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.
CAN WE PUT THESE NAMES TOGETHER?
Melanie writes:
We named our son Jeremy Miles and call him Remy. Jeremy is sort of for my grandfather, Gerald, but we really liked the sound of Remy and I thought it was important for him to have a more serious name to grow into.
If this baby was a boy, we were considering Castellon, a family name from my husband’s side, and calling him Case. It was almost Jeremy’s middle name, but I thought it might be too weird. Now I regret not using it.
But we’re having a girl, and we’re getting some pressure to use Ann/Anne/Anna in her name. Every woman on my husband’s side of the family has some sort of an Anne name (mom Anita, cousin Annette, sister Julianne “Julie” and her daughter Annabelle and so many more.)
I don’t mind it, and I did choose our son’s name, but I’m having trouble making it work with my favorite name: Claire.
Do we put the names together? I don’t want her name to become Claireanne/Clairanne. It sounds like Karen, or some kind of medication. Something like Claranna or Clairanna doesn’t seem right, either.
We discussed Anne Claire or Anna Claire, but I feel like that’s not enough name, and then we’d end up calling her Anne/Anna/Annie, and my favorite name would just be in the middle, which feels like a loss. With so many Anns already, it doesn’t feel fair that she wouldn’t have her own name.
We’d love to hear any ideas you and your readers might have!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
LET’S DECIDE WHAT MATTERS MOST
Abby replies:
Congratulations!
These are the toughest situations. It sounds like everyone can get exactly what they want and we’ll all be happy. But, but, but … I think you’re correctly noticing that there’s a potential outcome that puts your preferences at the bottom of the priority list.
So let’s order our priorities:
- Your daughter’s name has to be Claire, in way that prioritizes that name, not just tucks it into a middle spot.
- A secondary consideration is incorporating Anne. It sounds like using Anne as a middle or even an unused part of a formal name – like Julianne – is on the table, right?
HONORING BOTH FAMILIES WITH CLAIRE AND ANNA
ANNACLAIRE
My first thought? Annaclaire, like Annabelle. Assuming, of course, that Annabelle’s name isn’t a barrier to choosing Annaclaire. Another potential pitfall: she might still end up being called Annie. But I think it’s a name that’s equal parts elegant and fun.
CLAIRE CASTELLON
This might be too much of a curve ball, but would using another family name from your husband’s side work? Castellon is a great middle for a daughter or a son, and you already mentioned that you wished you’d used it previously.
CLAIRE CASTELLANNE
This might be a stretch, but what if you respelled Castellon to incorporate Ann/Anne/Anna? It’s out-there, but in the middle spot, that might be perfect.
CLARIANNA, CLARIANNE
Adding a syllable turns Claranna into Clarianna, like Julianna. It’s a bit of a complicated, maybe even frilly name, but it shortens to Clair/Claire/Clairy, not Annie – so that’s a plus.
CLAIRE PLUS A LONGER ANNA NAME/DOUBLE ANNE NAME
Claire Annika, Claire Anne Avery, Claire Eliana, Claire Anne Eliza, Claire Marianne, Claire Anna Jolie, and on and on and on … do any of these appeal? I feel like it’s a way to stick with the family naming convention but put your preferences at the top of the list.
Normally I have a pretty clear frontrunner by the end of these questions, but this time I’m divided. Annaclaire is a great option, but I feel like it prioritizes the family name over your frontrunner.
It’s a bit on the wild side, but I’m really drawn to Claire Castellon or even Claire Castellanne. It preserves the family custom, but puts the emphasis on the name you most want to use every day, plus potentially revives a family name from your husband’s side that you wish you’d used previously.
Claire Annalise
Claire Julianna
Claire Susanna
Claire Joanna
Claire Lilianna
Claire Diana
Claire Nancy
Claire Annamaria
A few more ideas:
Claire Arianne/Arianna/Arielle nn Clary
Claire Roxanna or Claire Rosanne nn Claro or Caro
Claire Annemarie
Congratulations on baby girl coming – sister for Remy :)!
Okay, what I am hearing from your description is that her name really is Claire, and you are also trying to add in the Anna part as a family nod. My question is: do YOU really want to add the Ann/Anna part or is that pressure from your family members only? Is there another middle name you would want to use and it be a regret if you didn’t use it instead of picking an “anna” name that you like less? Or is the Anna part also important to you? If the first one is the case, then go with the name that you and your husband are most in love with – no questions!!
If you also want to incorporate the Anna part (which is great!) then here are a few suggestions :). I’m going with Claire as her first here and suggesting middles as ones with Ann in them.
