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!
Jemima writes:
I would love your and your readers help choosing a name for our third baby!
Our son is named Andrew Nicholas and our daughter is Marnie Isla. This baby is going to be a girl and I’m just really struggling to find a name I like as much as Marnie.
I love Marnie because it is British (I was born in England and grew up in Scotland), classic and yet unique. I guess I like it so much because I grew up with a unique, yet classic, British name, and I can’t imagine having been one of many with the same name at school growing up. I liked being unique and want that for my children.
So why would I name my son a popular name like Andrew? My husband’s family are of Greek heritage, and it is his family’s tradition to name the first born son in the family after the child’s paternal grandfather. We actually haven’t had any issues with other Andrews his age, and I do really like that St. Andrew is also the patron saint of Scotland.
As for this baby, I have been keeping a list of names I like, but so far there’s nothing I love. I feel like this baby’s name can’t start with an M or have an “y” or “ie” sound at the end of it will be too rhyme-y with Marnie. I don’t love the too frilly/girly names like Amelia, Arabella, Aurora, Ariella, etc. Anything too unusual won’t fit with the classic feel of Andrew and Marnie.
I’ve ruled out Briony and Poppy for that reason. India is taken.
Other options I was considering, but am not sold on (either I don’t love or are too popular) are:
- Blair/Blaire
- Georgia
- Sable
- Scarlett
- Grace
- Briar
- Laine
- Bridget
- Brielle
- Nora
- Selene
We’ll most likely use Evangelia as a middle name (my husband’s great-grandmother – a lot of the women in his family have this middle name), but that’s not definite.
Our last name starts with L and ends with an IS.
Please help!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby responds:
Congratulations on baby three!
My mom’s family follows a similar custom for naming their children, so I completely understand how you ended up with a traditionally-named son. We modified the practice, but our son ended up with a Top 25 classic name, while our daughter’s name is really uncommon.
Naming your third does present some challenges, but I think you’re on the right track. Andrew and Marnie sound a little throwback, kind of vintage, but with a lot of modern energy, too.
In this case, it probably makes the most sense to focus on matching Marnie without getting too close – and it sounds like that’s what you’re focusing on, so that’s a step in the right direction!
We need something that reads a little British, so I’m going to look to the England and Scotland popularity charts for names that are bigger in the UK than the US. We’re avoiding anything too frilly and probably any M names or names ending with the EE sound.
That seems like it should leave lots of options, right? But I can see how hitting that right mark in terms of popularity and sound is tough!
A SISTER FOR MARNIE and ANDREW
FREYA
Even though Freya is borrowed from a Norse goddess name, it’s been big in the UK in recent years. That makes it feel nicely British. And while it’s catching on in the US, it’s yet to crack the Top 100. It’s a perfect style match, but it is possible that you’ll look up in another five years and feel like all the new babies are being name Freya, so I’m not sure it checks the uncommon-enough box.
IDA
Ida, like Marnie, isn’t in the current US Top 1000 – that’s pretty rare! While Marnie spiked in the 1960s, Ida was a nineteenth century favorite. Still, I think they’re both clearly from another time. (There’s an old Gilbert and Sullivan musical titled Princess Ida.) And the name is brief, complete, and easy to wear.
JANE
Midway between popular, classic Grace and current, stylish Laine is Jane. It’s bright and spirited, a little bit of insightful author Jane Austen and acclaimed sharpshooter Calamity Jane, all at once. It’s possible that your Jane might become a Janie, which is closer to Marnie. But otherwise, Jane feels like the perfect bridge between Andrew and Marnie.
LARA
I’m not positive that I’m pronouncing Lara correctly in British English. Sometimes – in all accents – it sounds like Laura. But I’m thinking of Lara, rhymes with Cara and Sarah. And it’s a good mix of familiar and underused, especially in the US.
ORLA
Possibly the most obvious Nora substitute ever. Orla has never been especially popular in the US, but it’s a go-to name in much of Great Britain.
NEVE
Niamh strikes me as Irish-y Irish, at least in the US. Spell it Neve, though, and it’s a rare, tailored possibility.
PIPPA
Poppy might not work, but how about Pippa? Yes, Americans think it’s British thanks to Pippa Middleton. But it does have the same feel as Marnie – casual, but with a long history of use. Sparky and intriguing. And definitely not common in the US!
SYBIL
Because you ruled out Sable, would you ever consider Sybil? Andrew, Marnie, and Sybil sound like they belong on the passenger log for an ocean liner a hundred years ago. They’re polished and poised, and – at least for the girls – names no expects, but everyone recognizes.
Overall, I keep coming back to Sybil and Pippa. Avoiding a Top 1000 name in the US might matter most of all here, and I like the way they sound with Marnie and Andrew, too.
I love Sybil.
Also….
Sabine
Constance
Prudence
Lorna
Carlisle
Lyra
Maeve
Cleo
Phoebe
Margot
Tamsin
Tamar
Schuyler
Avril
Meagara
Meara
Apologies if any of these are repeats. From your list I like Nora and Bridget best. I think Nora especially sounds like a great fit with Andrew and Marnie!
I will also suggest:
Eden
Nell
Elinor – built in nickname of Nor or Nora
Erin
Irene
Sabine
Sabrina
Justine!
