Hi Swistle!
You helped us pick a name 2 years ago for our 3rd boy. We are excited to announce we are adding a little girl to our family in February 2021. We are completely stumped on the name though. Our last name sounds like weigh with a B. I am Kandice and go by Kandi and husband Adam. We have 3 boys. Elijah (Eli) Reid, Ezra Lucas and Ethan Alexander. Since we went with three E names I feel like we have to follow our pattern with the fourth even though it’s a girl this time. Names we like include Eden, Evelyn, Emilia, Eloise. Non-E names I like are Iris and Norah. I like names that can be shortened to a nickname like with above,, Evie, Emmie, Ellie, etc. For a middle name I would like to go with Joy which is my mom’s middle name but I’m not sure it goes well with the names we like. Please help us!
Thank you!
As I did last time, I will say something you already know, which is that you really do not have to use an E name. We get to choose only a very, very limited number of baby names in our lives, and it seems like a shame to narrow those choices so drastically and so arbitrarily. Why give up the category “Names We LOVE” in exchange for the category “Names that Start with the Same Letter as the First Name We Chose”? Well. I do see how these things happen. And if you LOVE the idea of all the kids’ names starting with an E, and if drastically narrowing the name-choice field is helpful and reduces naming stress rather than increasing it, well then why not. Let’s look at names on your list.
I think Eden is way too close to Ethan. Also, it adds a third long-E to the group, and I find it a little uncomfortable to say with your surname, and a little uncomfortable as part of a run of biblical names. I do like the way it repeats the ending of Ethan, so you’d have two E-names that end in -a/-ah and two that end in -an/-en.
I like Evelyn. I like it with your surname. I like that it gives you two -ah/-a endings and two -an/-yn endings. I like that it gives you two 2-syllable names and two 3-syllable names. I like that it gives you two long-E names and two short-E names. I like that it adds a new consonant sound. This is my top choice from your list.
I think Emilia is pretty close to Elijah. And it adds a third -a/-ah ending to the group. Also, I know it’s an established alternate spelling for Amelia, but in this situation it feels like the spelling was chosen just to get an E name. But if it turns out to be your favorite, I think it works fine, and I think it’s good with the surname.
I LOVE Eloise; it’s on my own list. I like that it gives you two 2-syllable names and two 3-syllable names. I like that it adds a fresh ending. I think it’s great with the surname. But if you’re planning to shorten it to Ellie, I think that’s way too close to Eli.
I think Joy works great with most names, and is terrific with Evelyn, Emilia, and Eloise; I think it works fine with Eden.
I am sure you have pored over the E section of the baby name book so many times we can’t possibly come up with names you haven’t yet considered—but sometimes hearing someone else advocate for a name can put it back into the running, so let’s spend some time mentioning more E names we like.
Another E name from my own list is Eliza. I love it so much. I do think it is probably too close to Ezra [edited to add: and I agree with commenters it’s MUCH too close to Elijah], and also there is the same issue with Eli if you’d like to call her Ellie. But I think it’s fabulous with your surname.
Esther. Ancient and lovely, and biblical like your boys’ names. When I say the names aloud, I wonder if it is too close to Ezra; the sounds are very similar.
Eleanor. Again, the Eli issue if you want to call her Ellie. You could call her Nora, but of course she could still choose to go by Ellie. But gorgeous with your surname.
Ellery, Ellison, Eliana, Elena, Ella, Elodie, Elsa, Elspeth—all have the Eli/Ellie problem.
Emberley, Everly. It doesn’t seem to me that these fit your usual style, but they can be shortened to Emmie/Evvie, and I think they’re cute with the surname.
Emmeline. I love this. Elijah, Ezra, Ethan, and Emmeline.
Evalina/Evelina. I know a little girl with this name, and I find the name wears well and continues to be fun to say. I love it with your surname, and I like that it gives a new consonant sound. It does give you three -a/-ah endings.
Estelle. You could call her Essie or Stella.
Eva. Gives you a third long-E name, but I still love it.
I really like Eliza, because I like the sound of Eliza Joy. You could go with Elizabeth and use Eliza as the nn. My kids have a short last name and I enjoy three syllables before the one, I think it has a good rhythm.
Goodl luck!