Jeremy Miles & Claire Frances
Jeremy Miles & Claire Hannah
Jeremy Miles & Claire Savannah
Jeremy Miles & Claire Eleanor
Jeremy Miles & Claire Annabeth
Jeremy Miles & Claire Eliana
Jeremy Miles & Claire Rian/Ryann
Jeremy Miles & Claire Vivian/Viviana
Jeremy Miles & Claire Lillian
Jeremy Miles & Claire Anasthesia
Jeremy Miles & Claire Anora
Jeremy Miles & Claire Delaney
Jeremy Miles & Claire Reagan/Rowan
Another option, Anna means “grace” or “favour”. You could also use Grace as a middle in honour of Anna?
Jeremy Miles & Claire Grace
Good luck naming and enjoy your pregnancy and new baby girl soon :)!
Congrats on your baby girl! I’m gonna cast in a vote for bypassing using an Anne/Anna name and instead choose something you just plain love. Family names/traditions can be fun to use but not so much if you feel obligated or pressured to use them. There is nothing wrong with this baby having her own name. Plus, if she has your husband’s surname then his family is already being honored. Just my two cents!
If you really do want to use a version of Anna/Anne though then how about:
Claire Ryanne
Claire Annelise
Claire Diane/Dianna
Claire Eliana
Claire Susanne
First, I want to say (without diminishing your challenge which is 100% valid) that it’s refreshing to hear about a maternal naming tradition. And that it’s flexible aka not passing down Anne and then going by nicknames. Of all the possible names to incorporate, Ann is pretty dynamic!
If I were you, I think about it this way:
1) Will you be hoping for more kids to join your family? If yes, is there an Ann name you could see yourself using on a future daughter? I’d solidify that choice and then go about naming a sister for Jeremy ‘Remy’ and X.
2) I’d choose either a double first name or first/middle combo that is so elaborate that going by Claire is an easy choice for most. Evangelina Claire, Anastasia Claire, Andromeda Claire, Avianna Claire, Lilliana Claire, Giovanna Claire, Alexandria Claire…
3) Does your side of the family have any origins that you could layer in to give Anne a twist? Like Áine (Gaelic), Ane (Danish), Ania (Russian), Anais (French) etc? That feels like a lovely nod to both your side and his side naming tradition.. and of course she’d still go by ‘Claire’ daily as it’ll be in the middle…
4) Saved my favourite for last…!! Has anyone mentioned yet that YOU have An/Anie in YOUR name?! (that’s pretty neat regardless but..) Would you consider naming her Melanie Claire, of course calling her Claire cause there’s already you! Ooh I do love this one for you as it solves both your challenges and honours you, which is pretty awesome. What do you think???
PS. You don’t say whether the Ann needs to appear up front but I’m guessing it does given the examples you gave us and your stress over smooshes.
PPS. Save Castellon for a future brother. You have enough on your plate incorporating Ann and using your own favourite. Plus it’s from his side and with an Ann name plus his surname (assuming here) he’s well covered.
It sounds like the Castellon name might still be in play for a potential future son. If the LW hasn’t firmly decided that this is her last child, I think it makes some sense to keep it in reserve for a son or for a third daughter.
But I think that Annaclaire and similar names have an additional strike against them. Not only does it deprioritize the LW’s favorite name, it sounds like she has some additional reservations about giving her daughter a name shared by so many other women and wants her child to have a little more space to carve out her own identity.
I think an Anna name in the middle makes the most sense here. Claire Susanna has a nice ring to it. Claire Adrianna? Claire Joanna?
I like Claire Ann with Jeremy Miles.
But I also love Claire Castellon or Claire with a version with Ann that speaks to you… Claire Hannah (Ann comes from the name Hannah meaning grace), Claire Annmarie, Claire Annalise, Claire Annabelle, Claire Marianne (cute with Miles), Claire Vivianne or Claire Anastasia (different roots but still contains Ann/Ana).
My choice would be Claire Annelie (Anneli)
Claire as the first nane, some sort of Anne name as the middle: Annalise, Annabelle, Annemarie, Annika, Annette, etc.
Would you consider Claire-Annie? Nickname could be Clairy. This one is a little more spunky, but it is sweet, I think. Or Claire Annie as first and middle. There are a lot of great options. I think you’ll find the one that suits her best!
Congratulations on your baby girl!
Personally, I would use AnnaClaire, nickname Claire. Does Annabelle usually get called by her full name or a nickname? If she gets called Anna, that’s all the more reason to nickname your child Claire. If Annabelle is often called Belle, it sets the precedent for using Claire for your babe.
Alternatively, I’d have a long chat with my husband about whether using Anne is important to us or not, and then choose what I want.