S. writes:
I am having a baby girl in THREE weeks and do not have a name!!
I have two boys, Hudson and Korver.
Hudson was born before his name became a little more common. I love both becasue they were unique, masculine and strong. My last name is Brown, which I love because it lends itself to more unique names without the entire name being complicated.
Here is my issue;
My all time FAVORITE is Navy, however with the last name Brown, everyone tends to laugh:( Even my husband can’t fall for it!
I love Navy because it is unique, yet a common word that peole are familiar with. I love how classic Navy blue is and the nautical feel. It’s playful and cute without being too cutsy.
Other names we like:
Oakley: my next favorite, this is a top runner, even the hubby likes it! I just don’t want it to sound western, nor am I 100% about it!
Capri: my husband doesn’t love
Jada: I liked years ago, but don’t love anymore
London: same thing, loved years ago but I am hearing too many of them.
Brinley: my husbands favorite, but I don’t like!
Others I like but dont know if they are “the one”:
Hadley
Haden: close to Hudson
Haven
Vienna: I am liking this one more and more
Sienna: my sisters name is Sierra (a little too close)
Cozette
Ideally I would find one like Navy but with no reference to a color:) What do you think? Are there any names you have in mind that fit the type of name I am going for?
thank you!!
I suggest Ivy. It has much of the sound and sass of the name Navy, but no color. Ivy Brown. Other possibilities:
Ada
Anastasia
Averil
Avianna
Avy
Avyn
Aylin
Bridger
Cambria
Clarity
Darcy
Eidey (rhymes with Heidi)
Landry
Laney
Keeler
Marina
Nautica
Padgett
Sailor
Skylark
Skylark might be too obscure/uncommon, but I found it while double-checking on the nautical association of Keeler and it seemed cute: an even more cheerful variation on Skylar, and with nicknames Sky and Lark. Sailor Brown probably doesn’t work, but it’s so nautical I wanted to include it anyway. Keeler is close to Korver, but the middle sounds are so different I thought it might work anyway. Hard to tell.
Avy and Avyn and Avianna are all there because of the “avy” sound; Avyn is fun because it’s a rearrangement of the letters of Navy.
Eidey is a name I encountered this summer. Unusual, yet very appealing in use: I liked it every time I heard it. The girl I know uses it as a nickname for Eidelyn (EYE-dah-lin). One small issue, maybe a plus, maybe a minus: the song Brown-Eyed Girl.
From your list, Vienna seems terrific: the same sounds you like from Navy, rearranged.
The first name that immediately comes to mind is Sailor. I heard it for the first time on Oprah- Christie Brinkley has a daughter named Sailor and I think it an amazing name!
Sailor Brown. Hudson, Korver and Sailor. It’s my favourite.
Wow, this question would have stumped me! Great ideas, Swistle.
I do think Navy Brown is a bit…color-heavy. I love Ivy Brown though! And Sailor is just adorable. How about the name Story?
I think any one of these would be adorable: Vashti, Yvaine/Yvonne, Oceana, Maren, Harbor, Serena/Sirena, and Keely.
Of these, I think my favorites for you would be Harbor Brown, Keely Brown, or Sirena Brown. Harbor has the same nautical feel as Navy and also similar in feel to Haven, but it also ties well with the sib names: same beginning letter as Hudson with a similar ending sound to Korver. It’s also familiar because of the popular name Harper. Sirena is a great underused name too.
How about “Niamh” — the Irish girl name pronounced “Neeve”? (Perhaps spell it phonetically, since it’s so difficult for Americans to spell). You could call her Neevie, which would be close to Navy but without the color issue.
I like Ivy, Avy and Eidey! Nautica is also every interesting.
I love Ivy for you! Similar sounds to Navy, word name, playful…
Here’s some other names that might fit your criteria:
Similar sound/feel to things in your list:
Ainsley
Holland
Piper (also kind of nautical)
Paisley (I don’t know if a pattern works any better than a color…)
Word names:
Clover
Ever
Merit
Cadence
P.S. The word verification for this post is “swist.” That makes me laugh.
What about Nova? It has a really similar feel to Navy. Ivy is super cute, too.
I was just going to say Nova. November with nn Novie or Nova would be cute.
What about Nava or Navia w/sometimes nn Navy?
I love Avee, but how about Veda? (VAY-DUH.) Good luck!
I instantly thought of the name Sailor when i read Navy which another commenter has already suggested above! Do you have a name you will be using as the middle name? I think if you were to go with a name like Sailor or Navy it would be nice to use a feminine sounding middle name maybe Sailor Grace Brown, Sailor Marie Brown?? A celeb here in Australia recently used the name Sailor for his daughter and i thought it was so pretty but very different!
Other suggestions that might be your style:
Honor
Finley
Olive
Harper
Ramsey
Congrats and good luck xx
What about Geneva instead of Vienna? While not exactly nautical, I think of water when I hear Geneva because of Lake Geneva.
I also think Sea is a lovely name for a girl. If that is too much for you as a first name, you could name her Chelsea and use Sea as a nickname.
This might be a little out there, but I think Scout might also work for you.
Ever has some of the same feel that you like about Navy but not have the color problem.
Or what about Journey? Or True?
