Hi, Swistle.
I’m the second wife to a wonderful guy who brought two great kids, a boy and a girl, to our family. I’m due in May with our third child. Our family’s last name is P0ll@rd. Both children have four-letter first names, they are D@ne Ev@n and Nol@ Vie (pronounced “Vee”).
We would like to continue the four letter name pattern, if possible. We like names that are uncommon and interesting (subjective, I know). If this baby is a boy, we are currently loving Joss, a name we chose before we were even pregnant. We are satisfied and happy with that option for a boy. For reference, I also love Nash and and we both also like Jace, Jude and Zaid.
Girls’ names are harder because most of the names we tend to love are not four letters long. Names we both like but I wouldn’t say we love are Dare (I wouldn’t use it as a first name; it’s probably too much), Esme and Vada. I also like Zara, Ever and Beau.
The middle name of either a boy or girl will be an honor name from my family. We have the following names to choose from: George, James, Cindy, Lou and Lucine. I’m 100% okay using Lou, George and James in the middle name spot for either a boy or a girl. I’m also okay with playing around with those names (turning George into Georgia, for example), as long as there is a clear tie to the honor name.
We would really appreciate you and your readers’ help in coming up with more girls names to choose from. As you can probably see, we are happy to go outside of traditional names to find the right one. I really think this baby is a girl (like, really, REALLY think she’s a girl), and it’s driving me crazy not to even have one name we feel like is a real contender.
Thank you all so much for your help!
P.S. I promise you a baby name update with a photo. I’m a photographer, so I’ll make it a really good picture!
My inclination is to suggest ditching the four-letter idea. It’s ruling out such an enormous number of names.
On the other hand, I see the appeal. Well. My first suggestion, then, is to make a list of all the names you love, without regard to number of letters. Then, use that list to help you brainstorm four-letter options.
For example, let’s say you told me your list of non-four-letter names included Rosemary. We could use those sounds and letters to find suggestions such as Rose, Rosa, Mary or Mari or Mara, maybe Rory or Ruby or Zara or Zora. But I might also see it as a plant name and suggest Fern or Iris, or it might make me think of old-fashioned names and I’d suggest Opal or June or Lois or Avis.
Another option is to link this name with the other names in a different way. For example, if the baby is a girl, perhaps she could share an initial with her sister. Perhaps your family’s themes could be “four-letter boy names, and girl names starting with N.”
If you can’t find any four-letter names you like, maybe it would work to have a longer name with a four-letter nickname.
At some point in this process (around the point where you start to feel panicky or despairing, or when you’re down to the final few weeks), even though I see the appeal of finding a name with four letters, I would suggest you consider if the cost is worth it. For example, if you would LOVE to name a daughter Marigold, and that name would make you feel happy in every way, is it worth giving up that name to meet the preference for a number of letters? The way I’m phrasing that question may imply that I think the answer should be “No,” but I am intending it to be neutral: IS it worth it to you? If so, then I think you will be happy paying that fee: you will put the names you prefer on the counter, and use them to pay for a four-letter name you like less but find satisfying for its number of letters. (People choosing honor names over names of their own style make a similar purchase.) If not, asking the question may make it clear to you that the cost is too high.
Or it might be that the only four-letter names you like are ones that don’t meet your preference for an unusual/interesting name. Again, it’s a question of value: is that worth it to you, to give up that preference in order to find a name with four letters?
There is also the question of future children. After just two children, there isn’t yet a pattern to break: the matching number of letters can be considered a coincidence. After a third child, there’s a clearer pattern, and I’d be exponentially more reluctant to break it.
All right, now the fun part: finding some four-letter names to think about!
Anya
Aria
Ayla
Bryn
Cora
Faye
Fern
Grey
Ione
Isla
June
Kaye
Kaya
Kyla
Lane
Lark
Lois
Luca
Luna
Mila
Mina
Remi
Rory
Ruby
Ruth
Thea
Zora
Name update!
Hi Swistle! It’s almost 2am and I’m awake in my hospital bed with our brand new baby. I wanted to get you a name update ASAP!