I photographed a baby named Eliza Jane this last weekend. Lovely baby, lovely name the only probably was the song “Liza Jane” stayed stuck in my head. I like the idea of an E name with a non E nickname. For those reasons Emilia nicknamed “Millie” or Lia, Eleanor nicknamed Nora, Estelle nicknamed Stella or Eliza nicknamed Liza are probably my favorites.
I agree Eden is too close to Ethan and Ellie (for Eloise) is too close to Eli. But I like Evelyn and Emilia for you (and Eloise too if you don’t use the nn Ellie). Joy is a nice all-purpose middle that seems to go with almost anything, so there wouldn’t be any problems there.
If you go the non-E route, both Iris and Norah are nice. I lean to Iris.
From your list I really like Eloise Joy and from Swistle’s suggestions I love Eliza Joy, both with nn Elle or Ella, Ella Joy -heart eyes-
I also thought about Evangeline Joy nn Eva, Eve or Evie.
I don’t think you need to continue the E names but your E options are very lovely.
Elodie is close to Eloise, and you could get the nickname Edie which is adorable. Elise is also a cute option with nickname Lissie.
Eliza is almost identical in sounds to Elijah.
I love Eloise, possible other nn Izzie?
I live my own name, Elizabeth with alllll its myriad nicknames.
I love Emily.
My first thought for Eliza wasn’t Ezra, it was that it is almost identical to Elijah. It’s nice but I could never.
Elizabeth, though! Izzy, Lizzie, Betsy, Betty, Beth, Lilly … that girl has NICKNAMES. That would appeal to me if you want something that sounds different from the boys for her daily nickname. The short i eliminated the Elijah problem for me, and the longer length helps a bit with the Ezra situation. Or also — Elspeth instead? So soft and pretty.
Oh, and if you could love Edith that would be great! A new ending helps with the Ethan problem, but keeps the similar sound to Eden. Edie would be very cute.
I have a 1-year-old Edith!! We have gotten nothing but compliments on her name, which I worried (though I love it) would elicit comments about being an old-lady name. We haven’t used the nickname Edie but of course that is adorable!
I have an Edith, too. She’s almost 4, and is a brilliant and creative little girl. I also vote for Edith if the parents opt for another E name!
Edie is a fun nickname.
I knew a set of twins a long time ago named Eden and Easter. I might of rolled my eyes at it on paper, but in person, Easter is a charming name. As a teenager she doodled her name with an uppercase E and a star.
It was very cool. Easter Joy Weigh-with-a-B. Might be a little more religious than you would like, but I think it’s cool and it works with your older children’s E names.
I love Eliza, but think its way too close to Elijah. The two names are so similar in pronunciation that one can be misheard for the other. I know because that has happened to me. Elijah and Eliza are even more similar than Ethan and Eden, but along the same line of one probably disqualifying the other for siblings unless parents are looking for “twin” names.
Evelyn seems like the best “E…” choice among the names you are considering.
Or how about “matching” her brothers’ names with another biblical name, as Elijah, Ezra and Ethan all are? Choosing a biblical name, but with its own beginning letter would be a way to coordinate your daughter’s name and yet give her a name that is uniquely her own and not an “echo” of her brothers’ names..
Sarah
Susanna
Rebecca
Rachel
Anna
Abigail
Hannah
Or maybe the “new” name Selah: The name Selah is a girl’s name of Hebrew origin. … Given its context in the Bible, Selah is likely to mean “to praise” or “pause and reflect upon what has just been said.”
I typically advocate for siblings to all have different first initials, and barring that, to all have the same initial (I’m a sucker for symmetry). In this case, I do think it’s totally fine to go a different route since she’s a girl. My fave option for you is to go with Eleanor and call her Nora. Best of both worlds! I also like Emmeline (nn Emmy), Estelle, Esther and Elizabeth (nn Betsy, Libby, Liz/Lizzie). I think these are the best E choices I can think of that don’t sound too close to one of your sons’ names.
I’d def steer clear of using Ellie as a nn. And, if you go away from the E names, I love Norah and Iris for you.
I second the suggestion of Eleanor called Nora or Norah. Seems perfect to me!
Elijah (Eli), Ezra, Ethan and Eleanor Joy called Nora(h) !
I don’t have a problem with Ellie and Eli. They sound totally different (L-E vs E-Ly)
I love Eloise best from your list or Evelyn.
