Danie writes:
My husband, Dan, and I are currently expecting our second little one… A girl, due early in July! We have been struggling to agree upon a name that we both love! We currently have a 13 month old daughter, whom we named Charlie Elizabeth (Phillips). As I have been called Danie (Danielle) most of my life, I tend to lean towards boy names for girls. My husband is more hesitant about this. That said, I lean towards Ryan for this little one, he is pushing for Elise. I want the name to go well with Charlie, and am not sure that very feminine names do. If we ever had a boy, he would likely be Brecht, a family name on Dan’s side. If you have any ideas, we would love to hear them! Thank you!
I’m on your side: for sisters, I wouldn’t pair an exclusively feminine name with a name more likely to be used for boys. Since he likes Elise, I suggest Elliott. Then I’d choose a traditional and exclusively-feminine middle name. Katherine would be nice: Charlie Elizabeth and Elliott Katherine.
Or perhaps Elise could be the middle name:
Charlie Elizabeth and Brady Elise
Charlie Elizabeth and Dylan Elise
Charlie Elizabeth and Hayden Elise
Charlie Elizabeth and Jamie Elise
Charlie Elizabeth and Jordan Elise
Charlie Elizabeth and Logan Elise
Charlie Elizabeth and Parker Elise
Charlie Elizabeth and Ryan Elise
But if further compromise is needed, I suggest the category of feminine names with boyish nicknames: Samantha/Sam, for example, would give you Charlie and Sam.
Or, the category of boyish names with feminine nicknames: Ellis, for example, would give your husband Ellie (as would Elliott), or Hollis would give him Holly.
Name update! Danie writes:
My husband and I are happy to announce that Charlie Elizabeth now has a baby sister…. Ryan Elise! We are thrilled!
I loved all your advise and additional suggestions… They will be kept in mind for the future! Thank you!
I’d like to suggest Georgia (Georgie) or Theresa (Terri) or Harriet (Harry, Harri) as well, if you’re interested in a feminine name with a boy-ish nickname. Or I really like the Elliott suggestion as well.
What about Ryanne pronounced like Ryan but spelled in a more feminine way
Teddy (Theodora), Alex, Georgie or Frankie?
Charlie & Ryan read as 2 brothers to me. I think the problem is that Charlie is a nickname for a boy that can also be used for girls, while Ryan is a full name mainly used on boys. However, I agree that Elise & Charlie sound like a brother sister pair.
I like the idea of another boyish nickname that is also used for girls-or a name that can be shortened to a boyish nickname. Alex/Alexis, Sam/Samantha. Or maybe a traditionally male name that is starting to be used for girls, but hasn’t completely crossed over. Rory, Elliot.
Elise could work as the middle name, but it does seem very close to Elizabeth.
I knew twin girls named Chase & Kyle, sometimes called Chasie & Kylie. I think Charlie & Kyle/Kylie could work.
I also like Jaimie/Jamie, Adrian, Rowan, or Noa for you.
Charlie Elizabeth & Noa Elise might be my favorite!
I know of some little girls named Ryann, and it works quite well. And Ryann Elise sounds great! Although, my best friend has a little girl named Charlie, so if I encountered a Charlie and Elise sib-set, I wouldn’t automatically assume they were boy – girl. I don’t think you can go wrong with either of your choices, or any of the suggestions above.
One more idea–Riley seems like a good compromise between Ryan & Elise. Charlie Elizabeth & Riley Katherine could be cute!
As a few other people have mentioned, I also know of a female Rian. Just a different spelling. I think its cute!
I think you need a somewhat unisex name. Charlie on a girl is normal enough, but two sisters named Charlie & Ryan does seem like a statement to me. Charlie + Samantha is probably setting you up for a lifetime of explaining why Charlie isn’t Charlotte. I don’t see a big problem with just using something feminine, like Elise. If I’d met two sisters of my generation named Jaime and Melissa, I wouldn’t wonder why one got the boy name, and I think Charlie is kind of the new Jaime. But I think the best solution is to find something that isn’t a boy name or a girl name…Ellis is a good option, or maybe Emerson. Ryan is technically originally an Irish surname name, so maybe you’d like another one that hasn’t gone as mainstream as a boy’s name: http://nameberry.com/list/120/Irish-Surname-Names. I’ve met female Brennans, for example, or a little Delaney could be very cute.
I second Samantha (Sam) or you could skip straight to the nickname like you did with Charlie and name her Sammy or Sammie. I also like another commentor’s suggestion Riley.
Charlie and Sammy
Charlie and Riley
Charlie and Bailey
Charlie and Emery
Charlie and Avery
Charlie and Finley
Charlie and Sam are great together. I have always liked Sam on a girl and, like the name Charlie, it’s also a unisex nickname.
Sam Victoria
Sam Amelia
I like the suggestion of Elliot. Elliot Jane is adorable!
My niece is named Georgie so of course I love it. Georgie Elise is cute.
I’d also like to suggest Sloane, Blake, Evan and Taylor.
Sloane Katherine
Blake Victoria
Evan Amelia
Taylor Elise
Evan could also have the nn Evie. Charlie and Evie!
All the best!
