Daring Middle Names for James and Mila: Bold Meets Rare

Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, 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!

LOOKING FOR BOLD MIDDLE NAMES

Kaylee writes:

We named our daughter Anna Wildflower. Anna because it’s a classic name with lots of meaning for my husband and I. Wildflower because we couldn’t agree on anything more traditional and finally decided to choose something we loved, even if it was a little crazy.

Yes, we got Wildflower from Cameron Diaz. I don’t think she’ll mind!

Now we’re expecting our second child, a delivery surprise.

We agree on first names. If it’s a boy, James. If it’s a girl, Mila.

Now we need to find more middle names like Wildflower.

Everyone keeps saying Tiberius for James, but that’s exactly what we don’t want. Wildflower is pretty out there, but it’s not a specific reference, if that makes sense.

For background:

• We like the outdoors, but no specific place/activity stands out.
• Mythology, art, music, lots of things could work, but we don’t want to be too specific.
• Even with people/things that we like a lot, a very specific reference doesn’t seem like the best fit. We talked about James Bowie, for David Bowie, but that feels like too much of a hero name.
• We don’t want anything religious.

We do want a big name if that makes sense, but nothing we think of is right.

Can you help with ideas?

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

THINKING BIG and BROAD with MIDDLES

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new baby!

First: Anna Wildflower is an amazing name. I can see why you’re struggling to top it!

And it’s absolutely true – thinking of bold, amazing middles often does suggest specific references.

Galadriel is gorgeous, but I think you’d need to be a Tolkien fan. I’m tempted by Endeavor, but it’s rather Inspector Morse. (Though the latter is far more obscure than the former.)

So let’s think, as you say, big, and also broad. We’re looking for something daring and adventurous, romantic and maybe a little bit bohemian, too.

MIDDLE NAMES FOR JAMES

AMADEO

The Italian and Spanish form of Amadeus, from the Latin amare, meaning “to love.” Great meaning and a cool, edgy sound. Amadeus feels very Mozart. Amadeo, I think, is just different enough.

AURELIAN, AURELIEN

From a Roman family name meaning golden. The -ien ending is the French spelling, but both are nicely obscure.

CALIBER

On the downside, Caliber is often associated with weapons – it can indicate the diameter of a barrel. But it can also refer to a standard. To be “of high caliber” is to be excellent, making this a modern virtue name of sorts.

DESTRY

Simplified form of a French surname name with an Old West vibe.

EVERSON

Take appealing word-name Ever, then add -son for an extra syllable and a more name-like appearance.

FIELDING

Polished and outdoorsy.

GALILEO

As in the world-changing astronomer.

HAWTHORN, HAWTHORNE

A nature name used for multiple plants, as well as a surname – especially when spelled with the final E.

KINDRED

An obscure word referring to family, Kindred is famously the middle name for sci fi author Philip K. Dick.

LEONCIO

A romance language Leo name, nicely fierce and romantic.

PROSPER

A virtue name with an appealing sound and meaning – who doesn’t want to prosper?

RESOLUTE

The virtue of endurance, Resolute sounds more like a word than a name, but could be great in the middle spot.

REVERE

As a surname, it might mean river – or thief! But to revere is to respect, so this reads like more of a virtue name, with an Americana edge thanks to Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere.

TENNYSON

Poetic surname name boosted by association with the number ten. This might feel too specific if you’re not into the poet, but it fits nicely with longer surname names we love now, like Callahan and Sullivan, so maybe …

MIDDLE NAMES FOR MILA

AMORET, AMORETTE

Like Amadeo, Amoret means love, from the Latin root.

AVALON

Paradise in Arthurian legend, also used for real places in California and New Jersey.

ETHEREAL

It means light and airy, though we often hear it as “other worldly.”

EVENING

Straightforward word name rich with romance.

INDIGO

Vibrant shade of blue.

MERIDIAN

A map-making term that can also suggest a peak. Alice Walker authored a 1976 novel titled Meridian, the name of the main character; it’s also a place name in Emmylou Harris’ 2000 song “Red Dirt Girl.”

POETRY

Literary term that might make a great word name.

REVEL

To revel is to celebrate, a vibrant word that feels like a wearable name.

REVERIE

Dream is a Top 500 favorite, but the related Reverie remains under the radar.

ROMILLY

Originally a French surname, Romilly sounds like a Rose-Millie mash-up.

SUMMIT

The highest point, typically of a mountain – but also an inspiring choice for a child’s middle.

SUNFLOWER

A logical sister middle for Wildflower.

TIGERLILY

Like Wildflower and Sunflower, a double name tied to all things floral.

WILLOUGHBY

A place name, originally referring to willow trees. Given the popularity of Willow, as well as surname names, it feels like an obvious – yet still undiscovered – choice.

FAVORITE COMBINATIONS

This is such an interesting challenge, and I suspect the answer is going to hit you in a way that’s possibly hard to explain – like Anna Wildflower, right?

But I’ll share my favorites, just in case it helps!

• For a son, James Everson is my favorite. Or maybe, to borrow from the girls’ list, James Meridian? While some of these strike me as better for a daughter or a son, most of them are easily interchangeable. I like James Prosper a lot, too, but is it too brief next to Anna Wildflower?
• Mila Reverie is my favorite for a daughter, with Mila Amoret/Amorette as a close second. Mila Indigo appeals to me, too.

Readers, over to you – what would you name a sibling for Anna Wildflower, using the first names James and Mila?