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!
Jessica writes:
I’m hoping you might have some suggestions. I’m pregnant with baby number two due in December. We have a daughter, 22 months, named Mabel.
We were using the name Mabel for about five years before she was born, so couldn’t imaging another name for her.
However this time round we are struggling for boy and girl names. I don’t want a name in the Top 100 – as a Jessica born in the late ’80s I was never the only Jessica in the classroom!
I like vintage with a bit of sass. A boy name that we are toying with is Chester. I also like Etta for a girl. Nothing is really something we love though.
Any ideas?
Please read on for my response, and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Jessica –
Congrats on your new baby!
When you’ve known your first child’s name forever, it can feel impossible to think of a name for her sibling. But the good news is that you have a good idea of what you’d like. It’s just a question of accelerating the process. We can help with that!
So, we need boy and girl name ideas. They need to be:
- Not currently ranked in the US Top 100 … or heading that way fast.
- Vintage, rather than modern, in style.
- With a little bit of spark!
And, of course, they need to be a good match for Mabel. This makes me think we’re looking for tailored, nickname-proof girl names, rather than something more elaborate.
A SISTER FOR MABEL
Daphne – At #383, Daphne feels familiar, but not common. And it’s a spirited name that’s not tied to any era. (Though this Django Reinhardt piece sounds like the names you’re describing – and it’s called Daphne!)
Dorothy – Dorothy Gale went over the rainbow in 1939. By 1985, Dorothy Zbornak was retired in Miami. But today, it has come full circle, and feels like an adventurous girl’s name again. It currently ranks #586.
Edith – Downton Abbey boosted this name a little, but at #586, it’s still a comfortably underused vintage gem.
Flora – Nora and Cora rank in the US Top 100, but Flora? It’s not even in the Top 1000.
Louise – Louise Brooks stamps this name as effortlessly vintage, but Louise also feels like a classic. It ranks #800.
Ruth – In some ways, Ruth is serious – an Old Testament figure, a Supreme Court Justice. But on a girl, it’s sparky Ruthie – and that’s a name that feels perfectly paired with Mabel. It ranks #265.
Simone – Simone might feel sleek and sophisticated next to friendly Mabel, but I think the names share a tailored style that’s quite compatible. It ranks #733.
Vera – A vintage name that’s on the upswing, but, at #257, remains far behind Ruby or Stella.
A BROTHER FOR MABEL
Archie – As approachable as Mabel, and every bit as vintage, too.
Calvin – Another throwback name that, like Mabel, feels quite current today.
Dexter – If Chester is close, but not quite, how about Dexter?
Felix – It’s tough to beat the meaning of this name: lucky.
Hugo – Arlo, Leo, and Milo are quite stylish. Hugo shares the same ‘o’ ending, but isn’t nearly as popular.
Otis – Originally a surname form of Otto, Otis and Mabel feel like they’re from the same era.
Philip – Maybe a little more buttoned-up than Mabel, but both names are downright fun to say.
Rufus – An ancient Roman name mentioned in the New Testament, Rufus has been out-of-favor in the US for years … but that might make this the perfect choice.
Overall, I love the idea of Archie with Mabel, but I wonder if Archie feels like it needs a formal name? I’ve been toying with Arthur called Archie, but that might be a stretch. Still, I think just Archie works well.
If not Archie, then how about Dexter? Yes, there’s the serial killer. But Dexter has that great, vintage appeal, while the X makes Dex a thoroughly modern nickname.
Back to girls’ names: Etta is great, but I like Edith just a little bit more. I think Mabel and Edith both benefit from strong, bright vowel sounds. Plus, they’re feminine without being frilly, traditional without being too expected, and nickname-proof, but with great built-in nicknames: Edie and Mae.
Etta! I’d absolutely stick with Etta! If you’re not sold, there are lots of other good suggestions from others, Zelda being my favorite for runner up!
Chester is so fun! And very unexpected. I was going to suggest Clyde but someone beat me to it. I also thought of Harvey. Gilbert is a great suggestion, and, if you’re feeling brave, Gordon might be tempting.
My first comment was supposed to be in response to the comment from Iris, below.
I also wanted to suggest Clive or Gilbert and to say I’m sure you could use Etta as a nickname for Harriet.
I love Etta! For a boy, Abby’s list is fantastic. I’m really digging Rufus and Calvin. I’d toss Ira and Carl onto the list as well.
I love Dorothy as a suggestion. I feel like Gloria would work—it’s my daughter’s name and if I had had a second daughter, I would have liked to consider Mabel but it has an odd family situation (step grandma sort of thing) that would have unfortunately made it unusable. BUT I still love it! I also think Dinah would be so perfect with Mabel.
For a boy, I do like Chester and Archie. I feel like Oscar would also be very sweet.
Etta is nice. It reminds me of Etta James – cool and sassy and creative. However, it also shares a lot of sounds with so many other popular E names – Emma, Ella, Ellie, etc. – that are starting to go cold and are somewhat ubiquitous in my area. Would that bother me? I’m not sure. I also love Chester – it has just the right tone. Some other ideas for a sibling to Mabel (some may be repeats):
Hollis
Coral
Celeste
Opal
Hester/Esther (rules out Chester in the future)
Susannah
Marina
Jeanne
Agnes (Aggie)
Nancy
Wilfred
Clarence
Harold
Leonard
Alistair
Marshall
Nigel
Van
Perry
Francis/Frank
Patrick
Eloise, Estelle, Frances, Francine, Hester, Ida, Iris, Lucille, Luella, Lulu, Maxine, Nola, Rosalie, Roxanne.
Baird, Barney, Clyde, Elmer, Frank, Guy, Hal, Hank, Roger, Stuart, Vincent, Warren, Wiley, Zane.
Viola
Opal
Zelda
Irene
Fern
Estelle
Ira
Clark
Seth
Clovis
Gregory
Paul
Antonia or Nina for a girl, Evander or Samson for a boy.
You’ve jusr suggested three of my five children’s names in one swoop! I have a Harriet, Alistair & Edwin!! I see Susannah mentioned by others, so only Curtis is left ..but I realise it’s a bit of a different vintage.
Great suggestions
I love Jean with Mabel. Actually, I love Eugene/Gene, too!