Hi, Swistle!
You and your amazing readers helped me mull over the name for my 3rd “and last” baby back in 2018, but now I have a new last baby (for sure this time) to name who should be arriving the first week of June. And what a great time it is to have a baby! Nothing to worry about at all, except for the name, right?
All the kid’s last names are kind of like “Nordson”, which they share with their dad. I am Becca and my husband is Don. The kids are Warren, Lee and Hugh. We do not know the baby’s sex for sure this time due to the baby not cooperating very well, but during a brief moment of cooperation the sonographer and I agreed it sort of looked like it could be a girl. I think we have the name we want for a boy mostly figured out anyway, so I want to talk about girl names.
I have loved names forever, but I am currently unenthused.
We had agreed to Athena, Don’s favorite since forever, but I don’t actually like it. I see what there is to like about the name, but I don’t like the “theen” sound, or the A–a format, or the way it has shot up the popularity charts. Also, a goddess name seems like too much compared to the more down to earth feeling I think my other kid’s names have. I thought I would maybe call her Nina as a nickname, but actually I really want to love her full name. Don doesn’t want just Nina.
My favorite girl name is Leona, but we can’t use it because of big bro Lee. I like that it is simple but pretty with a sort of Wonder Woman vibe for me. Don likes it too, so too bad we can’t use it.
We both like Fay/e, but I don’t know about another 1 syllable name. Lee, Hugh and Fay sound funny together. Another strike is that Don had a grandma named Fay who we would not be intentionally honoring. I also worry that it maybe has a Southern feeling that we are not going for.
Mary is another one we have both liked for a long time that suddenly seems a little lackluster to me, especially with the last name.
Meryl is what we agreed to name a daughter back we we were first dating (as teens, eek!). Warren was the boy name, so it’s kind of a cute idea to end up using both. Don would be OK with it, but not excited. I feel the same except for the sentimentality.
Muriel is one we almost agreed to. I like the meaning and origin (means bright sea and is an ancient Celtic name). I worry it isn’t pretty enough- it seems to get a lot of hate. I think Don feels the same because he keeps suggesting Murielle instead, then saying “or Muriel, whatever”. I don’t like the pronunciation of the alternative spelling: mure-YELL. I don’t think we will use this one.
I am not too worried about the middle name right now, but I like the idea of Rebecca after me. We’ll get to that later, though.
I am getting distressed. I have no more ideas and only 8 weeks left! What would you and your readers suggest?
I think Mary would be a surprisingly fresh choice. There was a Mary in preschool with one of my kids, and I remember the first time I heard that was her name, leaping from “not even really seeing that name in the baby name book” to “!!!!”
Other names I have encountered on babies or little children that gave me that same little shock:
Betsy
Colleen
Ellen
Harriet
Lynn (seems too similar to Lee)
Ruth (seems too similar to Hugh)
Susan (maybe too soon for another long-U sound)
And I haven’t seen it on a person yet, but the other day Miss Grace mentioned the name Bonnie and I had that same “!!!!” reaction. Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Bonnie. Bonnie Rebecca Nordson. I love it.
I don’t think it seems weird to add another one-syllable name such as Faye (though I see what you mean when I say the sibling names all together). But I would cross it off the list because of the grandma you wouldn’t be intending to honor; that seems awkward (though I think it could be figured out if you really loved the name and wanted to use it). I wondered about Kay/Kaye, instead. I like the look of Kay/Kaye more than the sound of it: it sounds like the initial “K.” to me when I say it. Maybe May? Warren, Lee, Hugh, and May. Well, now I am re-thinking the one-syllable thing, but I don’t know if that’s just because I was looking for it. It might not be the number of syllables; it might be more that we need some more strong consonant sounds in there after the softer sounds of Lee and Hugh. Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Claire. Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Jean. Hm. I can’t tell.
I think Athena is a little odd in the sibling group, but on the other hand it’s pretty common for parents to have different naming styles for boys and for girls, so it’s not the shock it would be if you had Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Apollo. If you weren’t considering using your own name as her middle name (an idea I LOVE, and I wish it were as common in our culture to use the mother’s name as it is to use the father’s), I would suggest using Athena as the middle name. But I have fastened onto the idea of using your name, and cannot let it out of my clutches.
