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!
Danielle writes:
We have a daughter named Hallan Grace, who we mostly call Hallie. Her name comes from my dad, who was Harvey Allen, but always went by his middle name – H. Allen. Changing the spelling to Hallan was a very eleventh hour decision, but we think it looks prettier this way. My mom’s mom was Grace, so her name is all from my family.
If we have a boy, we’ll name him James after my husband’s dad, with possible middle names Anthony or Ellis, both from his mom’s side.
But we’re having a girl this time. We always imagined having three or four children, so I think we don’t want to use a J name or anything like Ellison/Allison for this daughter.
For lots of reasons, we also don’t want to use a family name this time.
We’ve been going in circles, though, about what we do want to name her! We like names like Mila, Ava, and Nora, but they seem too plain next to Hallan. I kind of like the idea of Harper or Harlow, but I’d want a nickname. My nieces/goddaughters are Riley, Addison, Evelyn, Bella, and Sadie, so those are all off-limits.
We’ve been putting off this conversation, but my due date is January 18th, and Hallie was a week early, so time is getting very short! Any ideas would be great!
Please read on for my reply and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
This is a dilemma, isn’t it?
If you wanted to use family names for every child, then the obvious name is there: Ellis/Ellison called Ellie. It’s a little close to Hallie, but since they’re both nicknames for very different given names, I think it would work.
But you very much want to avoid that, so Ellis/Ellison is off the table.
Still, I wonder if we should be looking for names in that general style: gender neutral, surname-style first, with a sparky, throwback nickname for everyday use? Names like Madison “Maddie” and Emerson “Emmie” succeed because they offer the best of both worlds – just like Hallan “Hallie.” If you love your daughter’s name, sticking with this style feels right.
But first, a question:
Should we consider H names?
It sounds like you’ve seriously considered Harper and Harlow, but worry about the lack of nickname.
The challenge, of course, is that contenders like Hollis-called-Holly are just too, too close to Hallie.
You might consider:
- Haddan “Haddie”
- Hadley “Haddie”
- Hamilton “Millie”
- Hathaway “Hattie”
- Hatton “Hattie”
Hadley seems like the strongest candidate to me, and yet, I’m not sure it works.
- While Hallan and Hadley sound different, Hallie and Hadley are very, very close.
- And while Hallie and Haddie work together, imagine welcoming a third daughter. I think you might find yourself a little hemmed-in by your pattern.
So none of them feel like a home run! Let’s keep looking, moving away from the letter H.
A SISTER for HALLAN “HALLIE” GRACE
CAMBER “CAMMIE” OR CAMBRY “CAMMIE”
There’s Cameron, too, of course, but because Hallan is rare, I’m inclined to suggest something like Camber or Cambry, equally distinctive choices.
CASSIDY “CASSIE”
Cassidy has plenty of history, and briefly spiked in use in the late 1990s/early 2000s. But it never quite caught on, and it’s seldom heard today. Hallie and Cassie are great together!
DELANEY “LANEY” OR LAINIER/LANIER “LANEY”
Delaney is rising in use, a current favorite among surname names for girls. But it’s still great, and Laney is a fantastic sister name for Hallie. Lanier is a French surname for someone who worked with wool; Lainier is another spelling. Pronunciation gives me pause. In French it’s more like lahn yeh; Americans tend to say it like lah NEER, rhymes with veneer. Still, I think it’s a possibility.
EVER “EVIE”
Any Ev name could be great, but I’ll stick with straight-up word name Ever.
JUNIPER “JUNIE”
While Juniper is more nature name than surname, I think it sounds right with Hallan.
MARLOWE “MARLEY”
I can see why Harlow isn’t quite right, but would you consider Marlowe? For reasons I can’t explain, the most popular spelling is with the E, but Marlow and Marlo are equally valid options. I think Marley and Hallie work as nicknames. You might also use Lola or even Mari.
MAGUIRE “MAGGIE”
Maguire might be less name-like than some of the choices on this list, but when shortened to Maggie, it works.
WINSLOW “WINNIE”
If Harlow and Marlowe are up for consideration, Winslow could be too – especially with sparky, vintage nickname Winnie.
Overall, I think my favorite is Delaney called Laney. It’s more mainstream than Hallan, but I don’t think that’s a problem. And it leaves lots of room for naming future children – whether that’s a son named James, or a daughter with another surname-style choice.
Peri could be a nn for Harper. Or how about Piper instead of Harper? Nn Peri, or Pip/Pippi.
Instead of Harlow, what about Arlo? It matches the boyish style of Hallan, but with the girly nn Arlie (you could use Ari or Lolo also).
I like someone’s suggestion of Laramie, nn Lara. I also like the idea of searching for other family names, if possible. Imogen – nn Immi…or Genevieve …nn Evie … Beatrix … nn Trixie (a little spunky)…I really like someone’s suggestion of Camila too…nn Cammie.
I wonder if it would be worth making a new list based on names that mean something to you instead of names that sound good with Hallan/Hallie. The two names you’ve chosen seem packed with personal connection. I know you said no more family names but is there a place or word or idea or literary character or personal hero you could get inspired by that would make this baby’s name just as special as Hallan?
I absolutely love Hallie and Hallen is such a clever way to honor your dad.