Not long after I wrote, we found out that our new baby would definitively be a boy! We welcomed our sweet son, Joss Wilder George P0ll@rd yesterday.
Joss was a name we chose for a boy before we were ever pregnant. We loved that Joss seemed like it could be the name of any number of very different, but all very interesting, type of people. Wilder was a name I found while pregnant that caught my interest. Plus, this little boy was a furious ball of activity in utero 24-7, so it seemed very fitting and a fun detail to share with him later about his earliest personality trait. George honors my grandfather, one of the greatest men I’ve known.
We love his name so much! Thank you to your readers for all of their wonderful ideas and feedback! I loved reading through all of the suggestions and comments. You’re all extremely generous with your ideas and support. xo
Joss is awesome and sounds great with D@ne and Nol@ Love.
From your list, I think Esme is lovely and works well with D@ne and Nol@! I kinda love it with Lou
Esme Lou P0ll@rd
From Swistle’s suggestions, Anya Lark, Ruby and Thea are all very sweet!
Since you’re looking for uncommon and interesting, I wonder if you’d like Wren? Wren Lucine sounds really exotic to me for some reason!
Good luck and congrats!
I was coming on to advocate for Wren as well
I love patterns in numbers, so I would come down in favor of sticking to four letters.
It sounds like you’re extremely lucky in that your older children have names that fit your style, even though you didn’t pick them. That, or you’re only considering names that very closely match the names of your older children.
Since you like Dare, I wonder if you’d also like True or Hero. Or Vera, which means something like truth. I like how Vera would also give this baby a V in her name, which both of the older children have in the middle.
Cleo!
Or Rita.
Before I read your “like but not sure we love” list I was thinking Esme and Isla.
Others I though of (Swistle cover some of them):
Ayla (beings with a long-A as in Way)
Caia
Ione
Oona (begins with a long-O sound as in Go)
Enid
Eris
Diem
Eden
Thea
Orli/Orly
Remi/Remy
Tess
Also, would/could you consider Joss for a girl? I think it works well for either, but that’s just my opinion.
I was just about to suggest Joss for a girl as well. It’s a great option for either gender!
I also love the suggestions Dara, Cleo, Ruth, Rory, Eden, Iris and Faye.
I’ll add:
Elle
Hope
Jade or Jada
Kira
Macy
Mara
Shea or Shae
Cora
Alma
Bess
Edie
Edna
Ione
Joni
Oona
Orly
Prue
Tacy
For a middle, I like Lucinda to honor Lou, Lucine and Cindy all with one name. For a boy you could use Lucian but I find Joss Lucian hard to say. Maybe Joss Louis or Joss George?
Jude and Lula were the two four-letter girl names that were on my list — though I love Cora and Esme a lot too.
If you like Dare, what about Dara? I know this breaks the 4-letter rule, but I really like Adair. Maybe a longer fn and a 4-letter nn might work. I like Revi as a nn.
I would move on from the four letter names myself but here are a few for your fancy:
I have always liked Ayla as Swistle suggested and suggested it as a girl name to my husband but he had vetoed it for us.
Vera P011ard
Brea P011ard
Jori P011ard
Risa P011ard
Lyla/Lila
There are some great 4 letter names that I would try to stick with the pattern. My favorites on your list are Esme and Zara. I really like Zara Lou P0ll@rd.
From Swistle’s list, I really like Remi and Ruby. Remi Georgia is lovely.
With D@ne and Nol@, I also really like
Gwen Georgia
Iris James
Sage Lucine
Erin Georgia
Iris or Sage! You are GOOD at this :)
I was also coming go suggest using Joss for a girl, especially if you’re only planning one or have more options on your boy list. It could be a boy though!
I kinda like the ‘girl names with N’ theme suggested. Would you consider Neve?
Other ideas: Tess, Gwen, Kipp, Bret, Drew
Funny, I have a college friend with a D@ne & N0va, I’m tempted to ask her what they’d call a third!
