Baby Girl or Boy S., Sibling to Jamri and Avia Marie

Hi,

My husband, Jason, and I have 2 daughters, Jamri Nova and Avia Marie (2 first names) Poppy (middle name). We are expecting a baby due March 8, 2016 but can’t figure out what to name it if this is a girl! We like names that are not super common but something that will match up somewhat with the names of our current kids too. I have been throwing names at my husband for almost 9 months now and he hasn’t been satisfied with almost any of them. I’m running out of options and time.

Also we pay close attention to initials since our last name begins with an S (we thought of Ayla Scout S… Which leaves us with initials of A.S.S.)

Names I have thought of for a girl are:
Evvie
Trixie
Harper
Ayla or Elah
Cedar– I absolutely love, husband isn’t yet convinced
Willow– love but seems very popular
Huxley
Serenity –we both don’t like this anymore
Ren
Judah
Mica
Fable–no longer a favorite
Romy–no longer a favorite
Scout– I love but husband says the poor girl will feel she has to be a “tomboy”
Ollie
Nava
Ziva
Xumi (zū-mee)
Olivia Jane
Emery

One name we had almost officially chosen for our girl was recently the name one of our friends chose for their baby girl born a few days ago (we hadn’t shared any names in advance so we were completely shocked they had the same name picked). The name was Finley. We feel too close to them to choose the same name they gave but still love the name so anything similar to that would be welcome too.

Thank-you in advance,
Mistie

 

I like how you included names that used to be favorites but no longer are. It’s helpful because it keeps us from suggesting those same names, but also because it adds to the overall picture of your style. To work with this list, I’d start by crossing all those names off—but I’d leave them visible, because I think we’ll find them useful.

Brace yourself, because I’m in the mood today to start with big CHOPPING motions, like an explorer cutting swaths through a tangle of vines. I’m going to remove Olivia and Harper because I think you’ll find those too popular for your tastes: Olivia was #2 in 2014 and Harper was #11. I’m going to remove Evvie and Ayla for being so similar to Avia: Evvie in sound and Ayla in appearance. And I’m removing Emery for being too similar to Jamri. I’m removing Huxley, Judah, Mica, Ren, and Ollie for sounding like brother names in this sibset, and I’m going to add Ren back in as Wren. I’m taking out Cedar and Scout, at least until your husband changes his mind. Willow was #138 in popularity in 2014, which may or may not be too popular for your tastes; lets leave it in for now.

Let’s see what that leaves us with.

Trixie; Jamri, Avia Marie, and Trixie
Willow; Jamri, Avia Marie, and Willow
Wren; Jamri, Avia Marie, and Wren
Nava; Jamri, Avia Marie, and Nava
Ziva; Jamri, Avia Marie, and Ziva
Xumi; Jamri, Avia Marie, and Xumi

The ones I would LIKE to remove are Trixie and Xumi. I would like to see Trixie back in circulation as a sweet fairy/pixie nickname for Beatrix, but it feels too lightweight to me on its own. Xumi hits my ear as Zoomy.

Also, I didn’t notice during my first cut, but Nava are Ziva are quite close to Avia.

Willow does seem a little too familiar in this sibset. Wren might, too.

Let’s see what that leaves us with. …Oops. Too much cutting.

Well, let’s work now on building things back up. I see that you like the sound of the letter V: Nova, Avia, Evvie, Nava, Ziva, Olivia. And I see you like the sound of the letters X and Z: Trixie, Huxley, Xumi, Ziva. You like -a and -ie/y sounds/endings. You like contemporary sounds used in unusual combinations. You like word names, and a touch of whimsy. One of you likes unisex names but the other doesn’t seem to.

I want to bring back Mica from the original list. With that spelling, it doesn’t look boyish at all; and even the spelling Micah is sometimes used for girls. Jamri, Avia Marie, and Mica.

Or maybe take Ren, and instead of making it Wren, make it Renna or Wrenna or Reni or Rinna.

I wonder if Roxie feels more solid than Trixie. Jamri, Avia Marie, and Roxie.

Zola would be pretty, I think: Jamri, Avia Marie, and Zola. Or you could spell it Xola.

Instead of Finley, I wonder if you’d like Brinley or Linley. I particularly like Linley in this sibling group: Jamri, Avia Marie, and Linley. This may still feel way too close to your friends’ child’s name. Maybe Linden instead.

Or Quincy. Jamri, Avia Marie, and Quincy. That might not work with a surname beginning with the S sound.

Or Insley. Jamri, Avia Marie, and Insley.

Perhaps something like Arlie/Arley. Jamri, Avia Marie, and Arlie. I can’t tell if that fits well, or if’s too many repeated sounds.

