Carrie writes:<\/p>\n
Help! We are due with our second child, a girl on September 16th, (um, next week). Our 3 year old is named Allegra Grace, last name Watson. Allegra is my grandmothers middle name, and Grace came to me in a dream early on when my husband and I were dating. Early on with this pregnancy I felt strongly that this one have a name that was, well, strong, possibly with a refrence or connection to the sea, and not overly crazy feminine. I really want a name that isn’t popular, but that people can pronounce, if given a moment:) Names we love, Esmee, Josephine, but I’m worried about them being too popular right now… I love Elspeth, it may be my top choice, but my husband has a hard time with how it rolls off the tounge. My husband would like a Mae to be involved (as this is his grandmothers middle name), but I’m worried about it sounding, well, too southern, or hokey? Names my husband really likes, Viola, Maebel (but that I can’t stand)<\/p>\n
Other names we like Lorelai, Clover, Willow, (but it’s popular in our area) we both like botanicalish names. But really we seem to be stumped…any help would be appreciated!<\/p>\n
Thank you!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I have one word for you: Marin. MARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIN. Strong! Not overly super-femininista! Connection to the sea! Perhaps Marin Josephine? Marin Mae is pretty cute, too.<\/p>\n
There’s also Marina or Marinda or Maris or Marney, if you prefer.<\/p>\n
Morgan and Meriel mean “bright sea.” Nila means “river.” Ria and Rilla both mean a small stream. I’ll bet Marilla, then is a combination of “sea” and “small stream.” Marilla Mae is adorable. Sarita means “river.”<\/p>\n
Nerissa and Nereida mean “sea nymph.”<\/p>\n
There’s Brooke, of course, and Raine, and River. The names Kindra and Kenda mean “water baby.” Lynn means “waterfall.” Sailor. Keeler.<\/p>\n
(Meanings from Baby Names Made Easy<\/a> and 100,000+ Baby Names<\/a>.)<\/p>\n
For non-sea names that use Mae, Maelle is pretty—although I just now realized that when said aloud it can sound like “male.” Maelin might be better, although the Mae\/L combination is still iffy.<\/p>\n