Dear Swistle,
We are pregnant with our third child—a girl!—in April 2016 and we need your help. Our first two children’s names are Harriet Paloma (“Hattie”), and Hugo Campion. Our last name is the season in which one usually finds snow.
We love both of our kids’ names. Both first names are family names. They feel vintage and are fairly rare. Their middle names feel (to my ears) more modern and have religious significance (“Paloma,” meaning “dove” which stands both for peace and for the Holy Spirit, “Campion,” after St. Edmund Campion). We decided that we would not bind ourselves to the established pattern of naming for the third child (Fusty Family Name + Modern Religious)—there are only so many names in the family tree! This relaxing of the “rules” has allowed us to greatly expand our list. But ironically, this hasn’t seemed to help us come to a decision.
Boys are easier and if this baby had been male he would have been either Magnus or Lewis.
But girls are another story. Out of the HUNDREDS of names on our list only two seem to be names we could see our child carrying. Well that is okay, in theory. The baby only needs one name after all. But this is the problem: one of these names is highly, highly unusual and perhaps culturally inappropriate. The other is…perhaps….boring.
So as of now we are stuck between:
Consuelo, nicknamed “Coco”
And
Margaret.
In my angst regarding both of these names I am beginning to realize that being a name nerd doesn’t always help you name actual humans. First because your name “normal” is not everyone else’s “normal”: while I might swoon over a sib-set including Otis, Errol, and Olympia (for real!), the other mommies in the pediatrician’s office might roll their eyes. Secondly, the name nerd overthinks names. It is the definition of a name nerd. And overthinking ruins baby-naming.
Consuelo. I have always been fascinated by the French and Spanish-language tradition of naming children after the Virgin Mary, but using her many titles or apparition locations. English is pretty limited when it comes to honor names for the Blessed Mother. We have Mary, Marie, and some more unusual, but related, variants such as Mae, Mamie, Maren, Molly. But nothing compared with the range and diversity of the French/Spanish naming tradition: Lourdes, Carmel, Soledad, Guadalupe, Luz, Amparo, Araceli, Socorro, Belen, Pilar, Delores. And on and on! My daughter’s godmother is Monserrat after Our Lady of Monserrat (love!!).
I have loved Consuelo for a long time. The elegant Consuelo Vanderbilt (picture below) carried the name well with an Anglo surname and the nickname “Coco” makes the name more accessible for a little girl. The name’s meaning—“Solace”—is so beautiful and important to me.
However. I worry. I worry. I worry. Is Consuelo TOO unusual? Will the name be a blessing or a burden to my daughter? But the unusualness/obscurity doesn’t usually bother me. In fact, it is usually an added attraction when I consider a name. What really worries me about “Consuelo” is that it would be somehow culturally presumptuous, or offensive to choose a name that comes from a different language tradition. We have no Spanish-language knowledge or heritage.
I constantly justify myself. “If Cosima, Bohdi, and Freya are being discussed and used, then Consuelo is no different, no less foreign to many American namers,” I say. But still I worry.
So what do you think about Consuelo?
Next is Margaret. I am surprised that I like Margaret as much as I do. It is much more popular than names I typically like and much more…standard. Margaret seems to me traditional, but more than traditional—predictable. A name that won’t shock the grandparents but won’t really excite them either. So I can’t believe it—but I love Margaret. Love it! I love how it sounds. I love it’s meaning. And even more than this, it just FEELS like our kid. Hattie, Hugo and Margaret.
So what do you think? Is Margaret too popular? Is it too…boring?
AND beyond these names we remain open to suggestions! –though I feel like I have considered EVERY possible name in existence! Other names that we love and have discarded for one reason or another:
Jemima (absolute favorite made impossible by racial issues in the US)
Mabel (love in theory but something doesn’t sound right when I say it)
Peregrine (yes, for a girl. They boys aren’t using it anyway! But husband feels that it sounds “hard”)
Martha (I love this but husband not so much)
Hazel (too popular, too similar to previous children)
Marina (husband vetoed: too girly)Any suggestions? Helpful advice?
