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!
Alexis writes:
Help! Our third child and second daughter will be here in August, and we cannot agree on a name.
We have two children: Cooper Joseph and Chloe Marie.
When we named Chloe, I really didn’t want another C name.
My family is wonderful, but we all have A names, because my parents just happened to both have A names, and I didn’t feel like I wanted to do anything like that with my own family. But we just loved the name best of all and it fit everything to do with her birth.
Cooper was almost Dylan, and if this baby was a boy, I really liked the sound of Deacon. But there aren’t any D names we really like for a girl. My husband has suggested Daisy, but I think it’s a little too cute. I do like Eloise, but my husband isn’t sure.
I have an A name and my husband is Bryce, so the C names, and then D, E, etc. do sort of make sense. Plus, our last name starts with Z. (It’s German and rhymes with Timmerman.)
We hope to have another baby after this one, so it feels kind of urgent to decide if we’re going to use C names or not.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your third!
This is a familiar challenge, isn’t it?
I think the answer is very clear in this case: no. Nope, nah, don’t-give-it-another-thought.
Here’s why:
- There’s no Chloe name equivalent this time around. You’re not saying, “We love the name Cordelia or Constance, but can we use it?” Instead, you’re saying that you don’t love any name and feel a little hemmed in by this question.
- You can imagine having more children. If you were certain that this baby completed your family, maybe another C name would feel right. But there’s no C name you love for baby three … so if you settle now, the situation could be even more challenging for future children.
That said, if a C name – or D or E name – rises to the top, then great! (In fact, I’ll suggest some.)
So we’re working with girl names like Chloe, Daisy, and Eloise.
They’re current favorites with history. But they’re complete names, too. It’s important to stay on the more substantial/not too cute side of the line.
A SISTER FOR COOPER and CHLOE
CORA
The first – and really only – C name that feels like a fit. It has a distinct starting sound and ending sound, too, and while it’s still a C name, I don’t have any trouble saying Cooper, Chloe, and Cora.
EDEN
Whether you’re religious or not, Eden suggests the ancient garden. But the name feels fresh and modern, too. It’s a tailored possibility that sounds like an obvious sister name for Chloe and Cooper.
GEORGIA
This name is a crowd-pleaser. Almost everybody likes Georgia, even if it’s not quite for them. I think it works well with your kids’ names, while striking out in a slightly different direction, too.
LAINEY
Eloise makes me think of Elaine, but Lainey feels like the 2023 update. Laine-called-Lainey is another option.
LYLA
Chloe and Lyla share an L sound, but it’s a very subtle link. Lyla is the most popular spelling of this name at the moment, though Lila and Lilah also rank.
PHOEBE
Another Greek name, Phoebe sounds like it could appeal if you also love Chloe.
SADIE
Strictly speaking, Sadie is short for Sarah. But that is fairly obscure knowledge these days. Instead, Sadie is an independent name with plenty of spirit.
SOPHIE
Top Ten powerhouse Sophia is an elegant choice. Drop a syllable, and Sophie feels far more approachable – even though it’s really just the French equivalent of the name. Sophie is also slightly less expected. (For something that turns the dial even farther towards unusual, there’s Sylvie, again a French name, this time the equivalent for Sylvia.)
Overall, I’m most drawn to Eden and Sophie. They’re names that balance traditional roots with a modern sensibility – just like your older kids’ names. And I especially like Sophie with your rhymes-with-Timmerman last name.
Cooper
Chloe
& Dylan
Delia
I suggest another short name with a diferent initial:
Ruby
Iris
Maeve
Luna
It sounds like you didn’t love being an all-A-named family, and the ABC pattern seems like the same feeling, so I’d suggest breaking the pattern now.
Sophie and Lyla/Lila sound great.
A couple other suggestions…
Lucy
Stella
Ruby
Cooper, Chloe
Delia/Dahlia
Dylan (future son) or Eden (future daughter
I really like a D name for this girl — if you find one you like! I happen to love Delia and Dahlia
Two names that I don’t think have been suggested yet are Darcy and Elise. I think either one sounds great in the sibset, and they are similar to Daisy and Eloise.
