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!
Kate writes:
We have a 3 year old daughter named Amelia Louise, and our second is due next month. Somehow, I always thought we would have a girl and a boy, so we’d picked out Henry Alexander. But it’s a girl, and as much as I love the idea of Amelia having a sister, I’m kicking myself for using Louise as her middle name, because Louisa is my second-most favorite girl’s name.
My husband says we should use Louisa anyway. It’s not exactly the same name (but it is) and who would know? Or care if they did find out?
But I think my daughter might care that her name is a hand-me-down. And I like so many names that using the same one (really) twice seems wrong.
Here’s our list so far:
- Louisa Avery – Avery was his favorite for Amelia, but it’s not my style. Louisa is my second favorite name, but is it bad to repeat/get so close to repeating Amelia’s middle name?
- Lucille – My mom suggested it. I don’t love it as much, but I can see that it would work.
- Rose/Rosanne/Rosanna – My grandmother’s name was Roseanne, but she went by Rose, and my husband’s grandmothers were named Anna and Rose, which is such a sweet coincidence, but I’m not sure the names are my favorite.
- Penelope – A name that I just started to like. Husband says he likes it better than Lucille/Louisa.
Our last name sounds like Street-plus-er.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your second!
It’s so hard when this happens. Of course giving your first daughter your two favorite names together was the right thing to do! And yet, I know what you mean – with so many amazing choices out there, is it really necessary to repeat? And might your daughter feel like her name is a hand-me-down, too?
Since it’s impossible to guess at your child’s future ideas about her name, let’s begin with this: Amelia Louise is a great name, and so is Louisa Avery. It sounds like that’s the name to beat.
You can see it one of two ways: maybe Louisa feels a little like a hand-me-down or an afterthought. But maybe it’s a name that connects the sisters and they love both having that link.
So let’s try this: imagine you cannot use Louisa at all. Maybe another family member or dear friend has just named her daughter Louisa. Or your husband decides he’s not on board.
Now, what do you choose?
From your current list:
- My sense is that most Lucilles go by Lucy – particularly in this generation. Amelia and Lucy are great together, but do you like Lucy?
- Family names can be great choices, and Rose/Anna have plenty of potential. But it sounds like none of the combinations you’re considering have felt quite right. Would you consider something like Anna Rosalie? Annabelle Rose? Annika Rose?
- Penelope is a great choice. Amelia and Penelope both hit the vintage-but-modern note. Penelope Rose, maybe?
Still, I think it’s worth considering some fresh options – and speaking of vintage-but-modern, let’s aim for that style.
A SISTER FOR AMELIA LOUISE
BEATRICE
Another classic. It sounds just like a sister for Amelia, but it’s far less common.
DOROTHY
As vintage as Amelia, Dorothy is the girl who traveled over the rainbow to Oz – and back. It has a similar rhythm to Penelope.
EDITH
Maybe a little more aggressively vintage than Amelia or Louisa, but with sweet built-in nickname Edie.
EVELYN
Like Amelia, an antique favorite currently near the top of the popularity charts in the US.
JOSEPHINE
Another obvious match for Amelia, and one that reminds me of Lucille on your current list of maybes.
MARGOT
Margaret is the buttoned-up classic; Margot is still traditional, but with a little extra spark.
ROSALIE
Since Rose names are on the table, would Rosalie appeal?
VIVIAN
Another name in the same category as Evelyn. It’s tailored but still nicely feminine.
So yes, you can use Louisa Avery if it still feels like your favorite name, even after all of these suggestions. There’s absolutely no way of knowing if your daughter will view it as a hand-me-down or a sweet shared connection … and just because she feels one way at 8 or 11 or 14 doesn’t mean she’ll still feel that way as an adult.
But if you’d rather start fresh?
Overall, I really do like Penelope from your list. From my list, I think Evelyn is my favorite. Would something like Evelyn Roseanne be an option?
Eleanora Rose
Reusing a name usually works better in a parent-child relationship, rather than a sibling one — father is John Philip and son is Philip James.
I think Penelope Rose is perfection! I also like Abby’s suggestion of Evelyn Roseanne. We have a family member with that first name and a similar middle name that honors multiple family members (sub Ju!i for Rose).
For similar sounds to Louise, the suggestions of Eloise and Lucia are spot on.
You might also consider:
Elise/Elyse
Lillian Rose
Lilou Roseanne
Lucienne Rose — Luci could be a possible nickname
Rosalie — this is one of the first names I thought of and I was pleased to see it suggested by Abby and others. Amelia and Rosalie sound lovely together, and, if you’re blessed with a Henry, his name fits in nicely as well. Rosalie Kate/Katherine would be a good way to honor you.
Best wishes to you!
Annalise Rose
Rosamund Anne
Luella Isabelle (you get Lou + Isa in a diferent way)
Eloise Avery
Why not adding another middle to the oldest sister? Like:
Amelia Louise Avery
And
Louisa Rosalie Anne
Prince Louis has the same first name as his brother’s middle, but with 3 names each (George Alexander Louis and Louis Arthur Charles) I think no one cares, there are enough options for both off them.
I wonder if giving a variation of Amelia for your 2nd daughter’s middle name would help it feel more even? Louisa Amy? Louisa Amelia? Louisa Amity? Just an idea! Maybe a little out there, but I think it would solve the hand me down name problem & make the names feel connected.
I also love Penelope Rose as a back up! I think Eloise is also a really strong option!
I kind of want to say use it but I just can’t.
I suggest instead Eliza
Same sounds, still ending a, still has an L in it and a S:Z sound.
There is no point in my life where I would’ve felt ok about having basically the same first name as my older sister’s middle. The sibling relationship is so intense, and second borns are often mostly in hand me downs, being compared to older sibling, being referred to as “oh you’re Amelia’s sister”- why add to it?
You have a lot of lovely options, including ones already on your list.
Amelia & Rosalie was going to be my first suggestion!
Imogen
Claudia
Cecily
Odette
Vivian
Matilda
Francine
Sylvie
Rosalind
Caroline
Estelle
Stella
Tess
Livia
Pearl
Lucinda
Leonora
Willa
Jemima
Clarice
Phoebe
Lucia
Would you consider Lucia? Depending on the pronunciation you choose it can sound very much like Louisa, but is distinctly its own name.
Or perhaps Eloise?
Another vote for Penelope Rose!
A couple of others:
Rosanna Lucille
Rose Annabelle
Harriet Rose
I know of a sibling set where the oldest daughter is called Hannah Christine, whose middle name was chosen for a family member. Then when they had a second daughter they made her first name Christina because the name was still a favourite/important to them. I think it works nicely! It connects the sisters in a special way. It’s a bit of a funny fact to discover about them but ultimately I think it’s a positive and not a negative to have the repeat (especially with slight variation like Louise/Louisa) between the sisters.
I’d try to shift “hand down” to “connection”! I know a few sibling sets where all girls have the same middle name, so it’s not far fetched. Plus Louisa is a fantastic name! That said, I LOVE Penelope, and Penelope Rose would be gorgeous! I love Beatrice and Josephine too.