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Name Help: A Sibling for Linden

July 17, 2020 By appellationmountain 17 Comments

Name Help: A Sibling for LindenName 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!

Krista writes:

I’m 37 weeks and still undecided! Our sons name is Linden, and we love his name Linden. It’s an actual name, easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and fairly uncommon

His middle name is an unusual two-syllable Irish surname and family name. Our last name sounds like Castle with an R at the end.

We don’t know gender with this baby. The front runner for a boy is Ellis Jon.

The front runner for a girl is Collins Elizabeth. Or we could use Ellis for a girl but I don’t like Ellis Elizabeth so we’d have to find another middle name.

I’m a little less sure about Collins. I can’t decide it it’s classic (preference) or a bit too trendy sounding.

My husband is against -er ending names because of our last name. He thinks the -er and -er sounds harsh. But I don’t necessarily think it’s terrible! I love surname names and like something a bit more masculine for girls. We like uncommon names but not weird or hard to pronounce/spell.

Any help from you or your readers would be greatly appreciated!

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

Dear Krista –

Congratulations on your new baby on the way!

I think Ellis is perfect for a son. It’s more popular than Linden, but far from common.

To put that in numbers: in 2018, 105 boys and 80 girls were named Linden. 1,058 boys and 346 girls were named Ellis. The #1 name for boys, Liam, was given to 19,837 boys and the #1 name for girls, was given to 18,688 girls.

I don’t think you have to look any further.

But a girls’ name does present some challenges!

A SISTER FOR LINDEN

Here’s the thing about surname names for girls: in certain circles, especially in the American South, parents have handed down family surnames to their children – often without regard to gender – for generations.

But surname names for girls that aren’t attached to a family tree? That’s mostly a new idea, though a few outliers, like Shirley, can be found.

The wave of girls named Taylor, Kelly, and Jordan came in the 90s, followed by Madison and Mackenzie, and then Harper, Emery, Avery, and Kennedy.

It doesn’t make the names trendy, exactly. But it does mean there’s not really a group of classic surname names for girls.

This is probably good news.

It means that you don’t have to worry about whether Collins qualifies as a classic. It’s not … but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s a fleeting trend, either. Because – truly – if you’re after a classic name for a daughter, then you’re going to name her Elizabeth. Or Katherine or Margaret or Jane. And that’s not what you want.

Collins is easy to spell and pronounce, and sounds like a sibling for Linden. I think it works beautifully, but if you want to consider more surname names for girls that fall outside of the current US Top 1000, let’s make a list.

Adair – I suggest it all the time, but Adair remains rare. Yes, it ends with R … but the rhythm works. Adair Carter, Adair Hunter, Adair Castle+r.

Bellamy – It’s unisex, but the first syllable makes it particularly appealing for a daughter.

Ellery – Midway between Ellis and Emily, Ellery is rare but very wearable. The only hitch: it rules out Ellis for a future son.

Halston – A stylish H surname to follow favorites like Harper and Hadley.

Marlowe – Marlo is a mid-century girls’ name, but Marlowe feels like a modern surname choice.

Quinlan – Quinn is popular for girls, but Quinlan takes it in an unexpected direction.

Reeve – File Reeve somewhere between Reese and Eve – a name no one is using, but would wear very well.

Yardley – Yardley fits with so many feminine favorites, from Ashley to Hailey to Everly. But it’s different and distinctive, too.

Overall, I love the sound of Reeve Elizabeth Castle-with-an-r. I think it’s exactly right with Linden. And, as a bonus, the writer Reeve Morrow Lindbergh, daughter of famed aviator Charles and writer Anne Morrow Lindbergh, makes it feel just slightly familiar for a girl.

OR … ELLIS?

But I also think it’s worth pondering Ellis for a daughter. One the downside, Ellie names are everywhere for girls, from Ella to Ellison to, well, Eleanor and Elizabeth.

On the other hand, Ellis itself is not especially popular.

And if Elizabeth isn’t a significant family middle name, then lots of classic choices would work beautifully with Ellis. I love Ellis Katherine Castle-with-an-R, but the list is long.

So I think Collins works, and Ellis and Reeve are both solid options to consider if Collins feels not quite right.

Let’s turn it over to the readers: What would you name a sibling for Linden?