Leona makes me think of Lois. Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Lois. Lois Rebecca Nordson. I love that.
I wonder if you’d like Sally? Warren, Lee, Hugh and Sally. Sally Rebecca Nordson. Ug, I love that too.
Or Polly? Polly used to be a nickname for Mary, though that is less commonly known now. Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Polly. Polly Rebecca Nordson.
Or Peggy. Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Peggy. Peggy Rebecca Nordson. That gives my heart a little pang. I am not sure if I would use Margaret as the given name and Peggy as the nickname, or go straight to the given name Peggy. Probably I would use Margaret, but that’s at least in part because I also love the name Margaret.
Is Claudia too many syllables? Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Claudia. Claudia Rebecca Nordson.
I wonder if the name Marian would give the name Mary a little boost. Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Marian. Marian Rebecca Nordson. Marian Nordson has an -n/N- situation, but it just leads to the name being a little N-heavy, rather than leading to confusion or awkwardness.
I like Agatha with the sibling names. And I notice that although it isn’t at all like Athena in style, and I wouldn’t usually think to recommend the name Agatha to someone who had Athena on their list, the names DO have some things in common, letter- and sound-wise. That is, I wouldn’t say to your husband, “You like Athena—how about Agatha?,” but I might say, “How about Agatha? …Oh, and this is an interesting coincidence: it has an A- and a -th- and an -a and three syllables like Athena.” Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Agatha. Agatha Rebecca Nordson.
Louise is another warm name to me. Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Louise. Louise Rebecca Nordson.
Oh, or FERN! What about Fern? I don’t know if I like the sound of Fern Nordson, though: that’s a lot of R and N. Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Fern.
You mentioned a Wonder Woman vibe, which made me wonder if you’d like Wonder Woman’s first name: Diana. Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Diana. Diana Rebecca Nordson.
Name update:
Hi! Our last baby and first daughter was born a few days ago, and she has a name! We finally settled on Muriel. I realized that I do think it is a pretty name, and was too worried about random peoples’ negative opinions I had read on the internet before. Don loves it too, and was not sometimes using an alternate pronunciation intentionally, he just does that 😅.
I was alone at the hospital the whole time, and wasn’t sure what we agreed on for the middle name so she has 2! Muriel Athena Rebecca Nordson is home now and the whole family is doing great.
I love all of Swistle’s suggestions, (especially Margaret nn Peggy!) but you having both Muriel and Mary on your list made me think of my cousin’s name, Marielle. My family pronounces it with the emphasis on the Mar like, Mary-elle.
I think this is a fantastic suggestion. It incorporates Mary, Meryl and Muriel together with the option of Mary as a nickname.
All the best with the birth, looking forward to the update.
What about Marie? It’s retro, it’s light, it’s pretty, it’s Marie-Curie-awesome.
I’m also really digging the suggestions of Louise, Diana, and Betsy.
A couple others –
Agnes
Annette
Rose
The names of your boys remind me of classic movie actors. Maybe look at names of female actors from that time? Audrey, Lana, Olivia, Vivian, Marlene come to mind. Good luck!
Oh Marlene is a good one! Or Marlena (lay-na pronunciation).
Oh yes, Marie as suggested. That’s one of my (!!) in a real life kid. I was coming to suggest Marlena as there are some longer names on your list. And I think Meryl is super pretty and kickass and love that you’d have your teen imagining kid names! Good luck!
I like Swistle’s suggestion of Marian a lot! And I agree that Mary would sound super fresh; not lackluster at all. Other names you might like:
Myrna
Alma
Joan
Hilda, nn “Hildy”
Blythe
Mavis
Frida/Freda
Mabel
Lenore
Myrtle
Helen
One name not mentioned yet that sounds like Mary is Marilyn . . . old fashioned, not too common, feminine and I think it sounds great with the sibling set. I love Mary, but it always sounds very Catholic to me, not so Marilyn!
