• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Request a Name

Appellation Mountain

Where every name has a story

  • Baby Name Advice & More
  • Master List: Girl Names
  • Master List: Boy Names
  • Private Baby Name Consulting

Baby Name Help: Oh-So-Stuck!

November 15, 2014 By appellationmountain 27 Comments

Name HelpName 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!

T and her husband are expecting a daughter in January.  She writes:

I skew more unique and my husband more traditional. I like both spunky/feisty names and more romantic/melodic names.

We don’t want anything with too much of a religious connotation, nor do we want a place name (I have one).

We are oh-so-stuck. Help!

Read on for my answer – and please leave your suggestions in the comments!

Hi T –

I can see why you’re struggling.  If every name you love is too daring for him, and every name he loves is too dull for you, well … that’s a recipe for getting stuck!

Especially in an age when wild, unconventional names feel more and more commonplace, it can make even relatively unusual names feel a little on the safe side.

So, where can we start?  Based on your original note and the emails we’ve exchanged since, the ideal name will:

  • Hit the sweet spot – not too traditional, not too unusual
  • Possibly have a meaning or story behind it, though that’s a bonus, not a must
  • Be wearable as is – if a nickname comes, fine, but it shouldn’t be a name that automatically shortens
  • Feel at least a little bit feminine, since the baby’s middle name will be T’s surname – two syllables, ends-in-n, sounds like it could be a boy’s name

It will not be:

  • A place name
  • Obviously religious
  • Currently in the US Top 500 – note: this isn’t a rule from T, but based on names they’ve rejected for popularity, this seems like a safe bet

Happily, this actually does narrow things down.  Your daughter won’t be Brooklyn, Emily, or Esther.

But this still leaves an awful lot of possibilities!

The list of names T appreciates ranges from Fiorella to Odette, but her husband doesn’t love any of her choices.  Meanwhile, he’s suggested the popular Violet – which doesn’t square with T’s preference for an unusual name.  One name that hasn’t been nixed is Saskia, but that’s not much of a shortlist.

And now, some names.  I looked at choices currently in the US Top 1000 for girls, but not above 500:

  • Colette – There are a handful of ends in-et/-ette names on your lists.  For Writer Coletteyears, Colette has had that unexpected classic vibe.  The only hang-up?  Colette currently ranks #608 and has been gaining.  Colette is still no Scarlett, but she’s not Saskia, either.  Impeccably literary, thanks to the writer.
  • Simone – Colette made me think of Simone.  Also an off-the-radar classic, but unlike rising Colette, Simone has fallen in use.  And yet, she’s quite cool, thanks in part to Nina Simone.
  • Severine – So I’m on a French kick here, and for what it is worth, Severine seems like one of those serious, interesting names that would work for a family – French or not – assuming they wouldn’t automatically call her Sevvy.
  • Amoret – And yet, I’m stuck on -et names, too.  In Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene, Amoret is Belphoebe’s sister, the personification of married love.  It comes from the Latin amor – love.  Literary, meaningful, very rare.
  • Cosima – Saskia makes me think of Cosima.  Downside?  Possible pronunciation issues.  I’m saying it coh SEH mah, but can easily imagine others saying CO see mah or … something else.  If you can overlook that, though, what a cool name.  It shares roots with cosmos – originally meaning order, but eventually referring to the universe, the whole of the world.
  • Garnet – If longing for meaning is an issue, I wonder if there’s something related to your daughter’s birth that might appeal?  A few years ago, I might have suggested Winter – but that’s a stylish name on the upswing.  Garnet is the birth stone for January – and if girls can be called Ruby and Pearl, surely Garnet is wearable.
  • January – Which also makes me think of January as a name – yes, there’s January Jones, who was named after a character in a Jacqueline Susann novel.  And yet, January is rich with symbolism.  It’s the new year, the beginning of all sorts of things.  And it seems like an unusual, but very wearable name for a daughter.
  • Zora – All this talk of newness makes me think of Zora, a name that means dawn in Serbo-Croatian.  My first thought is Zora Neale Hurston, a literary connection that makes this unusual name familiar to many.

Or is the challenge harder still?  When we were debating names for our daughter, my husband and I were miles apart.  We’d decided on a family name for the birth certificate, but what to call her?  He rejected everything.  Until I suggested Clio and he said, “That could work.”

Often it seems like adding too many new suggestions confuses things – but in this case, I think a few more brilliant ideas could help T and her husband find The Name!

Readers, let’s see if we can come up with great, unusual names for T – it feels like a bigger list might help us find the one that works for this family!

