Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. 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! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.
WHAT GOES WITH AVERY & JAMES?
Alyssa writes:
We’re expecting our third child, a girl, in February. Big sister is Avery Grace and big brother is James Aaron. (Grace, James, and Aaron are all honor names.)
I always keep a short list of names and girls tend to be harder for me. If this baby was a boy, he would most likely be Brooks William, William for my husbands grandfather. I’m having a much more difficult time with girl names.
Names that have risen to the top:
BLAIR – I’ve always had Blair on my middle name list, but more recently, it’s grown into a favorite first name option. I’m not sure how it pairs with our one syllable last name though. I am more of a fan than my husband. I think it ties Avery and James together nicely. It would give me pause to use Brooks in the future should we have a boy for our 4th.
GEORGIA – love this name so much more recently and feels like it really ties Avery and James together.
REESE – It pairs well, but feels more like checking a box at this point. I don’t love the brevity of the name with our short last name. I also am not committed to staying on the “gender neutral names for girls” path. I think I want to find something that pairs well with Avery, but isn’t so surnamey/gender neutral.
Her middle name will more than likely have some sort of family reference based on what we choose for first name.
Our last name sounds Click with an F.
I am curious what your thoughts are on my current list? Also, if there are any fresh suggestions that pair nicely with Avery and James, that aren’t necessarily boy names for girls?
Thank you for reading and any assistance you can provide.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
CURRENT AVERY, CLASSIC JAMES, AND THEIR NEW SISTER …
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your third child!
I feel like there are a few bigger pictures questions, so let’s tackle those first.
Can you have a one-syllable first name with a short last name? Absolutely. Brad Pitt, Mae West, and Frank Lloyd Wright all want us to know that it can be quite memorable, in fact. I think that puts both Reese and Blair firmly on the list of possibilities.
I think the Boy-Names-On-Girls question feels more pressing. Avery can have a sister named Georgia. And Avery can have a sister named Blair. But Avery and Blair together? I’d be surprised if their sister was Georgia. So using Blair or Reese now does potentially close off choices in the future.
Would naming a daughter Blair mean a future son couldn’t be Brooks? No, of course not. But if you feel that Brooks is your top name for a future son, and you’d prefer not to repeat an initial? Then that’s a(nother) good reason to skip Blair.
All of this means that the name to beat is Georgia.
I agree with you completely – it sounds like a sister name for Avery and James. It’s just plain fun to say “Avery, James, and Georgia.”
So let’s look for more names with the same qualities as Georgia – a classic pedigree with a very updated image and the same kind of energy as Avery’s name. We’re also almost certainly looking for something two syllables or longer.
BRIDGING CLASSIC AND CURRENT NAMES
COLETTE
Colette’s rising popular owes something to names like Top 100 Scarlett. But it’s more traditional, originally a feminine form of Nicholas (via French feminine form Nicolette, hold the NI.) That makes it a name very much like Georgia, but with a more tailored style.
DAPHNE
There’s something fanciful about this name from Greek mythology. I like it so much with Avery.
HATTIE
Hattie comes from Harriet, a feminine form of Henry via Harry. But Hattie is far more popular than Harriet these days, an upbeat, casual classic in the key of Sadie.
JOSIE
Another one in the same class as Hattie: Josie. But is a second J name too much?
JUNIPER
If you’re willing to consider J names, Juniper has potential. It can feel like an elaboration of summery, gentle June – but Juniper is an evergreen tree, possibly more of a wintry pick for a December daughter. It’s rising in popularity in recent years, but forms like Ginevra and Junipero have more history than one might expect.
NATALIE
Maybe it’s because you mentioned a December due date, or maybe it’s because Natalie has that traditional-roots/popular-now vibe that Georgia shares, but it immediately came to mind as a sister for Avery.
SABRINA
This poetic invention rose in use during the 1980s, but never quite caught on. Today singer Sabrina Carpenter makes it familiar to a new generation. Like Georgia, it’s feminine with a distinctive sound.
VIVIAN
Like Colette, Vivian is a familiar name for a daughter, but that consonant-ending makes it a little less frilly. I like the way Avery and Vivian share a V sound, just like James and Avery share an A.
Overall, I don’t think I’ve beat Georgia. And I wonder if you’d consider naming your daughter Georgia Blair? No, there’s not a family connection … but it is two of your most favorite names combined, and that’s powerful, too. Avery Grace, James Aaron, and Georgia Blair.
