Hi Swistle! My wife, Shannon, and I just discovered your blog looking around for baby names and we’re really hoping you can help us. My name is Lauren, our last name is Hayes, and we have two older daughters, Madrigal Kathryn (often goes by Mads) and Clementine Vivian (often goes by Clem). Their middle names are our moms names. Neither of us have other family names we feel strongly about using, but a few we are kicking around honoring various family/friends are
Margaret
Paloma
Noelle
Cassidy
Julia
Rory
Hannah
LouiseBut those are just middle names we are considering! The big problem is first names. And oh yeah, we need THREE first names- I am pregnant with triplet girls, due in eight weeks (yikes!) basically the only decision we’ve made is that we want all their names to start with a vowel- this seems like the level of matchiness we want. (And different letters, we def want each kid to have their own letter). As for style….well, looking at Madrigal and Clementine, I’m not totally sure how to pin it down…..eclectic, quirky, vaguely nature-ish? Here is what we have come up with so far:
Everly
Ariadne
Ottilie
Acacia
Arwen
Elowen
Azalea
Elysande
Ione
Indigo
IdabelCan you (and your commenters!) maybe pick this bunch of disparate info into three coherent names that somehow fit together with each other and with Mads and Clem? We would love other name suggestions too!
Thank you so so so much!
Three different vowels is perhaps a bigger challenge than you want when dealing with the already enormous challenge of naming triplets. I wonder if you’d consider, at least to begin with, ditching ALL preferences for matchiness, and waiting to see if matchiness occurs naturally? That is, perhaps if you look at names starting with any letter, you’ll find that your three favorites all have six letters, or all have a double letter, or all have a long-O sound. That is where I would begin, if I were you: eliminate all unnecessary restrictions, and give yourselves a much longer and more flexible list to work with.
I will also suggest a technique I found useful when naming twins: I pretended they were arriving individually. That is, I imagined Baby A, and pretended that she was my third baby and a singleton; then I imagined Baby B born two or three years later, another singleton; what would I name them THEN?
Well. Working from the lists you’ve provided, and working within your current preferences because that does make a fun game, I will make a triplet set, and we will see what triplet sets the commenters make!
Ottilie, Elowen, and Ione
Ottilie Margaret Hayes
Elowen Louise Hayes
Ione Noelle Hayes
Madrigal, Clementine, Ottilie, Elowen, and Ione
LOVE Ione from their list.
Suggestion: Astrid!
I think your list of favorites go really well with the style you already have. My triple set wound be:
Azalea Noelle
Everly Louise
Indigo Hannah
Love that group!
Here are 3 possible sets:
–
Astrid
Imogen
Opal
–
Aurelia
Oaklee
Ember
–
Avonlea
Elowyn
Ondine
–
Other ramdom ideas:
Florence
Harmony
Eileen
Ocean
Ivory
Soleil
Verity
Primrose
It looks like you have a few great nature-based unique names for an and I but I’m not sure about your E choices? I wonder if you consider Estelle or Estella for star?
Acacia, Estelle, and indigo
Or maybe Ember?
Acacia, Noelle
Estelle or Ember Paloma
Indigo, Margaret
Congrats on your new baby girls! Can’t wait to see what you choose
I chose three vowels and made 2-3 name for each one.
Ariadne Margaret
Azalea Louise
Arwen Hannah
Elowen Paloma
Everly Noelle
Indigo Cassiopeia (as a tribute to Cassidy? Too much of a stretch?)
Ione Auora (see above, but for Rory)
Or if you don’t want any substitutes…
Ione Julia
Have you seen the movie Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken? The girl who dives horses during the Great Depression is named Sonora. I’ve always loved the name and think it would go so well with Madrigal and Clementine.
I think I would do 1930s glam names: Sonora, Greer, Eve
I also love Sonora, Reese, and Eve
omg I was also going to suggest Sonora!!
From your list, I like
Ariadne Julia
Ottilie Noelle
Idabel Margaret
Though I’d prefer Idalia or Idelise, called Ida, to match the fancy A & O choices better imo.
