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.
A READER SUGGESTION HITS THE RIGHT NOTE
Kristen and Robert write:
We wrote to you back in January with long lists of possible names for our boy/girl twins who are due late this spring. We’ve finally decided on a boy’s name. It wasn’t on our list or yours, but it was suggested in the comments by your readers and we are so very grateful. My husband and I almost immediately agreed on Spencer once we added it to our list. Our new son will be named Spencer Christopher (Christopher is a family name) and we’re thrilled.
But now, we need a name for his sister, and nothing seems to fit. Our previous list included Clea, Olivia, Harper, Odette, Haven, and Elliotte, but none of them feel as though they quite work.
We’re looking for something feminine but not frilly. Strong yet elegant. And of course, something that flows with Spencer as I’m sure we’ll be saying their names together quite often. Also, her middle name will be Kate or Kathryn (family name). We’re leaning toward Kate, but which version really depends on how it flows with the first name.
Our last name starts with an E but is pronounced You-wen. So many of the names we agree on end with -an, -en, or -on and we’re not sure that works with our last name.
Again, we are so very grateful for all of your help and hope that you and your community will come through for us again.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
FRESH SUGGESTIONS FOR SPENCER’S SISTER
Abby replies:
Again, congratulations on your twins.
Spencer Christopher is a great name! Reader suggestions really do hit the mark.
Let’s go back to your girls’ list and evaluate them against Spencer.
CURRENT LIST
- Elliotte is more common for boys to begin with. Adding the final E makes it visually feminine, but if I heard Spencer and Elliotte, I’d immediately think they were brothers. So let’s drop Elliotte.
- Harper and Spencer could be perfect, but it’s a lot of repeating R sound.
- I do like Haven, even with Spencer, but it’s not ideal with your two-syllable, ends with-N surname.
- Olivia is very, very popular. It’s perfect with Spencer, except that I think you’re hoping for something slightly more distinctive.
- Clea and Odette are the opposite from Olivia – very different. I think that maybe makes these names feel not-quite-right for a sister for Spencer, either.
If I had to choose from your current list, I do think Olivia Kate sounds great with Spencer Christopher.
But let’s see if we can find some new names to consider.
NEW IDEAS FOR A SISTER FOR SPENCER
ANNIKA
Strictly speaking, Annika is an elaboration of Anna. But I think it feels like a distinct name. It’s long like Olivia, and shortens to Annie, should you wish.
COLETTE
More feminine than Elliotte, more familiar than Odette. Like Spencer, it’s tough to pin Colette to a particular era, making this name timeless but not necessarily classic.
CORA, FLORA
Short like Clea, but more mainstream, Cora is sweetly vintage but strong. You could also Coraline for something longer, or another -ora name, like Flora.
ELODIE
Elodie is a cousin to Odette. A distant cousin, to be sure, both related to Otto across many centuries. But Elodie reminds me most of Elliotte. I love a three-syllable name with your surname, and I think Elodie is great with Spencer.
LYDIA
While Lydia has ranked just inside the Top 100 for some time, it’s not nearly as dominating as Olivia. It shares some of the same sounds, but feels more timeless – exactly right for a sister for Spencer.
ROSEMARY
Maybe this is a little random, but I get a very 1930s vibe from Spencer. While his career spanned the 1930s into the 1960s, Hollywood leading man Spencer Tracy won his first Oscar in 1938. So I found myself looking at 1930s names that are back today, and Rosemary leapt out for a girl. Shorten it to Rosie, Romy, or Rose, or use it in full. (The one school-aged Rosemary I know is always Rosemary.)
SIMONE
While I hesitate to suggest matching initials, I do think Simone fits your description of feminine and strong perfectly.
VIVIAN
I love the middle V like Olivia, and the way the three-syllable rhythm makes it work with your two-syllable surname.
Overall, my favorites are Annika Kathryn and Elodie Kate, assuming that Olivia Kate from your list is off the table.
I immediately thought of Sloane when I saw Spencer. I know the “s” names are a little matchy which may not be ideal for you, but I think Spencer and Sloane sound so nicely together- and it feels polished and elegant. Sloane Kathryn sounds just right.
Sloane still sounds like a boy’s name to me, so might not be the right choice if you’re trying to avoid unisex names. Spencer is also used for girls so I wouldn’t be sure which was the boy and which the girl.
I’d also suggest Scarlett, Calla, and Isla if you don’t mind two S names I also have always really liked Elise.
You have taste that feels a bit eclectic, which might be a clue to other names you might like. Harlow or Marlowe instead of Harper or Haven; Thea or Cleo or Kaia or Calla in place of Clea; possible even Yvette instead of Elliette or Odette; Ophelia or Octavia or Livia instead of Olivia.
