Dylan, Amelia, Eliza, and Their New Brother or Sister …

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! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.

IT HAS TO SOUND LIKE A SIBLING NAME

Paige writes:

We didn’t really have a plan for choosing names. We just picked what we liked, and it worked out fine. Except now with this baby, it feels like we’re out of names that we like that also sound right for our family.

Maybe someone else would be okay with that, but I know I’d feel like it was mistake.

Our children are:

• Dylan Jeffrey
• Amelia Carole
• Eliza Julie

All of the middle names are family names.

If this baby is a boy, we mostly agree on Cameron Albert.

We’re struggling with girl names. Our list so far:

• Jordan – A family name I like as a middle, but my husband prefers as a first. I think Jordan is too different from our daughters’ names, and I feel strongly that family names should be middles only.
• Teagan – Husband’s other top choice. Kind of the same problems as Jordan, but not a family name. Also we have friends that have a three year old Teagan, and it feels wrong to me.
• Felicity – I’m not sure it sounds great with our last name, which also ends in a Y.
• Tallulah – my husband is a hard no on this, but it’s my new favorite name.
• Athena – husband doesn’t really like it, but hasn’t ruled it out, maybe not quite right with Amelia and Eliza, but I don’t like the idea of repeating an initial anyway, especially for another girl
• Ember – same sorts of problems as Athena

Our last name sounds like Jersey with an H.

I’m not sure if we need new ideas, or just need to accept that there’s no perfect name and we should compromise on something already on our list.

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

MATCHING MATTERS IF YOU SAY IT DOES

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new baby!

Here’s the thing: you know yourself best.

You’re saying: “This doesn’t sound like a sister name for my older kids.”

I’m hearing: “This name isn’t right for our family.”

Which is a completely understandable, legitimate statement that you don’t need to justify in any way. Even If I attempt to logically explain why Tallulah or Jordan is the perfect choice, I’m guessing it won’t change your (or your husband’s) feelings.

Let’s look at some girls’ names that:

• Share the vintage-but-mainstream appeal of Amelia and Eliza
• Sound feminine, to counter the (potentially) unisex use of names like Dylan, Jordan, and Cameron
• Introduce a fresh initial/sound to your mix
• If possible, echo some of the things you both love about the close-but-not-quite picks on your current list.

If possible, I think Jordan ought to be your daughter’s middle name. After all, it’s your husband’s top pick and a family name.

A SISTER FOR DYLAN, AMELIA, AND ELIZA

CECILE

I wonder if part of the appeal of Jordan and Teagan is a slightly different ending sound? Cecilia was one of my first thoughts, but I think it’s kind of close to Amelia. Cecile, on the other hand, is distinctly different. Sophisticated and gently French, Cecile is relatively uncommon. Cecily is another option. I like it with your surname, and maybe you’ll prefer it to Felicity, too.

CELESTE

I think I like Celeste even better as a sister for Dylan, Amelia, and Eliza. It’s slightly more common. One challenge: does choosing Celeste (or Cecile) now rule out having a Cameron in the future? If so, that’s something to consider.

DELILAH

I know you have a D name already, but I wonder if you’re open to a brother and sister sharing? Because Delilah is, to my mind, the obvious substitute for Tallulah. (And vice versa.) Delilah is more mainstream, so I wonder if your husband might warm to it more quickly? Plus all three of your girls would have an L sound in their names, without being repetitive.

GEORGIA

I think this is such a good choice for your family – sparky, a little bit vintage, very current and fun.

MARIEL, MARIELLE

My initial thought was Marianne or Miriam or Marian. But Mariel adds in a strong L sound, just like so many names you like. It’s very rare compared to Gabrielle and Isabelle, but feels familiar, in either spelling.

SYLVIA

Long, lovely, and strong, Sylvia is one of those names that everyone knows, but still feels fresh and surprising.

TESSA

Very much a sister for Amelia and Eliza, but with a distinct sound. Also: Teagan and Tallulah are both T names, so maybe Tessa splits the difference?

VIVIAN

Tailored but feminine, I wonder if Vivian is the perfect compromise between Jordan and Felicity.

Overall, I’m wild about Mariel. (Or Marielle.) Mariel Jordan. Dylan, Amelia, Eliza, and Mariel. It’s a different sound, but clearly feminine. But it is very rare, and I wonder if that’s a drawback?

I’d suggest Tessa Jordan as a close second. You’re both drawn to T names at the moment, and Tessa shares the same kind of vintage-but-current appeal as Amelia and Eliza.

Readers, over to you! What would you name a sister for Dylan, Amelia, and Eliza?