Two thoughts….you could use Mary and then May could be an occasional or all the time nickname. Also, I also love the name Leona but could never fully embrace it because I don’t actually like lions very much…and then I discovered the name Theona. It does veer a little into “Is it TOO unusual/will anyone be able to pronounce it” territory, but it seems like it could be kind of perfect for you. (Also Fiona).
Theona is interesting! I’m not sure what feeling I get about it. I will think about it more for sure.
If you’re thinking Mary, a way you could maybe give it that extra boost you’re looking for is to spell it Merry, seems to take it to a little more modern level while still keeping it classic. I also think Darcy, Elsie and Thea could be cute as well. Best of luck!!
Lol, based on my regional accent, Mary & Merry do not sound the same!
Yes, I came here to suggest Fiona! I simply love it, and it sounds exactly like Leona without the Lee problem. It’s gorgeous.
Meryl is too Streep… but:
Marin!!!
Cordelia
Frances
Odette
Vera
Viola
Talia
Tess
Kathleen
Darby
Brynn
Josie
Sadie
Georgia
Like Liz, I wondered if Muriel and Mary not being quite right would lead to Mariel being JUST right.
I adore Mariel and Marian, but I popped in to suggest Anna. Anna Rebecca Nordson, Warren, Lee, Hugh, and Anna.
I also love Annie with your boys, but if you don’t, nicknames are very optional today.
I notice you like Muriel and Meryl and Mary. Miriel is a Tolkien name, Mireille is French (said meer-ay), and then there’s Miriam.
Actually, I love Miriam with your sibling set. What do you think?
I wish I felt like Mireille would work, but I worry it would be too hard for an American girl. I do love me some French names though; I forgot to mention my love for Pascale in the original email – Don said he likes it too, but I’m not sure if I’d be brave enough.
Miriam would be great too!
How about Meredith?
Wonder if you’d like Margot? Margot Rebecca is pretty and you could use the nn Daisy, which is sweet.
Warren, Lee, Hugh and Margot
Daisy would be cute and I like Peggy from Swistle’s ideas too. The only Margaret name I like is Marguerite, though. That’s probably a little over the top I think.
I know a baby Marguerite who goes by Margo! It tones it down a bit, but then she has a fancier name if she wants it.
I second your comment on Marguerite – I love the name but it doesn’t really fit your family’s style IMO. Margo(t) or Daisy would be great nicknames though.
I agree with Swistle that Athena doesn’t seem quite right with your sons’ names. I love Mary with the sibling set but agree with some of the comments that Marie sounds wonderful too. I also LOVE the names Betsy and Peggy with the group. A few others that came to mind were Rose, Dorothy and Florence.
I have heart eyes for Ellen or Anna!
Oh, Anna would be perfect, but it is my much younger sister’s name (same age as my kids!). I don’t think Don would do Ellen, but I like it a lot.
So happy to see this this morning!
I like Swistle’s suggestions of Ruth, Susan, Bonnie, Lois and Sally especially!
Jane would be so lovely here.
These names spring to mind for you: Melanie, Lorna, (I know a young Lorna and it doesn’t have the Lee beginning but shares a lot of sounds with Leona) Lydia, Amy, Phoebe, Hannah
I read and re-read, but is Fiona a possibility? I don’t think it echoes Lee like Leona, and I think it flows nicely with the siblings! But maybe it has been eliminated for other reasons? After I read Leona, I kept shouting FIONA! in my mind.
Don doesn’t like Fiona last time I checked, but I haven’t asked in a while.
another variation on Mary is Marren. I know a teenager with this name and she is delightful!
I love the suggestions of Lana and Marian!!
Along those lines, I wanted to suggest Audrey and Frances. Very classic yet underused.
From your list, I like Mary best. Don’t care for Athena at all…how about Anthea instead, nn Annie or Thea?
Of Swistle’s suggestions, I love Bonnie, Sally and Betsy. Also like Susan (or Susannah). I have a Faye myself but agree that you shouldn’t use it if you don’t want to honor that relative.
