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!
Melissa writes:
I am currently 35 weeks pregnant with our third daughter, looking for suggestions for a sister for Eden and Mariama. I have identified my naming style as liking sweet spot names.
When considering a name for this baby, we don’t want another name starting with M because my husband and I are both M names and Eden would seem out of place. Not opposed to another E name.
I also don’t want a really short name or Mariama would seem out of place.
My last criteria is I don’t want a long name without a nickname. Our top contender right now is Eliza. I haven’t been able to think of many others that I like that my husband is on board with. Thanks for your help!
Please read on for my response, and share your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Melissa –
Congratulations on baby number three!
I think Eliza makes the perfect sister name for Eden and Mariama. It’s an E name like Eden, but a longer name, like Mariama.
And yet, it can be unsatisfying to only have a single name on your list, right?
So let’s think about some more possibilities that split the difference between Eden and Mariama.
I’m going to start with this list of Sweet Spot Girl Names. Not only is it the style you like, but Eden and Eliza are already on the list!
Cecilia – Another long and lovely name that hits the middle ground between not-too-popular and not-too-rare.
Eloise – There are so many great E names, but the only that seems even comparable to Eliza might be Eloise.
Fiona – Fiona may be three syllables, and end with ‘a’ … but somehow it doesn’t strike me as especially frilly or elaborate.
Juliet – Juliet and Eden share a tailored, consonant ending … but both feel more romantic and adventurous, which makes them a sister for Mariama.
Katerina – A spin on classic Katherine, I wonder if Katerina bridges the gap between the more familiar Eden and the rarer Mariama?
Serena – Eden and Serena share lots of sounds, but Serena also sounds like a sister for Mariama.
Tabitha – Like Katerina, Tabitha is a familiar name that’s actually quite rare for girls born today. I think that puts it right between your older girls’ names.
Vivienne – Vivienne shares Eden’s ‘n’ ending, but seems a little more elaborate and dramatic – and closer to Mariama.
While I don’t think I’ve managed to top Eliza at all, my favorite is Juliet. (Or Juliette.) I think it has a feminine, but frills-free sound that reminds me of Eden, but a certain flair that moves it closer to Mariama.
Here’s one final thing to consider: do you imagine this is your last child? Or can you envision adding to your family? (I know, I know, it’s really not fair to ask!) If you think that this child probably completes your family, then I’d probably lean towards an E name, specially Eliza.
But if you hope to add more children in the future – or even think there’s just a possibility of welcoming baby four in the future – then I’d lean strongly towards a non-E name. Because if you’ve only used E and M names, it might be harder for that future child to receive a name starting with a different letter.
But Eden, Mariama, and Juliet? You could use pretty much anything.
Readers, over to you: what would you name a sister for Eden and Mariama?
Eliza and Eloise are both lovely.
I think an E name with three or four syllables and a nickname wound round things perfectly.
In the same vain as Eliza and Eloise are Elena nn Ellie or Eleanor nn Ellie or Nora.
I think Esmerelda nn Esme or Essie and Evangeline nn Evie or Effie fit your sweet spot. Both given names are in 200-500 range and both could follow the vintage nickname trend.
I think there are a couple of rarities that could work for you as well. Eulalia or Eulalie nn Laia or Euphemia nn Effie. Laia feels like a particularly good match for Eden and Mariama, though you could also properly use Eula.
I know it’s not on the Top 1000, but it feels familiar, so here it goes: Verity.
I think it complements the sibset very well: Eden, Mariama and Verity.
absolutely love the suggestion of Verity
I especially like Serena from Abby’s suggestions. It is a name you do not hear frequently but is known and I think it would fit well. I also like Lola, Sylvie, Olive.
I’ve never heard of Miriama as a variant of Miriam. It’s a unique sound, but I see the connection with Eden.
Eliza is a nice addition, but I hope you find one you love! Here are some more suggestions:
Naomi
Lydia
Agnes or Inez
Elspeth
Hester
Eleanora
The first thing that jumps out to me is that there is a style gap between Eden and Mariama. That’s not a bad thing, and they make lovely sister names, but it does mean that a compatible sister name would, ideally, bridge the styles. Eden is short, familiar, and slightly unisex, while Mariama is long, rare, and very feminine. I think that Eliza from your list does a great job bridging the two, as do all of Abby’s suggestions, particularly Serena and Tabitha. I like the suggestions of Gwendolyn and Claudia from other posters. One other quick thought- You said you don’t want a long name without a nickname. If there were good nickname options for a long name, would you be open to one?
Felicity
Adelaide/Adelia/Adelina
Odessa
Sabrina
Celeste
Esmeralda
Lilia
Carlotta
Carina
Helena
Coraline
Gloria
Elissa
Francesca
Frida
Colette
Thalia/Talia
Juniper
I like Serena best from Abby’s list. I think it bridges the gap in sounds and style between Eden and Mariama. I know it is three syllables, but Eliza doesn’t strike me as long. It just looks like one more letter than Eden, and with the same first initial, Mariama seems left out. Eloise does the bridge better in my mind, but that is a stylistic thing.
For some reason, I keep thinking of the name Trinity. Eden, Mariama and Trinity. Again a lot of the same ee/r sounds of the other two names, but each with a distinct identity. It is ranked only 40 spots behind Eden, so in the same zone popularity wise. It has the same religious undertones of Eden and the Maria part of Mariama. Plus, as the third girl, she does make a perfect trifecta.
Best of luck!
Caroline
Charity
Emmelyn (sounds like Emma Lynn and could be spelled various ways)
Gwendolyn
Isabel or Isobel
Lillian
Lydia
Verily — everyone mentions Verity as a virtue name, but I really like Verily better. In the Bible when Jesus says “Truly, truly I say to you …” older translations show that as “Verily, verily.” Verily is also the name of a women’s magazine that has the tagline “Less of who you should be, more of who you are.”
I like Juliet and Cecelia best from Abby’s suggestions. Vivienne is also lovely.
Mariama, Eden and Juliet. Mari, Edie and Jules.
Mariama, Eden and Cecelia. Mari, Edie and Cece.
I do like Eliza but prefer all the kids in a sibset to have their own first initial.
A few additional suggestions:
Daphne
Phoebe
Juniper
Sybil
Aurora (Rory?)
Rosemary (Romy)
Romilly (Romy)
Danica
Ingrid
Selah
Lydia
I like Eliza and Eloise
I also think of Annaliese, Vera, Estelle maybe Talia or Noa? I also think a one syllable name is always great at the end of a list of siblings. Quinn, Joan, Pearl, Claire, Kaye, Leigh
I like Eloise and Juliet from Abby’s list. I might add some other -et style names: Harriet, Georgette, Loretta, Elisabetta. Sabine or Salome (sahl-OH-may) might also appeal.
Claudia?