More names you might like:

  • Girl Names Meaning LoveGirl Names Meaning Love
  • Girl Names Starting with C: Charlotte, Collins, CallaGirl Names Starting with C: Charlotte, Collins, Calla
  • Surname Names for Girls: Adair to ZavalaSurname Names for Girls: Adair to Zavala
  • Girl Names Starting with E: Eva, Emery, EvangelineGirl Names Starting with E: Eva, Emery, Evangeline
  • 28 Sweet Spot Girl Names: Daisy, Eliza, and Quinn28 Sweet Spot Girl Names: Daisy, Eliza, and Quinn

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Comments

  1. C in DC says

    July 20, 2020 at 5:07 PM

    Collins Castle+r is as challenging as Ellis Elizabeth to my ear. Maybe bird names to go with the tree name. Swan, Wren, Adelie, Lark, Dove, Sparrow, Eagle, Hawk, Falcon, Peregrine, etc.

    Reply
  2. Megan says

    July 20, 2020 at 1:07 AM

    I love the suggestion of Arden! It marks the surname box, and its the name of the forest in Shakespeare’s As You Like It. That ties it perfectly to the tree surname Linden.

    I also would like to recommend Aston. It’s easy to spell, easy to say, and uncommon but not unusual.

    Reply
  3. Rachael says

    July 19, 2020 at 5:18 AM

    I like Ellis for a boy or a girl. I don’t mind the sound of Ellis Elizabeth.

    Other girl names – Ellery, Hollis and Delaney.

    Reply
  4. Archi382 says

    July 18, 2020 at 5:48 PM

    What do you think of the name Tamsin. It has a surname appeal and is easy to spell and pronounce. Could be perfect for your baby girl.

    Reply
  5. Jaime says

    July 18, 2020 at 5:01 PM

    I like Collins. A few others:

    Merritt
    Darby
    Tiernan
    Tierney
    Perrin
    Hollis
    Ivy
    Bellamy
    Ainsley

    I do like Ellis although it does sound a bit close to Alice to me at times.

    Reply
  6. Kirstin G says

    July 18, 2020 at 10:56 AM

    A few more to consider:

    Harlow
    Sutton
    Merritt
    Bevin
    Dagny

    Reply
  7. Em says

    July 17, 2020 at 6:34 PM

    Halsey Elizabeth?

    Reply
  8. MKey says

    July 17, 2020 at 5:10 PM

    What about Maren Elizabeth for a girl? That’s a tailored, no-frills name. I also like Arden a lot, but I think it sounds a bit too much like Linden with that final syllable. Maybe Sloane?

    Reply
  9. Marisa says

    July 17, 2020 at 2:48 PM

    How about Beverly or Meredith? Wallis might also appeal. Kind of out of left field, but what about Hero or Hermione—both Shakespearean, both underused.

    Reply
  10. Zena Eve says

    July 17, 2020 at 1:49 PM

    Morgan
    Clarion
    Quincy
    Winry
    Meriwether/Merrywether/Merriweather
    Brooks

    Reply
  11. Danielle Burrows says

    July 17, 2020 at 12:35 PM

    How about Birgen for a girl? I heard it recently – it’s the name of the daughter of the late comedian Phil Hartman – and #swoon.

    Reply
  12. ab says

    July 17, 2020 at 12:07 PM

    I think Merritt Elizabeth is lovely and it pairs well with Linden.
    I also like the suggestion of Hollis. The only drawback I see is if you hope to use Ellis for a future son (if you’re think you might have another baby). Hollis and Ellis sound too similar, imo.

    Best wishes to you!

    Reply
  13. Brenna says

    July 17, 2020 at 11:46 AM

    I LOVE Ellis for a boy or a girl. If you feel strongly about using Elizabeth in the middle spot, maybe use similar and equally cool Hollis instead? Hollis Elizabeth is a little less repetitive then Ellis Elizabeth (also TBH I really don’t hate the sound of Ellis Elizabeth).

    Abby’s suggestion of Reeve made be think of Reed/Reid, which is another name that I think fits the bill.

    Congratulations and good luck!

    Reply
  14. keats says

    July 17, 2020 at 10:35 AM

    What about Emery? Checks the traditional-boy-name-turned-girl-name, and last-name-first-name boxes, plus it has a good meaning – industrious. I also like that it contains “Merry” inside. Makes it feel quite happy. Emery Elizabeth. Linden and Emery. Emery Castle+r.

    Reply
  15. Hallie says

    July 17, 2020 at 10:26 AM

    Ellis sounds much like the classic name, Alice. To avoid confusion, you can choice these near-classic girl names like Clara, Grace, Louisa and Violet as her middle name

    Reply
    • C in DC says

      July 20, 2020 at 5:01 PM

      I think you hit on the one point for not using Ellis for a girl – Alice and Ellis are too close and will cause constant name correction.

      Reply
  16. Julia says

    July 17, 2020 at 9:23 AM

    I might continue with a tree/nature theme, as with Linden (such a lovely name!).

    Arden, Cedar, Sequoia, Arbor… Or for something a little more common and familiar, River.

    Reply

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