Hi Swistle,
I don’t need to ask for any personal name advice, but was wondering what advice you would give to Chip and Joanna Gaines, of Fixer Upper fame.
Their kids’ names follow a strict pattern thus far. Their boys have single-syllable names starting with D and including a “k” sound (Duke and Drake), and their girls have two-syllable “e” names with short middle names (Ella Rose [edited], Emmie Kay).
They’ve set themselves some pretty strict parameters; where do you think the Gaineses could go with them?
Would love to hear your thoughts, and perhaps I’ll get to write in with a name question of my own one day! (Although I’m getting married in 3 months, so I’m going one major life milestone at a time)
Meg
OH OKAY that sounds fun. Or rather, it’s fun as an outsider: I would not personally want to have to paint myself out of that naming corner.
I know they’ve revealed they’re having a boy, but let’s look at girl names anyway. Starting letter E, double letters, two syllables, and so far we have an -a ending and an -ie/-y/-ee ending. It would be nice to find another two-syllable E-name with double letters that are not -ll- or -mm-; even nicer would be a different ending sound, but we’ll see how that goes.
Ebba
Ecco
Eddi
Edee
Effie
Eileen
Erinn
Esmée
Estelle (double L, though)
Essie
Etta
Evette
Evonne
Evva
Evvie
Evvyn
Well. I think this is a good moment to reflect on why it can be a good idea during the baby-naming process to think ahead to future sibling names. None of these options is as familiar as Ella or Emmie, and some are very different in style. Some of them are kind of reaching, and some of them are REALLY reaching. Quite a few of them seem too similar to the sister names. And some of them make me uncomfortable to look at. If I had to choose from this list, my favorites are Esmée (with the EZZ-may pronunciation) and Etta, but I’m not particularly happy with either of those: Esmée seems confusingly similar to / different from Emmie, and Etta feels too similar to Ella both in look and sound.
But it’s not as if we’ve been given instructions by the parents to find another two-syllable E-name with double letters, so let’s expand the search. At this point I think the name ought to begin with E (not because of the two sister names starting with E, but because of two sister names starting with E AND two brother names starting with D), but we could drop or loosen one of the other preferences.
Edie
Erikka
Eva
Evelynn
Everlee
I feel as if it just CAN’T be another El- or Em- name, and that rules out…almost all of the E-names. I had Emersyn in this list at first, thinking the third syllable and different ending MIGHT make it different enough from Emmie for parents who don’t find Ella and Emmie too similar—but Emmie is such a natural nickname for Emersyn. Same problem with Ellisyn and Eleanor and Ellery and Emery and many others. If I had to choose from this list, my favorites are Eva and Evelynn, and I think I could be happy with either of those: they are similar enough in popularity and style to Ella/Emmie, while different enough in sound. I prefer Eva for the two syllables, and I prefer Evelynn for the new ending.
Let’s see if the boy-name search is any easier. Duke and Drake: both D-names, both one syllable, both ending in -ke.
Deke
That’s it, I think. But as with girl names, no one instructed us to find a name meeting all those preferences, so let’s see what we can find when we remove some of them.
Darian
Dash
Davis
Dawson
Dax
Deacon
Dean
Decker
Declan
Derek
Desmond/Dezi
Devin
Dex
Dirk
Dixon
Dodge
Dolan
Dominick
Donnelly
Donovan
Dover
Doyle
Duncan
Dylan
That was much easier. I spent probably a quarter the time finding boy names as I did finding girl names, and didn’t have to mess around as much with alternate spellings. I think they could go with a one-syllable thing: Duke, Drake, and Dash. Duke, Drake, and Dean. Or they could tie in the K-sound: Duke, Drake, and Decker. Duke, Drake, and Declan.
Decker nn Deck. Kind of perfect since they’re in the home remodeling business.
I really have nothing to add (though I would love to add a vote for Declan!) but I just have to say, I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit trying to name their child in my head. I’ve lurked here for quite awhile and never commented, but this post confirms it : you all are my people.
I love this! I have already been baby name dreaming for them as well…since they have seemingly painted themselves into quite a corner. I like Dean for them, mostly because it has more of a vintage flair that Drake and Duke convey and keeps the one syllable. Dax or Decker give them that “k” sound, but they feel more modern. Deacon might be a nice compromise.
Am I the only one who had a hard time going from the K sound to the G sound? (I swear this isn’t spillover from my hostility to decorating with spine-in books.)
That said, I’m thinking Dash(iell), Deacon, or Deck(er)
For a boy I would go with Decon nn Deke. For a girl I think Evie would work as the first name. I don’t think the ending is a big of a deal because they use both names. Evie Joy maybe. We have a two year old at church who is named Esther and she goes by Essie which I now love. So maybe Essie Joy? I guess I really like the middle name Joy with the the others who are Grace and Kay. Duke, Drake and Deke, Ella Grace, Emma Kay and Essie/ Evie Joy
I like Dash or Decker for them. Not my usual style but I’m weirdly enjoying Decker! It’s too much a brand name in the UK but it really works in this set.
