Hi Swistle!
We just found out after two boys we are having a girl. This will be our last. My husband (J) and I do not have a lot of names we like that overlap. With my second son we only had two names out of everything that we could even somewhat agree on.
I feel like I have looked at every girl name and have trouble even finding anything I connect with. I had no problem making a list of 10+ boy names, but girls are tough. J usually only has a few suggestions and then will be the main person to pick the middle name.
I’m looking for something not overly feminine and more girl next door. We had Riley picked for the other two pregnancies, but it feels used now even though J still loves it.
My list:
Riley
Hazel (I might convince him of this)
Willow (he’s so so)
Darcy (he says no)
Kolby (he says this is cheese)His list:
Riley
Lucy (not the worst not my favorite)Last name is Bevans without the B.
Our boys are Finn and Sawyer.
Thank you!
K
I immediately wanted you to choose Thatcher, for Becky Thatcher, to go with the Tom Sawyer / Huck Finn theme. And actually, that’s pretty cute! Thatcher! But it may be more unusual than you’re looking for. Plus, since she’s the love interest rather than just the buddy-next-door, I guess I’d steer away from that for sibling names anyway.
Or I wish Caddie Woodlawn were named CALLIE Woodlawn, because Callie would be great for a girl-next-door name, and the literary connection would be fun. Well, I suggest it anyway: Finn, Sawyer, and Callie. It could be short for Caroline, making it a Laura Ingalls Wilder reference.
My definite favorite from your lists is Darcy: I think it has that girl-next-door sound, and goes great with the brother names; and I like how it gives you a new set of sounds (one of the downsides of Thatcher is that it repeats the ending of Sawyer). And it sounds similar to Lucy from your husband’s list! My hope is that you will be able to bring him around to Darcy: we get so many emails/follow-ups that are “My husband says absolutely not to Name”/”We used Name!”
Another name that comes to mind is Darby—sort of a blend of Darcy and Kolby. Finn, Sawyer, and Darby.
Or Shelby? Finn, Sawyer, and Shelby.
I wonder if you’d like Aubrey. Finn, Sawyer, and Aubrey.
Or Eliza, which is fun to say with the surname. Finn, Sawyer, and Eliza.
Or Maisy/Maisie. Finn, Sawyer, and Maisy/Maisie.
Or Lane. Finn, Sawyer, and Lane.
Or Casey would be cute, and shares sounds if not style with Lucy. Finn, Sawyer, and Casey.
Or Teagan. Finn, Sawyer, and Teagan.
Or Delaney! Finn, Sawyer, and Delaney! I love that.
Name update:
Hi Swistle!
I was so excited when you responded to my question and all of your suggestions were on point. I fought for Darcy or Maisie, but we came to a standstill and compromised on Willow for the majority of the pregnancy. Finally something clicked and we returned to our old faithful, Riley, for our third baby and only girl. It irks me a little it doesn’t stand out as a girl name from our boys, but it fits her perfectly.
Please meet all 9lbs 14oz of our newest addition, Riley Willow.
I’ve always thought Lainey was delightful, and it kind of hits as a Riley/Lucy smoosh to me, and builds off Swistle’s suggestion of Lane.
I like almost all the names on both lists and can see them fitting into this sibling set. My first instinct was recommend Riley, since it’s a a long-time favorite and you still like it well enough to put on your list and it’s your only overlap. But I think my own favorites for you are Hazel, Darcy (and Riley), with Willow and Lucy in the second string.
Seems like you two cross over on -y endings. If Riley doesn’t feel fresh enough, how about:
Kirby
Hallie
Liddy
Jovie
Toby
I know a little Darby. She’s a doll. Her sister’s name is Tess. Tess Bevans?
I tend to agree with your hubs that Kolby is cheese, and also feels boyish to me in a way. If you pick though I’m sure it would fit her perfectly!
What about Kiley/Kylie? Sounds like Riley, gives you that K sound. Miley is probably too Miley Cyrus. Briley? Hailey? Lyla? Wylie?
Of swistle’s suggestions, I love Delaney/Lainey.
I love Hazel with the siblings it just sounds so fresh yet also earthy. It’s got the femininity of Darcy and Lucy but feels a bit more grounded. Hazy would make a super cute baby nickname. To me earlier, a Riley with these brothers would seem like a boy. Is Reyna or Freya too far out?
I think something feminine but not frilly would work best in this sibset. I think Hazel sounds perfect!
From your list I Iove Hazel. From Swistle’s suggestions I love Delaney. And I want to suggest Hailey, which mix Hazel and Riley.
I think Hailey would work well, too. It’s got that surname/neutral feel but still a bit on the feminine side of neutral. Finn, Sawyer, and Hailey.
A friend who spells it Haylee, if that spelling appeals more.
Random thought… What about Linda with the nickname of Lindy? Or just go with Lindy outright?