I like Hadley best from your list. Ivy and Marina were great suggestions from Swistle.
Names derived from Mary all have sea-meanings– Mariah, Maura, Maris, etc.
I always thought Selkie would make an interesting name for parents who love the ocean. It’s a creature from Irish legends that can shift from human to seal and back again.
I do know someone who used the name Navie for her little girl. The different spelling doesn’t bring up “color” right away for me although to hear it said would still be the same issue.
I’m trying to stick with nautical-oriented names for you without referencing “Brooke” or “Loralie”, as I assume you’ve already considered them and rejected them
– Embay. Same sort of meaning as Haven, but different sounds.
– Bellatrix. It’s a star in the Orion constallation … and a name of a US Navy ship. You can get a long list of Navy Ships at this website (http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/name.htm).
– Names of lakes might also be interesting choices. See this list (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lakes_of_the_United_States)
Good luck!
I would second the suggestions for Nova, Niamh (or its phonetic spellings Neave/Neve), and Geneva. There’s no reason why you couldn’t nickname your daughter ‘Navy’ with any of them — but she wouldn’t have to be formally Navy Brown.
There are other options which would do the same. Guinevere and some of its variants — the medieval Jenavara and Italian Ginevra — might be worth a thought. Or the lovely Genevieve.
Then there’s Nevada, the Spanish Nieves, Italian Nivetta, Croatian Nevena and Nevenka (from neven ‘marigold’), Hebrew Nava, or even the classic British Winnifred.
As for names with just the ‘vy’ thing going on, I also like Ivy. Vienna’s great too.
A few others to add to the pot: Avys, Devyn, Elvy/Elvie, Evie, Silvie/Silvy, Vivienne.
I love the name Ivy. it’s quirky but not too out there. I think the name Neve (like Neve Campbell) is nice and goes well with your last name. It has the same feel as Navy without the color issue . The other one that popped out at me from your list is Haven. It’s pretty and goes well with the siblings’ names. Just happened to see this morning that Jessica Alba named her new baby Haven. It’s an interesting name and I don’t think it would ever become super popular. Good luck deciding!
I have a friend who just named her little girl Henley. It seems like it would fit well with your boys’ names. But, I like Ivy as well. I agree with the others- Navy Brown is a little too much color in one name.
Call me old fashioned but when I think of a baby girls name I always think she will not have her given last name of her parents forever. She will grow up, perhaps get married and be Navy Somethingdifferent. I say if you love Navy use it. If you decide against it my second favorite would be Vienna.
I like the name Ivy, but it too has a color-connection as it is a green plant….just something to consider.
I like Veda Brown. Super cute and kind of has the Navy sound. I really like Neve too. Sailor sounds very masculine to me. Ivy is just ok. I love your hubby’s pick- Brinley! It doesn’t get any cuter than Brinley Brown!
Maren ….”of the sea”
Elvy/i or Ilvy/i Brown?
Livia, nn Livvy?
Sylvie
Riley
Arden
Avon * Avonlea
Tanith
Zoe/Zoey
Ayla
Bryn(n)
My fave from Swistle’s list is Marina. When I hear Vienna, I can’t help but think of that horrible girl from The Bachelor. Ew.
What about Skipper? Hudson, Korver, and Skipper?
What about Pepper?
Two ideas:
The first is Everly. It’s unpopular and has the same feel as Oakley and Navy.
What about using Haven like you mentioned? It comes with a nickname that is only one letter shy of Navy… Avy. It still seems familiar because of Amy, but if anyone mistakes that for her name, she can always say, “My full name is Haven; my friends call me Avy.”
The suggestion of Geneva is pretty wonderful, too.
And, because you sound kind of stressed out, maybe a laugh will help! For your amusement only, here are other awkward names to go with your surname:
Ruby
Violet
Rose/Rosie
Lavender
Jade
Scarlett
Coral
Sunny
Cyan
Indigo
Daphne
Daisy
Lily
Mia
BEST of wishes to you and your family! Eager to hear what great name you choose!
Would you like the name Calico? Calico Brown.
To me Navy brings up images of navy suits and classic attire, Calico has similar associations.
Probably not your style but I also like the sound of Hazel Brown. Two colour names, but complimentary and I think they sound neat together.
Anonymous- The important distinction, I think, is that the word “ivy” is not used as a color word. Violets are a shade of purple, and we use the word “violet” to describe shades of purple; rubies are red and we use the word “ruby” to describe shades of red; but despite ivy being green, the word “ivy” is only used to describe a plant, not a color.
I like Ivy, but I do think it poses a few surname problems: first, while it is not a color itself, I do strongly associate it with color (“A nice shade of ivy”); second, when the names are listed first name last – as in a roster or class list – the name would be “Brown, Ivy”. That makes me think of a dead plant! So I’m not sure Ivy works as well as even Navy does.
I do like the suggestions of Skylark and Eidelyn. I like Cozette from your list, too – how about Yvonne?
What about Kerith, nn Keri?
I recently heard the name Laiken with the nickname Laike. I think it is very pretty and goes along with the nautical theme. :) I am having a little girl and we are naming her Sailor Grace.
I like Veda. It’s unique and still short and sweet. Good luck!