I immediately thought of these ones:
June
Thea
Rose
Lucy
Vera
Orla
Good luck and keep us posted!!!
Yes! Great suggestions. Lucy was my first thought – four letters, AND an honour name for Lou and Lucine!
I would suggest these options: Drew, Alba, Iris, Sage, Lana, Lena, Cole, Ryse, Raye, Raya, Maya, Taya, Kari, Cami, Mona, Skye.
I was immediately drawn to Swistle’s suggestion of Lane and thought that was IT, but obviously Lane & Dane is a bit much together. But maybe something in that style…
My favorite from Swistle’s list is Faye.
Oooh this is a fun one. If you follow Swistle’s advice and make a list of names, how would you feel about using one that is longer than four letters, but has a four-letter nickname? I think it’s an option to keep in mind!
The first names that popped into my mind reading this letter were:
Veda
Lark
Reva
Mila
Cala
Wren
Opal
Zara
Best of luck!
Coco!
Great names and Joss is an excellent choice.
I like Veda, Clio/Cleo, Iris, and Faye.
Just going to throw out a bunch of “unusual” names – since you like Dare (which I love!), here’s a round up of pretty noun names that are four letters!
Blue
Rain
Jade
True
Song
Dawn (too close to D@ne?)
Teal
Luna
Hope
Poet
Penn
Echo
Egan
Rhys
Gale
Can I also just throw out there that “Luella” means “girl warrior” and since Lou is one of your honor names maybe you could flip it so she is Lou Ella P0ll@rd? I love Lou as a first name for a girl (seems both refreshingly modern and an adorable throwback to names like Louise) and I love the empowerment behind the meaning! Just a thought! :)
Good luck!
Zara makes me think of Zan(n)a – I’ve seen it with 2 N’s but I think it works with 1 for the 4 letter rule.
I was surprised to see so many of “my” names in your letter so I had to comment. Girl names were difficult for us also, but we now love our daughter’s name, Zara. Many people of different backgrounds recognize it but it’s unique in America (haven’t met a Zara in daycare, toddler dance, or at work), easy to spell, spunky, feminine. I can’t recommend it enough!
Nola is at the top of our “if we had a second and it was a girl” list.
Some other 4 letter names we’ve contemplated:
Vera
Isla
Lola
Neve
Esme
Fina
Nina
Anja
Elsa (why did Disney have to name the antagonist Elsa!?)
I love Ever, but my husband isn’t brave enough. I also think Joss makes a great girl name (but love Cam for a boy and can’t picture it on a girl, so understand if that doesn’t work for you).
Can’t wait to hear your decision and see other suggestions!
Adding these to my own list from the comments :)
Caia
Coco
Jade
Mila
Rhys
Lyra – I think this would be absolutely lovely with your other kid’s names. Dane, Nola, Lyra! Gorgeous.
Rose – I like the shared long-O sound with Nola. Nola and Rose. Cute!
Lili – adorable!
Joss – would be sweet on a girl, too. There are loads of girls called Jocelyn who go by Joss.
Vale
Vera
Ever
Jane
Elle
Zara
Zora
Tian
Sian
Lucy
Dora
Ruby
Rhea
Rona
Wild
Star
Tora
Vana
Enid
Sera
Gwen
Caia
Ally
Elsa
Ilsa
Isla
Rosa
Edie
Nora – too close to Nola, but still a nice name. I’ve seen Cora suggested a lot, though – is that your style?
On Lili, forgot to add – I like the shared L sound with Nola, and I think there’s a sweet connection with Dane, too. Lili Elbe is a well known Danish artist of the early 20th century. How neat! I love it when everyone’s names link together like that.
And Aura. And Rory. And Rhys. And Olga. And Enya.
Isla!!! Perfect name for you!!
so many great names and option… from your original list I like Vada
My sister’s name in Lena…and she gets great compliments on it all the time.
From all the suggestions, I like Lena, Iris, Cleo… what about Romy?
Good luck, can’t wait to hear your update.
