Girl Names to Go With Harper

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.

THE RIGHT NAME FOR A LONG-AWAITED DAUGHTER

Marissa writes:

We have a beautiful eleven year old daughter named Harper Allison. After years of heartache trying to grow our family, I had finally accepted that it wasn’t meant to be.

And now we’re expecting, and I’ve been holding my breath every step of the way, and now we’re at that point where it’s really real and our second daughter will be here any day. (For lots of reasons, I am likely to be induced on December 20th if I don’t go into labor before then.)

Talking about names used to be something that I loved, and I read your posts all the time. But then I had to stop, and now I feel like I’m overwhelmed by so many things, including choosing a name. It’s a joyful, happy kind of overwhelm but it can still be paralyzing.

Here are our thoughts:

• Billie – At first, we joked about calling a son “little Billy.” At one point, it felt bittersweet because we’ll never have that son, but now I wonder if it’s the right name for a girl? Harper suggested it because of Billie Eilish, and I think my daughter has great taste, and this is really growing on me.
• Blair – I’ve loved this name forever, but is it too short with our last name? I thought so with Harper and I think I still do.
• Keaton – I’m not really sure where this name came from, but lately it’s on my mind.
• Delaney – My husband’s favorite for Harper. I’ve never really liked it, but if I have Blair on this list, I have to have his favorite, too.

We’re thinking about using the middle name Marjorie, for my late mother-in-law. We could also possibly use Katherine, my mother-in-law’s middle name, which was after her mother, my husband’s grandmother.

Our last name sounds like Chris, but spelled differently.

I’m not sure if we’re looking for new ideas, but I know I’m not ready to settle on a name just yet.

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

TRUSTING YOUR LIST

Abby replies:

Oh my goodness – congratulations on your second daughter! I completely understand not thinking about names.

That means, though, that there’s not a lot of time. So I’m not going to expand your list beyond the basic choices you’re working with now.

I tend to agree with you about Blair. It’s a great name, but if it’s not an immediate yes, then I’d take it off your list. With a short, sounds-like-Chris surname, it’s probably not the best fit.

I am going to put a few new names into mix, based on Katherine, Marjorie, and maybe even your name, Marissa. And I’m going to do something different and suggest names in combinations because I do think that might move the process along.

NEW SUGGESTIONS

MAREN

Marjorie and Marissa share the letters Mar, and does Maren. Strictly speaking, Maren is a Scandi form of Maria, or possibly a cousin to Marina. But it works as an honor name for you and your mother-in-law, while sounding like the kind of tailored, surname name you love.

RORY

I’ve suggested Rory as a nickname for Marjorie, but it also works as an update to that traditional name. It’s not exactly the same style as Harper and Blair, but it fits in that same general category.

TOP COMBINATIONS

BILLIE BLAIR

If only because Blair has been on your list for so long.

BILLIE KATHERINE

A mix of a new name, plus your mother-in-law’s middle. I like the way it blends a short, casual first with a more classic, elegant middle.

BILLIE KEATON

This drops the family name connections, but puts two of your favorites center stage. Also, Keaton isn’t such a leap from Katherine. If you’d feel like it’s an honor name, then I’d see it that way, too.

RORY KATHERINE

I really do think Rory is a perfect sister name for Harper, with family ties, too.

RORY KEATON

A completely, 2020s update to Marjorie Katherine.

MAREN DELANEY

From the Mar- of your name and your mother-in-law’s name, with your husband’s favorite first in the middle spot.

My favorite is probably Billie Katherine, but if you’re open to Rory or Maren, then Rory Katherine and Maren Delaney shoot to the top for me, too.

Readers, over to you! What would you name a sister for Harper Allison?