More names you might like:

  • Place Names for Babies: Cairo, Coventry, AuburnPlace Names for Babies: Cairo, Coventry, Auburn
  • Mardi Gras Baby Names: Rex, Nola, GiacomoMardi Gras Baby Names: Rex, Nola, Giacomo
  • In Defense of Apple and Zio: Why Unusual Names Aren’t a ProblemIn Defense of Apple and Zio: Why Unusual Names Aren’t a Problem
  • Apple Baby Names: Lilibet, Milo, and YatesApple Baby Names: Lilibet, Milo, and Yates
  • Rarest Girl Names: Arbor, Silvana, TealRarest Girl Names: Arbor, Silvana, Teal

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print

Comments

  1. CrysDawn (pronounced Chris-Don) says

    December 17, 2016 at 5:03 AM

    Why not chose a choose a unusual name with a traditional nickname or vice versa so the name is a combination of both unusual and traditional. my fav’s that I think you may like is Eirené pronounced air -n- A and it means peace you could call her Eren or René another fav of mine is Cassia Caroline and you could call her Cassi, Cara, or CC (Kc if you spell Karaline), last Suggestion would be Savannah Scarlett you call her Savy, Vannah, or Carlee

    Reply
  2. myriam says

    November 16, 2014 at 7:18 PM

    I love Saskia. Saskia Odette would be gorgeous.

    I also love Linnea…. reminiscent of the more commonplace Renee, but with flair.

    I also agree that looking for more unusual names based on Violet would be nice: Iolanthe, Xanthe, Scarlett …

    Reply
  3. Renee says

    November 16, 2014 at 3:06 PM

    my husband loves traditional names and i love unusual names too! so for our first daughter, we named her “Susan” but we call her “Zuzu” for a nickname (from its a wonderful life). it fits her perfectly, and no one forgets a Zuzu!

    Reply
    • appellationmountain says

      November 16, 2014 at 4:22 PM

      Oh, I LOVE Zuzu for Susan – what a great idea, Renee!

      Reply
  4. Holly says

    November 16, 2014 at 1:40 PM

    Oooo, I agree with BK. Calla is lovely. I think I would use Calista and call her Calla. Plus, Calista means “most beautiful”. Bonus!
    Also, Cordelia is nice. Cute nn to go with that one.
    I know this is a mashup and yet another “ett” name, but I love Viviette. (with the emphisis on the ette.) You can still go with Vi or Viv with that name but it’s not as popular as Violet or Vivienne.

    Reply
  5. BK says

    November 16, 2014 at 9:20 AM

    I like Saskia and Garnet a lot, but I LOVE Linnea. If I had sole naming rights, this is what I would have named my daughter. Another lovely and uncommon floral name is Calla.

    Reply
  6. Katerina says

    November 16, 2014 at 3:26 AM

    Saskia is lovely.

    I worked with a young girl the other day named Ellora. It is unique enough not to be common, but would fit in with the more traditional names.

    Laurel for that matter is less common than Laura but does read as too out there either.

    Others are:
    Tabitha
    Alithea
    Astrid
    Blyth

    Reply
    • Katerina says

      November 16, 2014 at 3:27 AM

      *Does not read as too out there. The

      Reply
  7. Andrea Y says

    November 16, 2014 at 3:17 AM

    I’m loving the long “o” sound right now so maybe Odette (love) or Odessa (very feminine). Linnea is a great suggestion. Devaney is also very pretty and feminine. I loved the suggestion of Hyacinth. Magnolia is rare, but doesn’t sound crazy. Plus, it is lovely. If you like older sounding names than Vera or Ione might be pretty.

    Reply
  8. Julie says

    November 15, 2014 at 11:21 PM

    I love Saskia and Garnet is another great choice. Both are very cute.
    Surprised that no on else has mentioned Ianthe, a Greek name meaning “violet.” But maybe it’s not traditional enough for dad… so maybe?

    Harriet
    Sibyl
    Linnet
    Vita/Vida
    Freya/Freja
    Claudia
    Kajsa/Kaisa

    Reply
  9. Ette says

    November 15, 2014 at 11:14 PM

    Love Saskia!

    Isadora
    Marcelle
    Annika
    Linnet
    Jessamy, Jessamyn, or Jessamine
    Zelda
    Viva

    Reply
  10. T says

    November 15, 2014 at 8:52 PM

    Thanks for all the suggestions!!! I have to study all these suggestions as there are some gems in here to consider. I will report back!

    Reply
  11. Holly says

    November 15, 2014 at 8:38 PM

    Beautiful name suggestions! I adore January. We very nearly named our youngest daughter that but went with Waverly- a name that has sentimental value for our family. Another name we seriously considered was Holiday. Our little one was born January 2nd so it would’ve been perfect. 🙂 Amoret and Cossete are some of my favorites too. I’m in love with “et” names. So pretty and a little spunky. Good luck finding the perfect name for your little angel.

    Reply
  12. The Mrs. says

    November 15, 2014 at 7:43 PM

    Geneva
    Ada
    Mirielle
    Golden
    Avalane
    Vera
    Delphine
    Cosima
    Lorelei
    Eileen
    Jubilee
    Ivy
    Iris
    Este
    Blanche
    Blythe

    Best wishes!