A few additional suggestions that I like with your sibset and with your last name (would avoid another W, H or L name although it pains me as I love Helen for you):
Frances (love nn Francie or Frannie)
Esther
Estelle
Meredith
Miriam
Phoebe
Greta
Maeve
Maisie
Annabel
Bridget
Rosemary (nn Romy)
What about Miriel as a variation of Muriel? I also like the name Miriam with Mim as a nickname. Claire would sound nice with Rebecca too. Elnora is also old fashioned but can be shortened to El, Ellie, Nora :)
Big fan of Thea as the not-een but still Greek Athena, the not-as-out-there Theona/Leona, the still-old-film-star vibe. Thea Rebecca is very pleasing! I know you could even go “TAY-a” or “THAY-a” if you wanted, and it’s always kind of nice to have a name that requires a quick pronunciation follow-up because that’s how you know who your friends are haha.
What about Marielle? I know an American one and it works just fine pronunciation-wise and it gives you Mary and seems similar to but more pretty than Muriel.
Not sure if anyone suggested it but: Moira (MOY-rah).
I met a baby Athena recently, and though I would have never considered it, it was ADORABLE on her! There are a lot of great suggestions here already, but I came to add Althea (all-TAY-a). I also like the Meryl, Mariel, Marin, Meredith ideas.
When I saw Athena with the nickname Nina immediately thought about Alina, and I like the nickname Allie.
I love the suggestion of Margo(t) for you too. If you like Mary and Athena… What about Marina? Or Lena?
Love!
Just realized that Molly hasn’t been suggested! It’s such a classic, and I can definitely picture a little sister Molly along with your three boys.
Lenore / Lenora / Nora
Thora
Luna
Isadora
Ione
Mae / Maeve
Mabel
Farrah
I was just coming here to suggest Lenore! It’s similar to Leona but doesn’t have the Lee sound and I love it with the brother names.
I agree with OP and Swistle, I don’t think Athena goes as well with your boys names, it doesn’t have that same warm friendly feeling.
I was coming to suggest Thea but see others have already. Where I’m from we pronounce it Thee-ah.
How about Pearl? It is related to the “meaning” of the Mary-based names. I think Hazel would also flow well and is beautiful! Elsie and Celia also popped into my head when hearing Warren, Lee, Hugh.
So many great suggestions already! I’ll add in:
Alice
Carys or Charis
Emma
Estrid — a variation of Astrid
Merritt — I love Merritt, also Meredith
Rachel — lots of different spellings — Rachele, Rachael, etc.
Tessa
Zita — pronounced ZEE ta
I know a little Mary and it seems very classic yet fresh. I like the suggestions of Sally and Molly but wonder if they are too similar to Lee. If Athena feels too greek goddess, what about Althea? Thea is a good nickname for your sib set. What about Lucy? Lucy Rebecca is awfully cute.
Molly is great! Molly, Polly, May: I do love Mary’s nicknames. Not sure if I would do them as nicknames or stand alone. I think people don’t know that they are short for Mary anymore.
How about Nancy? It falls in line with the retro style being floated around in this discussion, and is making a comeback in the UK (so it may be the “new Emma” being revived earlier on the other side of the pond than here).
There are so many Mary-variant names. I particularly like Mariah, Maris, and Rosemary, probably Rosemary best in your family. But Mary as is would be a refreshing choice these days.
There have been a ton of good suggestions, from Swistle and commenters, but I particularly like Diana for you since the Wonder Woman vibe appealed. Diane would work, too. That has the retro feel of your boys’ names.
Or how about:
Andrea
Carol, Caroline
Jennifer
Linda
Margaret (nn Peggy)
Susan, Susannah, Suzanne
Virginia (nn Ginny)
Diane or Diana would be so good, but with a similar aged aunt named Anna I think it emphasizes the “Die, Anne/Anna!” sound. lol. I love Susan and variants so, so much and wish Don was on board.
Irene and Susan/Suzanne/ Susannah are some of my favorites that I Don vetoes, sadly, or else I would definitely want one of those.
I think Miriam sounds good with the sibling group. Its popularity and the low-fuss feeling makes it seem at least comparable to the boys’ names and I like how it’s similar to the Mary/ Meryl/ Muriel that you like. It also doesn’t cause there to be the -n / N- “issue” (which didn’t actually bother me, though!).
Miriam Rebecca Nordson. Pretty! Warren, Lee, Hugh and Miriam.
