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.
COMPLETING THE PATTERN
Ashley writes:
We are expecting our fifth and (for real this time!) final child. Our older kids are:
- David Joshua – named for our dads, who are both David, and the friend who introduced us, Josh, sometimes called DJ but mostly Davy
- Chloe Marie – first name I always loved, middle name for his grandmother Mary
- Ava Catherine – sort of a last minute choice because we thought she looked like an Ava and nothing else seemed right, middle name for my grandma Catherine
- Ethan Clark – a first name we’d considered before using a family name for David, and Clark is my maiden name
This probably feels silly, but after Ethan was born, I noticed that there’s no B name. We have A, C, D, and E. So we’ve been joking about finding a B name for this baby. And because all of our kids have two syllable names, this name has to be two syllables, too!
We’re pretty set on Bennett if it’s a boy, but could use some help with a girl.
Middle names can be family last names Wallace, Carter, or Kelly, plus Roger for a boy, and Sheila or Denise or Dawn for a girl.
My husband likes Beatrice but I can’t get over the three syllables. I like Bailey and Briar, but for someone else. Brooke is great, but not Brooklyn.
There are a few names we’re considering more seriously, but I sort of want to see what people come up with independently, if that’s okay?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
PATTERNS CAN MEAN VERY SHORT LISTS
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new baby!
I’m going to say this, even though I feel like you probably know it. You don’t need to complete the pattern. I didn’t notice it at all! And should you ever welcome a sixth child – or even, maybe, adopt a chihuahua. you might feel the pressure is really on to choose a name like Franklin or Felice.
But it sounds like you’ve thought this through, and are willing to prioritize completing the pattern over finding some ideal name.
So let’s come up with some amazing two-syllable names beginning with B for a daughter.
TWO-SYLLABLE GIRL NAMES BEGINNING WITH B
BECCA
Short for Rebecca, but somehow a little fresher than the original. If you know Anna Kendrick’s character in the Pitch Perfect series, she spells it Beca. The double-C spelling makes sense to my eyes because of RebeCCa, but both are options.
BELLA
This is the logical choice, right? It’s great with Ava and Chloe, an obvious B name without feeling too try-hard.
BERYL
I love this vintage name borrowed from a green gemstone, but it’s quite rare today.
BETTY
Sparky vintage Betty is almost certainly due for a comeback … eventually.
BLOSSOM
This quirky floral name has a surprisingly long history of use, but it would be a bold choice in 2024.
BONNIE
The first name that came to mind! A Scottish word meaning pretty, Bonnie has been used as a given name for ages. It ranked in the US Top 100 from the 1920s into the 1960s. Today it’s making a quiet comeback.
BRENNA
Brenna might mark the midpoint between logical choice Bella and wait-what Blossom. A smooth take on Brenda, possibly inspired by Brennan or maybe it means raven or dark-haired.
BRIDGET
Traditional and saintly, Bridget is the kind of name we all know but seldom hear in real life. I do like it a lot with your kids’ names: David, Chloe, Ava, Ethan, Bridget. Lots of different beginning and ending sounds make them all seem distinct.
Overall, I’m drawn to Bella, and I feel like Bella Denise is the obvious combination. But I want to push for Bridget, too – it’s a little unexpected, but it sounds so good with your older kids’ names and I really like the idea of Bridget Dawn or Bridget Kelly. (Though that second one is very Irish, to be sure!) Plus I think it has some of the flavor of Beatrice, so I wonder if your husband would like it, too?
I’d thought of Bella and love the suggestion of Bridget. I say Beatrice with 2 syllables and you’ve had some other great suggestions. But … I think if there is another name you find that you love; and if this is your for real last child; and if the pattern is recognised and questioned … you always have that she is the “Baby”!
I feel like I have to push two of my absolute favorites here—Betsy and Bethan!
2 syllable
Beatrix (Bee prn)
Birdie
Brigid
I know of a little girl Bennett. She’s called Bennie.
My fave B is Beverly but not 3 syll.
You could use B in middle instead. Beatrice would work nicely in the middle.
Most of my suggestions are repeats, but it’s helpful to see that others like the same names.
Barbra — spelled like Ms. Streisand and sort like the Beach Boys sing it in “Barbara Ann.”
Beatrix — as Renee mentioned, this name is often pronounced with two syllables Bee-trix.
Becca
Beckett — I know this is your boy name, but it can work for a girl too.
Bexley — Bex is a cute nickname, in much the same way Becs or Becks are for the names above.
Bella
Bethann (Beth-Ann) / Bethanne (Beth-Anne) — I like the sound more than the visual.
Betty
Bevin — Gaelic “fair lady”, rhymes with Kevin (likely would be confused with Devin). I once met a woman with this name.
Bonnie
Brenda — more grandma than great-grandma, so maybe too soon for a comeback?
Brenna
Brianne
Brielle — I love this name, although it’s more frilly than Chloe and Ava.
Bronwen / Bronwyn
Best wishes to you!
Between Abby and the comments I think we’ve probably covered all suitable options – Bella, Brielle, Bronwyn – if Briar and Bailey aren’t your style then less common or nickname names probably aren’t going to catch your eye. I was also coming to say that a lot of people pronounce Beatrice and Beatrix with 2 syllables, so you could get away with that. Especially Beatrix. And I suspect Billie won’t pass your style preference, but it’s very sweet. My fave is Bronwyn called ‘Winnie’. It has the same tailored feeling as Ava and Chloe.
‘A’ has a great point about saying you have kids A to Z though…. 😉 Zara is beautiful.
And maybe with all the rules I agree you could be flexible on syllable length – and instead just choose a name with a 2-syllable nickname. If syllable rules were off the table I’d choose Bianca or Bellamy or Beverly.
Good luck!
My first thought was Brielle. I really like Bella and Belle, too. Maybe you could use Bea or Birdie as a nickname for Beatrice (or Beatrix), so it’s not as long? Other suggestions:
Blair(e)
Blythe
Bree
Bria
Briella
Brina
Bristol
Brynn
Bryony
Willa “Billie” (I think Willa fits better with Chloe and Ava, but Billie starts with B and is adorable!)
Bridget was my first thought but I think Brielle would be nice too. David, Chloe, Ava, Ethan, Brielle.
Brielle Denise would be my pick
For what it’s worth, I didn’t recognize the letter pattern at first (or the two syllable pattern either), especially because the letters are out of order with the birth order if that makes sense. Having a B name would be fun but I don’t think you should feel obligated to use one, especially if there’s another name that doesn’t start with B that you really love and want to use. A Z name could be fun too since it’s your last child. Then you could say your kids’ names run from A to Z haha
Zara would be a great choice
David, Chloe, Ava, Ethan, and Zara
Zara Denise, Zara Dawn
What about Belen?
I noticed the initial pattern just by reading the names, but not the 2 syllable pattern.
Maybe you could choose a B name that’s shorter or longer?
Bella Denise, like Abby suggested, is perfect.
But you can choose:
Brynley
Brielle
Blakely
Billie
Bethany
Blaise
Here are a few more to consider:
Bridie (I love this one…Irish, I believe)
Bijou
Blanca
Bastienne
Bronwyn
Best wishes!!