Update: I went into labor a little early, just a few days after this ran, and we still didn’t have a name. I was almost hoping for a boy because at least we agreed! But we had our third girl. And it turned out that choosing her name was easy, thanks to the most amazing labor & delivery nurse named Louise. As soon as I heard her name, I realized it was just meant to be! Our girls call her Lou Lou and all sorts of silly, sweet names. Thanks to everyone for your help and all of your suggestions. We read through every one of them in those early stages of labor and we really appreciated it!
Kristen writes:
We have two daughters, Helen and Frances. Both girls have my (unusual) last name as their middle name.
Our third and final child will be here in early August. If it’s a boy, we will name him James and call him Jack.
I know that’s not the usual nickname, but it’s the one we both like best.
We’re struggling with girl names. Many of the names we liked with Frances and Helen now feel too popular, including Abigail, Alice, and Evelyn.
I don’t like names that end with a, or really with vowel sounds. Though I do like Henry, so perhaps the right name could change my mind.
Not repeating initials is important to me.
With the exception of a few names, like James/Jack, I really don’t care for nicknames. And I don’t like names that feel like nicknames, even if I know they’re not. (My husband likes Lucy, but I feel like it’s short for Lucille, which I don’t care for.)
Can you help us find a girl’s name that goes with Helen “V@shek” “Nole$” and Frances “V@shek” “Nole$” without repeating an initial?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new baby!
I think the challenge with naming as our families grow is the sheer number of children we know. Neighborhood kids, the siblings’ of our children’s friends, the names of classmates in nursery school or swim class or any other formal program. Even if you’re just hanging out at the playground, you’re hearing names, names, names.
And so it probably won’t help for me to insist that Alice isn’t really common. Because to your ear, it’s overexposed. Maybe you even know one – or more!
The good news? Lots and lots of traditional, tailored names for girls remain far less popular. And they’d be perfect sister choices for Frances and Helen, too.
A SISTER FOR HELEN AND FRANCES
ADELE
Adelaide and Adeline are options, too, but I think the two-syllable, compact Adele is the perfect balance for Helen and Frances.
CLAIRE
Spare Claire is a Top 100 choice in the US, and has been since the late 1990s. But it seems more classic than trendy, a long-standing name with a lovely meaning: bright.
DOROTHY
The storybook hero makes this name feel equal parts vintage and daring. It’s every bit a sister for Helen and Frances.
ESTHER
Long before Harper and Piper, Esther was the girls’ name ending with R that appealed to generation after generation.
IRENE
Another name with a powerful meaning – peace – Irene is an earlier generation’s style star. Today it feels surprising and familiar at the same time.
LOUISE
Would Louise appeal to your husband? You mentioned Lucy is on his list, but you’re not a fan of Lucille. Louise might be the best of both worlds, with no shortening required.
MARGOT
Originally a Margaret nickname, Margot now stands on its own. It’s a name that feels creative and strong.
RUTH
This simple name borrowed from the Old Testament has an enduring quality.
Overall, my favorite sister name for Frances and Helen is probably Dorothy, with Adele a close second. I think they’re good style matches for her sisters, but a little different, too.
I think Mary would just be so very lovely!
Helen, Frances, and Mary.
My goodness! Pure nostalgia and straight out of an era gone by.
Marion would also be perfect!
Helen, Frances and Marion
Here are a few others, though you have quite a few neat suggestions already:
Anne or Annette
Blythe
Brynn
Caroline
Catherine or Katharine or Katherine or Kathryn or just Kate
Elizabeth
Garnet — I once interviewed an extremely accomplished woman with this name who had headed up a college. Something there was named after her when she retired. It’s also the name of the little girl in the book “Thimble Summer” by Elizabeth Enright.
Grace
Gwen
Gwendolyn
Gwyneth
Jeannette
Judith
Lois
Lucienne — If you don’t like Lucille, here’s another French version
Marguerite
Marian or Marion
Marianne
Maud or Maude
Maureen
Mavis
Page or Paige — Not popular anymore for babies but still familiar and nice. It’s been used long enough to be a modern classic.
Quinn
Rachel — Ditto. Not popular anymore, but classic and still well used.
Susan or Suzanne or Suzette
Verity
Mabel or Ingrid or Maude
Frances, Helen and Mavis
Frances, Helen and Agnes
Frances, Helen and Eileen
Frances, Helen and Gwen
Frances, Helen and Gladys
Helen, Frances and… June, Joan, Dorothy, or Ruth
My first thought was Sybil! And then Violet and Edith(nn Edie is adorable!).
Helen, Frances and Sybil
Helen, Frances and Violet
Helen, Frances and Edith
Best of luck!
Since James/Jack is your boy name, and this is your final child, have you considered Jacqueline (maybe nn Jackie) for a girl? I think it would complement the sisters’ names nicely.
Alexandrine, Beatrix, Christine, Constance, Coral, Corinne, Deirdre, Edith, Iris, Jean, Josephine, June, Magdalen, Margaret, Marjorie, Mathilde, Meredith, Millicent, Miriam, Olive, Patience, Rose, Sybil, Therese, Victorine, Yvette, Yvonne
A few more favorites for you:
Julia
Claudia
Joan
Ooh, I love your style! I am sure these have all been suggested but with the sibset I love…
Dorothy—my absolute favorite name right now
Miriam
Virginia
Mae/May
Edith
Marian/Marion
Emmeline
Clara
Marcelline
Antoinette
Pauline