Sincerely,
Sarah
For me, the startle factor of “Harriet, Hugo, and Consuelo” is high. Quite high. “Harriet, Hugo, and Margaret,” on the other hand, has a high delight factor.
As you say, certain names from other countries have become or are becoming mainstream in our country, and so why should Consuelo be any different? I think it’s because Consuelo hasn’t done that yet: only 28 new baby girls were given the name in 2014, in the entire United States. It’s still a shock, and particularly since you’ve started with completely mainstream names for your first two children: rare/unusual, but very familiar.
Perhaps the name Consuelo WILL become more common in the future, particularly with that appealing -o ending, and SOMEONE has to start the ball rolling. If this were your first child, I might say go ahead, or at least say I didn’t see why it would necessarily have to be ruled out. But Harriet, Hugo, and Consuelo is a sticking point for me: the startle factor goes beyond what I personally would want to deal with. I do also worry about the cultural aspect of it, though I don’t have enough experience with the subject to advise, only to join in your anxiety.
Another, smaller issue is that Coco doesn’t strike me as an instinctive nickname for Consuelo, in sound or in style. It isn’t that you couldn’t force it, but I do think you’d need some effort behind it.
However, I think the name Consuelo would make a perfect middle name. I think of the middle name position as the ideal place for names that have great meaning/significance for us but also have too high a startle factor or any other similar issue. Margaret Consuelo is a pretty kick-butt name, and coordinates beautifully with Harriet Paloma and Hugo Campion. Paloma (peace) and Consuelo (solace) are particularly well-matched.
I don’t find the name Margaret boring at all, but of course that is a subjective issue and everyone will feel differently about it. It doesn’t feel particularly common to me, either: I only know one child named Margaret, and it was fresh and surprising to hear her name when I met her. But of course that will vary by location: other areas may be simply RIFE with Margarets. Certainly it is more common than the name Harriet: there were 1,933 new baby girls named Margaret in 2014, and only 127 new baby girls named Harriet.
I would like to zero in on Delores from your list of examples of the range of the Spanish/French naming traditions. It seems to me it’s everything you’re looking for, without the downsides of the name Consuelo, and it works beautifully with the vintage/fusty/rare style you were going for with the name Harriet. It’s currently very rare in the United States (only 15 new baby girls given the name in 2014—even rarer than Consuelo), but because it HAS been used in the U.S., it feels familiar, as Harriet does. It also has great nickname potential: I know a little girl who sometimes goes by Del or Delly, and it’s adorable.
Or could I persuade you to use one of my own favorites, Millicent? I think it goes very well with Harriet, and has the wonderful nickname Milly/Millie. Hattie and Millie!
Or Winifred. Or Louisa.
I think Margaret Consuelo is perfect! I think Margaret isn’t as boring as you think and it has a ton of cute nicknames to liven it up: Meg, Maggie, Margo, Mattie, Go, Greta.
Oh yes, Margaret is a favorite of mine. It’s such a magical name: familiar but uncommon on children (at least in the Midwest), with many nicknames (Margot, Maggie, Madge, Meg, Greta, Gretchen, Gretel, Daisy, Peggy, Maisie), and a beautiful long history.
I can definitely see Hattie, Hugo, Margaret (Greta?), Magnus, and Lewis as a set.
Swistle’s on point today. Margaret Consuelo W!nter fits your not-requirement-but-pattern really beautifully. Delores/Dolores also honors the Virgin Mary, and has the nickname Lola as well as Del. (I love Del!)
I agree with Swistle that Consuelo is a jarring match with the sibling set but beautiful for a middle name, especially when paired with your older daughter’s name. If you’re looking for a more unusual nickname for Margaret, Peggy might be a good option paired with Hattie.