With your guidelines, I’d name my triplets
Athena Gloria
Olympia Laurel
Iris Minerva
I might try to find a twist on Shannon or her middle for one baby’s middle too, since Laurel is almost Lauren.
Astrid, Naomi, Penelope, Juniper, Josephine, Matilda, Winifred, Ember, Wren, Cora, Willa? From your list, I like Arwen and Azalea.
Arwen and Idabel are my favorites from your list.
Other names you might like imo:
Isla, Octavia, Athena, Isadora
Isla Louise
Octavia Hannah
Arwen Noelle
Astoria Margaret “Story” or “Rory”
Indigo Julia “Indy”
Octavia Louise “Tavi”
Madrigal, Clementine, Astoria, Indigo, and Octavia
Mads, Clem, Story, Indy, Tavi
I like Olive “Ollie” or “Livy” a lot too but perhaps that’s too much alongside sister Clementine.
If you decide against using all vowel names I would highly encourage the use of Paloma (nickname Lola!) as a first name for one of the girls. It is such an underused beauty and sounds like the perfect mix of quirky cool alongside Madrigal and Clementine.
If i was naming three sisters to Madigral and Clementine, with your parameters I would choose:
Abilene, Indira, and Oriana
Choosing from your lists, I would go with:
Arwen Julia
Everly Margaret
Iona Cassidy
Echoing that Paloma and Sonora seem perfectly fit for this sibset. If I were to just pick names they’d be.
-Paloma Cassidy
-Odessa Noelle
-Sienna Louise
Within your preferences/lists I’d go with.
Ayla Noelle
Elowen Paloma
Odessa Louise
I love Ione and Azalea from your list. To balance out Madrigal though I’d choose something less plant based.
Ondine
Opaline
Evadne
Eulalie
Electra
Enara
Enola
Estella
Ione Hannah, Azalea Margaret, and either Ondine Julia or Enola Louise! Io, Zazie, and Deanie or Nola!
Such a fun challenge. Congrats and good luck! I think the vowel pattern is a neat way to narrow the abundant choices.
Congrats!
You have Arwen on your list, would you be open to Arden?
You have Acacia on your list, would you be open to Acadia (nn Cade/Cady)?
From comments, I also love Sonora and Idalia (feel like they have a Latin vibe similar to Madrigal)
Keeping with your vowel request, I would pick:
Elowen (El/Elle/Ellie), Elowen Louise
Astoria (Story/Rory), Astoria Margaret
Indigo (Indy/Indi/Go-go), Indigo Noelle
Each name (in whole sib set) has their own initial and a different sound to their ending :) Your older girls’ middle names are classics/older so I tried to pick names from your list with similar vibes (Kathryn/Vivian/Margaret/Louise/Noelle). Bonus, depending on which nick names you gravitate towards, you could have 3 nick names with similar sounds (Ellie, Indy, Rory/Story) or NOT if you hate that (Elle, Rory, Go-go)
Came here to suggest Arden as well!
Alexandrine, Elysande or Elowen or Elliette, and Olympia — chosen before reading Swistle’s and others’ comments.
Alexandrine — the last syllable is pronounced as “dreen,” so not the same as the “tine” (with the long i sound) of Clementine — unless you use the British pronunciation, which is “teen.”
Elysande or Elowen or Elliette — I like all three names!
Olympia — this is such an elegant name! Unless you live in or near a town called Olympia, please choose this name. : )
From your middle name possibilities, I like Paloma, Noelle, and Louise the best.
Alexandrine Louise, Elysande Paloma or Elowen Paloma or Elliette Paloma, and Olympia Noelle.
Best wishes to you!
I just wanted to add to Swistle’s argument against your self-imposed rules. Choosing names that are very different can be a really good thing for multiples! Your triplets will be grouped together by default so often, for so many years, that I think making the names not similar can offer a tiny bit of individuality. I’m sure you will choose names you, and your girls, love!