    Reply
  13. Stefanie says

    November 15, 2014 at 6:37 PM

    I think Garnet was a great suggestion. I would like to suggest Jacinda…
    Not super common, feminine, doesn’t need a nickname. I really like it. But Garnet is my favorite!

    Reply
  14. waltzingmorethanmatilda says

    November 15, 2014 at 6:06 PM

    What about Lavender? It’s a purple flower like Violet, but is very uncommon. I think it’s very romantic as well. Or maybe Lavinia?

    I just saw a little girl named Yolanda, which is often understood as a form of Violet.

    What about Lucinda? It means “light”, because the light is returning after the winter solstice. It’s romantic and not common in the US.

    Clementine? They’re in season during winter, and this is another romantic name not common in the US.

    Lumi – it means snow. I think it’s sweet.

    I love Garnet by the way, and I agree – just keep hitting him with names until something works.

    Reply
    • Kerry says

      November 15, 2014 at 6:49 PM

      I really like Lavender.

      Reply
      • C in DC says

        November 17, 2014 at 11:50 AM

        Oh, Lavinia, with the possible nn Liv or Lin. I’m also on a one-person crusade to get someone to use Flavia. Phillippa, Josepha, Seraphina, Soraya/Sariah, Nina, Viveca/Viveka, Iola, Viola, Vera, Veronica, Antonia, Isla, Calliope.

        Reply
        • Nina says

          November 25, 2014 at 5:21 PM

          My name is Nina and my daughter is Calliope! 🙂

          Reply
  15. Havoye says

    November 15, 2014 at 6:04 PM

    Well, Saskia was on our short list so maybe they’ll like some of the other names we considered: Flora, Gemma, Rosalie, Raphaelle, Xenia, Margot, Marguerite, Sylvie, Auriane, Coralie…and I will also suggest Meredith, Bianca, Maeve and Tamsin.

    Reply
  16. Amy says

    November 15, 2014 at 3:50 PM

    I also like the Linnea and Amoret suggestions.

    Others:
    Mira
    Marina
    Viviette
    Jovienne Vienne or Vianne
    Enid
    Carina
    Avril
    Aviva
    Avalon
    Amaris
    Azelie
    Esme
    Evolet
    Petra
    Perenna
    Verity or Vera
    Carys or Cerys
    Nuria
    Senara
    Coretta

    Reply
    • Amy says

      November 15, 2014 at 3:53 PM

      Oops…Avalon is a place name. And one more addition: Fleurette?

      Reply
  17. Hettie says

    November 15, 2014 at 1:47 PM

    I said above that I agree with the suggestion of Linnea, but I’ll also toss in Viola. It’s so close to the favourite, but not nearly as popular. It sounds romantic to me (perhaps because if the Shakespearean connection). Zora and Fiorella make me think of the more tailored Fiora.

    Reply
  18. Kerry says

    November 15, 2014 at 11:16 AM

    My suggestion is Hyacinth. Violet makes me think your husband might go for something that’s a familiar flower name, but an unusual person name. That, and I read somewhere that Laura Ingalls Wilder had an Uncle Hi(ram), and so now I want more people to use names that Hi could be short for.

    I’ll also throw out Idony or Idonna…for no other reason than that the one person I met with this name wore it really well, and wanted everyone to name their babies after her.

    Reply
  19. Ashley says

    November 15, 2014 at 10:21 AM

    These are all lovely, maybe one will hit the right note? Good luck!

    Mabel; Sylvia; Mira; India; Lyra; Delphine; Cressida; Amandine; Rosemary; Rosemarie; Rosamund; Elowen; Persephone; Ione; Linnea; Odille; Felicity; Maura; Suvi; Marguerite; Briony; Amelie; Florence; Genevra; Orla; Lilja; Vera

    Reply
    • Hettie says

      November 15, 2014 at 1:42 PM

      Linnea was my thinking too. It’s the name of a flower, but nowhere near as popular as Violet. I also like that it sounds on-trend without being trendy. It seems perfect!

      Reply
  20. Sara says

    November 15, 2014 at 9:08 AM

    Something melodic and romantic, not religious, and traditional? How about Adeline or Adelina.

    Or, take up the Violet suggestion — Iolanthe, or Jolanda, or other variants of the name.

    If January is too ‘modern/trendy’ for your husband, how about an old medieval name similar in sound: Gennora (has the advantage of nicknaming to Genny very easily.)

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


POPULAR POSTS

Tweets by @appmtn
Visit Appellation Mountain's profile on Pinterest.

Copyright © 2023 · AppellationMountain.net on Genesis Framework · Privacy Policy · Log in

We use cookies to ensure you the best experience on our website. If you continue using this site, we will assume that you're happy with it. Learn moreOk