From others suggestions, I really like Delaney “Lainey” and the various suggestions getting to “Winnie”
I wonder if you would like Maven? It feels like a smoosh of Mila and Ava but with a similar vibe to Harlowe and Harper. Maeve would make a smashing nickname. Hallen and Maven. Hallie and Maeve.
Other ideas:
Sullivan “Sunny”
Delilah “Lilah”
Rosalie “Rosie”
Eden “Edie” “Dani”
Tessa “Tess”
Mackenzie “Mack” “Kenzie” “Micky”
Juliet “Jett”
Cassidy is a great suggestion, but I wanted to add Cascade to get to both Cassie or Cady? Hallan and Cascade sound like sisters to me.
I’m looking at the names Ellis and Anthony from his moms side and why not give a daughter a form of those? Ellery Antonia is gorgeous and Ellery fits so well with Hallan, especially if they’d Hallie & Elle / Ella? Or Anthea Ellis nn Thea?
I REALLY love Ellery with Hallan. I do see you say for many reasons you don’t want to use a family name this time. What if you keep going and have all boys? I’d spend those special names now.
Oh! What about Elowen ‘Win’ or ‘Lola’.
If I were to suggest another “H” girl name, I’d go for “Hasely/Haisley”.
Other suggestions:
* EVANORA — the nickname “Nora” is built-in, but you can explore other options
* MAELYS — “Mae” or “Lizzie”
* CORINNE
* TAMSIN
Lettie would be sweet next to Hallie.
Hallan Grace & Allette Danielle
Essie is lovely, too:
Hallan Grace and Estry Carys
Could you smoosh together your name and your husband’s to make something amazing? (That way she wouldn’t be the only one without a heritage name)…
Dani makes a cute nickname (unless you’re using it yourself!).
Avalane could give you Ava or Laney.
Minnie would be darling as a sister. Minalla and Hallan.
Congratulations and best wishes!
Harlow nn Loie, which sounds similar to the -loi in Eloise. This also works for Marlowe and Winslow.
Winslet another Winnie name, but you could also use Leti.
Margrave, pretty much all the Margaret nicknames work here. Marky could also work.
I’m liking Abby’s suggestions of Delaney and Marlowe as they seem to feel right with Hallan.
My only additional thought is to bring the nicknames more towards your preferred names of Mila, Ava and Nora by using an “a” ending.
Delaney could be Lana (pronounced Lar Nah or Lay nah)
Marlowe could be Mara
Hallan Grace “Hallie”, Marlowe Winter “Mara” and a future James Elliott
Hallan Grace “Hallie”, Delaney Winter “Lana” and a future James Elliott
My own input….
You seem to lean towards a, l and r sounds.
Getting towards Mila Ava or Nora…
Delilah nn Lila (ly_lah) similar to Mila
Avalon or Avery nn Ava
Eleanor is an obvious way to get Nora but honestly the El part feels a bit too similar to the Al part in Hallan.
Florence nn Flora? Instead of Nora
Nova instead of Nora?
Lula would make a great match. It feels familiar with the “L” sounds in Hallie yet complete different with the other vowel sounds.
Hallan Grace “Hallie”, Lula Neve “Lulu” and a future James Elliott
I suggest Neve (snow) as a nod to January since it’s winter season.
January baby name suggestion….
Aurora Hope “Rori”
Hallan Grace “Hallie”, Aurora Hope “Rori”and a future James Elliott
Good luck, not too far away now. Please let us know what you decide as I would love to hear about your new princess.
Also, strangely enough. I also thought of Sinclair like Iris did. Clair or even Clara as a nickname. It’s not even a name I would normally think of, it just somehow called out to me as a match
Okay, I know nicknames are important, but I think Greer is pretty perfect with Hallan/Hallie. She could be Gigi if you REALLY need a nn. If not that, what about something that gets you Tess/a as a nickname?
Therese, Thessaly, even Tessa on its own.
What about taking one of the short names you love and using it as a nickname for a longer name? For example…
Mila could be a nickname for:
Camila
Emila or Emilia
Ludmila
Milana
Milena
Milica
Milicent
Millay or Millais
Ava could be a nickname for:
Aveline or Avelina
Avia or Aviana
Avila
Maeva
Octavia
Ravenna
Nora could be a nickname for:
Alienor or Alienora
Eleanor, Elanor, Elinor, or Eleanora
Honora
Lenora, Lenore, or Leonor
Noralee or Noralie
Noreen, Norene, or Norine
Norland
My favorites to go with Hallan “Hallie” Grace are Camila, Maeva, Lenore, and Noralie.
One more… Winter nn Winnie
Marigold nn Goldie
Bellamy nn Belle or Bella
Laramie nn Lara or Mimi
Pierson nn Sunny
Winsley nn Winnie
Henley nn Hennie or Lee
Quincy nn Quinn
Ooo, I do like the suggestion of Cassidy and Verity.
Zelda- Zellie
Willow- Willa
Sunniva- Sunny
Petra
Winry- Winn
Tallulah- Tallie
Anwen- Annie
I think Cammie and Hallie sound cute together! Is Camden too close to Hallan? For what it’s worth I think the name Nora on your list can hold its own with Hallan.
Maybe Vienna nn Vinnie or Vinny?
I love the creative way you found to honor your dad!
Maybe you can do Jameson nn Jamie for this girl.
Also, you like H names and Nora, so Honora nn Nora.
Verity nn Vera
Hadley nn Heidi
Sinclair nn Claire
Katherine nn Kay