Some combinations for fun / more ideas:
Aurora Cassidy
Elowen Julia
Idalia Noelle
Everly Margaret
Azalea Louise
Ottilie Hannah
Congratulations on the triplets! Your naming style seems quite fun, actually, and having vowels name is a nice subtle touch without too much matchiness.
From your name list, these jump out at me:
Azalea
Elowen
Indigo
They seem to have the right mix of quirky, fun, and vaguel familiar. And they flow well with their big sisters. They also have some fun nickname options.
Madrigal, Celementine, Azalea, Elowen, Indigo
Mads, Clem, Aza, Elo, Indi
I love Ottilie: it was top of my list 40 (!) years ago for my daughter, but was vetoed by her father (we compromised with Lucie), so her first doll (which we still have) is Ottilie. Tilly is a nice nickname.
From your lists my favorite combos are:
Everly Paloma
Arwen Noelle
Indigo Cassidy
Congrats!
Oona C2ssidy/Una C@ssidy
Ursula No3ll3
Ingrid P@loma
Arden Jul!a
Adrianna Margaret
Eudora Louise
Yes, I thought of Una and Ursula too!
Eden Louise
Aurora (Rory) Noelle
Ivy Paloma
Random vowel names I like:
Oleander, Ozma, Oona, Olive
Iris, Ione, Indiana, Iridine
Astrid, Artemis, Anastasia
Eowyn, Esme, Eloise, Ernestine
My triplets would be Eloise, Astrid, and Iris
Another “I” name suggestion – recently met a baby Inez (could also be spelled Ines), and thought it wore very well! Not nature, but same vintage / eclectic feel of your other girls’ names.
I love your girl’s cool nicknames!! Here are some suggestions based on the nickname vibes you have going.
W/vowels
Azalea (Zelie)
Everest (Ev)
Evangeline (Eva)
Ophelia (Fifi) (Though I looked it up and apparently Fifi was originally a nickname for Josephine! Which would also be cool with your other girl’s names!)
Ingrid (Ing)
W/out vowels
Peregrine (Pippin) (Yes, Pippin’s name in LOTR is actually Peregrine! But the nickname Pippin!! Like Pippa but Pippin!) If it’s too boyish then a more femmanine middle name could balance it)
Philippa (Pippa) If Peregrine is too much and still so cool and cute
Raphaela (Raph)
Josephine (Josie, Fifi)
Cordelia (Cora)
Elodie Margaret
If I had to choose a set based on your “rules”, i would choose..
Ismay Hannah
Allegra Margaret
Elspeth Julia or maybe Oona Cassidy
Astrid, Azelea, Iris, Dahlia, amaryllis, lavender
You could have a garden of girls!
I feel like Astrid is cursed due to The Office reference. YMMV.
I like Azalea (Zally! Zalie! Zazzy!) and Elowyn (Ellie! Winnie!) and Ione (Nay-nay?) the mostest. I feel like the I/O/U triplet gets a little screwed since there are so many A/E names, so the rest are for her. :) Apologies for duplicates.
Yvaine <– sometimes Y! Yvaine is the fallen star in Stardust. Pronounced EE-vaine, so Ellie and Yvie get different initials and pronounciations. Might be too short.
Yveline / Yvelise <– sometimes Y! Might be too french? Yvie.
Ivy <– probably too short, no nickname
Iris <– probably too short, Rissy? Rizzy?
Ophelia <– so pretty but Shakespeare reference might be too depressing, but Fi-Fi!!!
Opal <– on brand but doesn't seem like 'enough' alongside the other names, Opie, O
Olwenna <– doesn't work in a sibset with Elowyn, Winnie, Ollie
Azalea Margaret
Elowyn Louise
Ione Noelle
Elodie, Isla and Arwen
When I read your list, it made me think of the name Arcadia, which “refers to a vision of pastoralism and harmony with nature.” I think I first heard it as a secular alternative to Eden. I like the idea of using Arcadia with the nickname Ari.
From your list, my favorite is Azalea. You could use Aza or Lea as nicknames.