This is very interesting to me. I grew up playing softball with a Charlie. My best friend’s little sister was Ryann, who went by her full name, or just Ry. I have heard a few other girls named Ryan too but usually with a more feminine spelling. The boys names for girls names do work. Other names I have personally seen used:
Austin (my niece) Bethany, could also spell Austyn
Landon
Logan
Parker
Emmerson nn Emmie or Emma
Channing (not sure if this sounds right with charlie)
Bennett
At the same time, isn’t Charlie a common nn for the feminine Charlotte? So I can also see a more feminine name working too.
I liked the idea of the last two categories of compromise and I’d add Alexandra, nn Alex. Also, someone suggested Taylor, which I think would go nicely. Or Morgan. Taylor Elise and Morgan Elise are both very nice.
What about Rylan Elise? Rylan reads more unisex to me than Ryan. I also like Avery, Elliott and Emory as unisex names.
Ryan, Jordan, and Kellen are a female sibling set in my family. As a child I thought their mom was *the coolest* because my mom chose such traditional names for me and my two sisters. I do prefer the spelling Ryan; I have a co-worker who often has to correct the pronunciation of Ryanne.
Also, I love Swistle’s suggestion of Ellis – feels like a good compromise!
I think something kind of old school-surnamey like Hadley or Darcy would mesh well with Charlie. I do like Ryan though. Ryan Elise is lovely, if your husband is on board with a compromise that might be my top choice. I also like the idea of using a feminine same with a very boyish nickname like your name. Charlie and Henrietta, nn Henry, Georgette, nn Georgie, Phillippa, nn Phil, Roxanne, nn Roxy. I’ve heard quite a few boy names on girls throughout my lifetime and they were really memorable. I knew a female Tommy, Toby, Freddie (I think it was a nickname for something) Ellis, and yes, a Ryan. Good luck, I think it could be a really cool family tradition!
Name, not same *** Whoops! it pays to proofread ;)
Surname-ish ones feel like the best fit with most possibilities in the future. The two that stood out to me from other commenters were Delaney and Sloane.
Delaney Elise
Sloane Elise
Charlie and Delaney
Charlie and Sloane
Charlie, Delaney, and Brecht
Charlie, Sloane, and Brecht
I love the idea of using Elise as the middle because it’s so similar to Elizabeth. Distinct, but a connection.
And there’s always Vern…
What about Campbell?
Morgan? Cameron? Jessie? Jo? Nat? Taylor, Tyler? Ooh! Teagan!
I have a similar naming style, and I wanted to use the name Ryan if I ever had a girl, except I didn’t and my brother-in-law is Ryan so it was obviously a no go. I would like to suggest some of the girl names I have always liked that are unisex:
Quinn
Peyton
Grier/Greer
Rowan
Emmerson
Parker
Reese
Goodluck!!!
My niece is Rory (adorable!) and might I also suggest Kendall or Kelsey?
I love your naming style. I, too, am fond of more boyish names for girls.
My favorites:
Spencer
Landen/Landon
Avery
Wesley
Langley
Parker
Keagan
Logan
I vote for Bailey or Jamie.
My favourites:
Sloane
Ellery
Emery
Finley
Grier/Greer
Presley
Ellis
Good luck!!
I know a female Ryan (spelled that way) who is an adult and she always liked it. I don’t think it’s a problem to go with something feminine this time around, but if you’re looking for something more unisex, I’d look at some surname-type names as well. Emerson comes to mind. Emmet, perhaps? Friends recently used Emlen for their son, but it sounds like it could go either way.
Also, there are the traditionally unisex names like Adrian and Jaime.
I’m really liking Ellis and Campbell. I too was going to suggest Peyton…my next door neighbor is Peyton, she’s 6, and is the perfect balance of girly and tomboy…the name fits her great! Peyton Elise?
I don’t see Charlie as a boys name on a girl, the way Dylan and Logan are, so while Elise is pretty, I think it is still simple and playful enough to fit stylistically, especially with Ryan in the middle. Charlie Elizabeth and Elise Ryan sound great together, but I think Ryan Elise throws a different spin on things, especially if you plan to use Brecht in the future . Ellis is a good compromise.
Otherwise, I would tend towards either unisex names, less common ‘masculine’ names or names that just don’t sound super feminine, so:
Charlie, Rowan and Brecht
Charlie, Sidney and Brecht
Charlie, Remy and Brecht
Charlie, Arden and Brecht
Charlie, Nico and Brecht
Charlie, Marlowe and Brecht
Charlie, Piper and Brecht
Charlie, Juno and Brecht
I don’t think having two girls named a Charlie and an Elise is bad and I would totally go for it. They’re both super pretty and spunky- I think they would be cool sisters.
Charlie keeps popping up on more and more on little girls as its a popular nick name for Charlotte. I would put it more in the category of Jamie, Alex (Alexandra), or Taylor as compared to Ryan, Logan or Spencer which are super masculine. All of this to say that if I met a 5 year old Charlie I wouldn’t be surprised if the child turned out the be a girl.
If it helps, my sister is an “Alex” and I’m sure some people assumed we were a brother and sister before meeting us however it never caused an issue.
Corrie! Terry! Alex! Dana! Lane! Toni! Garet (short for Margaret)! Paris. Mandy. Erin. Francis. Tori. Val. Bobby.