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!
Amanda writes:
We love our 4 year old daughter’s name, Everly Josephine. We call her Evie and even EJ and Evie Jo, but those last ones are mostly at home.
I do get kind of sulky, though, because I thought we were choosing something really different. And instead it’s the kind of name that everyone loves, and everyone else is using, too. There are two other baby Everlys in our neighborhood, and people keep mentioning more and more to me.
Because we’re Mike and Amanda, our names feel very ordinary, and I wanted something a little special for our kids.
My husband isn’t as bothered about this. His name suggestions for Everly were Julie/Julia and Sarah. Those are still the names he mentions, but he’s mostly willing to let me choose.
Evie’s middle name comes from my dad and his dad and my brother. (Which is part of the reason we’d never use it as a first name. There’s a good chance I’ll have a nephew Joseph IV someday.) We almost used just Jo, but decided the longer name was what we liked better.
Other names we considered for Everly: Penelope, Eliza, Teagan, Kenley, Coraline, Lucia.
There isn’t really an obvious middle name this time. Mike is a junior, so we talked about Michelle. But I feel like I might’ve chosen Josephine even if it wasn’t a family name, and Michelle would only be for my husband.
Can you help us find something that works with Everly, but maybe isn’t the next Sophia?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
It’s so frustrating when that One Perfect Name turns out to be everybody else’s favorite, too! But it can sometimes happen fast. Everly didn’t even rank in the US Top 1000 in 2011. I’m guessing you chose the name around 2016, when it was rising ast – but not yet in the Top 100. Now it’s ranked #43, and lots of different spellings are also catching on. Everleigh ranks #94!
The good news? While this can happen to anyone – and any name – Everly’s skyrocketing popularity is the exception, not the norm. It often takes a decade or more for a name to climb from the 400s to just outside the Top 100. Plenty of names never make it that far!
Let’s take a look at your current list:
Penelope comes in at #25. While it’s a great match for Everly, if popularity is bothering you, I’d probably skip it.
Likewise, Eliza sits just beyond the current Top 100. So while I think it would work well, it might be worth looking elsewhere.
That leaves Lucia (#163), Teagan (#192), Coraline (#645), and Kenley (not in the current Top 1000).
I think all four names have potential, particularly Teagan. While Teagan shares many qualities with Everly – they’re both surname names with a unisex vibe, but used primarily for girls – it’s in a different category when it comes to popularity. Teagan reached the US Top 200 in 2016, but it’s plateaued there. In fact, the name fell to #192 in 2020. It’s almost certainly not the next Everly.
If not Teagan, then what?
While I don’t think you have to choose another surname-style name, it sounds like you’re drawn to high-energy choices.
ANNIKA
Thoroughly feminine, Annika comes from the classic Ann. At first, that feels about a million miles from Everly, style-wise. But the bouncing, energetic sound of Annika feels like a match.
GEORGIA or GEORGETTE
Georgia is a Top 200 favorite. Georgette doesn’t crack the current Top 1000. But both of them sound like sisters for Everly.
JUNIPER
A nature name that mashes up the sounds of vintage June and 70s chart-topper Jennifer.
LAINE OR LAINEY
I’ve seen Delaney suggested as a sister name for Everly, and it feels like an obvious choice. And yet … I wonder if Laine or Lainey might be a better fit?
MARLOWE
Just like Everly plays off traditionally feminine Eve, Eva, and Evelyn, Marlowe brings to mind Margot and Marlo. It’s just inside the current Top 1000, making it familiar but uncommon.
POPPY
Vibrant Poppy matches Everly’s vibe.
PRESLEY
Another surname name … and one that repeats the -ley ending. Maybe not ideal? But I do think Presley is a distinctive and memorable surname name, both because of the sound and because, well, Elvis.
WINSLET
While we’re in celebrity surname territory, I’ve always thought that borrowing Kate Winslet’s surname as a first would be brilliant. It’s strong but playful, and nicknames Winnie and Win are fun, too.