If not Georgia, I really like Hattie. Maybe it’s because I can imagine a future sibset of Avery, James, Hattie, and Brooks so easily.
I love Avery, James, Hadley and Brooks
If you look at Avery and James as surname, buttoned up names, they completely go together, so I’m suggesting others in this vein:
Cassidy
Delaney
Ellis
Elliette (I know, I know, non-traditional spelling but I really LOVE this one)
Hadley
Harlow
Marlowe
Merritt
Piper
Scarlett
Sydney
(there are so many more if you look up surnames.. those above are just my very fave for your sibset, especially if there’s a Brooks at some point)
I’ve avoided one-syllable suggestions as I totally get how they sometimes are awkward (though not always) – my kids have a one-syllable surname and we avoided those too.
This is totally beyond, but I notice James’ middle name is the same initial as Avery. A cute tie-in could be to continue this and give baby #3 a J – middle. Of course, family names are best IMO, but if you’re looking for ideas, here are my favourite combos:
Piper Julia
Ellis Jayne
Harlow Jane
Scarlett Juno
Elliette Joy
Good luck! I don’t think you can go wrong no matter what you choose – your taste, your family, it all goes together if you say so. Good luck!
I think the name you’re looking for is probably a name that’s brief and tailored, not frilly, like Avery, Blair, and Reese, but not a surname and maybe a little more classic, like Georgia and James.
My first thought was Claire. It’s very similar in sound to Blair, but fits with Georgia in style. I really like Avery, Claire, and James together, and Claire (F)lick is cute! It also leaves the door open to a potential sibling named Georgia or Brooks.
Another thought with a similar sound is Maren. It would probably eliminate a sibling named Blair, but it feels feminine without being frilly or flowery. Avery, Maren, and James is great. Avery, Maren, James, and Brooks feels super cohesive, and Maren (F)lick flows nicely.
Georgia reminded me of Tess and Tessa. Tessa is more like Georgia, while Tess is more like Reese and Blair. I think I prefer Tess–it feels a little sharper and cleaner, and I love it with James and Avery. But Tessa is great too. And both work well with your surname- Tess (F)lick is bright and memorable, and Tessa (F)lick is neat and pretty.
Other options in the key of Georgia are Gemma and Stella. Both bridge Avery and James together really well! I also like Lyla or Lila, as well as Lola. The “o” sound in Lola adds so much personality. Lola (F)lick sounds like a cartoon character in the best way.
Kind of a wildcard suggestion, but since William is only your boys name list, what about Willow? the -o ending feels less girly than Willa or Wilhemina, but the sound kind of reminds me of Georgia. Avery, Willow, and James works well, so does Willow (F)lick.
Overall, I really love Tess, but it’s tough to beat Georgia! Best of luck and sorry for any repeats!
Jules/Jewel
Etta
Aster
Sunny
Lenore
Ivana
Congrats!
When I saw Blaire, I thought of Clare (I like this spelling with Avery and James a lot).
When I saw Hattie, I thought of Halle (I like this spelling with Avery & James a lot).
Or…
Avery, James, and Maren or Margo
Avery, James, and Brooks are all surnames but in a very subtle/not try hard way. So are Grace and Aaron. I like that and might suggest… Marlo or Laurel but there are so many!
If you do use Blair (which I love with Avery and James), some great boy suggestions… Dylan (love with Avery & James), Reid/Reed, Ellis, Elliot, Ross, Rowan, Connor, Cameron, Martin, Lewis/Louis, Graham.
PS I know siblings named Audrey, Brooks, Hudson, and James.
Congrats on baby #3! I think something tailored yet femme might be worth considering. I especially like Abby’s suggestions of Natalie and Josie. Her suggestion of Hattie also made me think of Hallie. Also, if you want something more clearly gendered than Blair, would you like classic Claire? Or does two syllable Briar appeal?
Avery, James, and Briar
Avery, James, and Claire
Avery, James, and Hallie
Avery, James, and Tessa
Avery, James, and Maren
Avery, James, and Freya
Avery, James, and Stella
Avery, James, and Mara
Avery, James, and Zoe
I especially like Tessa with Avery and James. Good luck!
Yes for Briar! I would suggest naming her Briar, as it is not like Blair, which sounds too close to Brooks for a future son. What about Briar Georgette?
What about:
Greta
Gemma
Calla
Willa
Eloise
Imogen
Orla
Sasha
Best wishes!!