Dear Sarah,
I have to add my vote for Margaret Consuelo. You never mentioned the combination yourself, is there perhaps a reason why you cannot/don’t want to use both? I will not repeat all that Swistle suggested, but using Margaret Consuelo just seems like the perfect solution for you and really is a beautiful combination on top of the great fit for your family. Please use both for your new baby girl! I am looking forward to reading your update, I hope I don’t miss it. All the best.
I am on the Margaret Consuelo team as well. I think that is a gorgeous name, pairs beautifully with your other children, and has amazing nickname potential.
When you said, “The name Margaret just feels like our kid,” that was the clincher for me. I think it’s delightful and fresh, matches the sib set beautifully, has oodles of nickname possibilities. Margaret Consuelo would be a perfect compromise.
I’ve encountered Dolores more often than Delores, which gives you Dolly as another charming nickname possibility. And +1 for Lola, which is or used to be the common Spanish nickname for Dolores. Both fit well with your set, I’d say. (and hurray for Paloma, one of my own favorites! nice to see it out and about)
Delores seems like “mom”ish to me… Belonging to the Linda and Gail and that generation. Whereas Dolores gives me the retro/vintage grandma name that is cool and coming back into style. But I’m also very visual.
Well, I’m a Gail and my Aunt Dolores is 25 years older than me. She was born in the late 20’s, I was born in the early 50’s. I didn’t know any little girls named Dolores, nor were there any in my high school graduating class of 500+. But quite a few in the generation “ahead” of me. So I think of Dolores as solidly great-grandmother.
Delores seems like “mom”ish to me… Belonging to the Linda and Gail and that generation. Whereas Dolores gives me the retro/vintage grandma name that is cool and coming back into style. But I’m also very visual.
Consuelo also reads boy to me. I was thrown off there for sure. I am hands down in the Margaret Consuelo boat with everyone else.
What about Pearl?
it seems mom-ish to me too but that is because it is my step-mom’s name. I’m almost 50 and she is in her 70’s. She has several great-grand kids so it really could qualify as the retro grandma coming back into style name. But I like Margaret Consuelo or Margaret Deloris.
Margaret Consuelo is PERFECT!!!!!!!!!
Margaret Consuelo sounds perfect to me.
It fits with the siblings
Has great nickname possibilities. My fav are Margo or Greta. Also I feel like that solves your problem that you feel like it’s too common or popular. Which I disagree.
I feel like this name allows you to break from the h names in a natural and pleasing sib set manor.
I also think the middle name is perfect to match with the siblings. It would seem a shame if you didn’t use it. I hope you comment to explain maybe the reason if there is one why you didn’t mention the possibility in your letter.
I also think Millicent is another great option Hattie and Millie sounds so sweet.
I don’t even want to come up with any suggestions because I feel like you have already come up with the perfect name. :)
Another vote for Margaret! It’s a good fit with your older kids’ names and has so many nickname options. I like Consuelo better as a middle name, and it coordinates well with Paloma.. Margaret Consuelo seems perfect for you.
I thought of Margaret Consuelo immediately. It goes so nicely with Harriet Paloma too! I also like Dolores (nn Dolly). Might you like Dorothy (nn Dottie/Dotty)? It’s one of my favorites and my husband has vetoed it every time. Dorothy Consuelo works for me too. Dottie and Hattie. Dorothy and Harriet and Hugo.
Margaret Consuelo is absolutely perfect. Just do it. :)
I have to say, Consuelo definitely doesn’t sound right with your other names, and I also immediately think of Princess Consuela Banana-Hammock (phoebe’s fake name on Friends, which is obviously a very obscure reference, but it did make me pause and think Conseulo would be the masculine form. And it does, to me, sound masculine.)
But it is perfect as a middle name, goes well with your other middle names. And Margaret is so sweet and ripe with nickname potential. Maggie! Margie! even Peggy! I don’t know ANY little Margarets, and I have a baby and a preschooler…constantly hearing names! I love it!!
