A long time ago, we did a “mini-posts in the comments section” thing, where people who had small/short/quick baby-naming questions could post them in the comments section, and other commenters could scroll through and answer any they had opinions on. Recently several people asked if we could do that again, and okay!
This is perfect for the kind of question where you might feel silly sending in a whole letter for one single thing (not that you SHOULD feel silly! just that you MIGHT). Maybe you just want reactions to one particular name you’re considering; or you’d like to know which of two names people prefer; or you want to ask if a name is weird with your surname; or you want to know if people think a name will get more popular; or you want to know if people associate a name with a particular person/event; or whatever. Nice quick tidy little snack-size questions without much backstory.
And for the commenters who answer: a reminder for us all to answer kindly, as if we had been asked our opinion by a dear friend; as well as with the understanding that the goal is to find parents a name that works well for THEIR style and not for our own. (I have never quite gotten over the times I went to the baby-name discussion area of a major baby/pregnancy website and it was like some sort of giant wild-animal fight, all snarling and tail-whipping and rabies and teeth.) Okay, I think we’re ready! You may go ahead and ask/answer!
I love this thread! My question: thoughts on the combo Zoe Miranda? Big sister is Aurora :)
Love it!
LOVE this combo!
Love it. Aurora and Zoe are great sister names!
Love it! Excellent names all around.
Super cute, but I think I would like it even better reversed—Miranda Zoe, Aurora and Miranda.
I love that!
I love Zoe Miranda. It’s got a “kick” to it. I could imagine it on all kinds of different kids.
I love the names together, and I also love the idea of swapping Miranda up front. Anecdotal comment: the Zoes I know go by Zozo quite a lot, and one of the Auroras I know goes by Roro (the other is Rory less often.) Maybe your family would never go there or maybe you’d love to go there, just thought I’d point out the potential rhyming nicknames.
I love Aurora and Zoe Miranda! A to Z — what more could you want?
So cute to have A and Z sisters!
Love it! Also very sayable as a double name when she’s in trouble.
It flows really well! Nice!
Aurora and Zoe go great together
I think Zoe and Aurora go nicely together.
Lovely combination! They are good sister names too
I’ll play! Does Eliza seem like a standalone name to you or does it seem like it should be a nickname for Elizabeth?
I think it works either way. I wouldn’t automatically assume Eliza was short for Elizabeth, but I suppose some people would.
I think it can definitely stand alone and don’t think anyone would assume it was short for Elizabeth. The only Eliza I know personally is a nn for Elizabeth but i had no idea for months.
Standalone name! Only time I’d think it was a shortening of Elizabeth if it’s referring to someone born before 1970!
I love it as a nn for Elizabeth but I think it totally can stand on its own!
It can definitely be a standalone name. When I meet an Eliza I don’t assume she’s an Elizabeth.
Eliza is one of those names that I love wayyyy more than the source form. And it totally stands just fine alone. Like others have said, I’m not sure many people would even connect the two or ask if it’s a nickname for Elizabeth.
I love Eliza as a standalone!
I think of it as a stand-alone name. I wouldn’t assume it was short for Elizabeth at all.
Stand-alone! I’m an Elizabeth and Eliza is not a name I would consider a nn for it. But I do love the name Eliza!
I prefer it as a nickname, but I wouldn’t assume it was one. I know an Elizabeth Warren (not the famous one) who goes by Eliza. She’s a teenager.
Definitely its own name! I would never assume Eliza is short for Elizabeth.
It seems like a standalone name to me.
Eliza is 100% standalone
Eliza seems like a standalone name to me.
I think Eliza has more than enough substance and history to be used as a full name – it will suit her at all stages of life.
Standalone
As an Elizabeth, I always think Eliza is a stand-alone name. Mostly because no one ever asks if that’s my nn (Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Betsy are the most common asks).
I think I actually prefer Eliza as a full name. I see it as similar to Margot – yes, it has roots in a longer name but it’s had so much usage on its own over hundreds of years that it’s become self-contained (unless you don’t want it to be).
It didn’t occur to me that Eliza could be a nickname for Elizabeth until I was an adult, and I’ve heard a lot of Elisabeth nicknames. So yep, whichever makes you happy :)
Two boys:: H3nry & C@lvin. Sister is arriving in 4 weeks– Nell, Louisa, Phoebe, Margot? Something else? We don’t love anything. Thanks!!
All of these options are great with the brother names! I don’t think you could go wrong with any of them. My personal favorite is Margot.
I agree that these all go great with the sibling names. I have a soft spot for Louisa.
Totally love Phoebe and with your boys, it’s sounds so cute and not as used as Margot!
Love them all but my favorite is Margot.
We have a Louisa, and I love it so much! When we named her, we had already used our favorite girl’s name for her older sister, so we just picked one that we liked. And now we LOVE it! Our little Lou Lou ❤️ If it helps, we were also considering Sylvia, Mabel, and Matilda.
I think that Phoebe and Margot are darling too! You really can’t go wrong here!
Lovely choices! I love Louisa the most. In my circles Margot and Phoebe are trending in my circles but not everywhere; I only mention if that matters to you. I love Nell too, or Eleanor NN Nell.
Similar feeling names: Matilda, Flora, Olive, Beatrix, Eloise, Eliza, Fern, Iris, Della, June or Juniper, Violet, Imogen, Clementine.
These are all lovely! I would personally cross Nell of the list or replace it with Eleanor/Ellen/Helena, as it bothers me that it’s the only nickname name in the set.
Eleanor Margot is darling!
Agree with this! I was going to say the same.
All beautiful!!!
Margo would be my pick personally.
Suggestions: Clara, Olive, Mabel?
I love your list, all of these names have been on my list at one time. But you don’t love them, which is what counts. Henry and Calvin feel a bit more buttoned up maybe? Do you want something just a bit more like the brother names? Like Selma, Beatrix, Daphne, Jane, Estelle, Susannah, Margaret, Ruth, Lydia, Greta?
Love Louisa and Margot!
Your list all seems to go with the boys’ names to me, but since you say you don’t love them, here’s some other names I thought of while trying to complete that list:
Louise
Simone
Martha
Clara
Violet
Lucy
Olive
Phoebe was in my top two and we went with June, which I think would be nice with that sibset!
Of the four names you listed, Phoebe is my absolute favorite — I love it!
Other possibilities: Abigail, Charlotte, Fiona, Hadley, Ruth
I’d choose Phoebe, purely because it’s 2 syllables, emphasis on the first one, just like Henry and Calvin. But all of them have the same feel of the brothers’ names’.
Lovely names! I like Phoebe best but can’t go wrong!
Other suggestions that seem like they might fit your style:
Tessa
Rose
Alice
Phoebe or Margot, you seem to like those two syllable DAH-dah names.
We have similar taste in names, I think, and here are a few more girl name ideas (though I love your list, too!):
Tess
Frances
Josephine
Cecelia
love all these options (would just suggest using nell as a nickname for helen or eleanor, rather than on its own, as otherwise you’ve got two sons with traditional names and a daughter with a nicknamy one – i personally think henry, calvin, and eleanor nn nell is looooovely!)
other ideas: sabina, dorothy, iris, frances
I love Louisa with your boys name.
All are good. My favorite is Louisa.
Love all the options but I think Phoebe goes perfectly! Maybe Phoebe Nell or Phoebe Margot?
Louisa is my favorite of these, especially with the boys’ names.
Ooo Margot or Louisa! Perfect!
Phoebe works well too.
Nell is a bit too nickname for me, especially with the more substantial brothers names, but could work Ada nickname for Eleanor, Ellen, Elena, Helen, Helena, Annelise…..
Others I would suggest:
Tess
Eloise
Vera
Daphne
Eliza
Stella
Ivy
Imogen
Louisa or Margot. Great choices!
My daughter is Louisa, so of course that’s my personal preference. She’s 7 now and I love it, she loves it, we get a lot of positive feedback on it, and I’ve never once regretted the choice. One thing to note is that about half the people we encounter pronounce it Lou-eeza and the other half pronounce it Lou-eesa. We pronounce it with the more z-sounding S but it doesn’t bother me if people pronounce it with the S. But if you have a strong preference one way or the other, I wouldn’t use the name. Also, I wonder if the name is about to become more popular because of the Louisa character in Encanto.
I think Phoebe and Margot go best with Calvin and Henry. Both beautiful names
Nell (or Eleanor? Penelope?) or Louisa with those brothers.
I notice that both brother names include the letter N. I think the N sound brings the group together.
Naomi, Nora, Natalie, Eleanor, Jane, June, Anna, Gwendolyn, Evelyn, Madeline, Katherine. Lots of nickname potential in this list too!
I have to vote for Louisa. I recently met a woman named Louisa and it was the perfect mix of fresh, yet familiar, classic but not stuffy. I love it. I of course met an adult named Louisa and can just imagine how sweet it would be on a little girl. Plus it sounds wonderful with your boys’ names.
Phoebe makes me think Daphne and Astrid
Margot!
In order, I like: 1 Phoebe, 2 Eleanor nn Nell, 3. Louisa, 4 Margot, and 5 Nell as a standalone. All are fine choices, tho :)
You couldn’t go wrong with those four lovely names. Louisa is my personal favorite with the brother names. May/Maisie also comes to mind.
Still TTC my first so this is more of a hypothetical: thoughts on Oliver with a middle name that starts with a Z going by nickname Oz/Ozzy? Too much of a stretch? I’ve always loved Oliver but it’s so popular I like the idea of using a less common nn with it.
Also taking suggestions for a cool Z middle name: current ideas are Zev (Hebrew for wolf), Zeke, or Zed. (Zach and all Zach adjacent names are off the table)
I don’t think it’s a stretch at all! (Even doable without the Z middle name, in my opinion.) It’s a great nickname.
Do it!!! We had a son last summer and named him Malc0lm @rthur but announced we’d be calling him M@rty for short. I was worried people wouldn’t get it. But no one has questioned it at all and took to it right away.
Oliver Zev is really cool!
Love Ozzy for Oliver Zane!
And Marty for M. Artur is genius!
Zane as a cool Z middle name!
I know an Olivier that goes by Oz, so I would say totally doable, even without a Z middle. :)
I think Oliver Zev is awesome and Ozzy totally works.
Ziggy?
Oliver with a Z middle name, nicknamed Oz/Ozzy sounds great!
Possible middle names: Zane, Zavion (I actually know a child with this as his first name), Zion.
Zinedine Zidane is a French former professional soccer player. He goes by the nickname Zizou. If you’re into soccer (football) one of his names would be cool.
I have had Oliver Z nicknamed Oz on my list for awhile.
Nah, I would definitely consider a nickname from initials myself (most likely EM -> Emmie)
Another option for Ozzy is Oscar, but I think Oliver Z_____ “Ozzy” is very workable – nicknames are meant to be fun!
Oh I missed Zev originally.
Oliver Zev, Ozzy, is perfection. Don’t change a thing.
I think Oz/Ozzy for an Oliver works great, and it fits even without a Z- middle. I think Oliver Zebulun/Zebulon has a great classic+steampunk sound.
