Hi, Swistle!
I was hoping you and your lovely readers could help me name our second little girl, due the day before Thanksgiving. Our last name is Br0wning and we have a 2 year old daughter named Georgia Mae.
Our current list is down to about four names but each has an issue that one of us can’t seem to shake. I think our general problem is that we heard the name Georgia, fell in love, and never looked back. That certainly isn’t the case this time and keeps me searching for that one elusive name I’ve either never heard or need to hear in just the right moment. I know searching for a perfect name can be an exercise in futility but it seems my pregnant brain is up for the challenge.
Here is our working list and the issues with each. The middle name will either be Joy or Joan.
Ella- my husband loves this but it’s popular and will probably continue to gain popularity, especially with George Clooney giving the name to one of his twins
Ruby- my husband dislikes the fact that it rhymes with boobie and fears she will be mercilessly teased in school
Lydia- this is my favorite name but husband isn’t in love
Rose- our last name makes me think of a dying rose and I can’t get past that imagery. It’s also one syllable and doesn’t sound great with the middle name choices.
Other names we’ve vetoed for various reasons:
Della
Miriam
Hazel
Nora
Kate
June
Eliza
Stella
Gemma
Willa
Josephine
VivianThank you so much for your help!
From your list my favorite is Ruby, followed by Lydia. I don’t know if the rhyming thing with Ruby is an issue or not; I would not have thought of it, but perhaps someone who has a Ruby in the family could weigh in. I agree with you about the problem with Rose combined with your surname, and Ella does not seem to me like the right type of name here: it seems too light and insubstantial next to the name Georgia.
I’d add:
Augusta
Beatrix
Bianca
Cecily
Celeste
Claudia
Cordelia
Eleanor
Eloise
Esther
Fiona
Florence
Frances
Harriet
Henrietta
Louisa
Matilda
Minerva
Philippa
Simone
Sylvia
Winifred
Swistle, I had posted using my Chrome browser and the post didn’t go through :-(
I vote for Ruby! Georgia and Ruby go quite well together and I love that Ruby is not popular, or at least I don’t know of anyone named Ruby.
Other suggestions:
Violet (2nd favorite!)
Lucy
Lyla
Lola
Barrett (I only suggest this because I know of a lady named Georgia and this is her daughter’s name)
Caroline
Charlotte
Isla
Francesca
Piper
Penny/Penelope
I maybe wouldn’t do Barrett Br0wning unless you were a poetry nut! ;)
Hmm, Ella feels like a nickname next to Georgia to me. Of course, you could go with Eleanor, Elizabeth, or Eloise, or even Cecily and nickname her Ella. (The connection to the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning wouldn’t be a problem to my mind; she was fairly kick-butt.) I like weightier names with your surname and Georgia, too.
Georgia and Eleanor Br0wning
Georgia and Elizabeth Br0wning
Georgia and Phillipa Br0wning (Pippa is such a cute nickname)
Georgia and Lydia Br0wning (I know your husband isn’t fond of it just now but he may change his mind and I think it’s a wonderful name. The only Lydia I met was a nice kid who’s now about 30)
Georgia and Susanna Br0wning
Georgia and Louisa Br0wning
Georgia and Helena Br0wning
I think of Susanna being very much of The Same Time as Georgia. I love Elisabeth’s suggestion for Susanna! It’s a solid, familiar yet uncommon name (for this generation). Ash’s suggestion of Charlotte is in the same boat, very Regency! Eleanor as well. Let’s just look at more of Jane Austen character’s for names…
Harriet – my favorite!
Henrietta – also my favorite! She can go by Etta, Henri, Retta, etc.
Elizabeth – there’s an actress with this name that goes by Bitsie, there are so many other nns than Liz or Beth… Bitsie, Eliza, Lillibet, and Betsy
Jane – your husband might be concerned about “Plain Jane”
Penelope – nn Penny, but getting up there in popularity
Oh, and I went to school with a Phillipa nn Pippa. I always thought she had the coolest name.
(When I follow the reader link, commenting never works. I’m also in Chrome. My first comment was eaten, but I remember to copy it beforehand now.)
I think Ruby is a great choice! I also like the suggestion of Beatrix or Beatrice for you.
How about Aliza Joan Br0wning or Naomi Joy Br0wning.
