Name Help is a new series at Appellation Mountain. Every Saturday, one reader’s name questions will be discussed.
We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight!
N writes:
We are getting ready to welcome our fifth child (and fourth daughter) in November.
We are having an impossible time settling on a name for this little one. We have a common one-syllable surname that makes names with lots of L sounds challenging. We also can’t have a name that ends in the -ee sound.
Most of our top contenders are either rising fast in popularity (none of our older children had names ranked higher than the 200s when we named them) and most of our current potential names are in the low 100s and have risen sharply in recent years (ie. Annabelle).
N adds that they do have a shortlist – but they’re looking for new ideas, so they’d rather not share.
The family already includes four kids: Josephine (Josie), Genevieve (Neve), Rosemarie (Romy), and Augustin (Gus).
Read on for my suggestions – and please add your ideas in the comments!
This is such a common challenge for families with more than two or three children, isn’t it? When baby number one arrives, your style is ahead of the curve. But over time, the world catches up … and suddenly, all of your favorites are everyone’s favorites, and don’t feel quite right for you.
While I’m burning with curiosity to know your shortlist – because I’m sure the names are gorgeous – I think it is smart to start fresh here.
A few things that stand out about your style:
- You’ve chosen longer names, presumably to balance out that short last name.
- Each of your kids has a go-to nickname, but it isn’t necessarily the most obvious nickname.
- Three of your four names are French. Not as French as Mireille or Jean-Pierre, but enough that I noticed it immediately.
- None of your daughters’ names ends with ‘a’ – is that a coincidence, or a preference? Since you haven’t mentioned it, I’m going to assume that ‘a’ names aren’t off the table, but they’re not your go-to style, either.
The popularity question is a tricky one. Josephine and Genevieve have both risen considerably in recent years, but they’re still outside the Top 100.
Rosemarie and Augustin are much less common – but the very similar Rosemary and Augustine have both seen big increases in use in the last few years.
There are good reasons to use a popular name, of course, I’ll stick to suggestions that are less common.
What do you think of:
- Adelaide – This is the name that popped into my head as soon as I read your list. Except that Adelaide currently ranks #321, and is climbing. Go-to nickname Addie doesn’t quite feel like a fit, and you mentioned that your short last name starts with an L and has a strong ‘ee’ sound – all of which makes me think that Adelaide, nn Della, might not work.
- Anneliese – Another immediate thought, with the same hesitations about matching with the last name. Plus Annalise is rising fast in the US – and it is the name of a character in new Shonda Rhimes television show How to Get Away With Murder. So … maybe not.
- Vivienne – I feel like this name must have come up at some point when you were naming your older daughters – but is probably off the list now because, at #280 and climbing, Vivienne feels like the Next Big Thing.
- Francesca, Francoise – Francesca is so very Italian, and yet she’s a smidge more wearable that the French Françoise, which might cause confusion with her swahz sound. But Francesca is in the Top 500 and gaining, so Francoise seems like the better option – and yet, I’m not sure that Frannie is a sister for Josie, Neve, Romy, and Gus. Still, there’s no hint of an L or an ‘ee’ sound, so let’s leave her here.
- Theodora – Names starting with Th aren’t very fashion forward right now, and yet I think Theodora feels like a natural evolution of your style. With nicknames like Thea, Thora, Teddy, Theo, and Dora, there’s something to suit every style. And while Theodore would probably be too popular for you to consider for a son, Theodora remains rare.
- Marguerite – Now I think we’re getting somewhere! 68 girls received the name in 2013, and the numbers are pretty flat. So Marguerite feels very under-the-radar. Josephine, Genevieve, Rosemarie, Marguerite – they definitely sound like sisters. Plus, the nickname possibilities are great – Greta, Greer, Maggie, Daisy, Margo.
- Clothilde – I’m tempted to suggest Matilda, but Matilda is climbing fast. Clothilde is much rarer, but shares the possible short forms Tilly/Tillie and Tilda. You might also call her Cleo, I think – which has more of a daring feel.
- Clementine – Thinking about formal names for Cleo reminded me of Clementine, which I’ve seen suggested as a possibility. Clementine has gotten a lot of buzz in the naming community – just like your other kids’ names – and yet remains outside the US Top 100.
- Everild – An obscure saint’s name that is … well, really obscure. Evie and Vera are obvious short forms. Everild is much less common than any of your kids’ names – but I think that might appeal. One thing to consider: Everly is a fast riser, and lots of Ev- names are popular. That could help Everild fit in with current trends, but might make Evie feel overused.
- Philomene – While we’re way, way out there, would you ever consider Philomene? All forms of the name are rare in the US right now. Philomene is French, and suggests nicknames from Fia to Mena to Minnie to Pippa, and there’s probably room for more.
From this list, I think Marguerite is the best fit, and would be my top suggestion. A Marguerite would probably be mistaken for Margaret occasionally, but the name is familiar to most.
But I’m so curious to hear what others think, and I know there are more possibilities out there, so please leave your comments below.
N, please let us know what your family decides – and congratulations on baby #5!
N was kind enough to write in and let us know that their daughter is here – yay! – and they decided on Clementine Beatrice. Thanks so much to each and every AM reader for your fabulous, thoughtful comments and suggestions.
Love your kids’ names and those on your short list! From the earlier suggestions, I love Marguerite (Daisy), Clementine (Minnie) and Mirabelle (Mira).
Here are some other ideas:
Adele “Ada”
Antonia “Annie”
Annette “Annie”
Alexandria “Andie”
Bernadette “Birdie”
Brigitte “Bridie”
Catherina “Cat”
Helena “Nell”
Mirielle “Molly”
Seraphine “Sera”
Susanne “Susie”
Therese “Tess”
Good luck!!