Love this idea: big sibs are Ever€tt, F€licity and Augusta. Due in July with unknown gender but stuck on boy ideas. Which do you prefer with the sibset: Hugh, Clive, Orson or Winston? Something else?? Last name ends in -ER so can’t use Oscar or Arthur :(
I’d prefer Orson or Winston – Hugh and Clive seem short compared to the 3-4 syllables of the siblings (Clive’s hard consonant sounds gives it more weight than Hugh), though that could make it a fun punctuation mark if this baby is your last.
I like that Winston repeats the T sound that’s in the three other names (though not sure if the repeated ST sound from Augusta would make them feel too similar?) – this might make naming a fifth harder though so may be less preferable if you’re planning on more kiddos.
I love Clive with your names. Said in order of how you wrote them especially with Clive as the adorable, one syllable youngest sibling. I never hear that name and just love it.
My fav from your list is Orson, seems to fit the same era and I think you need multiple syllables.
Another vote for the multiple syllable options with the sibling names — Orson is my favorite, but Winston is great, too. I do have a soft spot for Hugh, though my instinct would be to find a longer name (Hugo? Matthew?) and use Hugh as a nickname.
I LOVE Winston! It would be a front runner for me if our last name didn’t end with -win! And I love it with your other kids’ names! I also have a F€licity!!
Well Hugh is one of my top all-time FAVORITE boy names so I vote for Hugh. My other favorites include Basil and Frederick if those do anything for you. Maybe not Frederick with Felicity though.
Hugh and Clive are very short compared to the others. Orson and Winston work, I don’t personally love them.
Other ideas:
Julian
Raphael
Lawrence
Isidore
Tristan
Ambrose (if you don’t mind repeating an initial)
Desmond
Calvin
Tobias
Nathaniel
Your sibset makes me swoon a bit. I’m so glad to see someone using @ugust@! I think Clive is perfect here, it sounds snappy with his brother (plus shares that V) and is in line with vintage sister names. Winston is also pretty neat. Would you like Quincy?
Do you nickname? If so, Hugh and Clive don’t have obvious nicknames, which makes me hesitate.
Do you like Clarence or Clement (Clarrie or Clem)? Basil?
I like Hugh the best. I also agree with Suzanne who suggested going with Hugo and then using Hugh as a nickname.
What about Hughston (Houston) nn Hugh?
Augusta !!!!! :)
I think Winston fits the best. About the right level of so old it’s fresh again (I don’t think Clive is there yet).
Hugo would get my vote if that was an option.
I would add:
Claude
Francis
Adrian
Julian
Norman
Ernest
Ira
Frederick
Philip
Vincent
Gerald
Geoffrey
Sidney
Desmond
Errol
Laurence
Kate, I like your childrens’ names and I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the names on your list. You have good taste! My favorite is Hugh. I didn’t notice or mind that it’s shorter than the sibling names.
It’s too bad to take Oscar and Arthur out of the running! Just in case it helps, for what it’s worth, I don’t mind if first and last names both end in the -er sound. After saying a full name a couple times, it tends to sound natural to me, and adding the middle initial can also give it a nice rhythm. I think I have read Swistle say something before to the effect of she has seen names out in the wild (eg in movie credits) that have “problems” like repeating -er’s that turn out to be non-issues for those people, presumably. I’m imagining a hypothetical name like Arthur Whittiker or Oscar Baker, and they sound very nice to me.
I feel like Basil would go well with this sib set! Or Alistair. Of your options, I like them all but agree with other commenters about 1- syllable vs 3-syllable sibling names. Not sure how it would flow depending on your last name!
My favorite is Hugh. I think it makes a great sibling set. The suggestion of Hugo and Hugh as the nickname is good too. Winston would be my second choice.
Two girls: Full names are Gw3n V@lentine and $unny Celeste. Due with 3rd girl this summer! Two names that have come up so far: Philomena and Ines. Thoughts on those? or open to other suggestions!
I know a little girl who goes by Philly (short for Phillips in her case) and it makes me happy every time I hear it!
I like Ines! Maybe Philippa n Pippa?
I think Philomena and Sunny together are a style clash. Philomena is elegant and heavy, while Sunny is light and fun. Ines works a little better but I still don’t love it.
Other ideas:
Piper or Pippa
Mena, Lena, Dina, or Nina?
Felicity
Fiona
Frances
Iris
I’d definitely expect another short and snappy name with her sisters. But if you wanna take the set in a different direction, then Ines would be the least jarring? And hey, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are professionals at style clashing lol (James, Ines, Betty.) Philomena would be beautiful in the middle spot! How about something like Kit Philomena or Veda Philomena? Is another N in there important?
I love both Philomena and Ines, but I’m not so sure about their fit with Gwen and Sunny. Philomena is a leap from nickname-y 1/2 syllables names to a flowery 4 syllable name. It does match the middles you used for your daughters though, so maybe bump it to the middle name spot? And Ines sounds a little close to Sunny (almost like Sunny reversed). How about Irene as a substitute? I know I am nit-picking here, so feel free to disregard completely.
Some ideas of shorter, snappy international first names with longer romantic middles:
Irene Philomena
Iris Philomena
Alice Philomena
Alma Ines
Flora Ines
Olive Antonia
Tess Umbria
Sorcha Undine
June Adeline
Juno Delphine
Nessa Adelaide
Zoe Seraphine
Jade Amalia
Thank you for these suggestions! Juno has made its way to the new front runner.
LOVE Juno with the sibset!!
Wanted to come back to update – we ended up naming her Juno. Thank you for that suggestion :)
I have an 8-year-old Juno, and we have had nothing but positive feedback. There’s been a bit of “We Don’t Talk About Juno” joking lately thanks to Encanto. But only maybe 5 comments about the movie Juno her entire life (and we even live in the same city where the movie took place).
Agree with the comments about matching. But then in the grand scheme of things does it really matter? After the first 5-10 years of their lives no one will even know their siblings names. If matching is a concern, what about Iris or Ivy? Close to Ines but a little more peppy/whimsical! Iris Philomena or Ivy Philomena is adorable.
I probably wouldn’t choose either Philomena or Ines. Several people suggested Pippa and I agree that is a great option and more similar in style to Gw3n and $unny.
I also like: Ada, Cleo/Clio, Cora, Eve, Irene, Iris, Isla, Jane, Lila/Lilah/Lyla.
I think Ines is lovely but Philomena gives me a little bit of whiplash with the sisters. If the first was full name Gwendolyn/ Gwyneth, it wouldn’t be so jarring. Ines just flows.
Others to consider:
Tess
Vera
Phoebe
Daphne
Nora
Lila
May
What boy names would you pair with older siblings L@fayette, Al@stair and V£rity? Last name starts with L and has only soft sounds in it, so I’m finding I like having a hard consonant in there somewhere.
Benedict
Frederick
Laurence/Lawrence
Clement
Eugene
Blaise
Nathaniel
Elbridge
Their dad’s name is Lawrence (and L@fayette’s middle) so nice fit with that one! Thanks for the other suggestions!
Gideon
Samuel
Phinneas
Phinneas!
Is L@fayette a brother? How about Caspian, Tobias, Truitt, Beaumont, Calloway, Ignatius?
Yes, L@fayette is a brother! And Ignatius is the name of one of the babies we lost, so good call with that one!
I like:
Calvin
Drake
Grant
Griffin
Jameson
Kendrick
Marcus
I love Thaddeus or Sebastian with that sibset
Ambrose
Desmond
Victor
Ferdinand
Tobias
Emmett
Quentin
Edwin
Frederick
Albert
Nelson
Adrian
Herbert
Walter
Claude
What about Raphael?
Some other ideas:
Beaumont
Lysander (repeats a sibling initial)
Olivier
Sebastien
Percival
Casimir
Cosimo
Adore, adore, adore Raphael (and Rafael and Raphaëlle and Rafaela!)
Raphael Cosimo or Raphael Casimir or Raphael Sebastien would be perfect.
I love that Casimir is on your list! I think lots of parents pass it over because the meaning tends to get translated to English as “destroyer of peace”, which obviously doesn’t sound great, but I saw a post once that said something like, “yeah, it comes from old Slavic words meaning peace and destruction, but putting them together it actually means something more like ‘to bring peace by winning the war'” — no idea how accurate that is, as I don’t speak any relevant languages, but the enduring popularity in Poland makes me lean towards believing that.
Does Agatha pass the “would I want this name for myself” test? I love it, but the nickname Aggie isn’t usable where we live, and I wonder if it’s too much!!
From my end it just passes. I wouldn’t really chose it for myself, per se, but it is a good classic name. Pros are its meaning and the fact that it’s not overused yet familiar; cons are the lack of nicknames and somewhat harsh first syllable (I have the same issue wiht Agnes)… all very subjective of course. There is also the strong Agatha Christie connection to consider, that could go both ways.
If you love it, use it! And you could always come up with an unrelated nickname, there are no rules that say it has to be tied to the first name. :)
Not for this lover of vintage names – still feels a bit dowdy/harsh in my mouth but won’t be surprised if that changes in the coming years. I do love the idea of Getty as a more wearable and unique nickname, so that may be enough to change my tune (particularly if the name has history/meaning).
Thanks… I feel similarly. Two years ago I named my first daughter Edith and felt the same hesitations, but now we all love her name. I’ll have to think about it more… Agatha Christie is a huge plus in our house!!
LOOOOOOVE Edith! My un-used girl name was Eden Ruth and I’m sad I won’t have an Edie-Rue in my life.
Edith is my If We’d Had Another Girl name. Edith and Agatha as siblings — SWOON.
I love Edith and Agatha as sisters too! The soft -th repetition works well.
I also LOVE Greta with Edith – either on its own or even as a nickname for Agatha.
That’s one I hadn’t considered yet!! I’ll have to add it to the list… it is very cute with Edith!
Other throwback names I’ve seen and loved on real kids (that I think go with Edith) are Faye, Lois, Esther, Martha, Frances, Vera…
(I’m now way to emotionally invested in your choices so will need an update!)
i love agatha! it’s fab with edith too
I like Agatha, but for me it fails if you live someplace where Aggie will be awkward (A&M?). It feels like such a likely nickname that I’d hate to be cringing every time someone reduces it to Aggie, or if she chooses Aggie herself later on. Maybe you could preempt it with Attie but then it would blend in with all the Addies (from Addison, Adeline, Adelaide, Adelyn, etc).
I should also add that I chose the similar Agnes for myself as a confirmation name when I was 10, and I thought it was a lovely old-fashioned name, so I don’t think a child would necessarily find Agatha dowdy at all!
Yep, Texas residents and UT grads both – Aggie is just a no go though it’s cute! We are Catholic too so it’s not an unheard of name! I have thought of Agnes before as one of my husband’s grandmothers was Inez, but something is just spunky about Agatha that I love despite it being also a little unwieldy
I was just thinking the other day how I hope Agatha starts to come back! I love it SO much. If Aggie isn’t usable, though, might be a nonstarter. (Are there other good nicknames? Ags? Ax? Atty? Gath? Marple?)
Knowing the sister name is 3dith changes my response a bit for sure. I think that pairing is brilliant. And if you love AC, why not have a fun nickname of Christie? Not sure how old your eldest is, but she might come out with a pronunciation that gives you a great nickname option too! Gaga? ;-)
I love Agatha too but I’m not sure if it passes this test. I think I would love it now as an adult. I’m a big Agatha Christie reader and WandaVision’s Agatha was so fun. However, as a kid, I might have struggled a little with it. But in a classroom with Evelyn, Penelope, Hazel, etc., Agatha might fit?