So fun to see when comments actually inspire names!! Good job ‘A.’ !
I still stand by Elliette being lovely for your new daughter. Elliette Kate.
I like how Spencer not only got his big bro’s name in the middle, but their endings match too – so I wonder if you want use that pattern to narrow your search? As in, an -n or -te ending? Imogen, Quinn, Evelyn, Lillian, or Celeste, Colette like Abby suggested.
Spencer is a fun name that can go so many ways – it’s a surname, it’s a posh name, it’s a modern name. I could easily see sister being Rooney, Isolde, Lark.
Or how about slight tweaks on your list to refresh them – Cleo, Via, Piper, Annette, Harlowe?
Or from left field but I love them with the sibset – Jules or Briar?
Spencer Christopher and . . .
-Adeline/Adelyn Kate (Addie)
-Amelia Kate (Mia, Mila)
-Charlotte Kate (Charlie, Lottie)
-Chloe Kathryn
-Eve Kathryn (Evie)
-Eva/Evelyn Kate (Evie, Eve)
-Juliette Kate (Jules)
-Margot Kate
-Olive Kate (Livvy)
-Rose Katheryn
-Sophie Kate
My favorites are Margot and Juliette! Juliette has the same -ette ending as Odette and Elliotte, and Margot seems so perfectly feminine but not frilly, known but not too popular, etc. Another thought: if you already have a daughter named Kathryn, maybe it’s worth thinking of a different middle. Juliette Rose, Margot Christina, etc. Good luck!
Spencer Christopher &…
Cecilia Katherine
Frances Kate
Bridget Kathryn
Estelle Kathryn
Margot Kathryn
Marlowe Katherine
Sidney/Sydney Kathryn
Sabrina Kathryn
Samantha Kate
Spencer is a great name! Let’s see if we can find the perfect name for his sister. Ideas for names that are feminine but not frilly, strong yet elegant:
Elise. Elise Kathryn. Spencer and Elise.
Audrey. Audrey Kate. Audrey Kathryn. Spencer and Audrey.
Tessa. Tessa Kate. Tessa Kathryn. Spencer and Tessa.
Adelaide. Adelaide Kate. Spencer and Adelaide.
Fiona. Fiona Kate. Fiona Kathryn. Spencer and Fiona.
Rosalie. Rosalie Kate. Spencer and Rosalie.
Zara. Zara Kathryn. Zara Kate. Spencer and Zara.
Willa. Willa Kathryn. Willa Kate. Spencer and Willa.
I think Abby’s suggestion of Lydia is absolutely perfect though! Spencer and Lydia. Love!
Either Daphne or Phoebe also sound like what you might be looking for. I’m guessing you’d like a name that is in fashion and isn’t going to raise a lot of eyebrows but also isn’t in the top 20.
The repeating -er on Spencer and Christopher could beva tongue twister, though you don’t often use a middle name.
I’d suggest a multi-syllable name, probably with three syllables and an emphasis on the first or second: Alicia, Andrea, Avery, Briony, Cecilia, Cecily, Danica, Hilary, Jessamy, Julia, Larissa, Lilia, Marissa, Magnolia, Maribel, Meredith, Romilly, Verity,
Some two syllable names with the emphasis on the first syllable also have a nice sound pattern: Alice, Bella, Delia, Eva, Lily, Livia, Lola, Lucy, Mary, Nola, Tessa, Thea
You might also consider other names that are familiar and classic and have been used for a long time: Abigail, Allison, Emily, Melissa, Stephanie.
I worked with a guy who has a son named Spencer and a daughter named Jovie, which is also a familiar but unexpected name. I think they got it from the Christmas movie, though she wasn’t born at Christmas.
Ok, you know what, might as well spill all the tea.
Mrs Sandel, my email was about whether I can be a writer for your website?
Without looking at the other suggestions, here’s what I thought of –
Spencer & …
Hadley
Lilah
Eleanor
Romilly
Daphne
Margot
Hazel
Juliet
Bridget
Ainsley
Margot fits the vibe nicely too.
Here are some ideas I have for you.
I love Elodie, but I also love Eloise.
Spencer Christopher and Eloise Kate
Or…
Spencer & Linnea
Spencer & Saskia
Spencer & Signy
Spencer & Ondine
Spencer & Dagny
Spencer & Daphne
Spencer & Phoebe
Spencer & Dahlia
Spencer & Mireille
Spencer & Juliet
Spencer & Serena
Spencer & Nina
Spencer & Camille
Best wishes!!