I adore Coco as a nickname, but with your last name, it sounds a bit porn star-ish to me: Cocoa Wint3r.
I’d go with cutesy rather than porn star – that seems a bit harsh.
I think the fact that Margaret is the one that feels right should end the search. And I love the idea of using Consuelo as the middle name.
p.s. I only know one kid Margaret, 9 years old, goes by Maggie.
Repeating what others have said, but another vote for Margaret Consuelo (also wondering wouldn’t the feminine form be Consuela?). It may be boring but there is a ton of nicknames available – I think Daisy would make a good sister for Hattie. I personally know two school aged girls named Meg but I wouldn’t call it a popular name, just classic.
I think that the nickname Coco with your surname would invite a lot of playground teasing.
Margaret Consuelo nn Margo or Greta or Daisy is perfect!
Harriet, Hugo and Margaret
Hattie, Hugo and Greta – I think I like that nickname best because it doesn’t match ending sounds with Hattie or Hugo <3
I love Margaret Consuelo.
Perhaps you want to reserve Magnus for a future boy, but in case that is not the case…. How about Magdalena? Both Magda and Lena seem like great nicknames.
Another member of team Margaret Consuelo! Also another nn for Margaret: Garet. I have had a co-worker with that nn.
I also like Delores/Dolores and Millicent. What about Dorothy? Constance? Prudence? Priscilla? Henrietta? Matilda – Hattie and Mattie! Or Hattie and Tilly! Or Hattie and Teddy (my MIL’s nn)?
Another vote for Margaret Consuelo! I live in an area that should be rife with young Margarets, but I have yet to meet one under the age of 60 (even though I interact daily with the 5-and-under crowd). I love it. And I love Greta as a nickname: Hattie, Hugo, and Greta! And Daisy: Hattie, Hugo, and Daisy!
I totally vote for Margaret. The entire sib-set rings with joy. I also love Millicent with this sibling group. Harriet, Hugo, and Millicent. Fabulous. Would “Flavia” also be a possibility? Harriet, Hugo, and Flavia?
For what it’s worth, I also completely agree with Swistle.
Thank you Swistle and Swistle readers for your thoughtful and helpful comments! A few of you wonder why I haven’t considered “Margaret Consuelo.” The reason is found in our first child’s name: Harriet Paloma. As we were discussing names I found that the names we loved came in two very distinct categories: the fusty, familiar and vintage vs. modern, exotic. Or maybe colors would help for the synesthesia sufferers: dark red versus pristine blue (as I see them). So we had: Harriet, Hugo, Hazel, Mabel, Lewis in one category and Paloma, Cosima, Peregrine (f) Freya, August, Milo in the other. When I was pregnant with Hattie I was equally torn between two names: Harriet and Paloma. We ended up with Harriet as the first name because of its family connection and familiarity, and used Paloma because I couldn’t give it up. A part of me is sad that I didn’t save Paloma for a future daughter, despite the style shift that would accompanied sisters Hattie and Paloma. With this baby I feel the same anxiety, and hate to use Consuelo in the middle place for fear there might be another girl someday… And then I couldn’t use it. But I do fear that I have already made that choice by choosing the fusty vintage names for the first two. Does all this rambling make sense?
I get it. I do. But I don’t think time will make Consuelo less jarring in the sib set if you have a fourth child, and your 4th could be a boy an then you never use it.
Go with Margaret Consuelo. Love it :-)
I’m with Bff. Any reasons you might hesitate about using Consuelo now will likely feel more prohibitive once you add a third “dark red” name to the family…and then, by your logic, wouldn’t you perhaps regret not having used Consuelo in the middle-name spot, when you had the chance?
Also, Margaret Consuelo is, I think, the PERFECT parallel for her (possible) older sister Harriet Paloma, since Harriet is also “dark red” (I know exactly what you mean about the colors, though I might have picked different colors to describe these naming categories!) and Paloma is also a name one would expect to find on a Spanish speaker.
