Finding Traditional, Compact Names like Nora for Baby Number Two

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.

CLASSIC AND COMPLETE

Em writes:

My husband and I both have long, fairly unusual first names that can kind of be a hassle. Because of this, it is very important to us that our children’s names are more traditional. We like short names that don’t really have a nickname and people will immediately hear and “get,” without having to repeat/spell.

I am due with our second child at the end of November, a delivery surprise. It feels harder to find a name this time around.

Our daughter’s name is Nora Jane. I wish we’d chosen a different middle name, because Jane would have been a really good name for another daughter! But we don’t want to re-use it.

If Nora had been a boy, our favorite name was James Connor. (Connor is a family name.) But we have good friends with a James, nickname Jamie, now, and I feel like it’s not really our name anymore, if that makes sense.

We have a long, kind of difficult last name, too, sounds like Hil-de-bran.

For a girl, we have discussed:

• Leah – but it seems like everyone spells it differently
• Lila – again, lots of spellings
• Ella – maybe too popular, and with our last name it sounds like the writer’s name
• Blair – love this name, but my husband has a unisex name and doesn’t like it, so he’s very reluctant to use anything unisex for our kids (though I don’t think Blair is?)
• Claire – except we have a niece named Clara
• Molly – I think it’s too cute for an adult, so it’s out, but I do like it

For a boy, we have discussed:

• Adam – but I’m not sure if it’s the one
• Eric – feels maybe a little dated
• Andrew – but only Andrew, not Andy/Drew
• Paul – I feel like everyone says this name differently, and some of the pronunciations make me a little stabby
• Jon/John – But I really only like Jon and I know that breaks my rules, plus my husband prefers John
• Liam – is it weird to have an Irish first name with a German last name? Sort of bothers me that it’s the #1 name, but we’ve never met a Liam

We sort of just keep going around and around.

Please help!

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

FINDING NAMES LIKE NORA

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your second!

Nora is a great name, and I can see that it might be a little hard to follow. After all, it checks all those boxes exactly.

I think you do have some strong candidates on your current lists. The ideal choice will be:

• Complete and compact
• Clearly gendered
• Current in style
• Maybe a little bit sophisticated
• Possibly have a strong L sound

From your current lists, I think there are some clear front runners:

• Adam for a boy. No tricky nicknames, easily pronounced and spelled, and style-wise, it’s a classic on a bit of an upswing.
• Or maybe Liam for a boy? Popular names – even the #1 name! – can be great choices, and Liam meets every one of your criteria.
• Leah for a girl. Yes, it is sometimes spelled Lea or Lia, but Leah is the overwhelming favorite. And it does meet every point on your wish list.

But let’s see if we can come up with some fresh ideas, too.

NAMES LIKE NORA FOR A DAUGHTER

ALICE

Simple and complete, sweet for a child and sophisticated for an adult. Plus there’s an L sound! Nora and Alice might be perfect together.

AVA

A Top Ten name, yes, but with a strong and complete sound.

GRACE

If you love Jane, but can’t use it, Grace might be an obvious choice.

LILY

I hear you about Lila/Lyla/Lilah and so on. Lily is close in sound, but has one most popular spelling. Lily also reminds me of Molly.

RUTH

A substitute for Claire, strong and complete.

WILLA

Lots of L sound in this one, plus it’s a distinctive name with only one spelling.

BOY NAMES LIKE NORA

ARLO

It’s very current and less classic, but I wonder if a name like Arlo might appeal?

DEAN

A name with plenty of history and a strong, unmistakable sound.

JUDE

The Beatles song keeps this name current, but it’s a Biblical boy name with history to spare.

MAX

A solid, traditional, and brief choice.

MILES

Possibly an alternative to James that’s just a little less expected.

SAM/SAMUEL

Okay, this breaks the rules in the sense that nearly every Sam is a Samuel. But … never every Samuel is a Sam. Sam and Nora are great together, so I wonder if it’s worth it?

Overall, I do think Adam and Liam are great choices. I’d add Sam/Samuel to that list, possibly with James as a middle name.

For a daughter, if Leah isn’t quite right, I’d put Willa next on the list. Willa Ruth, maybe?

Readers, over to you! What would you name a sister or brother for Nora Jane?