I used to look after the sweetest little Agatha, no nickname, so I have no trouble picturing it being used. I think it’s just the right amount of dated but fresh again.
If you are big on nicknames though, you could consider the similar Augusta (Auggie or Gus or even Gussie)
I’m now thinking Gussie could be cute for Agatha, potentially… 🤔 very interesting!! With our kids we are just “occasional” nicknamers and don’t nickname exclusively so something like that could totally work
I just met a baby Agnes. It’s the first time I’ve heard the name on a child in real life, and it was surprisingly cute! Agatha is so similar, so I think it works. I do think people calling her Aggie is almost inevitable, though (unless you come up with and introduce a different nickname) so I’d definitely have some hesitation if Aggie is truly unusable.
Agatha is what we Brits would call a Marmite name (people seem to have strong opinions either way) but I fall VERY strongly into the Love It camp. I think it’s clunky-cool and underused and I’m just an all-round fan. But if you like the way it rolls off the tongue but still find it a little too much, Agnes is perhaps slightly softer?
Completely goes with big sister Edith. I could see my paternal grandmother Frances and maternal great-grandmother Edith (born in 1911 and 1912 respectively. Life is weird) having a sister named Agatha. Looks like Francis and Edith are making a comeback, so why not their sister Agatha?
Thoughts on Le@ H@rl0w?
(Le@ is an honor name, pronounced like Princess Leia.)
It’s a bit bumpy together, but I’m not someone who says my kids first + middles aloud much. I think I’d be tempted towards a nickname like Lilo (Lee-Low) definitely because my kids love Lilo&Stitch these days.
I am not a big fan of Harlow but I think the name flows well.
Harlow always uncomfortably reminds me of Harlot.
I like the pairing. My only concern is that she will spend a lot of time correcting spelling if you want that pronunciation. My instinct was too say Lee. I would spell it the princess way myself but understand if you like the sleeker look. The bonus is there is an easy pop culture reference to explain it :)
If I saw a birth announcement for Le@ H@rl0w, I would assume the name was pronounced as Lee or LEE-uh. It wouldn’t occur to me to pronounce Le@ the same as Leia. Maybe my location (upper midwest) influences how I say the name?
It’s ok. A bit awkward to say together but workable if the middle name is something you particularly want to use.
I agree with Saraya’s comment that it’s workable if you really want to use Harlow. Based strictly on flow, I think you could do better – but if it’s a meaningful name to you, that might be more important! What about Lea Marlowe? I do like the repeating L sound.
My first instinct would be to pronounce Lea as Lee-uh. It’s not too hard of a correction to make though, and not unheard of for -ea to make that sound – like Téa Leoni. You could consider adding an accent on the e.
I knew a Lea I grade school and she pronounced it the same as Leah (which would be my guess on how to pronounce it if I ran into it again). But I know she got asked how to say her name a lot. I don’t dislike the name, but you need to be prepared that it will often need to be corrected
Thoughts on the following? (Or any that we should add to the list?):
Isabelle (Izzy)
Vivienne (Viv)
Zoe (Zozo)
Charlotte (Lottie)
Marianne (nn?)
Noelle (Ella)
Karina (Kat)
Sophie (Soph)
Naomi (nn?)
Not all names need nicknames. Naomi is a great name on its own! So is Zoe without being nicknamed Zozo. I think this is a great list!
I’d argue that no name needs a nickname. *grumbles at people who insist I should answer to whichever of Elizabeth’s eleventy thousand nicknames they decide to give me.*
I’m biased because our daughter is Karina with a C and I love it. Most people do assume her name is with a K, Otherwise minimal pronunciation issues. We don’t use a nickname and I’m not sure Kat would feel natural, but these days anything goes and Karina is a lovely fallback. The -ina sound is popular right now but I don’t think it’s so much that all the variations blend together.
I love C/Karina and I never see it! Seems like it would lend itself to a few nice nicknames – Kari, Rina, Nina maybe… and Kat would work too although it’s less obvious
I knew a Naomi whose husband called her Nomi (NO-me). Other nicknames could be Ani/Annie or Mimi.
The Naomi I know goes by Gnome! Marianne could be Minnie? I really like Karina.
I like all the names, not so much the nicknames. Noelle nn Ella especially – Ella is it’s own name. Elle would be more fitting, but I also agree that not every s name needs a predetermined nickname. Some of the best nicknames develop spontaneously.
That being said, the Naomi I know uses the nickname Nay.
Isadora
Arabella
Imogene
Rowena
Marigold
Edith
Francesca
Eliza
Lucille
The Naomi I know uses Nim
I love Minnie for Marianne! Annie, Mae, or Mara would also be super sweet.
Thoughts on Adelaide Lois? Nickname would be Addie. Lois is my grandma’s name and we for sure want that as the middle name. Big brother is Owen.
Given it’s an honour name, I don’t think flow matters too much. It’s kinda sing-songy in a nice way. My fave nickname for Adelaide is Lady, so I’d totally call her Lady Lo.
I think Adelaide Lois is darling! Lois is also my grandmother’s name and my middle name, and I’ve always loved that connection. (Funny enough, my grandfather’s name was Owen!) Owen and Addie (or even Della!) is a cute sibset!
Adelaide Lois is beautiful and so meaningful. Flow doesn’t matter to me for honour names (I used a long clunky one in the middle and I love it so much). Owen and Adelaide/Addie is so cute too!
Oh that’s beautiful! I love Adelaide, and the combo flows well. I don’t even like Lois but I like this!
With older siblings Amelia and Theodore, what would be your favorite girl name choice from
Alice, Meredith, Claudia, or Rosemary? Middle name would likely be Ann or Lucille (honor names) depending on what sounds best with the first name.
My favorite combo is Rosemary Ann!
I second that!
I also like Rosemary best with that sibset, but I prefer the cadence of Lucille with it! Second favorite not far behind is Meredith, with either middle.
Yes, seconding this!
I agree I prefer Lucille up front of those choices! Meredith is also lovely.
I would probably choose Rosemary Lucille! Darling!
rosemary! i love both rosemary ann and rosemary lucille
I like Meredith best, but I might be biased as I have a daughter named Meredith Cl@ire. ; )
Another vote for Rosemary Lucille
Rosemary is my favorite, though I do also like Alice.
I babysit an Amelia & Thomas- so close :)
My favourite is Alice, but I don’t like Alice Ann or Alice Lucille. Would a longer version of Ann work- like Alice Annika?
My second favourite is Meredith – Meredith Lucille. Amelia, Theodore & Meredith- Milly, Theo & Merry (if you’re a nickname person).
I also love Claudia but again, not so much with the middle name options.
Rosemary Lucille would be my second choice if the middle names are set as is. I also think Rosalie would be fantastic- Rosalie Ann; Amelia, Theodore & Rosalie, Milly, Theo & Rosie.
I like claudia best with this sibset, super cute. Has the same vibe as Amelia in my opinion. Claudia Lucille is stunning as well.
Does Jack feel like a classic or a trendy boys’ name? It’s my dad’s name (for him it’s a nickname for John, but I would prefer it as a standalone) and I am considering it if I ever have a boy, but there have been sooo many little Jacks over the past decade or so, I’m wondering if it would feel like I’m belatedly jumping on a bandwagon.
I don’t think you need to worry about trends when you are giving a baby an honor name. Jack is fine.
I say Jack is a classic name that will never go out of style!
I think it is a classic name that is having a fashion moment. I think of it like Michael or Catherine. The trend will fade and it will be a dad name at some point. I don’t know where we are on the wave but presume we’ve passed the peak? I don’t expect it ever to fall out of use.
Having said that, does that matter if you love it and it’s your dad’s name? It is still a classic name that will work well for your child.
Fwiw I think John is becoming the fresher option. That is my son’s name and we’ve only met three other kids named John but quite a few Jacks. His is also an honour name.
I think an honour name is always a great choice. I can speak from experience that choosing a name that is more popular than you expect still feels right and great if it’s an honour name. I don’t like my eldest’s name popularity (although honestly we knew more kids with the name pre school years) but I still LOVE her name.
Jack is a classic and it’s an honor name. If you love it, go for it.
It is too classic to be trendy in my opinion and I would go with it.
Thoughts on if Julia will be getting more popular? I’m due later this spring and Julia’s the name we’ve decided on that fits my husband’s and my criteria (classic not trendy, doesn’t sound ‘old lady’-ish, not too popular).
I know it got into the high 20s on the SSN list in the early 2000s but has been ranking around 100 lately. However, I’ve seen it come up a lot as a name that other expectant parents are considering as well on different message boards.
My name was one of the top 80s names and I spent my entire K-12 education having to go by first and last name since there were three of us with last names beginning with the same letter, so not having a top 20 name is important to me (I know less babies are given the top 20 names now than when I was born, but it’s still a thing for me). We’re due before the 2021 names list is released on Mother’s Day, so I’m curious what people thing
^think not thing
I am a 63 year old Julia raised in classrooms full of Julies. I hear it once in a while now, but still think of it as fairly uncommon and classic
I think of Julia as a lovely, classic, “evergreen” name. I’m not aware of any up-and-coming women named Julia in sports/entertainment/popular culture that might reverse the mostly downward trend the name has been on since 2001.
I don’t really see Julia having a massive spike in popularity. It seems to float around in the top 200 (at least in the US) with some ups and downs, but it’s not showing signs of a steep rise. I do see it mentioned on name forums a bit, but not to the point that it seems to be gathering steam. I think it’s a great classic, timeless choice!
Thanks everyone! That’s reassuring to hear that I’m probably just overthinking it (can I blame pregnancy hormones? Lol)
Last name is Aragon and his choice for a girl’s name is Catherine (I chose a boy’s name: Philip).
Should we do it?
I personally wouldn’t – but it’s not a negative association, so it’s not super problematic either. She was a pretty kickass lady, if an unlucky one. I just can’t help but think with all the other name options available out there, you can probably find something else you both like that doesn’t directly match a historical figure. It’ll save the child some hassle and that alone is worth it in my eyes. Not everyone wants to stand out for their name…
A quick Google search and it appears there was a Philip of Aragon too, so as you seem to like classic names this may just be something you have to accept and work with since the Aragon family was a prominent one in Spanish/European history. In the end, just go with what you feel comfortable with!
When I hear Aragon, my first thought is Catherine of Aragon, so I feel like that name specifically is more troublesome than others, even if those others are technically also the names of historical figures.
I wouldn’t. I agree that it’s your child who will forever will responding to people pointing out the combination. Can you flip the names and do Phillipa and Charles?
i personally wouldn’t want either of those names for myself. catherine of aragon and philip of aragon are both fairly well-known historical figures, so “catherine @r@gon” and “philip @r@gon” feel like wink-wink-nudge-nudge do-you-get-the-reference names and i wouldn’t want that, and also wouldn’t want to deal with people’s questions about it.
Definitely I wouldn’t. Catherine of A is very well known.
Hmm, I think I would keep looking. There will definitely be a few comments, which I personally would find annoying if I had that name.