Swistle’s suggestion of Agatha also reminded me of Edith, which I also really like! Edith Rebecca Nordson. Warren, Lee, Hugh and Edith.
Both of these suggestions are also 2+ syllables, so there wouldn’t be three one-syllable names in a row.
I’ve been liking Meryl more the last couple days. I wonder what people think of it, though? Too Streep? Do you think of the shoe brand Merrill?
It’s VERY Meryl Streep for me, but that is certainly not a bad association! I don’t think of the shoe brand.
I think Meryl is so sweet and refreshing and fits well in your sibling set. It does make me think of Meryl Streep, but I don’t think this is a bad association and if anything, positive. Plus, Meryl Streep may not be as well known to her age group. I don’t thing of the shoe brand at all (even though I own a pair of Merrill’s). I think the different spelling helps to separate that.
Mamie.
Also here to suggest Marielle/Mariel!!
Nancy possible nn Nan
Melinda possible nn Mel
Melody possible nn Mel
Lucille possible nn Lucy
I love some of these with your sibling set. I love Frances, my granddaughter is Frances, usually called Franny. I also love Mary for you. As to your question about Meryl, I think of Meryl Streep but I am in my 50’s. I like saying Meryl, how about Maren? I also like Georgia, Eliza, Eloise, Esther, Beatrice, and Gloria.
Of the names you’re considering, Mary seems the most fitting. Meryl feels very Streep, Athena feels a bit out of place.
The names that immediately came to mind as a great fit with Warren, Lee and Hugh:
Olive
Nell
Tess
Others that have already been mentioned, but I feel compelled to repeat:
Molly
Miriam
Frances
How about Alice Rebecca? I wanted an Alice the last time so badly but was vetoed. We went with Margaret nn Margo though and I love it.
Leona did make me immediately think of Lenora, which I see others have suggested.
I know a 5 year old Warren who’s sister is Ella May.
Irina?
I’m going to go into left field here a little and suggest Ruby. I think Ruby Rebecca is fun. I also like Camille (Millie sounds so good with the last name). Maybe even Delilah.
So I looked through lists of 1920 girls names to see if I could find something that I thought was cool but simple for you.
My ideas
Petra
Marjory
Mavis
Opal
I like the unexpectedness of Mary.
My initial thought was Marion too. Seems you are almost there on a lot of M names, and there are so very many M names to pick from. Moira was my next thought or Maura. I also like Mirela which means peace and seems fitting for the times.
I love the idea of Betsy and Bonnie and Harriett from Swistle. Molly is sweet with the sibset too. I think Florence and Dorothy fit the genre but maybe not your sibset? Although they do have good nickname options.
Another random thought I had was Joy. I mean, what a time to bring Joy into the world. Joy Nordson. Very spare, not fussy yet meaningful, recognizable and underused.
I’ve just had a thought which I don’t think I’ve seen mentioned yet …. how about Martha?
A little bit Athena, a little bit Mary and sounds great with your boy’s names.
Warren, Lee, Hugh & Martha!!
Ooh, I really like Martha with this sibset, and also the aforementioned Molly, Jean, and Celia.
Another M name – Miranda, nickname Miri or Mir.
More names that seem to fit:
Vera
Lillian
Carol
Joan
Kate (Katherine)
Sylvia
Helen
Eleanor
Josephine (Josie)
Gloria
June
Laura
Stella
Harriet
Along the lines of Leona and Lenora, have you thought of Lorena? I know someone in her 20’s who wears it very well. That also brings to mind Lorraine as well.
Nora
Belle
Vera
Jane
Margot
Flora
Rosa
Molly
Millie
Maisy
Mary
Marina
Ruby
Charlotte
Emmeline
Deirdre
Eloise
Mabel
Daphne
Phoebe
Maya
Mia
Faye
Maeve
Alana
Violet
Amelia
Olivia
Margot
Emilia
Marietta
Edith
Gwendolen
Elowen
Elodie
Imogen
Genevieve
Eva
Tessa
Evelyn
Louisa
Congratulations! I love that she has your name :)
What a beautiful name, it’s perfect!