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!
Hollis writes:
Our second child, a girl, is due in November. We are a family of unexpected names: I am Hollis, my husband is Percy, and our 3 year-old son is Huck James.
Both kids and dad will share the same very common Hispanic surname, beginning with R and ending in -ez.
I’m stumped naming this little girl. With our son, we wanted a very rare/unexpected name. I love Huck’s name for a few reasons: the literary link to an adventurous little boy with friends from all walks of life which (luckily) fits our son to a T. It’s energetic and percussive which I love with the surname. It’s a little southern which touches on my style and upbringing. An unexpected but established first name with a classic, honor (my dad and grandpa) middle for balance. I certainly don’t expect to find all of these qualities in name #2 but obviously we want to love it.
Plus, I do have a few preferences and I’m worried I’ve dug myself into a big hole:
- I love a great sib-set. Huck and… A LOT of names sound like a country western singing duo. Oops.
- No names beginning with H or ending with R or ez/s.
- I want to honor my side of the family somewhere because the kids will all share my husband’s last name.
- While I had no qualms naming Huck a nickname-name, girl nicknames tend to lean pretty precious. I prefer a more formal name if we also plan for a cute nickname.
- We like them rare but not made-up/trendy, I’m picky about word and animal names, not nuts about international or ancient names when paired with big brother.
My style typically leans rare, southern, a little tailored, and I love a new take on an honor name. Here’s our working list:
Josephine nicknamed Posy: This is my husband’s *heart-eyes* favorite. Joseph is his middle name and it honors his grandfather. He also loves that we would have a H/H, P/P symmetry situation. But Josephine is very popular and Posy is sooooo sweet that I wonder how long we/she’d actually use it. Josephine has always been a strong middle contender, too.
Etta: This is more aligned with my general style and comes from my mom’s middle name, Henrietta. I like the Etta James reference, a musical tie to match my son’s literary. My husband likes it enough to not veto (I think it’s hard for him to see past Josephine) but I’m worried about the Emmas and Ellas of the world.
Mirabel nicknamed Mimi: Mimi is what everyone called my dear grandmother from the day I was born. I’d prefer a long form name and Mirabel is one we like the most/dislike the least.
Georgia: From my mom’s first name, Georgina. More popular than we’d like.
Other names on the list include Blythe, Dove, Mabel, Merritt/Merit, Delia, Calla, Imogen, and Tess. We can’t use Poppy or Lila/Layla/Delilah.
I’m looking for suggestions, please. Or, if the name/name-combo is staring me in the face, I need you to talk me through it. This is also most likely our last child so I know I’m cramming a lot of hopes/dreams/demands into two names!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Hollis –
Oh, I’m still smiling every time I think about Huck and Posy, the winners of the CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year. We do name ourselves into corners, don’t we?
And yet … if a nicely matched brother-sister set matters, then I promise that ANY two names you choose will sound at least a little bit like that. Even Huck and Elizabeth.
I mean, maybe they won’t sound like they’re straight outta Nashville, but I can imagine an upscale children’s clothing line or maybe an animated series called Huck & Posy, Huck & Georgia, Huck & Josephine. And so on. It’s the first name Huck that does it … not so much whatever follows. And that’s perfectly fine.
In fact, that’s good news. Freeing, even! Because that means that you can take the pressure off. Your kids will both have great names, that will sound amazing together.
And if they someday land a recording contract? Well … you’ll know you didn’t it plan it that way.
Okay, now, what do we know?
We know that Josephine is almost certainly the most logical middle name for your daughter. That takes Posy off the table.
Before we get to the names on your list that are already perfect, I wonder if you’d consider:
Cecile, Cecily or even Cecilia – I’m guessing Cecilia is too mainstream for you, but both Cecily and Cecile are nicely under-the-radar, and Cecile has some of the same style as Josephine.
Daphne – It’s ancient, but feels kind of jazzy and fun.
Georgette – Georgia is popular, but no one is using Georgette. It feels retro and vintage, but in a fun, upbeat way. Nicknames Georgie or Gigi might the short form that makes its more wearable.