Sarah, that does make sense. Also, can I just add that this was one of the most fun questions I’ve read in a long time! So, I think I get what you’re saying, but I still feel Consuelo won’t fly well here in the U.S. I LOVE Margaret Consuelo though, and I don’t know any Margaret’s– but I might live in the wrong area for it. BUT you have to love it too! I think you could go a different direction than fusty, but maybe something different than consuelo. BTW I have a Harriet (nn Hattie) too! I also have an Elle and a Georgia, if you happen to like either of those :). I do hope you will update us!!
Yes, you make sense! I don’t think you necessarily NEED to confine yourself to a strict style because you have 2 other kids. I think sometimes name nerds fall into this trap because we are so used to categorizing names…or because we love establishing themes so much, idk. I’m pregnant with my second daughter and both daughters are (will be) named after their grandmothers. My first daughter’s name is fairly more familiar than the second’s, and sometimes I feel anxiety about it, which is dumb, really. It’s their grandmothers’ names!
I really like the idea of Mary honor names! Consuelo isn’t the easiest though. I think it may be the -o ending. Do you like Lourdes or Pilar? I’m not Catholic, but their is a Catholic naming blog called Sancta Nomina that may be able to help you out. Too bad your husband doesn’t like Marina…reminds me of Mary, star of the sea.
Please name your sweet baby girl Margaret Consuelo. I’m in love.
I’ll throw out a couple of new ideas!
Haizea
Helene
Marguerite
Marisol
What about Miriam?
I also agree with Swistle that Margaret Consuelo is a great option. But in response to Sarah’s follow-up…
What would make you feel worse: Having another daughter and not being able to use Consuelo as her fn, or not having a second daughter and never using Consuelo?
Also, were Margaret and Consuelo on your lists with your first two children or did you fall in love with new names with each baby? Perhaps if you use Consuelo as this baby’s middle, there will be other names you fall in love with as much or more if you do have another daughter.
I really like that you have 2 name styles and each child gets one of each style. I hope no matter what you choose for this baby’s name, that they get a little red and a little blue in their name.
Really loving Margaret Consuelo too! Not ‘fusty’ at all to my ear and sounds fantastic with your other children’s names.
Consuelo made me instantly think of the name Constance. Harriet, Hugo and Constance sound great together! Hattie and Connie or Hattie and Coco are both sweet combos for sisters.
Constance Pilar or Constance Amparo perhaps?
Margaret is a wonderfully strong name which isn’t ‘boring’ at all and, as you’ve said, just feels right. I think you’ve already made up your mind!
Good luck!
I also love Margaret Consuelo! If I were in your shoes, I would use Margaret Consuelo and not hold on to Consuelo for a potential future daughter. You may not be able to use it, if you don’t have another girl or you fall in love with a totally new list of names or a new Mary-related name comes up on your radar. I also think the initials M.C. are fun, could even be another nickname!
How funny! This was 7 years ago now, but I agonized over giving my daughter such an unusual name as Margaret. Would her midde school classmates call her an old lady?? Luckily the name trends worked out in my favor, as “old lady names” are in style :)
We don’t actually know any other young Margarets in person, though! I have a couple internet friends with baby Margarets, but mine is the only one in our social circle/elementary school. I wouldn’t call it boring, but it IS traditional, I suppose. Is that what you meant?
Margaret Consuelo is lovely.
If you’re still open to other ideas, what about Maren?
It shares a root with Mary, has a lot in common with Mabel, is more tailored than Marina, and sounds GREAT with Harriet and Hugo! Mari, Mimi, and Minnie are darling nicknames.
Hattie, Hugo, and Mimi make a fantastic sibset.
So if you don’t use Margaret, my vote is for Maren Consuelo.