To echo other commenters suggestions, I’d love to hear Ocean more often and I like Octavia (which is a butterfly) for you.
One thing about nature names (and I apologize if this adds unnecessarily stress) is that I do think it’s best if they’re on a similar level to each other, that is, I personally wouldn’t choose to have both an Ocean and an Azalea (although I love both of those names!) or an Everest and a Daisy, etc. At least not if both were first names. With that in mind:
Arcadia Margaret
Ocean Hannah
Sky Noelle
Azalea Louise
Sage Rory
Octavia Julia
(Now that I’m saying them together, Azalea and Octavia might be too similar.)
Elm Eileen
Sage Cassidy
Viola Margaret
Stella Hannah
Juliana Paloma
Everly Noelle
To use two names off your list, and give names I think match the best, while still giving each kid their own initial:
Azalea
Everly
Iris
You’ve probably seen enough lists, but I came across this and I like that it has both very naturey names and names that are just vaguely naturey: https://wehavekids.com/baby-names/nature-inspired-baby-names
Congrats on triplets! And thank you for sharing such a fun name challenge!
Estella, Orion, Aurora, Ursa for a space/star theme
Orchid, Iris, Azalea for a floral theme
Also: Irene, Eve, Uma, Agatha, Agnes
Wow, what a trip your family is embarking on!! Congratulations. I wonder how you decide which name goes with which triplet… alphabetically? Or looking? So curious! Here are my 3 ideas.
Aurelia Louise Hayes
Elowen Rory Hayes
Isadore Noelle Hayes
When I look at Madrigal and Clementine, what really stands out to me is that they’re both word names – specifically 3 syllable word names with sounds that echo some more traditional feminine names. (Well, I guess Clementine is actually from Clement, but imo the orange association is strong enough that it feels like a word name).
You have a couple word names on your list, but I wonder if you’d like to consider a couple more? Here’s some word names that seemed to fit with Madrigal and Clementine to me:
Alouette
Amaranth
Caraway
Clarion
Constance
Cypress
Heron
January
Juniper
Kestrel
Lavender
Linnet
Marigold
Marjoram
Meadow
November
Ochre
Saffron
Silhouette
Sonnet
Zinnia
I also wonder if you might like Clarimond, which I saw on a list of medieval French names once.
Lastly, I would say don’t worry about nicknames right now. That is to say, if there’s a nickname you love for one of the names you’re considering, then by all means let that influence you in its favor, but I would not eliminate a name you like because you can’t think of a nickname that goes with Mads and Clem. If you’re a nickname type family, then the nickname will come eventually. You have enough to worry about with naming three babies in the next couple weeks, you can postpone the nicknames until later!
I wonder if a different direction for matching would yield names you like better?
Instead of all vowels, names that start with A, B, C. (That would give a repeating initial with Clementine, but not within the triplet set). Lots of A name suggestions already, but what about:
Beverly, Beatrice, Bernadette, Blythe, Briar
Candice, Cordelia, Cassandra, Calliope, Colette, Cosima
With vowels:
Indigo Paloma
Octavia Noelle
Elowen Louise
Without:
Indigo Margaret (Indi)
Juniper Louise (June, Juno, Juni)
Dorothy Noelle (Dora, Dori, Dot, Dottie)
Other names that I think match the vibe:
Winifred
Beatrix
Bronwen
Ramona
Romilly
Tallulah
Lumen
I just watched my sister wring her hands and wail and gnash her teeth and very persnickety naming rules she and her husband put in place, and finally decided to relax on them as nothing was clicking. Keeping the focus on the style you know and love will pay dividends, I think.
For your triplets, maybe give tribute names for middles that all have the same initial. The trio will have their own special group identity, but a naming style that meshes with their older siblings is crucial and so worthwhile in so many ways .
Sending much love & luck to you and yours! The names Theadora, nn Thea; and Emerson, nn Emme immediately popped into my mind.
I think Azalea, Ottilie, and Indigo is my favorite line up from your list.
