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!
Meg writes:
My husband and I are expecting our second child, a girl, in February.
Our daughter is Claire Elizabeth. Elizabeth is my middle name, and my mother’s first name. We both liked Claire.
While I love her name, I sometimes wish that we’d found something a little more different or exciting. She has friends with names like Eirlys, Gwendoline, Micah, and Aspen. It’s not that I like any of those names specifically, but I see that we had more choices than we really thought about.
While my husband is open to lots of names, he doesn’t share my sense that we missed out a little, and he isn’t interested in the names I’ve suggested so far, like Echo and Prairie. He thinks they sound kind of crazy on their own, and especially not with a sister named Claire.
Can you and your readers help us think about names that might be a little more creative, but not super out there?
Our last name sounds like Johnson with a BR.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
Claire Elizabeth is a timeless, sophisticated name that will serve your daughter well throughout her life.
Still, I see what you mean. Sometimes our worries about names being too different pushes us to choose names that are safer than we might otherwise wish. That’s not to say that you should’ve named her Dewdrop or Moonbeam or Hephzibah, but I can appreciate the urge to consider a wider list of possibilities this time around.
I think one of the keys is recognizing that there are lots of different directions to go.
- You can choose an equally classic name that’s much less common. Frances, Helen, Marie, Meredith, and Pearl are all traditional, familiar names – just much less popular in this generation than Claire.
- Or consider an equally tailored name that’s a little more modern. Nature names like Wren and surname names like Sloane strike a more contemporary note, but still sound right when said next to Claire.
- Keep the first name classic, but choose a more daring middle. Since Elizabeth is a family name, could there be another, bolder family name – like a surname, nickname, or another unexpected choice?
I’m not sure which direction to suggest, but so let’s try a few different things.
BAY
We’re used to women called Kay, and a new generation answers to River and Ocean. So how ’bout Bay? It’s bold, but not so dramatic that it couldn’t be a name for Claire’s sister.
GEMMA
The Italian word for jewel, and a name that brings to mind long-time favorite Emma, while still sounding memorably distinct.
LAINE
I like Laine with Claire – visually similar, but they sound distinct. Bonus: even though Laine reads like a smooth, modern surname, it also brings to mind the traditional Elaine.
LIV
Olivia is the top name in the US, and popular across the English-speaking world. But Liv is a separate, Scandi name meaning “life.” It’s brief, sharp, and just a little bit different.
MABEL
I wonder if you’d like something sparky and vintage like Mabel? It’s a departure from Claire, but only slightly.
MAUDE
A medieval form of Matilda, Maude and Claire sound like sisters to me – but no one expects to meet a baby named Maude.
SCOUT
This would be all sporty, capable word name. Except, of course, To Kill a Mockingbird makes it literary. And I think they sound great together.
VERA
A vintage name with two great meanings – faith and truth – Vera seems like an unexpected match that works nicely.
Overall, I love the look of Claire and Laine, but I’m more drawn to a combination like Claire and Gemma. Bonus points if Gemma’s middle name is a family name that’s a little less traditional. Or maybe even Maude? Claire Elizabeth and Maude Madeline could be perfect.
It really does depend on how you’d like to turn the dial on different.
Some names that come to mind are Lena, Penelope, Lucy, Audrey, Brynn and Elise.
I love the name Claire! In fact, I chose it for my daughter’s middle name. Her first name is Meredith. As you can imagine, I think Meredith would be a lovely name to pair with big sister Claire. My other daughters have Queens of England names, so Meredith was a “bold” choice for us!
Other names I like with Claire:
Athena — Thea is a possible nickname.
Esme — EZ-may
Francesca — Lots of nickname options; I’m partial to Ceska (actually Česká, pronounced CHEH-skuh), Chess, Chessa, or Chessie.
Melanie
Phoebe
Tessa — I also like Tess and Therese/Thérèse, which could lead to Tessa or Tess as nicknames.
Zara
Love the suggestions of Gemma, Wren, Marie, Pearl, and Maud. Any of these would capture the classic grace of Claire plus a little something daring.
Consider maybe too:
Irene
Hollis
Delphine
Zelda
Phaedra
Allegra
Tabitha or
Fern
I personally like the unexpected classics train of thought to pair with Claire. Perhaps Ida Josephine, Alma Violet, Agnes Christabel, Olive Irene, Sylvie/Sylvia Lenore, Ada Louise
Some ideas here.
Claire Elizabeth and…
Polly Josephine
Mabel Penelope
Iris Alexandra
Louise Antonia
Flora Hermione
Tess Cordelia
I agree that Claire Elizabeth is timelessly beautiful. If it were me I’d go for Jane or Grace. Another name that no one would be able to place in a certain generation.
But I do completely feel you on the tempting alternates – the more classic set, the more elaborate set, the more daring set. I’ve made up a few imaginary alternates for my girls. And over the years, they’ve let me know their current ‘wish I was a .’ But if you’ve been thoughtful on you naming, I think you’ve just gotta trust your choice. Honestly meeting a Claire these days feels more refreshing than an Aspen.
I absolutely love Maude on Abby’s list. (It’s 100% thanks to Inbestigators.) I think Claire & Maude give the set a British feel. Gemma is similar. How about Orla, Quinn, Nell, Iris, Holly, Ivy, Nola, Resz, Lucy, Cate?
My oldest is named Claire Elizabeth. Her sisters are Julianna Grace (we call her “Annie”) and Olivia Kathryn.
Lots of different options. I would probably take a look at the 2022 U.S. popularity stats and pay close attention to names with between 200 and 500 uses. You will have heard of them but they are still somewhat unusual.
Here are some I might suggest: Ada, Adele, Annalise, Beatrix, Belinda, Bethany, Blythe, Bronwyn, Brynn, Cecile, Cecily, Celia, Celine, Coral, Daphne, Delia, Elowen, Emmaline, Estelle, Evalise, Faye, Fenella, Flora, Genevieve, Giselle, Haven, Helen, Helene, Hope, Irene, Iris, Josephine, Juliette, Laurel, Lillian, Lina, Louise, Lucille, Lucinda, Maeve, Marie, Mathilde, Mirabelle, Moira, Natalie, Olive, Opal, Phoebe, Rosalind, Rosalyn, Rose, Rosemary, Ruth, Talia, Thea, Una, Vivian, Xanthe, Yvette, Yvonne, Zora
I love your first daughter’s name, but I understand the need for something less safe, so here are a few ideas:
Ruby
Fiona
Luella
Marigold
Petra
Gianna
Sienna
Zara
Phoebe
Naomi
For the middle, something long like Elizabeth, but a little more unexpected:
Genevieve
Mirabelle
Beatrice
I think something like Sienna Genevieve works with Claire Elizabeth: different but within the same classic lines.
How about Matilda “Tilly”, Tabitha, Florence, Alice, Beatrice or Beatrix, Betsy or Betty, Stella, Maeve, Manon, or Sabine?