Rosa, Delia, Lydia, Jenna, Zora, Tula/Tallulah, Lola, Tilda, Kennedy, Odessa, Elena, Nora, Nicola, Thea, Enya, Maya, Lois, Talia, Tessa, Zina, Nova, Katya, Vera, Viveca, Viola, Ireni, Lisi, Maret, Mimi, Naomi, Penny, Polly, Rina, Rhoda, Sibyl, Thora,
Dahlia! So pretty and less flimsy than Daisy. Cooper, Chloe and Dahlia
Although I love a good naming pattern, I agree with Abby that this is a good opportunity to blaze a new trail. Terrific suggestions – I especially like Sophie!
Some other possibilities inspired by the names on your “Maybe” list…
Dylan – It was on your list for your son, but it works beautifully for a girl, as well!
Names like Daisy:
Daphne
Hazel
Poppy
Ivy
Alice
Ruby
Rose “Rosie”
Names like Eloise:
Elliot
Louise
Ellis
Emery
Elodie
Lucy
And some additional names that might fit your style:
Sutton
Greer
Blake
Dakota
Hayden
My personal favorites from this blog post are: PHOEBE and GEORGIA, in that order.
Best of luck! x
Ray
What about Zara? Chloe and Zara have a lot of personality. And Zara “Tmmerman” is pretty awesome.
I do really love Cora. It has Cooper and Chloe’s long O sounds and really sounds great with both the sunset and your last name. A future boy name could be Cormac. I love Cormac. Cooper, Chloe, Cora and Cormac. Or Collin could work too. Or Cole. Goodness C is a great initial!
I do like Josephine nn Posey for you… It strikes me as the compromise between Daisy and Eloise. Josephine/Posey “Tmmerman”.
And for one last option, what about Cynthia? I know it feels retro right now, but it is an awesome name. “Moon goddess” … Maybe she’ll be born under a full moon!! While Cynthia has the history of Eloise, Cindy is much more like Daisy.
Anyways. I agree that if no C names feels right, move on. But also don’t discount C if it feels right.
Congratulations on your number 3!
Cooper, Chloe, Daphne, Deacon. Perfect :).
My first thought for you was Sylvie.
Love the idea of ABCCDE or ABCCBA!
For D names, Daphne, Delia, or Delilah would work well with Chloe and Cooper.
For B names, Brooke, Blair, or Bryn/Brynn would all be a good fit with siblings Chloe and Cooper.
I agree that you should rule out a C name, especially since you don’t even have one on your radar that you even like. Plus I think using another C name kinda boxes you in if you do have a fourth baby. I also think you should disregard the ABCCDE idea too. It’s a very subtle coincidence that I don’t think is worth sticking to if it’s making your naming parameters even harder.
I love Abby’s suggestion of Eden and Lyla/Lilah. I also wanted to suggest Hallie, Tessa, and Jade.
Ooh love the suggestion of Daphne! I was definitely coming here to support the ABCCD pattern!
Della
Dallas
Delta
Davis (I know a girl Davis and she rocks it)
Dot
You could also use a B, especially if you’ll have another (ABCCBA):
Blythe
Briar
Beatrix
Brynn
Bellamy
Brooke
Bonnie
I agree – avoid another C name if you don’t want to feel pressured to use another one if you have a fourth.
Of the names Abby mentioned my favorite is Sylvie.
I think let go of C and pick literally any name you like.
If you choose C you’re even more locked in later.
I like the idea of A-B-C-D names. I tried to do 1-2-3 syllable names for my kids, in order, with some success. A subtle theme like that is fun, but not a big deal if it’s changed with a subsequent child’s arrival.
If not Daisy, how about Dahlia? Another flower name, but sounds a bit more weighty.
I like Daphne with your sibset too. Chloe & Daphne sound sweet together. I like Abby’s suggestion of Eden, too.
Twice is a coincidence, three is a pattern. Since you clearly do not want to box yourself in this would be the child to not use a C name, especially since you don’t seem to have a C name that you like this time anyway.
I would suggest ignoring any other pattern, the ABC thing was pure coincidence and I don’t think it should be a hard line.
Lacy
Iris
Naomi
Violet
Gwen
Willow
Dahlia
Elowen
Ivy
I agree that C names seem out. If you had a long list of favorites you already liked then it might be an easier choice. (My favorites are Casper, Callum, Charlotte, Caroline, Clementine.) Georgia is my favorite of the suggestions. Deirdre seems like a possibility. Eloise would share the ‘o’ sound with her siblings, and be even closer if she had “Lou” as a nickname.