A note on Michael-related middles:
Instead of Michelle, would you consider Michaela or Micaela? It’s another traditional feminine form of Michael, and while we’re used to seeing it spelled Makayla/McKayla/Mikaila, maybe hewing closer to Michael makes it more clearly an honor name? Micah might be another possibility.
I’m kind of loving Teagan Micaela, and because I’m wild about alliteration, Marlowe Micaela speaks to me, too.
On middles, Penelope and Michaela are style matches for Josephine. I’d also suggest Amal, Amalie, or Amaya as a subtle nod to Amanda.
I’ve loved many of these, but with these nicknames: Aveline “Avi”, Regina “Reggie”, Minerva “Minnie”, Delphina “Fia”. So fun to see your nickname preferences! In the same vein as Regina, is Aurelia nicked Goldie. Love Dahlia nicked Dolly!
Teagan Michaela hands down – with any of the spellings. Everly and Teagan are great together and both girls would get a variant of a family name.
Mika and even Mila are possible honor names for Michael. Or you could use your middle name. Some possible sister names for Ev3rly:
Ainsley
Tierney
Mallory
Darby
Sheridan
Kerrigan
Lorelei
Keegan
Campaigning for a nod to YOU in the middle! Assume the kids have his surname, so he’s covered. If not Amanda, then Amelie / Amelia / Mandy? How do you like:
Tallulah ‘Lulu’ Amelie
Delilah ‘Della’ Amelie
Imogen ‘Mo’ Amanda
Kennedy ‘Kiki’ Amelia
PS. My eldest also has a name that turned out to be way more common than I’d like. I was very sulky (such a good word) for the first few years of her life. But now she’s 8 and we’ve never had another in her class or activities. I still LOVE her name for her.
Would you consider naming her after you and your husband?
I like Michaela, Micah, and (biblical queen’s name) Michal for you. In fact, I could see Micah as a first name. It’s got zip, the sounds are on trend, and it’s not super common. Outside the top 100 for boys, inside the top 1000 for girls.
Everly Josephine and Micah Amandine
Everly Josephine and Micah Aimee
Everly Josephine and Micah Amor
My first reply to Iris didn’t show up, so hopefully this doesn’t create a duplicate comment.
Pepper could work as a nickname for Phillipa and sounds adorable with Evie.
Gemma is also cute with Evie. For something longer you could go with Jessamy/Jessamine nn Jem/Jemma.
Marlowe Micaela is GORGEOUS, and Marlowe nn Loie is adorable. Loie would also work well for Heloise.
Another option for honoring Dad could be Mary-Kate nn Mikey, like Joana Gaines’ sister.
I love Delaney and Winslet as well, but I would go with Della as a nickname, not Laine/Lainey. Della would also work well for Delphina. Delphina also has Elle, Ella and Dina (deen-uh). I think Ellie and Fifi would be hard to say with Evie, but those are possible nicknames for Delphina too
I’m very drawn to Aveline nn Lina/Lena for you.
Other surnames with built in nicknames Lafayette nn Faye and Patterson nn Patsy (as in THE Patsy Cline. Her middle name was Patterson, which is where Patsy comes from. She was born Virginia and went by Ginny previously.)
Some names along the line of Delphina and Penelope: Dalia nn Dolly and Minerva nn Mina.
MAYBE you are the right person to recommend this to, Regina nn Queenie. The given name is more traditional like Julia or Sarah but still goes well with Everly, while it shares a cute vintage nickname like Evie.
Marlowe, Aveline, and Regina are my favorites.
I suggest Gemma, Piper, Ember, Astrid, Petra, Philipa, Isla, Esme, Rhea and Naomi.
Juliet Micah sounds amazing (a twist on the names you’ve considered)
Evie and Julie!
Or maybe using mom’s name? Piper Amanda/Piper Amelia?
With Phillipa you could use Pepper as a nickname, which is adorable with Evie. Gemma is really cute with Evie as well. For something longer you could use Jessamy/Jessamine nn Jem or Jemma.