DH just knocked Hettienne off our list, but it sounds like it should fit in with your naming style. I discovered it from an actress’ name on the show Hannibal – can’t find it anywhere else.
For some reason I’m stuck on the idea that baby number 5 should be Minnie, so in addition to Philomene…here are my suggestions for the formal name.
Amelie
Benjamine
Clemence
Cosmina
Emeline
Jessamine
Willemina (I prefer the Dutch spelling) 😉
I think Minnie would be adorable too, after I read the suggestion of Philomene. My favourite way to Minnie is Wilhelmina, although the spelling is challenging.
Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I really appreciate your willingness to make suggestions without knowledge of the short list. My husband and I have been stalking the comments both here and on Facebook, so thank you! We now have a few more names to consider.
Aside from concern over popularity, which probably wouldn’t be a total deal breaker if we truly love the name, we have been trying to decide if we want/need to continue the pattern of nine letter, three syllable names that the girls have. The pattern was inadvertent but it is there nonetheless. Also, we haven’t avoided names that end in -a, but we have realized that they seem a bit frillier to us when they do.
Here is the short (yet still really long) list:
Eleanore (Rory/Nora/Annie)- This is hands down my favorite for reasons I can’t understand. Usually I would not be a fan of fussy spellings, but this is the one that seems to “fit” best with the sibset. My husband is kind of lukewarm to it at the moment, but he loves Rory as a nickname. Surprisingly, I am not bothered by having a Romy and Rory since they are both nicknames.
Annabelle (Annie): This has been on our list since my second daughter was born. Anna would be a nod to a beloved Aunt and Belle has significance to my college years. My two biggest concerns are that our daughter’s full name would be the title of an Edgar Allen Poe poem where Annabelle dies and you have to very deliberately enunciate your syllables/sounds for the name not to blend together.
Mirabelle (Mira/Miri): This was a front runner for my third and fourth pregnancies but it doesn’t feel like “her” name.
Clementine (Emme/Minnie): I love Clementine. I think it is sweet and sassy which would fit this baby, but it feels a bit Southern to me. I love the Clem en TEEN pronunciation but worry it would be a headache for her. Minnie would be a nod to my grandmother which would be a nice bonus.
Anneliese (Annie): I have a huge attachment to this one. It is nine letters, three syllables, is a nod to my beloved aunt, and Elise was a favorite name of my mother who passed away in August. It is, however, hard to say with our last name. Lots of repetition.
Florence (Rory/Flory/Flo/Ren): There is a family friend whom I adore with this name
Beatrice (Bea (Bay uh) or just Bay/Reece): This was my husband’s initial favorite. I have some concerns about the multiple pronunciations. We prefer Bee uh triss to the two syllable Bee Triss
Glorianne: Gloria is a family name that I love, but seems incomplete. Glorianne might be too fussy.
Francesca (Chessa): This has been on lists for a long time. Early in this pregnancy I had a dream where I was with a little girl named Chessa and so it keeps lingering.
Nicolette: This is my husband’s current favorite, but I cannot get on board. It is too close to my name, Nicole, and it feels infantile to me. I do, however, love my husband’s excitement about the name.
Lorelei (Rory): My grandmother had a dream about the baby and this was her name. It is tough to say since it is very L heavy with our surname.
Corinne (Rory/Rinna): With the rin pronunciation. This could be mispronounced frequently.
Anne Amina (Annie/Mimi): double first name, both with significance to us.
Anna Pearl: Two of my favorites but my husband is not on board with Pearl.
Valentine/Valentina: This one continues to linger on our lists too.
Ha, when I read that suggestion with the nn Frannie, I thought, oh no. In that family – Chessa. It seems to fit in so well. Gets my vote, although I love Marguerite too.
The Poe connection would be a deal breaker for me. His poems are so terribly bleak.
Good luck!
Oh, don’t use Annabelle! Not with your surname. I remember that being one of the first poems assigned in middle school. Most people know it.
If your husband has never really gotten to pick one of the children’s names, I’d be inclined to go with his choice at this point (Nicolette) unless you completely loathe it. (Nicolette reminds of nicoret gum, so it would be out for me.)
What about…
Susanne or Susanna
Emmeline
Evangeline
Leontine (nickname Leonie)
Bernadette
Isadora
I also love Abby’s suggestion of Marguerite.
I nominate Edith with the nickname Edie, or Susannah. I think these might be particularly good options if you’d rather not add to the French associations of the first four names, but still want something that fits in.
Simone
Laetitia
Esther
Therese
Odette
Louise
Violette
Carmen
Mercedes
Henriette
Ramona
Ursula
I have a baby Marguerite, and it’s been very well received. Everyone seems to love it! I also suggest Carolina (pronounced lee-na) if you don’t want anther French name. Lina makes a sweet nickname!
I third the suggestion of Marguerite – it’s one of my favorite French names and I think it’d be a good fit with her sibs.
My first thought when seeing her children’s names was Marguerite. It does just seem to fit. Also, each of their daughters’ names have a long e as the finishing vowel. Of course, I am assuming that they’re using the English pronunciation of Genevieve. I will also offer up Evangeline.
Amaryllis (Amy)
Benedetta (Etta)
Camille (Milly)
Cassandra (Cassie)
Cosima
Diantha (Dia, Thea)
Fabiola
Henrietta (Etta, Hattie)
Lavinia (Liv, Nia)
Melantha
Millicent (Millie)
Minerva (Minnie)
Octavia (Tavi)
Odette
Philippa (Pippa)
Rhiannon (Ann, Ria)
Seraphin (Sera, Phina)
Shoshanna (Anna)
Viviana
Wilhelmina (Mina)
Zora