Instead of Ayla, something like Aylin. Jamri, Avia Marie, and Aylin.

Idelyn (EYE-dah-lyn). Jamri, Avia Marie, and Idelyn.

Evanie has the sound of Evvie, but with another consonant to set it further apart from Avia. Jamri, Avia Marie, and Evanie.

Or Essa. Jamri, Avia Marie, and Essa. May not work with a surname beginning with S.

51 thoughts on “Baby Girl or Boy S., Sibling to Jamri and Avia Marie

  1. BSharp

    If I had to summarize your style, it’d be “slightly futuristic nature names”. Which makes me think of Linnea, and Swistle’s suggestion of Linden.

    Sage

    Zinnia

    Azalea (too close to Avia)

    Zora

    Flora

    Briar

    Luna

    Reply
  2. Christine

    My friends have a Rhiannon nicknamed Ren. Rhiannon Cedar S. I love Swistle’s suggestion of Zola or Xola with your sibset. Although Rhiannon might be too popular/recognizable with her sisters.

    Do you already have a boy name set in stone? and if you want to save it will it impact the names this go round?

    Reply
  3. Sarah

    Sienna or Senna would be sweet even with the repeating last initial.

    Oleta could give you the nickname Ollie but stay as a more feminine stand alone name.

    I want to suggest a name like Juniper-not sure how you’d feel about a second J name but it seems to check a lot of style boxes.

    Reply
    1. Amanda

      Just wanted to point out that Senna is a stool softener and the first thing I thought of when that as a name was mentioned.

      Reply
  4. Ash

    I love unique and unpopular names so I’ll share some that I’ve collected over time that I’m not sure I would ever use but I really like the sound/look of!

    Saegan
    Briese
    Emsley
    Quinlynn
    Collins
    Jovie/Jovi
    Carylynne
    Celeste
    Jaimeson
    Keslynn
    Arlyn
    Brecia
    Malina
    Winstyn
    Westlyn
    Alera
    Jyllina
    Farron
    Fallon
    Jiselle
    Avalee
    Jillane
    Jorryn
    Reegan

    Reply
  5. StephLove

    I like the spelling change to Wren. Similarly, I’d suggest Serena since Serenity was once on the list but isn’t any more. I don’t think Willow is too popular to go with this group.

    How about Zora?

    Reply
  6. Carrie

    Zyla or Zilah (prn ZIE lah) ZIE like pie
    Zosia or Zosha (prn ZOE sha)

    Jamri, Avia Marie, and Zyla
    Jamri, Avia Marie, and Zosia

    I know a set of 3 girls : A’ami, Havi, & Zyla. Similar to your own set I think.

    Reply
    1. British American

      I think Zyla is a great suggestion. It’s like Ayla meets Xumi and Ziva from your lists.
      It does make me think of xylophones, but that could make for some cute toddler photos with your daughter playing on a toy xylophone.

      Reply
    1. Christine

      Just FYI “Zia” means aunt in Italian. Not unusable necessarily, but good to know if you’re in a heavily Italian neighborhood.

      Reply
  7. hope t.

    Perhaps you could change Willow to Willa, a far less popular name. It could be paired with Jane. “Willa Jane” seems unusual but easy to say and spell and fits in with the sibs.

    Reply
  8. Meredith M.

    Ooo, I like this question — it lets me suggest more unusual names than I normally would.

    Ren and Romy make me think of Remy/Remi, Rory, and Renata. Willow and Cedar lead me to Sequoiah, Catalpa, Cypress, and Cattleya/Cataleya, and I like the suggestions of Sage and Juniper along those lines. Also: Seneca, Topaz, Karleigh, Briony, Quinley (would that be different enough from Finley?), Spring, and Saffron.

    When I first read “Evvie”, I thought it was “Ewie.” I think Quincy sounds quite masculine, thanks to Quincy Jones.

    Reply
  9. Fiona

    Amazing suggestions from Swistle and the comments. You ask for Finley related names – Fionula, Fennel, Fenula, Ronnie, Delphine ….

    Reply
  10. TheFirstA

    My first thought was Romy. Zola makes me think of Nola. My g-grandmother was Nola but always called Nolie. Maybe you’d like Nolie?

    Cedar, Willow & Poppy all remind me of other less-common botanical names. Azalea, Clover, Zinnia,

    Some other, more random suggestions; Amity, Verity, Luna, Sadie, Dove, Rory, Livia, Everly

    Reply
  11. Kanah

    I know an Adley Wryn, which is so cute. Also, maybe you’d like Eisley or Isla?? Also, Yardley, Azlee, Etta, Della, Jovie or Jolie (too similar to Jamry?) Best of luck!

