
Aurora = Rory.
I named one of my daughters Felicity thinking there would be no nicknames (i’m not a fan of nicknames) and all the little kids at daycare call her City now…which I think is cute and wondering if it will stick with her.
I agree with Britni’s about two girls, one with a more male non and one with a more female nn. Therefore, I would recommend looking more at those first names that lend themselves to a more unisex nn. Those include, among others, Rosemary (Rory), Louisa (Lou or Louie), Edwina (Eddy), Amelia (Mel) and Cordelia (Cory). I’m particularly fond of Cordelia/Cory. Pretty names with fun, unisex nicknames.
I wish you luck!
I would also suggest Stella.
Our girl list was nearly identical for our son Quinn who is now five. Our top two contenders were Beatrice and Verity.
If you don’t like Margaret, I know a girl named Gretchen with the nickname Greta. Also, I love the idea of a double honor with Mathilda.
I really like Matilda for you. I also like Clara, but agree with Swistle that it seems too short and doesn’t offer a nickname the way Josephine does. I also really like Clementine and I don’t find it too spunky at all. Clementine Claire could give you Cici as a nickname.
Like Swistle, I also thought of Augusta for you. The nickname Auggie would be really cute on a girl I think. Since your middle name for a boy is George, perhaps you’d also like Georgia or Georgiana? Joey & Gigi are great together I think.
I also agree with Swistle that I would prefer Greta as a nickname for Margaret. A nickname for Eloise could be Lou. Her suggestion of Cordelia could also give you Delia as a nickname.
Other suggestions are Alberta/Allie, Amelia/Millie, Agatha/Aggie, Helen/Nel or Helena/Nel.
Gigi makes me think of Virginia. That would be sweet with Josephine!
My vote is for Edith Claire. The nickname Edie pairs well with the boyishness of Joey, without actually crossing into a boy-nicknames-theme. I’ve also just been in love with the name ever since it’s been in the news so much lately with Edie Windsor. I like Claire better than Pearl because I think Edith is kind of on the cutting edge of old lady names becoming cool again (whereas Josephine is a little safer), and Claire is a nicely timeless counterbalance to that.
I agree with everything above … also, “Emmy” makes a cute nickname for Clementine :) Totally not too spunky!
I adore Greta. Also love Vera, Gretchen, and Ingrid.
I don’t think Clementine is too spunky at all! I love that both names have the -ine ending but are pronounced differently. Margaret, Matilda, Eloise, Sadie, and Meredith are also great options. I think Wilhelmina is cute too, with many nn options (Willa, Willo, Minnie, Mina). Have fun choosing!
I knew sisters named Josephine (Jo/JoJo/Joey) and Augusta (Gus) and it was swoon-worthy.
Augusta Claire and Augusta Pearl are both gorgeous. I like the echoed three syllables.
Edith/Edie is great too.
Not sure if anyone has suggested it yet, but what about Georgia (George/Georgie)? Josephine May and Georgia Pearl.
Also:
Alice with nn Al or Ali
Frances nn Frankie
Theodora nn Teddie
I know a set of sisters named Matilda and Josephine! The names are darling together. I like the suggestion of Mathilda, and that also adds Hildy as a nickname option.
I too went straight for Mathilda. Love it with Josephine!
I know two little Eloise’s… one is nicknamed LouLou, the other The Weasel. I totally prefer Weasel!
I love the Harriet/Hattie suggestion as well as Francesca/Frankie.
Mathilda really jumped out at me, too – and I love the combination of Mathilda Claire. You also get two possible nicknames -Mattie and Hildy. The reason I mention having an option of nicknames is what your girls’ preferences will be as they get older. My niece is Calliope, and is very sensitive ti being Cal as opposed to Callie. Just something to take into consideration- even though we give our children their names, they ultimately take ownership of them.
As mentioned upthread, Virginia is a great choice – Ginny as a nickname.
Speaking from the perspective of an “old lady” (I prefer the more respectful term “elder”), I suggest going with a true old-time nickname that is light-hearted in the vein of Joey. Do you really expect Joey to go by Joey when she’s an adult? The nicknames that you mention seem to be too modern. My nn is Winnie, my friend Roberta’s nn is Thingy and my childhood friend Lucretia’s nn was Tickle. You might consider Matilda nn Millie, Mildred nn Millie, Illy or Dressie, Hagatha nn Spinner or Velma nn Elm.
My MIL is Matilda nn Teddy. Joey and Teddy.
Look no further, I have the perfect name! As your name choices are almost identical to mine–I love every name on your list and am about to have a boy (August George is our top choice, how funny is that:) We have a girl and almost went with Greta or Adeline (Addy) . ok, drumroll please… your new sweet precious daughter should go by
Eloise
nn: Ellie or E
its classic, feminine,
I am with Kim. Eloise is both classic and feminine.
Also: Though made famous, to my mind, as nn for Louise (à la Louise Jefferson), a playful nn for your daughter Eloise could be Weezie.
Surely not to be her everyday sobriquet, Weezie proves an option for a sportive nom de guerre when stakes are not high.
I am of two minds.
Mariana is such a delight. The phonics blend well with Kerchew, yet not so much as to sound daft. Some years ago I worked in an international setting; the names of my co-workers rang through the corridors with accents a vowels akimbo. The office manager for West African neo-natal care was named Mariana (nn: Mari). My boss, a Basilian-Portuguese, would pronounce the nickname, rightly or wrongly, as a softly drawn out Maahrie. I just LOVE that nn.
My only concern with the name Mariana indecently reflects a (subliminal?) connection with the famed trench – what with your little angel being female. DH says I am verging on puerility with my concern; full disclosure.
Please don’t let my meandering dissuade you, Mariana is my fav of the lot!
Greta falls a distant second.