I LOVE it. I just asked my high school theater kid, and she loves it too! She only knows it from the musical Six, which is totally kick ass female power. To me, it’s just under the line of too well known as a historical figure, even with a (potential) brother named Philip.
I love a classic name like Catherine.
My husband shares a name with a lesser known US Civil War Union General. It almost never comes up, but when it does we find it quite fun! And we almost gave one of our children a name of a lesser know suffragette.
Hmmm it’s a LOT – like being an Anne Hathaway. But then that hasn’t hurt Anne has it? I do feel it’s quite a lot of baggage to give to a small brand new person though.
Two daughters: Elizabeth and Catherine. We’re completely out of ideas for a third daughter (E is an honour name, C is one we just loved).
Josephine, Mary Jane, Georgina, Frances, Helena…
Margaret
Audrey
Cecilia (I really wish there were more Cecilias around!)
Harriet
Henrietta
Marianne
Selina
Adelaide
Diana
Beatrice
Claire/Clara
Ruth
Abigail
Annabel
Juliet
Alice
Sylvia
Victoria
Genevieve
Love your classic taste. Abigail and Margaret feel like they would go beautifully!
Speaking from experience: Elizabeth, Catherine (in our case with a K) and Meredith. Once we realized the first two names had a “th” in common, we decided to continue the pattern. I have loved the name Meredith for a very long time, but didn’t want to use it for daughter #2 because the eth/ith sound at the end was almost identical. With middle daughter’s name as a buffer between the two names, the similarity was less apparent. In middle school, our oldest ended up going by a nickname that didn’t have the “th” so the similarity disappeared altogether.
With Elizabeth and Catherine, you could continue with the theme or queens/queen consorts of England: Adelaide, Alexandra, Caroline, Charlotte, Mary, Victoria. Google offers more such as Eleanor, Emma, Margaret, Matilda, Philippa and so on.
Your daughters have gorgeous names!
Elizabeth, Catherine & …….:
Josephine
Florence
Francesca
Cecilia
Rosalind
Theodora
Margaret
Philippa
Lucille
Genevieve
Adelaide
Vivian
Cecily
Therese
Sylvia
Edith
Henrietta
Harriet
Winifred
What do you like about these names? If you pin that down it could help find something with the same qualities.
I think royal, classic, saintly, nickname rich. Names that fit that for me:
Alexandra
Mary
Cecily
Margaret
Frances
Victoria
Sophie
Josephine
Isobel (la)
I knew sisters with those names from a big family! Their other sisters were Mary, Martha, Wendy, and Susannah. I think Martha and Susannah are nice with them.
Victoria, Margaret, Rosalind and Diana are great suggestions!
Dont get stuck on matching the number of syllables.
I really like the name Jane with this sib set.
What about Marie? Elizabeth, Catherine and Marie.
Emmeline
First initials at our house are currently almost a set A (dad), C (kid), D (mom). Would it be silly to make sure our baby arriving this spring has a first name that starts with B? Any favorite B names to share? (We will find out boy/girl when he/she arrives!)
I think it’d be really neat (as long as you can find a B name you both like).
It’s hard to recommned anything not knowing your style, but I personally like…
Brenna
Bronwen
Birdie
Briony
Bruna
Beatrix
Beth
also Bunny is a darling nickname, if you want a non B first but a subtle B connection.
Benjamin
Bram
Baird
Brennan
Basil
Brook
Blaise
Blake
Brian
Beowulf is cool but in a middle name kind of way.
Can confirm Bunny works as a nickname for anything – I’m exclusively Bunny (and Bun, Bunyip & Bunnykins) to my parents, sisters and all of my dad’s side of the family and it isn’t even remotely related to my given name! (My grandma called me her little Easter bunny the first time she met me and 34 years later it just stuck).
Not good as a given name, but super cute nickname idea.
Personally I would 100% pick a B name, but I love a good name theme lol. That said, I don’t think you should feel pressured to pick a B name by any means, because probably no one would even notice/care.
Favorite B names: Beatrix, Bianca, Bridget, Bright, Benjamin, Bennett, Beckett, Bram
YES. Name nerd challenge. B for sure! (I tried to convince friends to do this, they needed a B for their second kid and I’m still put out that they didn’t follow my advice lol.) Totally agree it’s hard to suggest names without some style guidance, but here are some of varied style that I really like (seconding, thirding some):
Brooks, Barrett, Bram, Bromley, Byron, Boone, Brady, Bastian, Bauer, Bernard, Beckett, Bobby, Baxter
Briar, Beatrix, Billie, Bellamy, Bonnie, Britt, Bianca, Bernadette, Bess, Blythe, Blaire, Barbara, Beulah
I think that a B name would be fun, but I would only do it if I had a B name that I loved!
For girls, my choices would be Beatrice, Bridget, or Bonnie. I would love to meet a little Bonnie!!
For boys, I would probably go with Brooks or Bennett.
So many good B names!
Bronwyn
Brigette
Blythe
Brooke
Briar
Blaire
Bennet
Bode/Bodhi
Beau
Bryce
Blake
Absolutely! I knew a family where mom and girls had A names and dad and boys had B names — very fun!
For a girl I like Brielle, Beatrix, Bliss, Brooke, Beckett (I really liked the TV show, Castle).
For a boy my favorites are Bryce, Bennett, Brooks, Baxter.
I absolutely wouldn’t, unless there’s a B name that is The Name. What if you have another? You’ll be limited to E names.
I wouldn’t notice the initials, particularly as they are not in order and include the parents and sibling, rather than just siblings which is more noticeable, so I don’t think it’s a big deal to break the theme now (and conversely if you are in love with a B name, not a reason to avoid it).
I would remove the letter limit for now, makes shortlists without that restriction, and see where you end up. It might be a B name, it might not be. Either way, using a name you love is much more important than choosing one just to fit a not-so-noticeable pattern.
I think this is a good approach – don’t limit yourselves to B names. Make a list of all the names you like, and give B names an extra point when it comes to ranking them!
Brynn
Bridie
I don’t think people would notice unless you tell them but it might be a nice family in joke.
I have a friend who did this. Parents have a J and K name and the kids had I, G, and L initials. When Kid #4 was on the way she realized she could have an alphabetical set if she gave the baby an H name. They went for it, with a very unusual H name that fits in the sibset. I can’t imagine him being named anything else! I’m a name nerd so I noticed by our second meeting that her family went G H I J K L and asked if she had done it on purpose, but it’s not something I think everyone would notice. But yes, if you go for the B name then I’d be ready to eventually use an E name, too, if you end up having more children.
We have two girls: Felicity and Louisa. TTC now and deciding on a boy’s name! Our front runners are Silas and Gilbert- we love both for different reasons. We have also talked about Walter, Wesley, and August.
Middle name will be David or Mark (family names).
We definitely want the name to go with our girls’ names. Our reservation with Gilbert is that people will think it’s too nerdy or weird or that they will just have negative connotations- but we still love it (especially with the nickname Gib or Gibs!)
Thoughts on these names or other suggestions?
They are all great names – can’t really go wrong here from my perspective. Gilbert causes an instant Anne of Green Gables association, and Silas a Silas Marner association, both positive. I have a soft spot for Walter, it’s so gentle.
My favourite combos are Silas Mark and Walter David. :)
I agree with the literary associations- and I love both of them as well! Anne of Green Gables definitely has influenced my love of the name Gilbert.
Do you use nicknames for the girls? My first vote is Gilbert, because I’ve only met one child with that name and it was just as exciting as I thought it would be. Silas feels way more mainstream. August is super hot these days. Wesley and Weston are fairly common where I am. Walter is nice!
We do use nicknames about half the time! Fliss/Flissy and Lou/ Lou Lou 😊
Thanks for your input!! I have wondered if Silas is more mainstream than our girls’ names.
Your girls names are beautiful, and I think Gilbert, August, Walter and Wesley are all great too. I would avoid Silas because it really emphasises the s/soft c sound(s) in all three names.
But nerdy old man is kind of my boys style so take that fwiw ;)
Others, not that you need them because your options are great:
Marcus (neat name and could honour Mark, two birds)
Vincent
Elliot
Norman
Errol
Ernest
Geoffrey
Gerald
Alistair
Thank you for your thoughts! I never even noticed our preference for a soft c/s sound!
We have similar taste! I have a Louisa, and Wesley, August, and Gilbert were all on my boy name lists at one point (actually, August would have been Louisa’s name had she been a boy). My son is named Sebastian, but I wouldn’t use it in your case since I think it’s too popular now in comparison to Felicity and Louisa (in my case, Sebastian is my firstborn and the name wasn’t as popular as it is now when he was born. He’s sort of on the “leading edge” of the Sebastian boom :-)). August has also gotten pretty popular, at least where I am.
My favorite of your list is Gilbert. I just love it, and it would be a front-runner on my list again if we weren’t done having children.
With Wesley, do you like the nickname Wes? It feels like every Wesley I’ve ever known has been called “Wes” whether he wanted to be or not, so I’d want to make sure you like the nickname as well as the full name.
I love your taste in names!
I do like the nickname Wes, but my husband doesn’t, so that name is probably lower on our list. We are definitely nicknamers, so it’s a good consideration! 😊
Love Gilbert!
A G alternative to Gilbert could be Gibson.
Due with our first child (boy) in April and my partner has his heart set on a family surname (B@il3y) for the name, and I just don’t love it! It’s not my naming style in general, and is also the name of a number of dogs in our circle (which probably shouldn’t really matter but which I find annoying). Also we are giving the baby his surname, and while I prefer it to my own (I like the sound and it’s easier to spell and pronounce), it does add to my feeling that giving the baby a second family name from his side as a first name is a bit much. But he’s been quite resistant to considering other names (“why would we when I have identified the perfect name?”), and I’m not sure how to make progress. I tried Swistle’s suggestion of “pretend we already named a B@il3y and now we need a new name”) but he was not receptive. I’m getting frustrated! I was wondering if I would warm to the name over time but I really haven’t, and I feel like I need to make clear to him that it’s off the table and we need to actually agree on a name. Would love to hear from anyone who has gone through this.
My top names are:
Theodore/Theo (I wish it weren’t so popular but I love it, and there don’t seem to be so many actual baby Theos around us)
Otto
Owen
Sebastian
Isaac
Sounds to me like Bailey should be a middle name option, at most. You have to both be on board for the first name. Have him grade your list to identify which ones are acceptable to him?
I know Bailey is technically a unisex name but I’ve only ever seen it used for girls. (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants anyone?) Maybe if you can find statistics for it’s usage and the fact that it’s similar in sound to popular Hailey and Kaylee it’ll turn him off using it as a boy’s name.
But otherwise you might just have to have a serious conversation about how you DON’T like the name and need to start over completely to find something you can both agree on. Good luck.
Unfortunately he HASN’T “identified the perfect name”, because you don’t like it.
It can be sad to let go of a favorite name, but it’s not more important than you, the mother of his child.
Both parents should have veto power over names they really don’t like. Bailey seems to fall into that category for you.
Maybe ask him to imagine that you were in love with some name he hated and that you refused to negotiate and kept insisting it was the perfect name. This child will be both of yours. The naming is something to discuss together, not an issue one party can decide unilaterally. It will be better all around if you can find a name you both love.