I’ll also throw in a vote for Elizabeth. When they told me, my goddaughter’s name was going to be Elizabeth, I think I yawned. LOL But it is SO cute, and has infinite nicknames. Over the last 8 years she’s gone by “Lil, Bet, Liz, Betty and E.
My name is Eli. And people pronounce it “Ellie” all the time. Especially people whose first language is Spanish or Hebrew. I think having kids named Eli and Ellie would be super confusing.
I love Iris Joy and would lobby for a different initial for a girl.
Also you could go with Eleanor Joy and use the nickname Nora.
But if you really want to stick with E, I agree that Eden is too close to Ethan, Eliza is too close, and any name that leads to the nickname Ellie is too close to Eli.
From your list, I do like Evelyn (Evie) and think it works well with Joy.
I also like Edith Joy (nn Edie) or Edwina Joy (nn Eddie).
If Emmaline doesn’t seem right you could go with Emery or or Emerson to get the nickname (Emmie).
Esme is another good choice.
My favorite girl named are Emilin and Ellis or Ellison! Emi is cute! However, it sounds like Eleanor (called Nora) would solve your problem here!
I’ll recommend my kid’s name Elena. It has 4 different pronunciations, and we use eh-LEE-an, nn Lena (LEE-na).
Also: Esme, Evangeline, Elspeth, Elora. And I love Estelle/Estella & Edith/Edie mentioned above!
Eh-LEE-na (stupid autocorrect!)
I like Edith, Ethel, Esther, Eleanor
Edie, Ella, Etta, Etti or Nora nicknames
If it was another boy, I’d say you “have” to choose another E name. Because I’m obsessed with name patterns! But since it’s a girl, I don’t see a problem with using any other initial. A lot of people have totally different styles for boys and girls’ names. So people who obsess over name patterns will figure you always planned to give your boys E names and your girls ____ names, and you simply didn’t have a girl until now.
One thing I noticed, though, is that all of your names (parents and children’s) are Biblical, considering Kandice is a variant of the Biblical name Candace.
So I lean towards Biblical: Leah, Chloe or Phoebe. All work well with middle name Joy.
+1 to Eleanor or Estelle!
But also +1 to the idea that you should feel free to move away from E names, unless there is one that would be your favorite anyway.
Definitely love Eloise Joy for you, nn Lulu. Or Emmeline nn Melly. Love the non-E nicknames for you.
Agree on Eliza, Eden, Ellie being problematic with your set.
I wonder if you’d like Evangeline? That gives you a plethora of nicknames, but it’s more ‘modern’ than Elizabeth for your more modern-traditional sibset.
Eli, Ezra, Ethan and Evangeline nn Neve or Angel or Lennie?
Eli, Ezra, Ethan and Eloise nn Lulu or Lola
Eli, Ezra, Ethan and Emmeline nn Melly or Emmy
Given the flower names on your list, I wonder if Erica might be an option you would like? If you were interested in her being a Nora you could do Eleonora (pronounced Ellie uh nora).
I do like the Evangeline and Etta from previous commenters and Eloise and Esther from you and Swistle.
Good luck
My favorite suggestion is Eleanor called Nora! You get your non-E name that you love, a longer E name that doesn’t overlap with too many sounds of the other siblings, and sounds great with Joy in the middle and the last name. PERFECTION. Eleanor Joy Weigh-with-a-B.
The other suggestions that stood out to be as excellent choices are Elizabeth, Elizabeth Joy Weigh-with-a-B. Solid, and the extra syllable of ‘beth’ makes it more notable different from Elijah than Eliza would. So many great nicknames, too, so you don’t have the Eli/Ellie problem. I especially love Libby! Libby Joy, adorable.
The last suggestion I really liked was Elodie, nn Edie. Elodie Joy Weigh-with-a-B. Edie. Cute!
Elowyn (or Elowen)? So pretty.
I also love the suggestions of Evangeline and Eva. Or, if you go without an E, Ava is one of my favorites. Ava Joy is pretty amazing (imo).
I am here for Elowyn. <3 She could be Wynnie instead of Ellie.
Also Evangeline (Ginny?) and Eleanor (Norah).
Or maybe try a Y name that sounds like E? Like all the E vowels and then sometimes Y?
Yvaine (might be too close to Ethan)
Yvette
Yvonne
Or an E that is pronounced like A?