For what it’s worth, I’m also known as a big time name nerd among friends (as in, I have helped name several of their offspring), so when I name my own kids, I do feel some pressure to never pick the expected or “vanilla” name. But when you love a name, and it just feels right… well, that’s your kid’s name. And it IS hard to walk that weird balance between not shocking the grandparents and not giving your child a “memory-less” name. So keep doing what you’re doing! Your other two have awesome monikers, and this darling girl will, too.
Best wishes!
My sister is a Margaret who goes by Mimi — it has worn well and the nickname helps make it wear a bit lighter, a la Hattie.
Consuelo reads boy to me. If I were to read the sibset of Harriet, Hugo and Consuelo, I would assume girl, boy, boy. Margaret doesn’t seem boring to me. It seems classic. And it has such fun nickname potential! I like Margaret better for you.
And as for using Consuelo as the middle name, I guess you’ll have to balance the potential regret of not being able to use it in the future vs. the potential regret of not using it at all. With my two daughters, I’ve done both, used a beloved name as a middle and saved another beloved name for later. In the end, I’ve been happy with both of my daughter’s names.
What about Simone? It doesn’t really flow that well with your other two kiddos names but it’s more adventurous yet still vintage and uncommon. I really love the name.
I love Simone!!
The only thing I can add is that if I saw a sib set of Harriet, Hugo and Conseulo, I would think the third child was adopted and the decision was made not to change the child’s birthname. Of course, this may be a non-issue if your daughter looks very much like her parents and siblings. But I think the jarring difference means people will try to come up with reasons for it ,,,, adopted, different father, Latino grandfather, etc?
I had that exact same thought. I will say, too, that as an older Mexican-American, I had a particularly strong negative reaction to it. It isn’t so much about appropriation as it is about the particular culture – if the name read French, it wouldn’t be a problem. But there is still a lot of prejudice towards Spanish speakers in this country, so to place this traditional of a Spanish name on a third child is tricky. I would assume you adopted her from Guatemala or somewhere similar.
Which wouldn’t mean you loved her less, just sets up an assumption she shouldn’t have to correct her whole life. Dolores does not carry that weight (and I love Lola). Consuelo as a middle doesn’t either.
As for the ethnic propriety, I would want to check with some Spanish speakers about Conseulo for a girl. If Conseulo is primarily male, it may come across as ignorant and inappropriate for a person who only speaks English to use it for a daughter,
If a Spanish speaker uses Conseulo for a daughter that seems like an English speaker using James for a daughter – chosen knowing the tradition of the name. However, if a non-English speaker chose James for a daughter, I would question if the parents bothered to understand our language and traditions.
I think using Conseulo in your situation is totally inappropriate. Sorry. As a middle, I could maybe see it. Margaret is lovely, though, and not as common as you think, I would bet.
I agree the startle factor of Consuelo with your other children’s names is very, very high. So high I could see people hearing the names & assuming one is adopted or perhaps that it’s a blended family. I also worry about cultural appropriation with this one. It is Very Spanish. I think it would be wonderful as a middle name for Margaret. I don’t find Margaret boring at all, especially with a fun nickname like Maggie or Mamie.
However, if you want a less common Marian name, I don’t think I’d blink twice about Delores/Dolores. It fits with your other kids’ names and the nickname Lola seems similar to Coco. Or even the word name “Solace” could work. It still has a high startle factor with the sibling names, but without the cultural appropriation concerns.
Maybe it’s because of where I live (the South), but I know several non-Hispanic Consuelos/Consuelas (and a Bonita and a Dolores), so it does not feel like cultural appropriation to me. If this were your first child, I’d say go for it. However, the naming pattern you’ve established with Harriet and Hugo just doesn’t work with Consuelo.
If Margaret Consuelo is a no-go, what about the name Gloria? It’s got both a vintage vibe and lovely religious connotations (what I wouldn’t give to be Portuguese and name my child Maria da Gloria!).