Possibly you could expand your own list of favored names in the hopes of finding something that resonates with him. You could also consider putting Bailey in the middle-name spot so it’s not totally lost.
Seems like a perfect name for a middle name!
look, it’s your baby too, which means you get veto power, so you need to be clear with him that you’re using it. “We are not naming the baby Bailey. I don’t like that name, and we are already honoring your side of the family by giving him your last name. I am vetoing it. We need to find something else that neither of us dislikes.”
It may not be possible to find a name you both love, but “neither parent actively dislikes the name” is a perfectly reasonable minimum standard. Be clear and firm, and then refuse to listen to attempts to change your mind. “I do not like Bailey, and I am not going to change my mind. Please put this energy into finding another name.”
Oh no, this would instantly have me saying it’s not an option at all! It’s super frustrating that he’s set on it and won’t even let you, also the baby’s parent just as much as he is, discuss other ideas.
I would consider “giving” it to him as a middle but only if I didn’t mind and I felt like it was worth it to move the discussion about first names forward. But you definitely don’t have to – the baby is getting his surname, his family is already very much in the name.
I love your list, especially Isaac and Sebastian. Don’t cave!
Yep. Time for a hard veto. I’d just flat out tell him “honey, I’m vetoing B@il3y. It’s never going to happen. Now let’s find a name we both agree on.” Give him some time to mourn, don’t bring up other names during that same conversation, but shut down the conversation if he brings it up again with “it’s not perfect because I don’t like it. Next”
We both had names we loved that the other person vetoed. It’s a bummer but she’s OUR daughter.
Planning on naming baby girl Bernadette Margaret, after my two maternal great grandmothers. My mom is giving me quite a bit of pushback on the name Margaret because she really dislikes the name and she wants me to use her first name/my middle name, which is Ann. I’m not inherently opposed to the name itself but it’s such a “filler” middle name that I find it boring there. (same reason she dislikes Margaret actually, she thinks it’s boring and old lady)
I was thinking of trying to compromise with Bernadette Ann-Margaret but worry that it’s just A Lot of Name. My son also only has one middle name. (This will be the last baby though)
Obviously I can ultimately choose to ignore my mom’s preference but I wanted to see what others thought.
If it was me, I would stick with my gut. I think Bernadette Margaret sounds better than Bernadette Ann, and it’s your favorite which is what matters the most. Will you be saying the full name often? I find that the middle name isn’t said frequently enough to argue about someone else’s choices. Choose what makes you happy!
I love Bernadette Margaret! I am all for naming a baby after yourself/your mother, but only if you want to (and not at all if you’re being pushed into it. Congratulations!
I love Bernadette Margaret! It flows nicely and just has a nice ring to it.
I agree with your thoughts on both Ann and Ann-Margaret. Somehow those options don’t sit as well next to Bernadette.
Stick with Bernadette Margaret. Your mom obvious loves the name Ann, but she already got to use it. This is your turn to name your own baby. Margaret is not boring or old lady-ish.
Bernadette Margaret is already a lot of name- I wouldn’t add Ann unless you really wanted to, and certainly not as a compromise or to keep the peace. Your mum had her chance to name, now it’s your turn. Bernadette Margaret flows nicely, and adding Ann in there throws that off.
And Ann is much more boring as a middle name than Margaret!
I seem to be in the minority here but I prefer the flow of Bernadette Ann (Bernadette Anne is even more balanced in my eyes)! The repetitive -et syllable in Bernadette Margaret is a bit too much for me and weighs the combo down.
I also don’t find the name Ann/Anne boring at all.
That said this is not about flow it’s about who you want to honour, and honouring both grandmothers together is lovely, so that overrides all other considerations if it’s an important point for you.
I second the sentiment that your Mum got to chance to name, now it’s your turn.
Is Isobel dull or overdone? It sounds so nice with our last name that starts with a Ben-sound. None of my older children have an Isobel/Isabelle/Isabella in their classes or daycare or in our circle of friends. My older children have names that are familiar but outside the top 100.
Also, is Isobel Marigold way too Downton Abbey?
It’s beautiful! Both Isobel and with Marigold. I’m rewatching Downton currently and even so it didn’t occur to me. Beautiful classic names.
I especially think the spelling of Isobel is fresh and not overdone, compared to Isabelle or Isabella.
Agreed! Isabella feels a bit overdone at this point, but Isobel not at all.
I like the pairing with Marigold a lot!
Love this variation :-) I think the combo won’t raise too many eyebrows..
Isobel is so much fresher than the overused Isabella! And Marigold gives it a bit of spunk, I loved the balance of classic first with slightly quirky unexpected middle.
I’ve never seen downtown abbey so can’t comment on the association – but if you decide it bothers you, maybe the similar Isadora/Isidora Marigold? I do like Isobel Marigold better, but that’s nice too.
I love Isobel Marigold! That is such lovely balanced pair. I agree Isabella is overdone but Isobel is not.
Love this! Here’s mine:
Is Tess S___ a dealbreaker? Generally don’t like when first name bleeds into last, but already broke that preference twice with brothers Thomas and Charles (though they generally go by nicknames not ending in S). Have considered Tessa but feels forced just to break it up. (Also hate the Tess Ess rhyming if using initial…. But it’s a sentimental name for me and last baby so I’m having a hard time letting it go).
I don’t think Tess is common enough that she would have to go by “Tess S.” very often. I tried pairing Tess with about 10 different S last names in my head, and none really bothered me (a couple even struck me as quite stylish!). I think it’s a lovely name, and nothing else really hits that same short & sweet, casual-yet-classic spot for me, so I say go for it!
Agree. It runs together a little bit but not a dealbreaker if you love Tess.
I gave up on Tess because of an S surname. It really depends on how it sounds together. Would you like Thessaly? With two formal brother names, I’d choose Theresa or Thessaly I think. Gives her options, even if you call her just Tess 100%.
Yes, unfortunately. Tessa S…… nickname Tess? Or Therese “Tess” ? Then you can use the full name (whether it’s Tessa/Therese/Theresa) when you are using both, call her Tess for day to day.
Tess S is more repetitive than Thomas S and Charles S, which have a slightly different sound. Tess S sounds like a children’s book character (think Amelia Bedelia).
Ha! I love your children’s book comment and example… big sister’s name is Delia and the Amelia Bedelia books are on heavy rotation in our house 🙈.
Tess is a family name and was short for Theresa so maybe I should revisit that.
Wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me. Just wanted to throw Esther in as another possible way to get Tess as a nickname. I would only go the longer name, nickname Tess route if you can find a longer version that you really like though!
I would have liked to name our upcoming baby after Ursula K. LeGuin, but my husband vetoed it for sea witch reasons. We found another name we both like, but I wanted to take a quick survey:
Do you think Ursula is usable for a baby born in 2022?
For me, Ursula is not usable. But I’m an (ahem) older mom and was a prime age for the sea witch. I bet for the generation younger than myself the association isn’t as visceral. I bet it comes back.
I do, but I also think the similar sounding Ursa would be easier to wear.
Polled my kids and none of them know Ursula the witch. I just googled and that movie came out in 1989. I doubt many kids today would care about it.
My daughter recognised Ursula from friends (also ancient history but on Netflix).
I think it is a very classy name.
Not familiar with sea witch whatever it is, but I adore Ursula K. Le Guin and totally get wanting to name a kid after her.
I personally think Ursula is close to being ready for a comeback, so if you’re ok with being a front-runner it could work. Otherwise, bump to the middle spot or pick a slightly toned down version (I like the idea of Ursa, it has a constellation association which is neat).
I go back and forth on whether I would use Ursula. I do really love it. Apparently there is a TLM reboot in the works though, so the sea witch may not be done with this name yet.
i would say no to Ursula, and I would not want that for my name. I am also a fan of Usula K. Leguin. It could definitely work as a middle name though!
But also, are there any other female sci-fi authors that you like and could use as a name inspiration? Some of my faves are Tanith Lee and Lois McMaster Bujold (and bonus, her character Cordelia Vorkosigan from the book Cordelia’s Honor is my all-time favorite female sci-fie-characters of all time and has an amazing name! (She has major Janeway vibes!) You should read it even if you don’t want to name your daughter Cordelia!–it was a major contender for our daughter, and we ended up naming our youngest son after another of her characters!)
I know a little girl named Ursula and I thought it charming when I first met her, this even thougj I am a child of the late 80s/ early 90s Disney craze.
Yes I think it’s definitely usable! Have you read the Kate Atkinson book Life After Life?
I’m a late-90s baby and the association is way too strong for me. It probably is getting weaker and weaker as time goes on, but it doesn’t help that the princess movies are such a central part of Disney’s image (and therefore keep getting brought back for each new wave of kids) and also that there are no other associations that are nearly as strong as the sea witch.
I love Margaret (mine is 2 yo :).
Would love help – Due in March with little sister –
Alice (strong front runner)
Louisa
Ruth
Eliza
I’m 90% sure about Alice, but struggling with a middle name – suggestions appreciated. I do like alliteration but an ‘a’ middle name hasn’t jumped out at me.
Alice Anjali
Alice Avery
Alice Ariadne
Alice Azalea
I feel like Alice would work well with a 3-4 syllable flowy middle- Alethea, Anastasia, Amabel, Aurelia, Amelia, Azelie, Augusta, Ariane…
Alice would also be my pick from your short list but all of them are lovely choices. Does Margaret have an alliterative middle name? If yes, I would lean into it but otherwise I’d let that preference go if it’s not helping you with your decision.
I’m imagining traditional or underused classics for you:
Alice Audrey
Alice Annabel
Alice Amelia
Alice Abigail
Alice Antonia
Non-alliterative suggestions:
Alice Catherine
Alice Violet
Alice Evangeline
Alice Irene
Alice Miriam
Alice Adelaide
Alice Adele
Alice Athena
Alice Augusta
Alice Aurora
Alice Cathleen
Alice Elizabeth
Alice Irene
Alice Janae (Juh-NAY)
Alice Olivia
All of these are lovely with Margaret. Alice is hands down my favourite, but they are all really nice names.
Alice Louisa
Alice Francesca
Alice Francine
Alice Claudia
Alice Augusta
Alice Josephine
Alice Genevieve
Alice Vera
Alice Vivian
Alice Victoria
Alice Theodora
Alice Delphine
Alice Dorothea
Alice Rosamund
Alice Margot
We are expecting a boy this summer. I have always thought of this baby as Julien, but realize Julian is much more common in the English speaking area where we live. I like the Euro vibe of Julien and fear my Italian inlaws would pronounce Julian like Julianne since it is closer to the Italian version Guiliano.
I don’t give two hoots about personalized items in gift stores, but are there other persistent problems with having the less standard spelling? And would you pronounce the name differently with an e? For me, in English, they sound the same in both versions.
I would pronounce both versions the same. I think he would have to correct people occasionally, but it seems like not at all a big deal to say ‘Julien with an e’ or even spell the whole thing – it’s short!
My full name is a less common spelling that my parents chose because they felt it made their (also less common) desired pronunciation clearer. …People still don’t pronounce it correctly, and I have spelling issues on top of that. In my own case, I go back and forth on which version I’d rather have – I do think I probably have fewer mispronunciations than I otherwise would have, and I would have gotten misspellings regardless (plenty of people guess things that are neither my actual name nor the standard version…), but I wouldn’t use an alternative spelling unless you feel very strongly about it, and ideally have a specific practical reason to do so (like a different pronunciation or one version being more intuitive in another language the child will regularly encounter).
