Hello!
I have a baby girl named Ava and just found out I’m having another girl in August! The 2 girl names I didn’t end up going with the first time around are Evelyn and Olivia and I really wish I would have chosen either of those over Ava for my first daughter’s name. If I chose one of these runner ups for daughter #2, do you think it pairs well with Ava?
Ava and Evelyn
Ava and Olivia
The 2 main reasons I like Evelyn and Olivia better than Ava are 1) they’re longer names and I like how they LOOK written better than the 3-letter “Ava”. 2) I love the nicknames they offer “Ev/Evie” or “Liv/Livi”. It’s difficult to shorten “Ava.”
We ended up going w Ava bc it was the only name we both could agree on at the time, now husband has warmed up to these 2 names.
What are your thoughts if I choose one and which do you prefer paired w Ava?
Last name rhymes with Hide.Thanks!!!
I think both names work equally well with Ava. Both names repeat some of the sounds of Ava, which may or may not bother you. The name Evelyn gives me just a little bit of a feeling of adding a -lyn to Ava. The name Olivia gives me just a little bit of a feeling of adding an Oli- to Ava.
The feeling is even stronger with the proposed nicknames. Ava and Evie, Ava and Livi. You would need to be on board with this similarity, I think, and not be upset if other people got the names tangled or confused. But plenty of parents really love pairings with similar sounds: Emmy and Abby, Braden and Grady, Lucy and Lottie, Braden and Brinley.
I have a slight preference for Evelyn, I think because it has a different ending than Ava. But I like the way Olivia has a different emphasis, and a more-different first syllable. Well, it’s hard to decide.
You might also like the names Vivian and Genevieve.
Let’s have a poll:
I choose Olivia because I find myself getting tongue-tied saying Ava and Evelyn. I want to say Ava and Avalyn. I realize that’s not a big deal because you won’t always say their names together. And when I say Evelyn and Ava my tongue is not tied. Idk. My two cents. :)
I would personally vote for Guinevere. Or Genevieve.
I chose Ava and Olivia, but honestly, I don’t like either option with Ava. It almost feels like you want a do-over of Ava’s name, which isn’t fair to her. Instead of considering how Olivia and Evelyn are better than Ava, I would throw out both of them and start looking for a different name altogether.
I chose Olivia because of the emphasis being on the seconds syllable. All three names have a lot of commonalities, but the changed emphasis does more to differentiate it for me than the different ending of Evelyn.
I feel that Evelyn is easier to say with Ava, but Evie and Ava are harder than Livie and Ava. Either way you might get really toungue tied calling your girls
I know you didn’t ask for suggestions but there are several similar names that are just as lovely as Olivia and Evelyn but easier to say with Ava. For your consideration:
Vivian, Vivi and Ava
Eleanor, Ellie and Ava
Emilia, Emmie and Ava
I chose Olivia over Evelyn too since Evelyn sounds so close to Ava-Lynn.
If you’re open to it, I would get a new name. The closeness of either choice with Ava would bug me. It doesn’t bother everyone though as I have friends with an Olivia (Livi) and a Levi. And you know, once they’re adults, they won’t be as associated with each other anyway.
My husband has a long last name so I’ve been interested in short names for our kiddo due in late June, even though he’s been interested in longer ones, I’ll include a bunch of the ones we’ve been discussing – maybe some of these will appeal with Ava:
Iris
Mae (although not if the name actually sounds like “Hide” because it would sound like “may hide”)
Pearl
Grace
Irene
Alice
Sonia
Eliza (I really like Eliza with Ava, fwiw)
Beatrice
Genevieve
Good luck!
If we are choosing between Evelyn and Olivia, then I would (and did) vote for Olivia, for reasons already pointed out here. Evelyn is beautiful, but it sounds like an elaboration of Ava. There are a lot of people who now use more elaborate names (Avery, Averly, Everly, Avalyn, etc.) to get to Ava as a nickname, so even without knowing that you like Evelyn better, I’m already inclined to see Evelyn as a more-developed version of the Ava idea. And after trying several times to say the names together out loud without garbling them at all, I reached the very scientific conclusion that the average speaker will have a hard time with this.
But if you’re open to considering other names, I also vote against Olivia for a number of reasons:
1. For one thing, it brings in immediate baggage–you like this name better, and have regrets about Ava’s name because of it.