Eowyn
Or an E that is pronounced like I?
Eileen (maybe too 80s?)
Just plain E:
Enid
Echo (with your last name this sounds like a place or maybe a brand of speakers)
Epona
I feel like you are in my wheelhouse here. I have three boys with the same initial and one girl with a different initial. I had hesitations but it has been fine. She doesn’t feel left out and the boys don’t mind sharing initials (and their friend appointed nicknames make their names even more similar than yours’). When they were small some people commented but it has been less noticeable as they have grown and I suspect will be a non issue as adults. We frame it as the kids having biblical names and family names rather than about initials or syllables etc as that was the important factor for me. I feel perfectly comfortable saying my kids have biblical names and three of them start with one letter. The couple of times people asked why she didn’t have the same initial I said a variation of ‘we just loved this name so much we had to use it’ and people accept that. I also tell people that we looked for a non-initial name for our youngest but really wanted to use my dad’s name so decided to do it anyway, which is true and people seem happy to accept it. The only person who was very pushy about it I said ‘oh, but do you know that in the Bible it says X was the disciple Jesus loved’ as though obviously this meant I had to use the name lol. She seemed quite baffled but dropped the subject. I feel you could just as easily say something like ‘oh, but X means sunshine and just look at her -it’s perfect’ or whatever and have the same effect. People can’t really argue with you once the deal is done. All to say pick a name you like or a name with equivalent religious significance if that’s your thing and just own it and it will be fine :)
One more vote for Eleanor!!
I also like Eleanora (Nora), Leonora and Lenora/e.
Emmanuelle nn Emme or Noelle!!
Elana
Eriu
Essie
Estella
Ekaterina
Effie
Eluned
Evaluna
Evita
Eva
Evanna ***
Others:
Helena (Nell)
Oriana
Ivy
Alannah
I think I would use another E name, but since she is a girl I think a non E name would be okay too. For E names I love Eleanor (Nora), and Eve (Evie). I also like Evangeline (Evie), though that may be a little too much
If you’re going to be stuck with a letter, I think E is the very best one.
But I feel like if you would like to venture out, Iris Joy sounds beautiful and is such a great name.
Eleanor called Nora feels like a win/win.
My daughters middle name is Eloise and I just love it more and more as time goes on and use it interchangeably with her first name. I sometimes call her Elo (rhymes with yellow) or Weezy as nicknames.
I know it’s fairly popular, but I’ve never met an Emily I didn’t like. It’a a great name.
And Elizabeth! Biblical. Timeless. The nicknames—so much more than Ellie.
Evangeline is definitely a name I pined to use, but we had just the one daughter. I guess I would (personally) think long and hard about what I would want to name my (potentially) only daughter. Pretend she’s your firstborn and there are no rules or expectations, no explanations you have to give anyone. What is the name then?
I like the idea of a different initial but that incorporates a long “e” sound to fit in. Things like Anneliese, Leah, Fiona, Kira…
If you do choose an e name, I like Elizabeth (my favorite nns are Bess, Busy, or Lizzie) and Eleanorah nn Norah
ELISE. You like Iris and Eloise, and Biblical (variant of Elizabeth, it counts!), and prefer an E.
Elise Joy Weigh. It’s beautiful. Eli(jah), Ezra, Ethan, and Elise. It fits in perfectly but passes the ‘can be heard across the house’ test, and you could call her Lissie or Lise if you want.
Other Elizabeth variants that appeal in the sibset are Elsa, Elspeth, and of course evergreen Elisabeth.
P.S. I do think a non-E, Biblical name would be perfectly lovely for your little girl. Would you use Joy as a first?
As an Ellen, I’ll toss my own name out for consideration. It hasn’t had the surge in popularity of so many other El- names, and no one’s ever called me Ellie. If you’re looking for an El- name not quite as much like Eli as Ellie would be, it could work.
One vote for Emmeline! I really like this name, and I like that is would bring some new sounds to the sibling names.
Iris joy. If anyone expresses mild surprise at the changed pattern, remark breezily,
– “Well, she broke the pattern herself. We’re so excited about our first daughter.”
– “Oh, we just chose the names we liked the best.”
– “Oh, all E’s! That wasn’t the theme, we went with vowels.
I’d bet fewer than five people even mention it to you in the first month (when the most people seem to remark on names, in my experience).