(For a sense of my situation, imagine my name is Lara. People still call me “Lora”, and I still get my name spelled Laura… or Larrah.
Our 18 month old is Charles with nicknames galore but Charlie most often. Baby boy 2 is due in June and we are struggling.
My fave has been August but husband can’t get over the fact that it’s a name if the month. I love that it’s soft strong like Charles. My taste is generally classic but we have a ton of names we can’t dont want to use since his fam is full of boys.
Names we have considered: Theodore (we like Theo but don’t love Theodore), Hudson (family name but like august is it too trendy?), Deacon (too churchy and not classic enough for me). Names I like but we can’t use because of friends are Arthur and Henry.
Spinning in circles 😵💫
Some softer classics:
Heath
Spencer
Marshall
Owen
Peter
Julian
Nathaniel
Oliver
Gideon
Isaiah
Jude
Tobias
Samuel
Joshua
Wesley
Mile
Ezra
James
Finn
Jonah
Louis
Lawrence
Ethan
Gabriel
Caleb
Laurent
Asher
Graham
William
Hugh
Alistair
August is one of my own favourites, and I don’t think it’s trendy (it’s a classic name that goes through waves of popularity – unlike names like Hudson and Deacon, which were pretty much unheard of as given names until they suddenly shot up the charts).
Theodore is fine but very popular at the moment.
Maybe Augustine or Augustus to soften the month association for husband?
To go with Charles “Charlie”, I would suggest:
Oscar
Oliver
Elliot
Alfred (Freddie?)
Frederick (Freddie or Fritz?)
Albert (Bertie?)
Edwin or Edmond (Ned?)
Francis (Frankie?)
Walter (Walt or Wally?)
Ambrose
Alistair
Sebastian
If you like the sound of Deacon but not its meaning/association, how about Deagan (‘Dee-gun’)? I knew an older British gentleman called Deagan so for me it fits it the same distinguished category as Charles, but I realise that’s personal.
How about Edmund, nn Teddy?
Andrew — I like the nickname Drew.
Augustine — would this be more acceptable than August, nicknames Auggie or Gus?
Bennett
Grant
Griffin — nicknames Griff or Finn
Jameson
Philip/Phillip — I really like Pip as a nickname.
Thomas
My favourite girls name is Sylvie (would be Sylvie Aurelia, which I just love everything about, it’s like my perfect name), but I’m having trouble with other girls names as my other favourites are longer with nicknames similar in length and sound to Sylvie and it bugs me that the balance is all off. Sylvia nickname Sylvie is NOT an option for me; I have considered Sylviane nn Sylvie solely for balance with sibling names but it takes away from the streamlined beauty of Sylvie for me.
So:
Do you think Sylvie and Florence “Flossie” or Emeline “Emmie” or Avielle “Vivi” is too unbalanced or am I overthinking it? Would probably be 50/50 useage of full name/nickname.
Do you think Sylvie and Élodie are too similar for siblings?
What would you name a sister for Sylvie?
I wouldn’t change Sylvie just to match a hypothetical future sister. If you love it use it!
I like Sylvie and Nell,
Sylvie and Scarlett
Sylvie and Annika
Sylvie and Tamsyn
Sylvie and Gwen
Sylvie and Cerys
Sylvie and Wynn
Sylvie is one of my favorite names, and I don’t think any of the longer versions really feel the same. I would use it as is, and worry about a possible sister later.
I agree with other comments, I wouldn’t worry too much about future sisters right now. I love Sylvie and Florence as a pair though! And I think Emeline, Avielle, and Élodie would work too.
So hard when you have that perfect name! Nothing comes close. I also love Sylvie (maybe partly because I know one my age who is so so lovely.) If it were my set, I’d probably do another no nickname needed name. Like Flora, Emme… Fleur, Jules, Pearl. I think any other name you love, works with it though!
I’m with you on wanting to make sure not to rule out good sibling names in the future – but I don’t think Sylvie is an issue with most of the names you’ve mentioned. Flossie, Emmie, and Vivi are pretty exclusively used as nicknames, while Sylvie is the French form of Sylvia, not a nickname for it (sure, it could be, but that’s not its origin). Sylvie is much more common as a standalone name than the others are, and it helps that most of the other names you’re considering are also French. I think all the combinations you mentioned are delightful.
My daughter is named Sylvie and I love her name! I was in the same boat as you – did not want to use Sylvia at all. And now I call her Sylvia as a joke all the time hahaha – people are like, wait, is her name actually Sylvia? I may need to stop doing that before people get really confused! I have a boy too – his name is Remy. I don’t mind the -ee endings for both, but do wonder if I would continue it for another child if I were to have one. For another girl, I think I would go with Nina or Audrey (depending if I wanted the -ee) and for a boy, I think Miles/Malcolm (I don’t think there are any other other boy -ee names I’m interested in).
This thread is exactly what I’ve needed! My dilemma:
– A classic yet spicy boy’s name that works equally well (and sounds sufficiently similar) in German and English (American expats living in Germany);
– Last name is a common man’s first name that begins with J;
– Big sister’s name is Vivi@n M@rg@ret (nod to my grandmothers);
– The middle name will be P@sc@l.
Oliver is my long favorite name and I love love love the pairing with Vivi@n as well as with my husband’s and my names. The pan-European pronunciation is fabulous and in line with the American pronunciation. The unsurprising catch is that it is just so d@mn popular and has been for so long! It feels like I’m phoning it in. On the other hand, not using it feels like I’m overthinking it and capitulating in a different way. The other names on the short list are Gabriel, Dominic, Theodor, & Sebastian. So, help? Either validate that Oliver is still a gift of a name or give me a gentle but firm talk-down that its time has passed and it’s time to cultivate love for another.
(Naturally, had this baby been a girl we’d have had no troubles. I could name a dozen girls. Always the way!)
I’m going to be naming across English, Dutch, and French, so I relate to your challenge. I think you totally nailed it with your daughter.
From your list, I like Oliver and Sebastian best. Oliver is such a great name, but I do get your concerns as it definitely seems to be peaking in popularity just around now. Also, with Oliver, you get a repeated V sound together with Vivian. That can go either way – if you love that awesome, but if you don’t, it might be another reason to pick another contender.
Here’s some US name popularity data for your list:
Vivan: seems to hover around top 100 (currently 101)
Oliver: 3
Sebastian: 19
Gabriel: 38
Dominic: 88
Theodor: not in top 1000 with that spelling, but Theodore is nº23
So Dominic is closest to Vivan in terms of usage, but TBH all names are in or around the Top 100. It seems you just gravitate towards classic, well-loved, well-used names, which is totally fine. Why not just embrace that and just go with your favourite?
Just checked popularity in Germany too,since that’s the context you’re living in, and Oliver is only nº111 and Vivien (close spelling) is nº151 there. So that’s not as bad!
Honestly I would just go for it.
Thank you for the response – and validation ;-) I regret that it’s so common, but I think I’d more intensely regret not using it. The only name that was really close for me was Simon, but it doesn’t pass the English / German pronunciation consistency test. Good luck to you with Dutch / French / English!
Sorry to thread jump, but I’m due in a few months and have to name this baby something that works in Dutch and English – would you be up for offering ideas or feedback?
So far we’re a bit stumped. Our surname is van der Laan, and we’re hoping for a short-ish name for this babe so their future form-filling isn’t too painful.
My husband likes Anne-Marte, Eve and Annelies for girls, and Sebastian is the only name we can compromise on for a boy. I like Iris and Stella for girls.
He hasn’t lived in the Netherlands for a decade, so we’re both pretty out of the loop on what’s considered trendy/normal for baby names! Any naming ideas would be super welcome!
I’m always happy to brainstorm names! It’s especially exciting to consider situations similar to mine.
I feel like your choices are much more on trend than his. I know several Dutch Irises (of various ages), and have come across young Stellas too.
Eva is more common than Eve as far as I can tell, and I haven’t encountered anyone called Anne-Marte or Annelies. They feel more middle-aged/old fashioned to me (I’ll have to check with my partner who is Dutch – my impressions are not always accurate). Anne and Anna are definitely more common than the longer versions though, in fact Anna seems to be in the top 20 for 2021 and Anne has been used consistently for decades (the Dutch pronunciation of Anne is really close to Anna though, sort of ‘Annuh’, which could cause confusion).
I often find that names that work across several languages tend to be classic well-known names. Trendy or word names are much more language-specific obviously, and even variations on classic names tend not to translate as well.
Thomas, Sebastian, David, Daniel, Mark, Martin, Lucas, / Anna, Emma, Eva, Sophie, Emily, Flora, Iris, Rosa, Sarah, etc. are pretty much always going to work, but Maverick, Adalyn, Harper, June, Everly, etc. will not work in both contexts and neither will Mees, Thijs, Joep, Saar, Noor, Féline (!!), etc.
That is a bit frustrating to me though, as my naming style is not classic… So my challenge has been to find fresher more unusual names that still somehow work across both.
Here are some names that I was surprised to find were a hit in both English and Dutch:
Trendy:
Liam (yep, in the NL it’s top of the charts too)
Max
[Hugo]
[Milo]
[Levi]
Flynn
Skylar
Riley
Ava
[Mila]
Noa
Lily
Luna
Nova
Tailored:
Oscar
Tim
Ryan
Bram
Maya / Mia
Liv
Tess / Tessa
Lea / Leah
Nora
Zoe
Chloe
Lynn (this one is pretty huge in the NL, not at all old-fashioned like I feel it is in the US. There are teenaged Lynns all over the place)
Classic:
[Julian]
[Benjamin]
Alexander
James
[Aaron]
[Nathan]
Owen
[Julia]
[Isabel / Isabella]
Emily
Elena
Eloise
Lucy / Lucie
Lisa / Liz
[Charlotte (Lotte)]
Naomi
Pronunciation can differ a bit though (I put significant differences in pronunciation between square brackets), up to you whether that is an issue or not.
Sounds like you definitely need to use it! FWIW while it’s a popular name, and I know lots in my larger circles, neither of my girls have had one on their classes yet! So hard to know which pocket you’re living in, even the most obscure names find duplicates sometimes.
What about Oscar? It is close to Oliver and should work well in English and German.
If you really love Oliver, I’d say use it. For what it’s worth, I’m a substitute teacher so I encounter 100+ different kids every week. I know that Oliver is a popular name, but I’ve yet to meet one. (Maybe they just haven’t reached school age yet?) I guess my point is that even the most popular names aren’t over-saturated like they used to be.
I know a German/Belgian-American family living in Germany, and they named their boys Oliver and Sebastian. They seem like ideal crossover names. Yes, they are on the less unusual side, but they are used for a reason. Anyway, if you like Oliver the best, go for it.
August! But if you love Oliver don’t let the popularity kill it for you.
I wonder if I could solicit some opinions on Bernice. It’s a long-time favourite for me, but I know that it’s not very popular. I think some people would put it in a not-revivable-vintage category.
