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.
NAMING A THIRD DAUGHTER
Lisa & Chris write:
We have a Lily & Chloe.
We always said we were going to stay with L & C names. I also love that both are a “nature” name – flower and green sprout.
I’m pregnant with our 3rd and final baby. It’s a girl!
Staying with a C or L (would possibly switch if the was the best name ever!) and nature but that last one isn’t a deal breaker.
I also love the way Lily and Chloe fit together.
Please help!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
MATCHING WITHOUT REPEATING
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your third daughter!
There is such a balance to Lily and Chloe. They share some things: they’re both two-syllable, ends-with-EE sound names. Both rank in the current US Top 100, but they’re also at home in many other eras. And, of course, the tie to the natural world is a plus. They’re ecovintage picks.
Because you have four families members with L or C names, I feel like sticking with the initials makes sense – unless, of course, the perfect name comes to you and it’s a little different. I’m half-tempted to suggest a name like Elyce to tie them both together … but I don’t feel like that’s the right direction, either.
So we need a name that almost certainly begins with L or C, and combines some of those qualities (vintage, two-syllables, ends-with-EE, tied to the natural world) but probably not all of them … because if such a name existed, I think you’d already have chosen it!
A SISTER FOR LILY AND CHLOE
CAMILLE
Camila is a Top Ten favorite in the US, a name with Latin roots and crossover English/Spanish appeal. Strictly speaking, Camila doesn’t mean camellia flower. But the sound is very close, and Camila’s exact meaning and origin are debated.
CELESTE
Celeste means “of the sky.” Another name for sky blue? Celeste. It can also be translated as heavenly, but I think it’s the former meaning that works best with your older girls’ names. As a bonus, Celeste starts with the soft C name, which is less repetitive than another hard C.
CELINE
Speaking of soft C names, Celine is a cousin to Celeste. There’s also Ciel or Cielo, more romance language words meaning sky or heaven. And there’s also Cecile, related to Cecilia. There’s no specific nature name-connection for Cecile/Cecily/Cecilia, though.
CORA, CORALINE
Cora means maiden. It’s not exactly nature-centric, but it is another name for Persephone. In Greek myth, her annual trip to the Underworld and back was responsible for the seasons. I think Lily, Chloe, and Cora could be sisters. But lengthen it to Coraline and it’s even more distinctive.
LIANA
Lovely and romantic Liana is a combination of Lee and Anna, but it’s also a type of vine.
LUCIA
Romantic Italian name meaning light. I think that’s in the neighborhood of nature names. Bonus? It’s a L name that matches Lily and Chloe, but feels like Lucia still has her own identity.
LUNA
It’s another nature name, and another name that points to the night sky. It’s somewhere between the very obvious word-name Lily and the quite subtle Chloe. Another name in this category: Stella, but of course it lacks the necessary C or L.
LYRA
A constellation in the night sky, Lyra was inspired by the lyre of Orpheus in Greek myth. That makes this name musical and mythological, as well as a nature name.
Overall, I’m most drawn to Luna. It’s popular, but I think that’s a bonus in this case. Lily, Chloe, and Luna are close, but remain easily distinguishable.
And when it comes to nature names? The moon feels exactly right, at any time of year, a mix of romantic and mysterious vibes with a choice borrowed from the natural world.
Congrats on baby girl #3! Love some of the suggestions of Celeste, Cora and Elsie!
How about:
Lily, Chloe & Lainey (shining light or “wave”)
Lily, Chloe & Lucy (light)
Lily, Chloe & Linnea (linden tree)
Lily, Chloe & Charlotte/“Lottie” (not nature really but you get the C and L both with that and and you could opt for a middle name to be more nature-inspired).
Lily, Chloe & Chelsea (landing place or harbour)
Lily Chloe & Clementine.
None L/C names, how about:
Lily, Chloe & Olive (Olive tree)
Lily, Chloe & Margot (pearl)
Lily, Chloe & Wren (bird)
Enjoy your pregnancy! And happy baby-name-picking :).
I also came to suggest Laurel!
Lily, Chloe, and Laurel
Carmody might be awesome, too.
Lily, Chloe, and Carmody
Calandra means ‘sky lark’.
Lily, Chloe, Calandra (nickname of Callie?)
Carys is lovely. And she means ‘love’!
Lily, Chloe, and Carys
Lindy is from the linden tree.(She’s pretty close to Lily, though).
Lily, Chloe, and Lindy
Collette?
Lily, Chloe, and Colette
She’s not an L or a C, but what about Ivy?
Lily, Chloe, and Ivy
Or Daphne?
Lily, Chloe, and Daphne
The final one who comes to mind is Ellery.
Lily, Chloe, and Ellery
Congratulations and best wishes!
Lily, Chloe and…
Claire, Clare
Cate
Carla
Cara
Corinne
Carrie
Cassie
For L names I can’t get past the suggestion of Laurel. It has all the elements except the ‘ee’ ending, which I actually really like. It sounds complete. Lily, Chloe & Laurel. Love, Love, Love!
For C names I’d suggest Cherie. I like that it has a different starting sound and, though not a nature name, it does have a darling meaning. Lily, Chloe & Cherie.
All the best!
I love Abby’s suggestion of Celeste!
Otherwise, what about Coral (starts with C, ends with L), or Clementine (starts with both!) or a personal favourite, Leora/Liora?
Lily, Chloe & Coral
Lily, Chloe & Clementine
Lily, Chloe & Liora (it means “light”)
Congratulations on baby 3!
To me, a slam dunk would be Elsie (LC) ! That way no repeats in initials for the kids, and Elsie is the combo of your family. It doesn’t have nature association though, although at a stretch apparently Elsie is a Scottish diminutive of Elizabeth and connected somehow to heather. Do you like it??
If it needs to be an L or C nature name that sounds different enough to sisters, how about:
Lark
Cedar
Or something longer with both an L and C, but gives her own initial nickname?
Luciana nn Annie
Camellia nn Mila or Milly
Cordelia nn Della or Deedee
Leticia nn Tia
I particularly like Cordelia’s meaning ‘daughter of the sea’.
You’ve got a lot of great suggestions – hope something appeals!
I was coming to suggest Elsie! I like that it’s sweetly vintage and ends in ‘ee’ and, although it doesn’t really have a nature meaning, it ties into Mum’s name as a diminutive of Elizabeth. I’d be tempted to add a middle name for Dad to tie everything together very neatly … Elsie Christa, Elsie Christabel, Elsie Christine. Lily, Chloe & Elsie.
Lily Chloe & Callie
Lily Chloe & Laurel
Also, a few more that meet most of the criteria:
Chelsea
Cellie (Welsh)
Clytie (Greek) This name is new to me, but I think it could go really well with Lily & Chloe…Lily, Chloe & Clytie.
Claudie (French version of Claudie) super cute, I think!
Lacey
Lyric (this one doesn’t end in an “ee” sound, but I kind of love it for Lily’s & Chloe’s sister. Lily, Chloe, & Lyric!
Best wishes!!
I am including a few two-syllable names that start with a “C” or “L” and also contain a “c” or “l” in the name in addition to the first letter.
Calla (Callie)
Lucille
Colette
Lucine
Clover
I will see if I can think of a few more that stick to these parameters.
Best wishes!!