2. If you are planning to refer to Olivia as Liv, you might accidentally remind some people of the Target clothing line (Ava & Viv). (Also, while Olivia looks more elaborate than Ava does written out, Liv does not, and that seems to be something that holds significance for you!)
3. I know (both directly and secondhand) a total of four couples who have named their daughters Ava and Olivia, in that order, and one who named them the same names in reverse order (and another who might have had an Ava/Olivia daughter pair if the second child hadn’t been a boy, named Oliver). Given the extreme popularity of both names, it’s not surprising that I know a lot of little Avas and Olivias. But the recurrence of this sibset as a whole makes me think that there are a lot of parents to whom both names are appealing, and that you may come across other pairs by these names later in your daughters’ lives. That would bother me if it happened even once, especially if I’d already been dealing with remarks on the popularity of the names individually. Would you mind that?
4. If more children are planned, will you feel boxed into using another strong-v-sound name?
LSS, I’d choose something else, if that option is on the table.
Now that I’ve done one extra bit of research, I should add that Olivia and Ava are the top two names in my state, and honestly I have met an overwhelming number of little girls with both names! Your experience in a state where they’re less common may vary!
I chose Olivia over Evelyn because I think it sounds nicer with Ava. I do think the names are very similar though and would probably look for other names. Maybe move your choices to the middle name spot?
Love the suggestion of Eliza! Avie and Ellie.
What about Maeve or Livinia?
I’ve always really liked Mia with Ava. Maybe Liv? Mia Evelyn is nice!
Ava and Mia
Ava and Liv
Good luck!
I voted Olivia since it’s the most distinct of the two with Ava to my ear, but I think both are too similar for me to want to use.
I voted for Olivia because it is more distinct from Ava to my ear, and the nickname Livie sounds more distinct as well. I also think Olivia and Ava are a better style/popularity match.
However, the names would be too similar for me (personally) to want to use in the same sib set.
A long-ago friend of mine was named Veronica nn Ivy.
I agree that you should maybe look farther, if you still come back to Olivia and Evelyn, that’s fine.
I’m dittoing Vivian, Genevieve, and Guinevere. What about Valentine or Valerie?
I have an aunt named Evelyn, her sisters are Ann and Estelle. I have a cousin named Olivia, her brother is Julian. Perhaps Gillian/Jillian or Juliette?
What about Violet or Viola? Lavinia?
I prefer Olivia, but they both feel a little too close to Ava for me.
Suggestions = Vera, Violet, Ivy, Eve (but not Eva), Nova
Also, I have three girls. Two with long names that we never shorten but have alternative family nicknames and one with a very short name that also has no nickname (which was a goal in picking names as I dislike people shortening my name) Sometimes we call the short name girl by her initials (many syllables) or her first name + second initial or oddly just by repeating her first name twice. You never know where a nick name name will come from, and what will stick!
I voted for Olivia, but like many of the previous commenters I don’t particularly like either with Ava. (Although all 3 are beautiful names.) What about Amelia nn Mia? Can you go back to the drawing board and use Evelyn or Olivia as a middle? Amelia Evelyn Hide.
Longer names that I also like that may be in your style wheelhouse: Isabel (Izzy) and Eleanor (oh – Ava and Ellie – that is so cute).
Congrats on your baby girl!
I voted for Olivia but it was close. I like both, on their own merits and with the sister name Ava.
Of the names you listed I would probably pick Olivia mostly because it seems the most in step with Ava both being in the 10 ten. I have multiple friends with Olivias who have Ava siblings. The other most common sibling name for my friends’ Olivias is Zoey.
I voted either but, like others, would look elsewhere.
Instead of Evelyn, how about Evangeline? The greater number of syllables softens the similarity to my ear. You could still try Ava and Evvy, but if they are too similar you have options: Ava and Lina are sweet together.
I think I am drawn towards V names with a harder consonant element to differentiate from Ava, and I wonder if you are too. Instead of Olivia, what about Vivica? Ava and Vivi. Or Virginia, or Victoria, though those ones don’t translate to nicknames as fluidly.
I love the idea of exploring the Z sound, and Ava and Eliza sound perfect together to me. Or Ava and Esme. Ava and Zadie/Sadie. I also love Ava with Elise or Elyse, which makes me wonder if you might explore names that contain the softer vowels of Evelyn or Olivia without the V. Odilia? Emmerson?
