A Sister for Wallace: Finding Traditional, Surprising Names

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NAMING A SISTER FOR WALLACE

Jenna writes:

We named our son Wallace Matthew, and we love how it’s traditional and easy to spell, but still surprises every one who hears it. My one big worry was that people would try to call him Wally, but that hasn’t happened at all.

Now we’re expecting our second, and probably final, baby early in the new year. It’s a girl! I’m so excited to name a daughter, but I feel like names are much harder this time.

Our short list for Wallace also included Malcolm, Hector, Conrad, and Graham.

For a girl, so far we have:

• Edith “Edie”
• Constance, but probably not Connie
• Millicent, but I feel like this is a name I’m supposed to like more than I do like; I do really like Millie
• Winifred, same thing with Winnie as with Millie/Millicent
• Viola, but I get a very Southern, exaggerated pronunciation of this name sometimes (we live in a big Southern city now, but we’re both from other parts of the country, so maybe it’s a regional thing?)

One reason I’m hesitant about Millicent/Millie and Winifred/Winnie is that our last name sounds like the girl’s name Kristy (different spelling). So Winnie Kristy is a little sing-songy to me. I don’t mind it with Edie as much, because I’d want to call her Edith, too, but if I’m naming her just for the nickname, it feels like it shouldn’t end with the same “EE” sound as our last name.

Wallace’s middle name is for my husband. For our daughter, we’re leaning towards Katherine as her middle name, for my mom, but we could maybe use Kate if that works better.

Can you help us think of more names? I feel like the right choice is just hanging out there somewhere and I keep missing it!

Read on for my response and please leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THE NAME WALLACE?

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new daughter!

Here’s what leaps out at me: there are very specific qualities you appreciate in your son’s name. While there’s no rule that says your daughter’s name has to share them, I think it might be helpful to use them as a guide:

• Wallace is traditional and immediately familiar, but very uncommon for children born in this generation.
• While Wallace can be shortened, it really doesn’t have to be – and so far you’ve consistently used his name in full.
• Spelling and pronunciation are easy, at least for native English speakers.
• Wallace may be uncommon, but it fits in with current favorites for boys, like Miles and Brooks.

Looking at your girl’s list, you’re drawn to strong names, perhaps less on the frilly and feminine side.

CURRENT LIST

I would drop Millicent/Millie and Winifred/Winnie for the reason you’ve identified. You’re inclined to shorten them, and you’re prefer to avoid a name ending with the EE sound. That feels like a mismatch.

Viola, too, seems like it should be dropped. I do think a Viola-like name might work for your family beautifully, but this particular name seems challenging. (I didn’t really notice it at first, but I do hear multiple pronunciations for this one, depending on regional accent. So … yes, I think you’re right to know it could be an issue.)

That leaves Constance, which I love as a sister for Wallace, or Edith. While you might sometimes call Edith “Edie” for short, it’s more of a both-and situation, with the names used interchangeably. I think that works with your surname.

And I think Constance Katherine and Edith Katherine sound perfect together. Constance is far less common than Edith, but overall I think I like Edith Katherine Kristy better than Constance Katherine Kristy, so I’d give it the edge.

The only possible drawback is that Edith is slightly more common – hovering around the US Top 500. I think that’s still plenty rare.

But let’s see if we can find some alternatives that fit the same profile as Wallace and are at least as uncommon as Edith.

A SISTER FOR WALLACE: UNCOMMON AND TRADITIONAL

ADELE

Names like Adeline and Addison have had a good run. But despite the fame of singer Adele this spare, classic version has remained uncommon. Wallace and Adele sound great together. You might shorten it to Addie sometimes if you choose, but I think Adele without a nickname might be exactly your style.

DELPHINE

I considered plenty of names ending with -ine and -line, like Emmeline. And there are lots of options, like Marceline, in this category. I’m going to suggest Delphine, because there’s a feminine, even delicate, quality that might appeal. But it’s still spare and nickname-proof.

ESTELLE

Stella is a Top 100 favorite, but Estelle could be the spare, sophisticated alternative.

FLORA

Viola makes me think of Flora. Equally vintage but easier to pronounce.

MAUDE

If you love Winifred and Millicent, I wonder if Maude would appeal, too? I think Maude Kristy sounds so strong and memorable, and Maude Katherine is a great combination.

MIRANDA

A Shakespearean name with a great meaning: admirable. It rose in use during the 1980s and 90s, but never really hit a saturation point like Jessica. I think it works nicely today.

ROSALIND, ROSAMUND

Lovely Rose names, elegant and refined. Rosie could present the same problem as Winnie or Millie, but just Rose is another nickname option that works, as in Rosa.

TAMSIN

A contracted form of Thomasina, Tamsin has never really been used in the US, but it’s fared better in the UK. I’m not sure Wallace and Tamsin match perfectly, but I like that sort of vaguely-British energy.

Overall, I’m most drawn to Edith from your original list, and Maude from mine. I think they share the same qualities as Wallace without being too similar. They’re strong, vintage names. And they’re great with Katherine as a middle name, and your surname, too.

Readers, over to you – what would you name a sister for Wallace Matthew?