It is a nice blend of Riley and Lucy with a new sound (“d”).
I’m always on team “stick with your long time favorite” because I think people don’t regret doing that. But Hazel is a favorite of mine so I think it’s a great option, too.
I suggest Heidi: literary, 2 syllables and ends in y sound.
I came here to advocate for Shelby. I am professor, and I have to admit that I have only had one Shelby come through my courses, but the name itself stuck. It is a huge style outlier for me, and I could never use it, but the name seems kicky, fun, and yet practical and cool (like the girl next door).
I do think if you both like Riley, it is a really good option for your group.
I would also encourage you to look at Reese, which has all of those kicky fun girl next door vibes.
If you did want to go literary, there’s always Scout and Harper. Oddly enough, Harper is not only the author Harper Lee but also the last name of Tom and Huck’s friend Joe Harper, who is presumed dead along with them when they run away. I don’t think I could resist it, personally, if it was my style, in spite of its current popularity,
I also thought of Scout and Harper. I know some families are into a more traditional S- name with Scout as a nickname, but maybe you’d rather not repeat an initial?
Someone else mentioned Heidi, and there are so many other literary-inspired girl names! I know you didn’t say you wanted those necessarily, but it seems like a fun tie-in to play with. Lucy and Susan are this sisters from the Narnia books, and then there’s
Ramona
Harriet
Charlotte
Matilda (Mattie? Tilda? Tillie?)
Madeline
Eloise
Margaret (so many nicknames, if you’re into that!)
The literary link got me thinking about how many names land you on someone you maybe don’t want your daughter to turn out like. Lainey –> Elaine (Elaine the fair, Elaine the lovable, Elaine the Lily Maid of Astolat WHO DIES OF A BROKEN HEART NO THANK YOU)
Maisie made me think of Henry James, so no, although maybe a nickname that could turn into Mamie? I do like Auntie Mame, and a friend was known as “Flaming Mamie” as a child because she was such a tornado in human form
Scout’s actual name is Jean Louise — I wonder if either of those appeals. Or Louisa, to get to Louisa May Alcott?
Ooh, Harper’s a good idea!
I think Delaney works great! Also a fan of Teagan and Casey.
Other ideas:
Willa
Harper (repeats the -er sound)
Cody
Adele
Juno
Shiloh (repeats an S initial)
Harlow
Marlow
Margo
Myla
Kyla
Rae
Remy
Luna
Molly
Love Darcy and like Riley. Agree with Swistle that Darby would be an excellent choice. Same with Delaney, nn Lane or Laney, and Maisie.
A few additional suggestions that I like for you (no F or S options is my preference although I do like Sally or Shae for you):
Ainsley
Tiernan
Tierney
Brynn
Rory
Remy
Meg
Merritt
Bonnie
I LOVE Darby!!!
Delaney is my second choice.
My first impulse was Scout.
<3
I’d like to suggest Peyton! All the best.
Since you are so-so on Willow, go with Willa. There is the literary tie-in, so it seems perfect!
Other ideas:
Yates
Pearl
Kit
Zora
Cleo
I love Delaney/Lainey/Lane. That group of names are a personal favorite. But I was wondering about Sara/Sarah with the nickname Sadie or, of course, Sadie on its own. I also wondered about Kennedy. Lots of good suggestions from all the commenters. Good luck.
Would Lacey split the difference between Lucy and some of your favourites?
The fact that you have two “tree” names on your list made me wonder about Holly, Ash (or Ashling) or Rowan. Or maybe Ivy?
Best of luck!
I love Darcy. <3 Hazel, Harper, Scout, Shelby and Delaney also work well.
Bailey
Clancy
Auden
Austen
Cooper – might read like 3 brothers as a sibset, repeats ending
Piper – repeats ending
Fifer – repeats initial and ending
I will suggest Ruby for some reason! Seeing Riley and Lucy together maybe?
I understand letting go of a long-term favorite. It took us a while to conceive, and by the time I was finally pregnant with our daughter, the girl name we had agreed on years ago no longer seemed fresh. I have never regretted not using it, for what it’s worth.
From your list, I love Hazel, and I hope you can convince your husband! I also thought of Piper — it seems like a spunky name that would go well with your boys’ names. And I like Swistle’s suggestion of Maisie for you.
If you want to keep with a literary theme, I think Anne or Annie for Anne of Green Gables would be very cute! Or Josephine nicknamed “Jo” for Little Women.
Here’s a few more girl-next-door suggestions:
Harper
Rory
Delaney
Hailey
Marlow
Oh! looking up Twain, did you know he wrote a story about Joan of Arc? Finn, Sawyer, and Joan?
_A Connecticut Yankee’s_ main character is surnamed Morgan. Finn, Sawyer, and Morgan?
Morgan Bevans might be a tad rhymy for you tho.
Lily Bevans could work in the literary way, too, if you like Harry Potter