I’ve liked it since I met a young hairdresser named Bernice and it suddenly seemed very fresh to me. I like that it has a long history, a strong meaning, is not a feminized version of a male name, is feminine but not frilly, won’t be mispronounced, has cute nicknames (I like Bernie and Bebe, and even Bunny for toddler years), and sounds great with our last name (pronounced Beach but spelled like the tree). My partner likes it, though it’s not his #1.
I know these clunky older names tend to be divisive, but I wouldn’t want to choose one that gets overwhelmingly negative reactions! Honest thoughts?
I think Bernice could be delightful if you’re a daring namer! I remember meeting a little Frances and feeling judgey, like why would they do that to her??? A few years later it had totally grown on me, felt so refreshing and we used it as a middle for my youngest. Now when I hear of or meet a dusty-named child, I let it mull a bit and almost always, it begins to sound fresh and delightful. I think you’ll just need to brace yourself for the rude inside voice people. I LOVE all the nickname options you have for her. So maybe most people wouldn’t even know her secret formal name.
I don’t like Bernice much myself, but if I met a baby Bernice, I think my reaction would be like, “huh! Those parents have a very strong sense of style!” I definitely would not be like, “Oh no, how awful, I can’t believe they did that to her.” I think it might grow on me if I knew a young Bernice, like when I first met a young Eunice and went from “Oh no” to “Ok, I can see what her parents liked about it, even it’s not my style.”
I love Bernice! But I might be particularly biased since I’m naming my baby Bernadette ;)
Personally I expected to get a lot of pushback or “Oh…that’s different” type responses to our name choice but overall it’s been overwhelmingly positive. I imagine Bernice would garner similar reactions.
(And we’re using the nickname Birdie instead of Bernie which also helped bring my mom around on it)
I think if I heard the name Bernice on a little girl I’d be pleasantly surprised. My daughter is Francine, which I think is a similar sort of old lady/frumpy/dated vibe to some people. But I just find it so adorably cute and fresh on my little preschooler, and she also has cute nicknames to choose from (we use Francie for now, but if she wants to be Fran or Frannie or Frankie someday she can). I worried that we’d get a lot of comments about it being an old lady name, but other than an occasional “Oh, that’s my mother-in-law’s name” we haven’t gotten any comments along those lines. Most people seem to like it.
The other pro of a name like Bernice is that because it hasn’t had a comeback yet (and maybe won’t) she’ll likely be the only Bernice in all of her social circles.
I know a Bernice and she’s a strong and caring lady, so my association with the name is really positive and I’ll be pleasantly surprised by a baby Bernice.
We recently named my son M@lcolm (nickname Mac) and immediately after announcing it, my parents (who are reasonable people) said they hated it. Now I can’t stop second guessing it. Reassurance? I’ve spent ages thinking of baby names that I feel like I’m overthinking it.
I think Malcolm nn Mac is a great name! Malcolm is familiar but not commonly used. I did not think of Mac as a nickname for Malcolm before your post but it totally works and I think Mac is just excellent on its own or as a nn. Feel good about your choice! Great boys name with super cool nickname 👌.
When you say ‘announce’, you mean your son is here and named? Because that kind of reaction is so not okay. At any time the word ‘hate’ is completely unhelpful, but if he’s here, they should have kept that to themselves. They’ve had their turn to name a child.
I remember overhearing my in-laws and their peers laughing over a grandchild’s name. It was Oliver. They couldn’t believe someone had chosen Oliver. More like a ton of people have chosen it and their perspective is not relevant.
Sorry to hear you’re going through that. Malcolm nn Mac is an amazing choice and hopefully they’ll come around and apologize sooner than later.
I love Malcolm. It is a stylish classic, not overused with a good meaning and a long, distinguished history.
I’m sorry you parents have a problem with this perfectly fine name. I would not give them any heed and I hope they realise their faux pas and apologise.
It’s a wonder name! Love it.
Parents are just from a different generation and style changes. It’s so common and normal for our parents generation to not love our choices. I remember my in laws telling about the horribly old fashioned name this neighbors has chosen for their daughter, it was Olivia.
Yes! My dad scoffed at our pick for our youngest son Miles and said he was just going to call him Kilometer instead. But now that the kid is almost 3, it’s normal and he loves it. Parents will get used to it! He also hated my nephew’s name (Aid@n) so…yeah. Different generation.
Thank you! I know Swistle has said this before to other letter writers, but it’s another thing to experience it yourself.
Out of interest, I ended up asking my parents what makes they liked… Matthew and Michael lol. Definitely helped me put the generation thing in perspective. The funny thing is, all of my siblings and myself (all girls) have very unique timeless names that I love, so I really expected them to love our choice. I guess my parents have a different name style for boys vs girls!
Your parents are (a) out of touch with current naming trends, and (b) being kinda rude about it. This is a perfectly normal name to give a kid born in the 2020s, it’s a nice classic that’s sitting right in that “popular but not super common” place on the popularity charts in the US. Most people who hear it are going to think something like, “Oh, that’s a nice name! I’m glad Malcolm is coming back, and Mac is so cute on a little kid.”
Oh gosh, that’s such an inappropriate reaction for them to have! I think it’s a fabulous name, there’s nothing to dislike there, it’s a classic name that’s not overused. They’re going to have to suck it up, but I’m sorry they’ve made you feel that way.
I have a 16 yo Mac (his middle name is MacDonald, and that’s where we get the “Mac.”) And he loves his name. Friendly, kinda cool, upbeat sound, nice mix of modern and traditional. Sometimes gets heard as “Matt.” But easy to spell! When he goes to a office or orders a burrito, he says, “Mac – M-A-C.”
Miles, Kit, or Rowan for our baby boy? We can’t decide! Sister is Clara.
Love Miles!
Miles!
Miles!
Rowan is more unisex in my opinion and sytlistically really different from Clara, and Kit is very nickname-ish.
But also I have a little Miles so I am a bit biased!
Personally, I don’t love Rowan with Clara, but matching style is something that may or may not be important to you.
For Kit, would you use Christopher and have Kit as a nickname, or just Kit? I find Kit as a nickname for Christopher so charming, somehow that makes me like both names so much better than either alone.
Miles is also great!
Miles is my favorite of the three.
Do you think C@ssi@ (pronounced CASS-ee-uh) and Ac@ci@ (pronounced Uh-KAY-shuh) are too similar (particularly visually) for sisters? Particularly in context of a sister in between who has a different style of name (still botanical) with no letters in common.
To me they’re really similar
To me they’re a little too close for comfort, too.
They are a bit close, and I find I hesitate saying them because they have similar letters making different sounds – my brain takes a second to process. That said, I think that is something I’d get used to, and they don’t actually sound that similar. Considering we live most of our lives as individuals, not as sibsets, I think it’s usable if you love it. If I were in your shoes, I would probably keep it on the shortlist but continue looking at other options.
No, they pass the yell test and feel just right to me.
They’re very matchy, but they are juuust different enough that I don’t think I would actually get them confused. For contrast, I know a family with a Cooper and a Carter, and I genuinely struggle to remember which brother has which name.
Thank you everyone who replied – all of your feedback is really helpful.
Beatrix as a sister for Audrey? Also considering Essie, short for Esther or Estelle… but don’t love the full names as much as the nickname.
All three options go beautifully with Audrey, you can’t go wrong here. :)
I have a soft spot for Estelle because I know one and she’s a wonderful person, plus the meaning is awesome. I would personally pick Estelle over Esther.
I’m not sure how helpful this is, but I love all of your options! I think they all work with Audrey.
I love Beatrix, especially as a sister for Audrey!
We have an Esther, nn Essie. We get so many complements on both her full name and nickname. I wasn’t so sure about Esther when we named her, but it’s really grown on me. Such a strong, distinctive, yet soft sound.
I like Estella with Beatrix. Essie is a cute nickname.
Thoughts on the name Abbott for a boy? It has been a long-time favorite of mine, but I worry that it could invoke certain southern or religious connotations that we would rather avoid. I’ve never met anyone with the name, so curious how it reads to others.
The religious connotations are definitely present and as an atheist I would personally not use the name for that reason (or any other clergy names like Priest, Bishop, Deacon, Parson…). Not American so I can’t reflect on the Southern connotation element of your question.
If I encountered a little Abbott I would form a neutral expectation that his parents are probably of some Christian denomination, nothing more, nothing less.
To me it reads as Abbott Laboratories, a huge employer in Chicago and the maker of so many items.
I can see why the sound of it is pleasant, but I have a hard time imagining it on a human.
Love Abbott…it is one of my faves as well!
I’m a devout Catholic and had to think for a second about what the religious connection even was. I don’t know why, but it reads surname-y to me rather than word-y, and my brain doesn’t store it in the same category as Deacon or Bishop.
I find names like these so interesting. I’m not religious so my first thought was Abbott&Costello, then ‘oh it’s a nice surname’ that is also a street in my city. Vaguely okay something religious maybe? But many many people are religious, so that would give me pause ultimately. Like not using Delilah. Although I remember when Cohen / Coen started gaining popularity and people pointed out the disrespect, but it’s steadily climbed, at least where I am. Not to say just because people are using it, means it’s okay (so many reasons that reasoning is faulty 100%) but I’m not sure the majority of people would think you’re religious for using Abbott. In fact I’d think you pointedly weren’t.
Thoughts on the name Bay? My partner and I both love it but I think they’re more sold on its viability than I am.
My main association with it is Bay Kennish from Switched At Birth, first time I had heard the name. I didn’t mind that character (strong-minded, artistic, outspoken young women, that’s a good association though she was a bit bratty in early seasons) I think it’s a nice fairly unique name, but still could get a few “can you repeat that?” type questions because of that uniqueness. If you love it enough, go for it!
Ditto. Same association. I think it’s a strong name that can work on any gender!
Are people still calling their significant others “Bae”?? That’s the only thing that would give me pause about using Bay, since they sound the same. Someone just hearing it might think it’s the equivalent of naming your child “Hon” or “Dear”.
Love the sibset of Bay and Birch!
Sister names for Eliza (nn Ellie)? My husband really likes the -ie endings so I’m hoping for something than can have that kind of nickname.
Ooh. Love Eliza. I’d name her sister:
Josephine – Josie
Matilda – Tillie
Francine – Frankie or Frannie
Annabel – Annie
Beatrix – Trixie
Harriet – Hattie
Nice list! We also have an Eliza and both Matilda and Beatrix are on the short list for daughter #3. Out second daughter is named Vivienne (nn Vivi), which may also work for OP.
Can anyone think of a nature nickname for Cecile or Paul?
Sisters are Hilaria “Lark” and Katherine “Wren”.
Well, my first thought was Cecile -> Eel, but that’s not actually a good idea!!
I think if it was another sister, I would like a bird nickname too… you could try to make the jump from Cecile to Chickadee? If you wanted to start with a bird and work backwards, Sparrow, Robin, Dove, Kestrel, and maybe even Starling or Oriole seem like nice birds to have as a name. Oh, and there’s Linnet, which is already both a bird and a name!
I got nothing for Paul…. it’s too short to pull out a syllable and look for similar sounding nature words (as I assume you did for Hilaria and Katherine), and I can’t think of any nice nature words that start with a P or contain an “aul” sound… other than maybe “Fall”? But I’m not sure that is obviously naturey without context to make you think of seasons instead of falling.
