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!
Mikayla writes:
We have two boys, Damian John and Dominic Joseph. We are now expecting a third child. If it was a boy, we were going to name him Dylan James.
I’m so excited to be having a daughter. But I’m really torn about the initials. Our girl name, for both Damian and Dominic, was always Piper Josephine. I don’t want to use Josephine now because we used Joseph already, and I can’t find a middle name I like as much as Josephine to go with Piper.
My husband likes the idea of Piper James, but I think that it’s a little masculine together. My mom likes it better spelled Jaymes/Jaimes or even Piper Jamie/Jaimee.
Part of me would really like a D name, with or without a J middle name, but I can also see that we’re kind of stuck, because there’s nothing I’ve heard that I like more than Piper, but I’m not sure that Piper is the one, either.
I think we’re looking for more ideas, if you can help!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
A few things stand out:
First, our original name list doesn’t always feel right a few years later. And why should it? We’re more experienced parents. We know SO many more children! And names are subject to style trends. What feels fresh and different in 2018 can feel kind of expected now.
Second, two D names is a coincidence. Three is a pattern. I’ve borrowed this rule from Swistle. Damian, Dominic, and Piper are great together! Welcome a fourth child named Avery or Sebastian and I wouldn’t think anything of it. But name your children Damian, Dominic, and Delilah, and I feel like you’re obligated to use D names for any future children, should that question arise.
Third, I do think Piper James works. It might not work for you – and that’s a completely legit feeling! But Piper is almost exclusively used for our daughters. (In 2022, it was given to over 2,700 girls versus just eight boys.) And James has become common enough as a girl’s middle name that it wouldn’t raise any eyebrows. All that said, I know what you mean. It works, but it does sound unisex, rather than feminine. Changing the spelling to Jaymes/Jaimes or even switching it to Jamie doesn’t change it enough.
I’d propose the following: make Piper the name to beat. Then let’s look at a list of D names and a list of anything-but D names.
A SISTER FOR DAMIAN and DOMINIC: D NAMES
- DANICA
- DAPHNE
- DAVINA
- DELANEY
- DELIA
- DELPHINE
A SISTER FOR DAMIAN and DOMINIC: THE OTHER 25 LETTERS
- EDEN
- GENEVIEVE
- JUNIPER
- MADELYN
- MARLOWE
- PENELOPE
COMBINATIONS THAT WORK WITH PIPER
- PIPER EVELYN
- PIPER GENEVIEVE
- PIPER JANE
- PIPER JESSAMINE
- PIPER JUNE
- PIPER VIVIENNE
SUGGESTIONS
My top pick is Piper Genevieve, a little bit different but still so close to the name that has always topped your list. And nicely feminine, too!
If not Piper Genevieve, I love the sound of Daphne for your family. It’s not quite the same style, but I think it’s the same feeling as Piper. Damian, Dominic, and Daphne manage to be lots of D sound, but still not too matchy or confusing to say … I think.
And from the not-Piper, not-D names category? My vote goes to Juniper. And I especially love the idea of something like Juniper Delaney, Juniper Delia, or Juniper Danielle that gives you her brothers’ initials reversed.
Or maybe that’s too cute?
I always come up with names before I read Abby’s and others comments. The first name I thought of was Demetria. I like the name and it follows the pattern of D – vowel – m, as in your sons’ names. Demi, with the accent on the second syllable, is a great nickname.
Other D-names I like:
Damaris
Daphne
Delia
Delphine
I really like Piper!
Piper Janae
Piper Jolie — this is probably my favorite.
Piper Juliet
Best wishes to you!
I think your existing name ideas are great options!
Piper Josephine is adorable, and if you still like the way it sounds, I don’t think your second son’s middle name should preclude you from using it.
And Dylan James could totally be used for a girl, if you’re not saving it for a potential future son. Though if you find Piper James too masculine, maybe Dylan James isn’t your taste?
Some variations on these options:
Piper Juliette
Piper Jacqueline
Piper Julianne
Dylan Joy
Dylan Juliana
Dylan June
I also like the idea of reversing the initials to JD for a girl:
Julia Delphine
Joely Diane
Joyce Dorothea
What handsome boy names! Daphne is a great suggestion. They have a real pattern that can be played off of in quite a few fun ways… D initial, 3 syllables, M middle, Mi middle, 6,7,(8), J middle name, Jo middle name, 1,2,(3) syllables. Fun suggestions that play off a few of those… Firsts: Elodie (“D” at the end), Rosalind, Camilla, Claudia (strong D), Melody, Demi, Danica, Diana, Demetria, Delphine, Delfina, Emilia, Romily, Samantha, Naomi, Noemi, Adira, Andrea, Tabitha, Marigold, Brigid. Middles: Joy (so perfect), Joyce, Jolie, Jocelyn, Joss, Jordan, Jamie, Julia, Juliet, Jillian, Jacqueline. Elodie Joy (strong D, Jo middle), Juliet Diana (flip the DJ pattern to JD), Rosalind Joss (ends in D, 3 syllables, Jo), Camilla Jordan (3 syllables, Mi, Jo biblical middle), Adira Joyce (3 syllables, strong D, Jo middle), Demi Jacqueline for a few examples. Congrats on your daughter!
I just thought of Jacqueline. It’s a feminine form of James (Jacques being the French equivalent of James), echoes Josephine in its start and end, and is a nice complement to Piper.
Damian John, Dominic Joseph and Piper Jacqueline?
What about Poppy James?