Name Help: Welcome Sophie Catherine

UPDATE: We didn’t choose another C first name! We went with Sophie Catherine, so she does have a C initial, but that wasn’t decided until after we’d gotten past the idea of a C name at all. We’re hoping to add to our family again, and if we get stuck, we’ll be back for more help. Thanks to everyone!

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.

But I feel like we could really use some reader help here, so let’s open it up: what would you name a sister for Cooper and Chloe?