    Reply
  12. Melanie

    I love the name Ziva for you, but keep in my mind it was a name of an NCIS character so it may be brought up(especially if you live in the US)

    Reply
  13. Heidi J

    Oh, and if it helps in convincing your husband, I actually know a little girl named Cedar. The name seems work quite well for her.

    Reply
  14. Ira Sass

    Fable makes me think of Sable, which makes me think of Sage.
    Willow makes me think of Willa.
    Ziva makes me think of Zora.

    Other ideas I had:
    Lila/Lyla/Lilah
    Myla/Milah
    Lyra
    Nica/Nika
    Nyla
    Naamah
    Desiree
    Anthe
    Zara/Zahra
    Zephyr
    Zelda
    Zadie/Zaidee
    Zuri
    Trinity
    Sparrow
    Eve
    Thora
    Hazel (may be too popular)
    Laurel
    Olive
    Rory (on its own or as a nickname for Aurora)

    From others’ suggestions, I like:
    Zinnia
    Luna
    Remy
    Kestrel
    Serena

    I think Trixie is solidly in the stripper category, though…except for as a nickname for Beatrix.

    Reply
  15. Gail

    I’d go with Harper or Willow, without worrying about popularity, rather than going further and further out on a “it needs to be really unusual” limb. I think a more popular name would even bring some balance to the family. Really, I’d even go so far as to suggest Emma–I think it sounds really great with Jamri and Avia Marie, and since Olivia Jane is on the list, why not Emma?

    Reply
  16. Kas

    I love the suggestions of Sage, Linden & Willa for you.

    Other ideas that might be your style,
    Marlowe
    Oddette
    Oaklyn or Oakley
    Kensington
    Mila
    Maeve

    Congrats and good luck!

    Reply
  17. Emily

    hmm! This is tricky to me, because Jamri and Avia Marie have very different feels to me. Jamri feels like it could go more with something like scout, Trixie, ren..,something more masculine or nicknamey. Avia Marie is more formal and feminine…I see Willow, Harper, Olivia, etc., fitting in more. So I think I would try to find a name to bridge the gap between the two. Wren feels good to me. Willow works pretty well, and I have never met a Willow in real life, so it feels very rare to me. Maybe something like Brinley–a little different from Finley!–or Ainsley. I like Emerson with this subset, though it might be a little common for you? Tenley? Anniston? michaela? I’m not sure..there are a lot of different ways you could go, since I don’t really see a clear-cut style. Good luck finding the perfect name! :)

    Reply
  18. g

    What about Asha or Fern or Kinzie or Baye

    Jamri, Avia Marie, and Asha Ren

    Jamri, Avia Marie, and Fern

    Jamri, Avia Marie, and Kinzie

    Jamri, Avia Marie, and Baye

    Reply
  19. liz

    I had an aunt Faygie (nn for Frances), does that work for you? Jamri, Avia Marie, and Faygie
    What about Zadie (pronounced like Sadie with a Z?) Jamri, Avia Marie, and Zadie
    Gigi?
    Xixi? Ooh! L. Frank Baum wrote Queen Xixi of Ix! I loved that book.

    Reply
  20. Michelle

    For some reason when I see Avia Marie, I keep reading it is Ave Maria.

    Of the names suggested, I like Isla, Willow, Renna, and Zola.

    What about Vivian nn Vivi?

    Or Eve nn Evie? Maybe that is too similar to Avia.

    Reply
  21. Kim C

    What about Reeve? I like this for a boy or girl.

    Jamri, Avia Marie and Reeve

    Or Oceana?

    Jamri, Avia Marie and Oceana

    Veda or Keziah (nn Kizzy). Maybe Evann?

    I do like the sound of Jamri, Avia Marie and Kizzy together!

    Good luck!

    Reply
  22. JMV

    From your list, I like Ziva and Cedar the best. I like Wren from Swistle’s list.

    — Zella.
    — Zipporah (I like Zipporah Wren. My one concern is that both names have a bird connection; something only name nerds would notice.)
    — Dina
    — Nissa

    Reply
  23. TB

    My suggestions
    Kinley (love this the best with sibset)
    Ivaleen
    Elwyn
    Esme
    Vera
    Miette
    Other suggestions I read that I like are
    Wren
    Linley
    Quincy
    Willa Zane
    Lyra Jane

    Reply
  24. Alaina

    There are some great suggestions here! I like Navy, Nola/Finnola, Fiona, Isla, Iris, Ivy, Ione, Xanthe, Mireille, and Marigold for you.

    Reply
  25. Jackie

    My daughter has a friend named Zenobia nn Zenny. Really cute on a little girl! Other names I thought of: Nova, Zenia. Good luck!

    Reply

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