I agree with previous posters that Ava and Eliza work well. Genevieve is also nice.
Ava and Zoe are great together! Love!
I agree that Ava and Evelyn sound too similar…I, too, get caught up saying Ava and Avalyn. Ava and Olivia are more symmetrical to me. I actually really like that sibset and would have suggested it regardless! :) the popularity doesn’t bother me…clearly, that is your taste, and for good reason…all three names are beautiful, and that is why they are popular!
I think Olivia works best out of the two. Ava and Olivia. I think you should start a new list as well and not get stuck on the runner ups.
Ava and Bryn
Ava and Mya
Ava and Lila
Ava and Esme
Ava and Vera
I voted Evelyn because I find Ava and Olivia a really generic sibset. I feel like both are beautiful names, but together they pull each other down. I think you should go back to the drawing board and find other names that aren’t quite so similar.
I love the suggestion of Estelle. Estee is also gorgeous. Ava and Estee – omg love. Odessa!?! It’s so underused. Iona?
I picked Olivia, but I agree with other commenters that it might be best to start from scratch.
They are all nice names, to me they sound like the same name in fact. I was tossing up the names Mary and May for my last (who was a boy in the end), it was a choice between two very similar names with very similar nicknames. Part of the difficulty was that using one meant ruling out ever using the other…. I think you are in that situation. Having a small number of children means ruling out using some names you love.
I do think also that you need to let go of regrets about Ava’s name. Your hubby liked Ava better and that is what you went with. That’s fine. It’s a nice name. It doesn’t meet all of your criteria (too short) but ‘we both agreed’ is a BIG criteria! I actually like this name the best on your list of three and I’m sure some other readers do as well.
The other issue with Evelyn and Olivia is that the sibset will really highlight the effect of the high popularity level. Think of siblings Jennifer and Rebecca or Darren and Craig. These were super-fashionable names at one point. Some people will see this as a positive, I am not so sure.
I voted for Evelyn as Ava and Olivia sound really alike in my Australian accent.
Hey, I knew a family that had a Hannah and an Anna! Ava and either Evelyn or Olivia are fine. I have a slight preference for Olivia be because I think Liv/Livvie is better with Ava, and it doesn’t share a root name with Evelyn like Ava does (eve-). Which one do you like more? Pick that one.
My Friend has two Daughters named Ava and Harriett nn Hattie, I think the two names are perfect together. I’m personally don’t like either Olivia or Evelyn with sibling Ava and as a few people have suggested maybe have a really good hunt before you decided on either name as I think they are a little to similar.
Other suggestions
Freya, Heidi, Carys, Maya, Ivy, Eden, Luna, Nora, Clara, Cora, Sage.
Congrats and Goodluck
I think Ava is the loveliest of the three names you have considered so It is unfortunate you wish you hadn’t used. I also agree with the other names you like are both too similar to Ava to be ideal. If I had to pick one, I would go with Olivia and use the nickname Ollie. Evelyn would be okay with the nickname Lin.
If you want a longer name what about the name Adelina with the nickname Addy or Lina?
Or since you seem to like the letter v, what about:
Vivian (Vivi)
Viola (Vi)
Yvonne (Vonni)
Savannah (Vanna)
I also agree they seem too similar, but Olivia nn Liv seems like the best option. Love the idea of Zoey and also Mia or Mila, Aria, Fiona, Rose, Sylvie, Sophie/Sophia, and Violet to match Ava. For longer names that shorten, I like: Amelia, Penelope, Natalie, Genevieve, and Vivian.
Olivia and Evelyn are both nice with Ava, but I agree with others that it might be better to look elsewhere.
Some others I’d suggest:
Chloe
Claire
Isabelle (nickname Izzy)
Alice
Lucy
Jane
Sadie
Stella
Some other ideas
–
Eden or Edie
Olive
Iris
Suvi
Opal
Lily
Oona
Ollie
Uma
Ursula
Sula
Lola
Oakley
Eleanor (Leni, Elle, Nora or Nori)
Cora
Clarey
Winnie
Maxine
Margot
Molly
Junia
Georgia
Agnes
Tessa
Sophie
2 more-
Isla
Libby