Scottish inspiration:
Flora
Heather
Rhona
Dallis
Kenna
Nessa
Skye
Afton
Brenda
Mid-century modern inspiration:
Blythe
Rhoda
Faye
Delta
Pearl
Olive
Twyla
Preppy-chic:
Fallon
Arden
Idina
Quinn
Sutton
Best wishes!
I love Orla!!
Or what about Lola??
I’m late to the party, so my names are mostly affirmations of suggestions from those who commented earlier.
From your list I absolutely LOVE Brielle!
Bliss — I really like this name, but I imagine it sounds sing-songish with your last name.
Elspeth
Fiona
Freya
Gillian
Hannah or Hanna
Heather — falls somewhere between a grandma/mom name, but it’s sweet.
Isobel
Meredith — if you didn’t mind repeating initials, this would be lovely.
Orla
Pearl
Thea — I also like Athena and Althea
Best wishes to you!
I love Andrew and Marnie together! Congratulations on your new baby!
A few suggestions…
Andrew, Marnie, Laurel
Andrew, Marnie, Simone
Andrew, Marnie, Helene
Andrew, Marnie, Elaine
Andrew, Marnie, Odette
Andrew, Marnie, Esther
Andrew, Marnie, Farrah
Andrew, Marnie, Blythe
Andrew, Marnie, Gloria
Andrew, Marnie, Elinor
Ida was one of my first thoughts, too! And Orla is a lovely suggestion.
You mentioned that you like your son’s connection to Scotland through Saint Andrew, and I suspect this might be why Georgia is on your list, as a nod to England’s patron saint. Would you consider using one of these English saints’ names?
Hilda
Tova
Winifred
Mildred
I especially love Hilda with Andrew and Marnie.
Some other possibilities:
Joan
Oona
Edna
Isolde
Hester
Tamsin
Gertrude
Tabitha
Andrew and Marnie make such a charming pair! I love those 2 names together.
My suggestions:
Iris, Thea, Fiona, Greer, Rhona
I really like Greer for you. It’s similar in style and sound to Blair, and meets your other criteria of starting and ending letters, and popularity (or lack thereof). It’s tailored, not frilly. It’s Scottish in origin, while sharing the first 4 letters of “Greece” as a subtle nod to your husband’s heritage.
The only thing that gives me pause is that Greer Evangelia is kind of rhymey in my accent – but it may not be a problem for you.
My grandmother was a Margaret who was apparently called Marna as a child by her Swedish family, so I always assumed Marnie was a Margaret derivative. When I look it up, it’s actually a Scandinavian nickname for Marina, though I doubt many people were ever named Marina. I bet it was a nickname for both Mary and Margaret. That actually makes me wonder if you’d like some of the variants of the classic English names: Sandra (Alexandra): Alice; Bea, Beah (Beatrice, Beatrix); Claire; Cora; Beth, Bethan, Eilish, Eliza, Elspeth, Ilsa/Ilse, Liza (Elizabeth); Katha, Katya, Kit (Elizabeth); Greta (Margaret); Jean, Jennet; Rosa; Tilda (Matilda); Thora (Victoria, as in one of Queen Victoria’s granddaughters)
Sybil was my first thought and then saw Abby suggested it. It gets my vote!
I’m feeling like the sweet spot names I can suggest are names that I can picture and English mum calling at the school gate…
Sloane
Kate
Claire
Harriet
Florence
Esme
Corinne
Nina
Definitely on board with Freya and Imogen. Noting all Imogen’s I’ve ever known called Immy which has the eee sound at the end.
Have you thought of using Evangelia as inspiration? For instance the name Lena can easily be made from Evangelia, Lena is just slightly less popular (in both England and Scotland) than Marnie and Andrew, Marnie and Lena sound so good together. Also, similar to Andrew Lena comes with the royal stamp of approval, the late Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall named her second daughter Lena 5 years ago
Thank you so much everyone for your suggestions so far! I got very excited about Pippa then a Google search revealed that it is slang in Greece for something very “rude”. My husband is Greek and so this is a no go! So sad! Imogen is a maybe. I love hearing your suggestions, so please keep them coming!
Or …
Oona/Una
Zara
Jill
Jean
Maude-repeats the M
Willa
Nell
Kit
Tilda
Tess
Bess
Elle-pronounced with one syllable
Ginger
My first thoughts were Pippa and Cleo, but I think I like the suggestion of Sybil best. Other ideas: Colette
Gwen
Liv
Ada
Olive
Georgia and Pippa (maybe even long form Philippa) seem perfect for you. They’re unquestionably British but with Greek roots. Penelope is another option that feels very Greek but also universal and gives you nickname options Penny. Poppy, and Pippa.
When reading the name Marnie, my first thought was a nickname, and I thought of Pippa. When I read British, and that you liked Poppy but couldn’t use it, Pippa seemed perfect.
Tamsin Evangelia?
My first thought was Imogen, too. Andrew, Marnie & Imogen Evangelia. What do you think?
Sabine
Farrah
Simone
Claudia
Hope
Jules
Pearl
I second Imogen!
My immediate thought was Diana! I also love Daphne but that ends in the e sound so it might not be ideal.
others:
Greta
Pippa
Esme
Georgiana
Flora
Beatrix
Constance
Imogen? Feels like a match to me.