Hmm…I kind of love Ella with Georgia, though they aren’t perfectly symmetrical in mouthfeel! Georgia and Ella Br0wning works for me. Both evoke the south, but they have enough differences to read as individuals. So Ella is my favorite from the short list. (That said, the popularity would concern me too–I always thought I might consider using this name, as an homage to Ella Fitzgerald, but it’s jumped too high in the rankings too quickly for me at this point.)
I love many of Swistle’s on-theme suggestions, especially Louisa (which seems perfect for parents drawn to Georgia and Eliza), and I also love someone’s suggestion of Susanna. To that, I would add just plain Anna and Eva, which share characteristics of Ella without being quite as popular at the moment.
(Note about Augusta: While it’s a lovely name, it’s also a city IN Georgia, so you probably do not want to use it as a sister name to Georgia.)
I also love Ella. I don’t think Ella is any more diminutive than Ruby. I LOVE Lydia. This is a majorly under rated name in my opinion. What does your husband object to? I think Louisa, Eleanor, Elizabeth and Caroline are good pairings with Georgia. What about Catherine?
Of all of Swistle’s great suggestions, I want to DEMAND that you use Frances. I mean, I won’t. But oh it SUCH a great name! And it goes SO well with Georgia! Frankie and George. SWOON.
My vote goes to Harriet or Frances. Or Francesca, nn Frances. Both go so beautifully with Georgia and have the same heft to them. I also like any of the “line” names with Georgia: Adeline, Caroline, Emeline. I particularly like Adeline here. Georgia Mae and Adeline Joy.
I love the name Georgia and it was on my list forever. I also have a daughter named Miriam so I think we have a similar style. Full disclosure, I also have daughters named Emeline, Harriet, Clover, and Annabel.
(Also, my daughter Harriet is named Harriet Franceszka–family spelling. We call her Harriet Frances all the time and I think it is one of the most perfect names in the world. Harriet Joan is also pretty much perfect.)
Good luck!!!
I think Georgia Mae is an amazing name, so I can see why finding another equally amazing name is challenging! Ruby is great–I would be surprised if there was a lot of teasing. It’s a name I know several toddlers with, and from my memory of childhood, more familiar names don’t get the teasing that unusual names do (and I’ve heard even that’s changed, b/c there are more unusual names now). I also love Lydia! But, assuming those are out, from Swistle’s list, my favorites are Phillipa, Henrietta, and Simone. I like the suggestion of Lucy. And some additional ideas: I think the world is ready for a young Betsy (could name Elizabeth, nn Betsy). Others: Ingrid, Cora, Juliet, Eden, Zelda. Good luck!!
I love your naming style. Ruby is my favorite from your list. I tend to avoid having the same initials and ending sounds as a personal preference which eliminates -a names in my mind. Frances is a wonderful suggestion. Harriet and Rose are on my shortlist if I have another girl. You can always lengthen to Rosalie or another form to get away from the issue with your last name. I know siblings named Beatrice and Hazel which are wonderful too. Not sure if you want to avoid color names with Browning?
I have a Georgia Kate. :) Several of the names you mention are ones that I have considered as well. I desperately wish I could get my husband to consider Rosalie, but he won’t. My parents almost named me Lydia, and I think it is lovely.
I’ve always loved the name Roxanna/Roxanne, so I named my dog Roxy June. I think Georgia and Roxanna are pretty sweet.
I also like the suggestion of Eleanor (Ella). Georgia and Eleanor, Georgia Mae and Ella Joy.
Right now, my husband and I are thinking if we have another girl her name will be Margaret Rose, called Maggie. Georgia and Maggie.
Best of Luck!
Is Carolina too much? (It’s so balanced with Georgia!)
Carolina Jean Browning.
Your style strikes me as Jane Austen… classic, elegant, strong.
How do you feel about Marianne?
Elinor?
Even Darcy? (Georgia & Darcy) It’s a lot like Ruby… just without the popularity. Darcy Jean Browning.
Georgia Mae is downright darling. You have great taste!
Best wishes as you give the perfect name to your new blessing!
Oops! Two more to add!
How do you like Linnea? Linnea Joy Br0wning. It’s technically botanical like Rose, but it doesn’t give the same imagery as Rose Br0wning. Georgia & Linnea.