I am a native Spanish speaker whose mom is named Consuelo, and we live in California. I do not feel that using Consuelo would be inappropriate in the least. And for those wondering, it is a FEMALE name exclusively (other female names ending in “o” include Amparo, Cielo, Lucero, Rocio).
I love Coco as a nickname for Consuelo and think Hattie and Coco are wonderful for sisters’ nicknames! Since Hugo is used in Spanish as well, a case could be made that Harriet is the odd one out – but C0c0 W/nt3r creates a word picture, albeit a nice one (hot cocoa by the fireplace?).
Then there is your follow-up comment: “But I do fear that I have already made that choice by choosing the fusty vintage names for the first two”. Since it sounds like you plan to have more children, break the pattern NOW before you feel trapped into using only certain types of names. So, now that I have campaigned for Consuelo, I will end by reminding you of this: [Margaret] just FEELS like our kid.
You might have to wait until you meet her.
Oh man, The C0co Wint3r thing never occurred to me until right now. That’s enough for me to vote against Consuelo in the first name slot. Even without the nickname oddity, I strongly recommend Margaret Consuelo. I think it’s gorgeous, Margaret lends itself to so many nicknames, and the sibset flow is so much better with Margaret.
Wanted to chime in to agree with previous poster that Consuelo is 100% a female name in Spanish speaking communities. Boys are not named Consuelo. Think Of English names like Margo, or Greek names like Clio.
However, I think the assumptions being made serve as a glimpse of what OP will experience if she names her daughter Consuelo – and these are responses from name nerds, too!
I immediately thought of Daisy as a nickname for Margaret. Hattie & Daisy–swoon! Love Consuelo in the middle spot, too.
Thank you, Christina! As a Spanish-speaker, I was thinking the exact same thing about Harriet being the odd one out in that sibset.
I think the only reason Consuelo would be odd to Spanish-speakers in the U.S. is because they aren’t naming their kids that right now. It’s like when I met a Mexican woman in her early 20s named Nanci. I thought, Huh…
I say if you want to do Consuelo, go for it. Skip the suggested Dolores. I never understood naming children after pain.
And BTW, I absolutely love Margaret. I’m so pleased when I hear it, which is rarely. I have some regret for not having used it myself as it was my grandmother’s name. You’ve got good options. Maybe Christina’s advice is best: wait until you meet her!
I want to be your friend. I’m serious. Our taste in names and level of nerdery are a delightful match. I am delighted. I swooned over Otis, Errol, and Olympia as a sibset. THANK YOU for sharing!! I hadnt heard that one.
Peregrine FOR A GIRL is one of my all time favorite names ever. (Harriet and Hugo are also favorite names, names I truly love. Hugo has the best meaning of all time.) I wish your husband liked it, although it would be a n amazing choice for a daughter after Margaret Consuelo. That too is my vote. Although Consuelo is absolutely a girls name, I think the -o ending is confusing because you have a Hugo, if that makes sense. (My son is Asa and if we were to have a girl next, ALL ends in -a names are off the list because it would make Asa seem like a girls name, I think. Peregrine though would be at the top.) Also, Margaret is not boring at all! It is an utterly gorgeous name, as you rightly attest, and its endurance is testament to that. I don’t think it’s overly popular and there are so many nn to choose from that if there were another Margaret around they most likely want to be called different things. Margaret Consuelo is just so so beautiful. A name you just want to roll around in your mouth forever.
Another vote for Margaret! (Coming from a 30-something Margaret) It sounds so right with your other names. And Hugo Hattie and Margo would be adorable nns. Or Hugo Hattie and Greta. So many possibilities!
I love both Margaret and Consuelo. And BOTH would be good choices for your daughter. I may be a name nerd, but I simply don’t get why sibling names are required to “match” because of some unknowable set of rules. Are some combinations more interesting or surprising than others? – Yes! And these combos make great stories. As long as you’re not passing on some strong parental expectations of your child, don’t shy away from a good story.
This is a really good point, I agree!