Finding Smart Names Like Simon: Timeless and Surprising

Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. 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.

IF IT’S A BOY, THEY’RE ALL SET

Kara writes:

Our second child is due next month. Once again, we will not find out sex in advance.

We both have names that were very popular when we were growing up, Kara and Jake. Ideally, we’d prefer names that aren’t trendy or cute. Because our last name is reasonably common (think Mal-a-ger but with a G), we would like our children’s names to be a little bit different. In addition, we’re trying to avoid nicknames.

Our son’s name, Simon, is perfect. We have two more boys’ names that we like just as much, Felix and Patrick. (While I know Patrick could be Pat/Paddy, we would always call him Patrick.)

Our girls’ list hasn’t really come together. We have seriously considered:

• Katharine – this spelling, not Kate, but maybe I’m being unrealistic?
• Lily – we mostly agree, but we know five(!) and while none are so close to us that it rules out the name, that feels like the opposite of what we want for our child
• Louise/Louisa – but he doesn’t like the “wheeze” in Louise and I think Louisa is too much
• Nora – nearly perfect, but it’s our niece’s name and it would not work for us to use it, too
• Ruth – a friend suggested Ruth and I like it, but maybe it’s too old-fashioned
• Sarah – what I always wanted for my name, but I don’t know about rhyming names, plus then we’d have two S names and I know that if we had a third kid in the future I would feel obligated to choose another

At this point, I feel like we’re both scrolling through lists of the same names we’ve scrolled through dozens of times already and it’s just not helping. If I had to name a girl today, I might choose Katharine but I don’t feel settled about it.

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

SMART NAMES LIKE SIMON – BUT FOR A GIRL

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new baby!

Here’s what jumps out at me: you’re quite confident that calling your son Patrick, not Pat, is possible. But it sounds like your top name for a girl, Katharine, comes with the same challenge. Is there a reason it feels different to you? I can think of two school-aged Katherines, wait – make that three, no FOUR – who never shorten their names.

Looking at the rest of your list, I agree that Lily, Sarah, and Nora are probably best avoided. There’s no real way to compromise on Louise/Louisa, but we can use it as a jumping-off point for our name search.

That leaves Ruth, and I think it might deserve a second look. Because it was a Top Ten staple early in the 20th century, it’s easy to imagine an aged Ruth. But the name is back in the girls’ Top 200 and I think it reads more contemporary classic than dated relic.

Let’s find some fresh ideas to add to the mix, because lots of timeless, smart names like Simon could work if this baby is a girl.

FRESH SUGGESTIONS

BEATRICE

Do I suggest Beatrice too much? It reminds me of Katherine in terms of cadence. (Could be three syllables, usually pronounced more like two in American English, at least here in the Mid-Atlantic.) She could be Bea, but using the name in full is pretty standard.

CECILE

Cecilia is rising in use, but I wonder if Cecile would be the better choice? Yes, it’s another take on the Louise/Louisa debate, but without the wheeze.

ELISE

Another name that came to mind immediately, Elise shares a similar ending as Louise. It’s timeless and enduring, featured in song titles from Beethoven to The Cure.

FLORENCE

Like Ruth, Florence is a formerly antique name rising in use for our girls again.

HELEN

The first name that came to mind. Helen is spare and refined. It’s a classic choice, but it’s not an expected one. Helen cousins, like Elena, rank in the US Top 100. Helen stands slightly apart, in the best possible way.

LAURA

This name was big from the 1960s into the 80s, boosted by a scandalous soap opera romance, a mournful ballad, and, of course, Little House on the Prairie. Today, though, Laura reads classic and distinct from Nora, Cora, and Aurora.

ROSE

I’ll suggest Rose as an alternative to Ruth. Very similar, but maybe just a little bit softer thanks to the floral image.

VERA

Another Nora alternative, Vera is brief, complete, and enduring.

I’m not sure anything beats Katharine, but I really like the idea of Elise as a sister for Simon. They share an S sound, but more than that, I think they’re both nicely timeless and fresh on a 2020s kid. I’d also suggest Vera as a similar-but-different substitute for Nora.

Readers, over to you! Can you suggest more timeless, smart names like Simon for a girl?