The same idea applies to Magnolia. Georgia & Magnolia. Maggie has the same vibe as Ruby (but doesn’t rhyme with… well, you know).
My favorite Magnolia nn is Nolie. So cute!
I like Ruby the best and I personally don’t think rhyming is a big deal. There used to be a name website (I can’t find it now) that let users put in the downsides they’d experienced with having that name. Literally .every.single.name had some kind of downside. There is no perfect, tease-proof name. You don’t want to make it easy for the bullies (like the infamous Ben Dover), but I don’t think Ruby falls into that category.
From your short list, I like Ella and Ruby best. Ella doesn’t seem insubstantial to me and that’s a pet peeve of mine for a lot of names. My daughter knows a Ruby (10 years old) and I just asked her if she ever heard anyone ever called her Ruby Boobie and she said no. (She also looked at me like she thought it was a crazy idea that anyone would ever do that.)
I’ve been reading this blog long enough to know rejected names often pop back into consideration, so I’ll say I like June, Josephine, and Miriam for you.
From Swisle’s suggestions, my favorites are Eleanor, Fiona, and Sylvia.
How about Mae? It came into my head because I know a family with two daughters whose names are on your list and the other one is named Mae. You might need a longer middle name, but Mae Josephine is fetching.
Georgia has been on my girl list for the last two babies (which were boys). My daughter is Rosalie which for you might eliminate the last name mismatch but still get the cute nickname Rosie. Rosalie and Georgia. Rosie and Gigi. My daughters middle is Frances which I see suggested above and I love more than I thought I would. My other girl name is Phillipa which was also suggested.
I’ll add Lorelei, Josephine (Josie), and Eloise. I have an Aunt Magnolia that goes by Margo if you don’t like Maggie.
Please update us!
Harriet and Henrietta would be wonderful with big sis Georgia! You could use Hattie or Hetty as a nickname.
Cassidy Joy & Georgia Mae
Hazel Joy & Georgia Mae
Paula Joy & Georgia Mae
Astrid Joy & Georgia Mae
Evelyn Joy & Georgia Mae
Ethel Joy & Georgia Mae
I was coming to suggested Frances or Louisa, but I see that has been done so…..another vote for Frances! I think it matches pretty well in terms of femininity and spunk. I also like Lydia a lot.
What about Renata?
I really think your husband is overthinking the whole boobie/Ruby thing. It would never occur to me, and both Rubys I’ve known have not had an issue. Names that feel similar to Ruby for me are Lucy & Molly. Maybe your husband would like one of them better?
I can see where you have the issue with Rose + Surname. I don’t have the mental image with other “rose” names, so maybe something like Rosa or Rosemary would work for you?
Similar sounding to Lydia, Lucia, Lyra, Louisa, Linnea.
Willa came to mind right away, before I read it on your veto list. Any chance you’d be willing to re-examine that one? I agree that Ella seems too insubstantial next to Georgia. Perhaps as a nickname for Elizabeth or Eleanor or something?
Other ideas I’ll throw out (or 2nd): Sylvie/Sylvia, Augusta, Eleanor, Harriet, Alice.
I came here to strongly support Lydia. I think Lydia Joy goes so well with Georgia Mae.
Of the suggestions I also love Caroline and Frances (Caroline Joy & Georgia Mae is darling, and I love the George and Frankie nicknames.)
For some reason I also come back to Chloe even though the style is a bit different. Georgia and Chloe sounds great to me although I’d probably lean towards Chloe Jean as a middle more than Joan. hmmmm.
With Ruby -I don’t see any teasing potential unless there is the distinct possibility she may hit puberty earlier than her peers and/or be particularly well-endowed in that department. I can totally see immature 11-year old boys teasing her if she’s unusually ahead of or larger than her peers. But 11-year old boys tease everyone about everything. It will always be something. But if it runs in your family genetics that may be why your husband is concerned.
For my area, Ella and Ruby are about equally popular and rising.
I like Eleanor with possible nn. Ella.
I also like Scarlett.
I love your style so I’m going to suggest my daughter’s name, Lucille. I think Florence was already mentioned but I’m going to mention that too. Isadora and Zinnia are two others I love I think would fit.
