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!
Shayla writes:
We’re expecting our second girl. My husband and I are already struggling with name options.
Growing up as a Shayla, I always appreciated having a unique name that wasn’t spelled weird or difficult to pronounce. I was guaranteed to be the only one in my class and I took a little pride in that. My husband’s name also less common, and he likes it, too.
Our first daughter is named Callen Olivia.
Callen was formed from a combination of two grandfathers’ names (Calvert and Owen) and her middle name we just wanted to be very girly to help balance the more masculine first name. Callen seemed mostly unique (especially for a girl) but not totally out-there – so far the only one in her peer group!
I am now stuck on the name Camie for our second daughter. It’s a combination of two grandmothers’ names (Carol and Jimmie), but I’m not sold on it being a first name. Something about it feels a touch juvenile but I do love the nickname Cam.
My question revolves around possible first names for Camie (or Cammie) as a middle name. I think it’s the “-ie” sound I’m having a hard time matching names with.
Or do you think we should just go for Camie as her first name?
We are very open to a variety of names including gender neutral ones, especially with Camie sounding so feminine.
Please read on for my response and share your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
This is a concern that comes up ALL THE TIME. Somehow we perceive names ending with -y/-ie as a little too cute. That “ee” ending sound marks them as nicknames.
And I share that perception!
Except it’s completely inaccurate.
Mary ends with the ‘ee’ sound but there’s nothing flimsy about the classic, enduring name. Mary Shelley, Mary Cassatt, and Mary J. Blige are here to assure us that the name is all kinds of fierce.
Is Mary the exception?
Not really.
Depending on your language and moment in time, enduring favorites like Lucy, Sophie, Audrey, Amy, Lillie/Lily, Sallie/Sally, and Nancy have all been given – and worn – by strong women. That list barely scratches the surface.
Camie, I think, fits right in.
That said, I wonder if the spelling Cammie might be a little easier? When spelled with a single M, I’m tempted to rhyme Camie with Jamie.
Plus, there’s a lovely symmetry between the sisters’ names: Callen and Cammie. Six letters. Both formed from two grandparents’ names.
That said, I agree that Cammie feels more feminine than the clearly unisex Callen. But it’s not frilly, either.
My suggestion would be to pair Camie/Cammie with a more elaborate, feminine middle like:
Aurelia – A golden name, similar to Olivia in style and rhythm, but still distinct.
Elena – A classic, feminine choice, the romance language answer to enduring Helen.
Genevieve – Effortlessly French – Saint Genevieve is the protector of Paris – Genevieve feels feminine, but with the sharpness of those V sounds.
Juliette – A great middle name, a little bit literary and traditional, but still very current in the 2020s.
Lucia – As a given name, Lucia can be a headache. (Is it loo-shuh, loo-cee-ah, or loo-chee-ah?) But as a middle, it’s a lovely option.
Magnolia – An elaborate, floral middle that balances out Cammie’s more modern style.
Simone – Spare and sophisticated.
Victoria – Regal and strong, Victoria makes a standout middle name choice.
Cammie Victoria is my favorite, though I think this style of name offers endless possibilities.
IF NOT CAMIE/CAMMIE …
Would you consider swapping the names Carol and Jimmie to arrive at Micah? Or Meeka?
The first spelling is a traditionally masculine name with unisex roots; the second is more clearly feminine, but with an international pedigree.
I’m not sure I like it better than Cammie/Camie, but if that “ee” sound is a dealbreaker for you, Micah/Mika/Meeka might be another option.
I like Abby’s suggestion of Micah. (Could also be spelled Mica, like the minerals.) I like the way the hard “c” sound in Micah coincides with the same sound in Cullen.
I also like another commenters suggestion of Camille, with Cammie as a nn, and agree Cammie makes more sense. I would assume “Camie” was pronounced to rhyme with “Amy.”
I love Abby’s suggestion of Micah / Meeka! The hesitation I see with Cammie is Callen may at some point be called Callie and that’s way too matchy. I agree Cammie not Camie which may be mispronounced as Kay-mee.
I was also thinking of other smooshes that lean unisex. Lots of good ideas by other posters. How about Raleigh (raw-Lee)? I really like that with Callen, and a similarly frilly middle name as sister – Raleigh Madeline or Raleigh Josephine?
BTW I love meaningful name tweak / smooshes! Probably my favourite ‘style.’ It’s a good challenge and so rewarding.
Carol and Jimmie could combine to make
Cammie
Romy
Ari(e)
Carrie
Miró
Mira
Merol / Meryl
Midge / Madge
Kimmie
Irma
Margie
Emma / Emmie
Era
Aril / Ariel
Carol and Jimmie aren’t the easiest names to combine, but it’s not an impossible task.
I agree with Abby that Cammie is more intuitive (and phonetically accurate) than Camie, which to my eye and ear rhymes with Jamie/Mamie. I also like that the double m in Cammie mirrors the double m in Jimmie.
Camille, Cameron or Camryn are possible names that lead to Cammie for everyday use.
Callen & Cammie, Callen & Camille, Callen & Cameron, Callen & Camryn.
Other possibilities that don’t necessarily lead to Cammie:
Carmel — accent on the second syllable. Drawback: easily confused with caramel. Carmel is almost always connected to Catholicism, so it may or may not work for your family.
Coralie — doesn’t have much of a connection to Jimmie.
Jamilla — most frequently pronounced with a J as in Jimmie.
Jarmila — often pronounced in Central and Eastern European countries as Yarmila or Harmila in Latin countries.
Micah — I really like Micah for a girl.
Miriam or Mariam — could easily become Mimi or Mira or Mira.
Roma or Romy
Best wishes to you!
I’m sure you’ve thought of and this but I really love Cameron nn Camie!
Love the suggestion of Meeka! Especially as it means you aren’t repeating ‘Ca-‘. The more I say it, the more I like it :-).
How about Campbell?
I’m thinking either Jill, Jewel or Jolene for Jimmie + Carol
I live the suggestion of Micah. The only Callen I know is a young man, so it feels like giving your second daughter too feminine a name would be unbalanced. Micah Simone or Micah Sabine would be darling!
I was also wondering if Jimmie was a nickname for something? Are there more names to work with? Or what about giving your daughter the initials CJ or JC for her grandmothers? Colby Jane/James? Jude Coraline?
Cameo?
Familiar word and spelling. Unusual as a given name, but quite lovely. Overall less nicknamey in sound, but with all the sounds of Camie. And allows very naturally for Camie/Cammie and Cam as nicknames.
Callen and Cameo?