Yeah, Pigeon maybe is all I have. (Middle and last begin with Js.) First name matters more than coordinating nickname, though I campaigned hard for Theodora “Dove”.
If it’s not too late, what about Paloma “Dove”?
I don’t feel like we can pull off Paloma. We’re Anglos living among many Hispanic neighbors, and it just doesn’t sit right with me for us. But it is absolutely lovely!
Pollywog for Paul? Obviously as more of a casual nickname and not, like, the name he would go by at school…
:D Pollywog is adorable.
What about Jay for either of them after the last name initial? Like a mocking jay or a blue jay?
What about “Sky” for Cecile? It’s not a bird, but it has the same airy feel.
Seal is the obvious nature nickname for Cecile. It’s not as ‘pretty’ as lark and wren, but I guess it depends if this is for public consumption or home? Like Cecile could be ‘sea lion’. (Is selkie a derogatory term?)
Paul quite easily becomes Palm? Otherwise he needs a less intuitive nature nickname. Platypus, Pom, Prairie, Pine, Peregrine, Pigeon, Park?
How about Owl for Paul? Could possibly make it work for Celia, too.
Also, do you Francesca (or Francine/Frances)? It strikes me that you could get Finch as a nickname.
*like
Or Josephine could get you to Finch … and sounds wonderful with Katherine and Hilaria.
We seriously considered Finnian, and it got a leg up for lending itself so neatly to Finch!
My first son has 2 middle names, the first of which was my dad’s name. He passed away suddenly and unexpectedly the day before I found out I was pregnant. Would you re-use the name with the second child? The name is D@vid so it is traditional/classic.
Sorry to hear about your father. Do you mean he passed away before you found out you were pregnant with your second son? So you want to mark that through his name? If that was important to me I think I’d find another name (his middle? His surname? Something significant) for second son. There’s no reason why both your sons can’t share a middle though, if that’s what you feel is right. Are there other people to honour too? For example, we felt it was important to try to include all of the grandparent lines across our two children’s names, especially the maternal lines.
I will echo the previous comment; personally, I would try to find another way to honor your dad by using his middle name, last name, or something special to your memory of him (a place, his trade, favorite hobby, character trait, etc). I assume you are having a boy, but maybe not. If you have a girl, maybe Davy/Davie? Something else to consider is if you plan to have more children, assuming this one is a boy, would you want to/feel the need to also use David for any other sons, being that your first two sons share the name David?
Thank you both! I am having another boy, and I did find out the day after Dad died (tested only so I could see if my antianxiety meds were off the table). I appreciate both of your insights, because in honesty I didn’t want to reuse it but wondered if I should. I’m leaning heavily toward using his middle name or using a name that the nickname would honor him. My first son’s name also honors my partner’s family, I totally empathize with trying to honor everyone.
Are Eden and Wren too similar sounding for sisters? We love Wren but do not like the repeat -en ending and heavy n sounds together. We like Lane – not Jane – but feeling very undecided. I would choose Sutton, he would choose Haley. More ideas welcome, but I like very few girl names and find them so hard to choose.
I actually think that Eden and Wren sound dissimilar enough to be used together. Two syllable versus one helps a lot. And I, at least, don’t pronounce the ‘en’ the same. In Eden it’s ‘in’ and Wren a more pure ‘n’. I thought about if I were yelling these names on a playground and I don’t think they would be confusing. However, stylistically, I think they are very different. Wren, Lane, even Sutton, could be considered general neutral. I wouldn’t automatically think one over the other. Eden and Haley, though, I would definitely assume girls, for better or worse. It is also the only word/nature name. It’s worth thinking about whether you plan to have more children and how those names might slant.
I really like Wren, but I can add some other suggestions.
Names
Brennan
Clare
Finley
Hazel
Riona
Nature/Word
Linden
Quill
Roan (one syllable, like the horse color)
Rue
Sage
Skye
Vale
I think I will regret not using Wren, and your perspective helps. We do plan to have more children, and these two names flow very well with the boy names we have chosen. You listed a few names that we have considered before, and I really like Roan!
I’m guessing you don’t call Eden ‘Edie’? Because that would help distinguish for sure. I see the appeal of Wren being a bird and it looks nice, but to me it just sounds like Ren, a short form for my name that just reminds me of Ren & Stimpy. I know I’m probably in the minority. Eden & Lane, however, is super sweet to my ears. Both unisex and tailored, with adorable nicknames.
Actually, we do have a few family members who call her Edie from time to time. I think it is a sweet nickname, but not one that we use daily, and I could see the name being used even less as she grows older. Swistle posted some time ago that she likes Wren more on paper and less when said, which I tend to agree with. I swoon when I see it written down, but I struggle to love it as much when I say it aloud. Still, I find it sweet and simple, just like Lane. My husband likes Alaina, so Lane is a pleasant compromise, and it is growing on me more and more. You make valid points about Wren that I have also read on numerous other forums. I will continue to be grateful to our parents that my husband and I did not grow up watching Nickelodeon cartoons, now especially because of Ren & Stimpy, if we do choose to use Wren.
Beckett or Beatrice
Purely hypothetical but thoughts on twin sisters Verda and Violeta? Is it too cheesy being that their names respectively mean “green” and “purple”? I am mostly able to look past it because in Spanish we exclusively use “verde”. I also adore their nns being Vera and Vita (meaning faith and life). Just looking for more opinions!
I would just call them Vita and Vera.
Funnily enough, I knew two girls with those names that were best friends. Always thought it was really cool.
I’m due with our first in a few weeks (a boy) and my husband and I are torn between Miles and Malcolm. Middle name will be David (honoring a family tradition), surname sounds like “Freed-rick” but with a very German spelling.
We love Malcolm partly because it was inspired by a character in a novel we’ve both read and enjoyed, and generally for the classic feel and nickname possibilities. On the other hand, I wonder if Miles works better with the hefty surname.
I love the reason you love Malcolm and that would be such a great naming story. To my ear it sounds just right with the surname. You’ll say / think / hear / write his first name so many more times than you’ll pair it with the surname, so I say go for it! Miles is a lovely name, but for you it sounds like settling.
I’m a little late to this post, but hoping to get some feedback on a double noun first and surname combo.
Surname is Beard. We are intrigued by Rosemarie, but shortened form Rose leads to two issues. Sounds close to rose bud to my ear, and also seems little noun-noun shouty. Two very recognizable mental image noun words. Disheartening, as many Rose names are high on my lists. What do you think?
Useable? I waffle back and forth.
We are also very open to Romy as a nn. I adore it. (limited feedback from trusted friends have said variations of “oh, your last name is a noun? oh right, right, we don’t see it that way. Its your name, we don’t automatically think of a beard.”) We just don’t want to end up saddling a kid with, in essence, the name Plant Hair! :)
Additional nouns: Willow and Violet. These don’t scream NOUN NOUN to me. But Beard is so visual, I hesitate to pair it with another physical thing. I hope I’m making sense!
In a similar vein, we are wondering if Barrett nn Barry/Bare/Bear is terrible. Ha! Bear Beard, no, just no. We seem to use nicknames verbally instead of written in our families so nicknames wouldn’t necessarily been seen quite to much as being said frequently. Does Barrett lean too close to bare/barren/sparse/patchy/hairless….you see where my mind is going!
For reference, here are our names lists if anyone has any other suggestions we should add for our first child in the coming years:
Yvette, Leona, Lenora, Miriam, Willow, Naomi, Betty, Bianca, Gwen(dolyn)—Winnie a stretch?, Rosemarie or Rosemary–Romy, Marie, Tess/Tessa, Vivian/Vivienne, Roya
Tom, Dean, Henry (saving for style not for real life d/t “harry”), Frederick/Freddy, Hudson, Barrett– Barry! :), Rhys, Heath, Watson–hipster?, Grant/Graham, Vaughn
Thanks!
Honestly, as long as you don’t pick something evocative of say, Blue Beard or Black Beard, like the name Blake would be, I think you’re fine.
Rose Beard sounds a little awkward at first but not enough for me to say don’t use it. Especially since the full name is only going to be used in specific circumstances, like roll call the first week of school, or the doctors office.
I think Rose Beard is fine! Especially since you obviously love the Rose names. And your friends anecdotal proof that the surname loses its noun-ness is kinda redeeming?
I would, however, hesitate at some of the boy choices. Bear Beard would be a no, but then, will he formally be Bear? Maybe Barrett Beard on paper, Bear at home is fine. The abruptness of a one syllable with the surname might sway me to a longer name choice.
Rosie & Bear sound like a super sweet sibset though!
I think Rosemarie Beard works. Romy fits the bill of a more “ideal” nickname, but Rose is good too, in my opinion. Nicknames aren’t commonly said with the surname, so I think you have some flexibility there. I think Willow is better than Violet, because violet can also be a color. I wouldn’t use Barrett personally, but it isn’t something I would feel negatively if I met a Barrett Beard. The other names on your lists are lovely choices as well.
I think there’s no reason Gwendolyn couldn’t go by Winnie.
I am late to this post, but would love anyone’s opinion on our shortlist for a third daughter (due in 2 months). Older sibs are El!za and V!vienne and the shortlist is Beatrix, Matilda, and Juniper. Any favorites?
All beautiful options! The high-value Scrabble set is the most pleasing to me – Beatrix! She just has so many fun nicknames too – Bea, Bix, Trixie! Second choice Matilda, also lovely with a sweet storybook character association. Juniper is a great name, I just see a slight style change with the sisters? I get how it can feel old fashioned, but to me it’s a very modern choice and has that nature vibe too?
I’m late to the post but hoping to find some help. Due any day and feel lost. Before I found out I was pregnant I discovered Leopold as a family name so I’m kind of stuck on it. He would mainly go by Leo. I have a fear that Leopold may be to “out there” for some people. Also not sure if I could get over the popularity of Leo. My two others aren’t as popular. Sisters include Anne1iese and R0s@lie. Thoughts on the name Leopold and name suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
I think Leopold called Leo is a great compromise between the “out there”ness of Leopold, and the popularity of Leo. He can always revert to the full name if he wants something much less common. And while I’ve met a bunch of Leos, per Swistle’s usual breakdown about how common even the most common names are these days, I doubt it would be a big problem. It would be a familiar name, but not likely a situation where there are 3 in his class, you know?
Hm. That’s two strikes against the name. I don’t see Leopold being too out there from the sister names. But if you can’t proudly say yup it’s a family name, and be okay with the natural Leo nickname (which is definitely common but who knows if it’ll be common among his exact peers) then I’d move on. Or force a different nickname like Lee or Leep? Other names for a brother to your sister set: Bennett, Isaac, Harrison, Bernard, Davis, Tobias, Sebastian.
Just wanted to provide an update in case anyone was invested. Baby Beatrix was born earlier this week and her sisters are enthralled. Thank you so much for the input!
Congrats!! So fun when people update. That’s a swoon worthy sibset. Beautiful Beatrix!
I would go with Matilda in terms of personal taste and how pleasing I find all the names together, but these are all lovely choices! I find Juniper a little less consistent with the old-fashioned style of Eliza and Vivienne, and just slightly prefer Matilda as a name over Beatrix. But all are solid, great names.
Also, I’m about to post my own third-daughter query, so congrats on your 3-pack of girls! Mine is due in March.