As for Ruby boobie, every single name you can make up a rhyme for or something to pick on them for. I love the name Ruby and have a friend who named her daughter this. Never once have I thought about it rhyming with boobie.
Lydia is excellent too. Maybe your hubby will warm up to it. I’ve found that names my husband seems unenthusiastic about are sometimes his favorite in a couple months and he ends up trying to talk me into them!
Good luck. Please update us!!
I really truly love Georgia and Ruby together–and I love that your husband wants to protect your daughter from teasing, but I don’t think it’ll be an issue. They are both such spunky while clsssic sounding names to me. Lydia is also great. I like Swistle’s suggestions, especially Cordelia. And the reader suggestion of Susanna is perfect too. Has anyone suggested Paloma yet? Or maybe Daphne, Ophelia, Veronica.
Haven’t read the comments so no idea if it’s been already suggested, but I loooove the name Elodie (French, pronounced EL-oh-dee) with Georgia. Elodie Joy, Elodie Joan. Georgia and Elodie. Love.
Ruby is definitely my favorite from your list — it goes wonderfully with Georgia — and I hope you can convince your husband that the rhyming is a total non-issue. Carter is hugely popular, and it rhymes with “farter.” Celeste rhymes with “breast” and “incest.” Esther rhymes with “molester” and “fester.” Luke rhymes with “puke.” Ellie and Nellie and Kelly all rhyme with “smelly.” And these are all beautiful, well-loved, well-used names. So don’t avoid a favorite name because imaginary future bullies might rhyme a word with it! I’d discourage you from naming a kid, like, “Sidiot” because its chief association is “rhymes with idiot” — but with a name like Ruby, which has a long history of use and is also a gemstone, there are myriad stronger associations. Ruby all the way!
I really like Ruby and Lydia with Georgia!
Additional suggestions:
Maisie
Margot
Jillian
Susannah
Audrey
Juliet
Daphne
Phoebe
I have a Georgia! Other names we considered were Nina, Nora, Sylvie, Winona, Romy, and Naomi. From your list I love Ruby. Ruby Joy is such a good name!!!
I wouldn’t worry about Ruby/booby, simply because I think it’s impossible to predict or prevent potential name teasing or manipulation so you might as well let it go. My 3yo has a classmate named Grayson who he calls Raisin and another named Sasha who he calls Salsa–not to be mean, he’s still figuring out speaking of course. But just goes to show you really never know how names will iterate in the real world :)
Your naming style is very similar to my parents’–their top three name choices for me were Lydia, Ruby, and Rose! (They/I ended up with Ruby Rose.) All of your choices are excellent, though I admit I am very partial to Ruby. For what it’s worth, I was teased a bit growing up for the Ruby/boobie thing (it didn’t help that I was a rather early developer in the Chest Department), but it wasn’t a big deal at all. It was a minor annoyance at the worst, and it definitely didn’t make me wish I’d been named something else.
Lucia nn Lucy. Georgia and Lucia sound great together.
Love the suggestion of Matilda nn Mattie or Tilly too. Georgia Mae and Matilda Joy!
I’d also like to suggest Audrey. Georgia and Audrey. Love!
Good luck!
Chiming in for Lydia, probably because I have a positive Jane Austen association. Good luck!
I second Harriet, Frances, Daphne, Margot and Eloise. What about Iris or Daisy? For some reason, floral names go with Georgia to me – sweet and vintage. I really love Daisy Joan Br0wning.
My concern with Ruby is that I find it difficult to say with the last name Br0wning.
Have you considered these?
Georgia and Naomi Br0wning
Georgia and Penelope Br0wning
Georgia and Winifred (Winnie) Br0wning
Georgia and Margaret (Maggie) Br0wning
What about Lavinia? Or Theodosia?
How about Elise or Eloise? You could use Ella as a nickname for either.
Meredith
Susannah (repeating)
Magnolia
Lynette
Tamsin
Alexandria
Juliette
What about Etta? Just a fresh alternative to Ella and sounds lovely with both Joy and Joan.
Georgia Mae and Etta Joy. So sweet!
Love Louisa Joy / Louisa Joan, and second the suggestion above of Eloise (or Eloisa) called Ella.
Other suggestions that I like with Georgia:
Frida
Ramona
Rowena
Calla