Azalea Margaret, Ottilie Paloma, and Indigo Julia
If you forego the vowel preference, Reverie seems like it fits nicely between Madrigal and Clementine.
Azalea, Everly, Indigo
I agree with Swistle that you should loosen your standards of all the names need to start with a vowel. What are some of the other names you like if you weren’t restricting yourselves to vowels? You may find that other themes come up. For instance, from your list Margaret, Ariadne, and Arwen all have “ar” in that order. Do you like Harriet, Briar, Zara, Marina, or Carys? Or just a common letter throughout, like the “d” in Indigo, Ariadne, and Cassidy?
And while I don’t think you need a theme at all, if you’re feeling stuck in this box, what about names that have a common meaning?
Ottilie means “prosperous in battle” and Louise means “renowned warrior” according to Nameberry. Do you like Athena (Goddess of Wisdom and War), Ramona (wise protector), Maud/Maude (Battle-Mighty) or Matilda (Battle-Mighty)? You could think of these names as symbolizing raising strong women instead of war-mongering. If you want another underlying theme you could look at names that mean happy/happiness according to Nameberry: Una, Felicity, Beatrix, Beatrice, Blythe, Aida, Gwyneth, Leda, Hilary/Hillary, Allegra, Joy. This also seems like it could be a cute, but subtle theme for middle names too. Allegra, Una, and Felicity. Madrigal, Clementine, Allegra, Una, and Felicity. Mads, Clem, Allegra, Una, Felicity.
Or what about names connected to space? Luna, Cosima (means cosmos/universe), Phoebe (moon of Saturn), Stella/Estelle/Estella/Esther, Vesper (according to nameberry means evening star), Lyra, Nova, Selene/Selena
Or since you’re having three girls, what if the common unifying theme was that they each got a three syllable name? This opens up a realm of possibilities: it includes Paloma, Julia, Everly, Ottilie, Indigo, Margaret, and Elowen from your own list. And it could also include Athena, Harriet, Imogen, Tallulah, Juniper, Helena, Honora, Cressida, Cosima, Verity, Amity, Elodie Genevieve,, Adeline, Matilda, Tabitha, Odessa, Avalon, Serena, Marina, Minerva, Electra, Waverly, and Quintana.
It also might be fun to play with the initials of your oldest two girls as well (assuming that these are your last babies). For instance, using if you chose the names Arwen, Genevieve, and Ione with Madrigal and Clementine’s initials you would get MAGIC or if you went with Ariadne, Margaret, and Paloma for the triplets you could get CHAMP. You could also mess around with names to get words like CHARM.
Overall, I think my favorite vowel names from your own list are Ariadne and Ione, with Arwen as a runner-up for A names. Maybe you could through in Ursula? Ariadne, Ione, and Ursula. Or Olympia? Ariadne, Ione, and Olympia? Estelle? Ariadne, Ione, and Estelle. I think what’s most important, however, is that you love each name individually, not just as a group. Your daughters, particularly for the first 18 years of their lives, are going to be the Hayes triplets. It would be nice for each girl to have a story for her own individual name as opposed to the story being that they fit a theme together. Let the theme be the cherry one top. :)
Sorry this is so long!
Aurelie or Aura, Ophelia, Imogen
Madrigal, Clementine + Holiday, Jubilee, and Aria
I know of a family who uses only vowel names, and they named their girls Austerra, Illianna, and Elida (not sure on any of these spellings).
Elodie
Idabel
Opal
From yours:
Ariadne Noelle
Elowen Margaret
Ottilie Paloma
Ariadne reminds me of Madrigal; Elowen of Clementine; and Ottilie feels like a good bridge.
First thing I thought of is Odette, second was Imogen, 3rd was Ursa.
To consider:
Adele, Aveline, Ariette, Amity, Althea
Eliza, Elodie, Eulalie, Evadne
Imogen, Imogene, Ianthe
Odette, Olympia, Olivette, Olivine
Ursa
Lots of beautiful names to choose from! When I saw the suggestion of Oona (which can also be spelt Oonagh), I also thought of Orla, which is delightful.
Best wishes