Duke, Drake and Dash
Duke, Drake and Decker
If the baby was a girl, I think I would go with Erin. I think the double letters is the least important part of the pattern – starts with E is most important, two syllables next (although I might just be saying that because I don’t like Erinn with the extra n as much!)
I found the middle name harder! I don’t want anything like Joy because then it will match with Ella but not Emmie. Then I liked Erin May but then it’s too rhyme-y with Emmie’s and leaves Ella out. And I love Erin Kate but again too similar and Erin and Emmie would have the exact same initials. Bloody hell, this really is a corner backed into!
Erin Rose
Erin Maeve
Erin Pearl
Erin Sue
Erin Lou
Not really satisfied with those but I suppose I’ll plump for Rose!
Eden hits the right note for a girl! It’s a two-syllable E name with a different ending. Using the nn Edie is a bonus. Also, I like the middle name Claire with it. Eden Claire.
Ella Grace, Emmie Kay, and Eden Claire.
Yeah that seems spot on. Maybe they’ll go for another one after this baby!
Aww! My daughter’s name is Eden Clara so I love this :)
Another vote here for Deacon nn Deke. I also like Declan, but not the nn Deck–I’ve heard Dex but that wouldn’t work as well for them.
This reminds me of a game I played when my niece (Ella), and my cousins (Owen and Emma) were born and I thought L, M, O. And briefly thought about naming my son (if he were a daughter) Enya to fill in the gap. Then my cousin Zenia came along and….
I came up with this list: Amy, Beatrice, Cecil, Dean, Eli, Efram, Gina, Rachel, Ilene, Jay, Kay, Ella, Emma, Enya, Owen, Peter, Kew, Arthur, Esther, Teagan, Eunice, Vera, [W?], Ezekiel, Wylie, and Zenia.
(I also like Jason and Katie to fill in those letters)
For me it’s the K sound and not the D that unifies the boys names (because the D is a Dr for one I think). So I’d be more in the Ryker, Blake (if it wasn’t so rhymey), Burke, Clark, Hawk, Zeke suggestion arena.
I like Clark Gaines best, followed by Hawk because it’s got an animal reference like Drake. And any could have a KE if they wanted more unity-Clarke, Hawke
I thought maybe Dane or Dale but they both run into issues…
Dane – Dane Gaines is too rhymey for my taste
Dale – Chip probably shouldn’t have a son named Dale because of the chipmunks
I like Dean best for them, but what about Dakota? Derek?
I’m pretty sure the first girl is Ella Rose, not Ella Grace.
Since learning of the pregnancy, I too have been thinking of what to name this baby. There’s also an article about it at Baby Name Wizard.
I just looked it up. It is Ella Rose.
Thanks–I’ll edit the post.
(Disclaimer: I know nothing about these people; I’m just procrastinating)
Given this pattern, I’d probably go with Everly for a girl (on its own, it fits the syllabic pattern of the sister names, and it also flows nicely with one syllable middles; Everly Jane is nice, for instance. Everly Kate, Everly Mae, Everly). I don’t like the Everlee spelling.
For a boy, I’m not in love with any of the choices, but I think it’s easier to say the two sibling names together without another short hard K sound. Duke, Drake, and Dixon is easier on the ear/tongue for me than Duke, Drake, and Deacon. Dallas also came to mind as a possibility.
But as I’m not a fan of the whole shared initial thing myself, I’d rather think of names that fit other aspects the pattern without matching the initial. For girls: I like Anna (shares the double letter and makes an L/M/N pattern of middle sounds), or Lily (shares the L sound with Ella and the y/ie ending with Emmie), and whatever one syllable middle name you like. So Ella (Rose/Grace, i don’t know), Emmie Kay, and Anna Claire or Lily Jo or Anna (Grace/Rose) or Lily Anne, or whatever.
For boys–I don’t know, maybe move the hard K sound to the beginning? Cole isn’t terrible. Duke, Drake and Cole? Or put the D sound elsewhere, instead. Duke, Drake and Ryder? D
Or, if you’re like me and instantly want to change up the same-gender thing. Ella, Emmie, and Daisy? Duke, Drake, and Everest? (hey, they’re all nouns!)?
I think Essie Anne and Dash hit the nail right on the head (pun totally intended).
Ella Grace, Emmie Kay and Essie Anne
Duke, Drake and Dash
My guesses for a boy are Dexter (Dex), Declan (Dec), or Dashiell (Dash). Chip has said they need another D name for their boy, so I don’t think they’ll break the pattern.
If it’s a girl, I think Eden is spot on; Ella, Emmie, and Edie. It totally fits.
Great ideas! I like that you used longer names to get to the shorter name that fits the pattern.
I’ve got a secret weak spot for fixer-upper, but I have always found it a little odd that the names were sooooo similar. That said, I have cousins with names that rhyme (they’re siblings but not twins), so different strokes for different folks. I think Evelyn or Esther would be lovely for a girl, but since it’s a boy, Dash or Dax seems to capture the fun, playful energy of the family. I especially like Dax, since the X has a similar feel to the K in the other boys’ names.
They surprised us all by naming him Crew!