I second the suggestion to expand your search to those with 4-letter nicknames. It makes you a little less hemmed in. My daughters (Greta and Lydia) both have 5-letter names (as do I), and I really like that. But in actuality, my daughter Greta is really a Margaret. It still feels like it fits because, until she tells us otherwise, she only goes by Greta.
I second Swistle’s suggestion of Faye. Absolutely love it!
Edie and Rosa are adorable too!
Other suggestions:
Cady, Hera, Juno, Posy, Lyra, Sela, Lyla, Anya, Lena, Nina
Good luck!
I know someone with a daughter named Ciah, pronounced like Kya (with an eye sound). Maybe fits?
How about Romy? It, too, is international (like Nola), easy to pronounce, has a different starting initial, and is uncommon (which I read as “interesting”).
Romy P011@rd is charming.
And Romy Lucine is absolutely darling!
And, if I may interject this here, thank you for having a refreshingly positive attitude towards your stepchildren. Often, I hear and read second wives’ unkind comments toward these little blessings, but the words you chose were perfect.
Best wishes as you welcome your sweet baby!
Romy is nice!
Maia
Gigi
Cara
Ella
Emma
Enya
Anya
Anne
Emme
Orla
Rosy
Dawn
Vivi
Jeni
Liza
Lori
Lisa
Since you have both Lou & Lucine on your list for possible middle inspiration, my first thought was to just use Lucy as a first name. You could then get a twofer by using another family name as the middle, or perhaps branching out to look at honor names from your husband’s side.
Esme & Zara are my favorites from your list. My sister considered Veda for a girl, but was concerned about the Darth Vader jokes. I also really like Iris, Isla & Cora from Swistle’s list. I’ll suggest Dove, Eden, Flora, Kyra, Maya. You may also want to consider which is more important, having a 4 letter name, or having a name that is “uncommon and interesting.” By opening yourself up to more common names, you’ll likely find a larger selection of 4 letter possibilities. Another option would be to chose a name you like (regardless of letters) and use a 4 letter nickname.
Adding to the chorus of supporters that you should use Joss for either gender baby. I know a girl named Jude and love it.
Perhaps your hubs is like mine and can’t wrap his head around unisex names. In that case, I like Vera (means true) for you. What about Leda? She was the Queen of Spartan, mother to Helen of Troy. I also like Alma (Spanish for “soul”; latin for “nourishing”).
These names from Swistle’s list also popped into my head – Grey, Ruby, and Lark.
Perhaps a bit more daring/interesting side… Roxy, Gema, Lynx, and Risa sprung to mind.
My favorites with De@n and N0L@ are Roxy and Jude.
I like Esme best from your list. Maybe Esme Georgia or Esme Louise? Or if you are looking for something to tie the baby’s name to the step-siblings, and the 4-letter pattern is too limiting, you could do names that have an n somewhere in them. It could be a starts-with-n name like Naomi or an internal n like Anna or and ends-with-n name like Caitlin.
Zoey or Amie?
Amie Lucine is so pretty.
Really love the suggestion of Romy too!
I love so many of these! What great suggestions!
I’ll add (and sorry if repeats)
Nico
Quin
Vida
Asha
Mara
Lula
Inez
Lota (my grandmother’s very rare name, pronounced like Lotus without the -s on the end)
Love Romy and Adair (nn Dare) for you. Wynn and Vale would be cute too.
Lina is cute too. The consonant sounds are the reverse of Nol@.
What about Ezra for a girl?
There are so many great suggestions here. I like the sound of Dare, but it looks so similar to your son’s name. I remember a blogger or instagrammer with a baby named Fair, it may have been a nickname for something but I think it is just as wearable as Dare. It is tricky with middle names as it easily sounds like an adjective with familiar feminine names eg. Fair Georgia. And Fair Lou sounds comical. But I think Fair George or Fair Luella work.
Another interesting one that would incorporate a family name is the Finnish name, Lumi. Lumi James or Lumi Georgia would be great.
I love the name Posy for you!
Others:
Tala
Luna
Gaea/Gaia
Ruby
Rena
Ayla
Aida
Eden
Dion