Laine – It’s Elaine without the ‘e’, a surname-style name that’s borrowed from the boys in some ways. But also calls back to “Penny Lane” and Gilmore Girls.
Pippa – If Posy and Poppy are off the list, how about Pippa? It could be short for Philippa – the obvious, Pippa Middleton-approved choice – or possibly Penelope or Piper or some other P name.
And yet, why not Mirabel Josephine, called Mimi?
It’s a long name, true. And Huck and Mimi are all kinds of darling together.
But it’s also a substantial and unexpected first name. It fits in with Isabella and Annabelle, but feels markedly different. And it sounds like it’s not your favorite, and not his favorite … but you both like lots of things about it. Plus, it honors your family, as Josephine honors his, so there’s some great balance to the name.
One last factor: because her last name sounds like R—ez, I think the ‘r’ in Mirabel creates an interesting hook. The most memorable names often share subtle repeating sounds, like this one.
So that gets my vote, because it checks all the boxes and because it’s just a great name.
But I can’t wait to hear what the readers suggest, because I know they’ll think of things I’ve overlooked. So … dear, thoughtful community of name lovers, what would you name a sister for Huck James?
I really like the name Etta with Josephine from your list. I agree with another commenter that Vera pairs nicely. The first name that came to mind for me was Alma. So sweet and sounds southern and seems like a sister for Huck.
If you like Josephine enough as a given name, I would counter your husband with the nickname Jojo, which is still adorable but not nearly as sweet.
Mirabel Josephine called Mimi Jo? Mimi Jo feels so southern.
An alternative Mimi given could be Milena, but I would use Georgina as the middle, unless you don’t want to replicate honor names.
Is Georgiana TOO similar to Georgina? I love the name.
What about Darcy (yes, as in Georgiana Darcy from Pride and Prejudice)? It has the literary reference, its not common, and it sounds adorable with Huck. Also sounds like a Country Duo. Maybe Darcy Josephine or Darcy Mabel.
Piper called Pippa would be adorable and address the symmetry. I think Pearl or Perla could work here too, and Huck and Pearl sound like a pair.
Lastly, I am OBSESSED with Guillermina, Guillermina Josephine called Billie Jo, unless that’s too dated.
Oops– should have read all the way down before posting. I just commented elsewhere on the cuteness of Mimi Jo, too. 🙂
I think Etta Josephine is just perfect! And I honestly don’t think there would be any confusion with the Ellies and Ellas, Etta is so much spunkier.
As a sucker for a short, sweet but strong girl name I also love Blythe and Tess, and I think either of them work brilliantly with Huck – I’d throw Nell and Pearl into the ring there too.
As lovely as Josephine is, it sounds too popular for you plus what if she wants to be called Josie? As well, I like that you’re into honouring your own side. Maybe compromise on a P (nick)name up front to fit your HH-PP set, but choose something from your side or something you love?
Pearl Georgia
Pippa/Phillipa called Pip (another adventurous character in Pippi)
Penn Arietta
Pia Georgine
Otherwise I think Mirabel nn Mimi is pretty sweet!
Pip! Lord that’s cute.
You have some great choices and great suggestions from Abby. I agree that pretty much any of them will work well with Huck. One that I didn’t see mentioned that could work for either the first or middle to honor your husband and mom is Josette. If used in the first name spot, could use nn Josie, Jo, Jo Jo, Joey, Posy or Etta. If in the middle, I think it pairs well with Mirabel. Mirabel Josette, nn Mimi. It honors your mom, your grandmother and your husband. And Huck and Mimi or even Huck and Mira are lovely together (plus works with your last name).
That being said, you have great choices already mentioned. I particularly love Merritt, Etta, Laine, Daphne and Georgia or Georgette.
Another idea is to use your surname in the middle if the flow works.
Best wishes!
Thank you! I love the tradition of passing along a maiden name in the first or second slot but my surname is CHUNKY. Can’t do that to the kid, she’ll fail kindergarten!
November’s right around the corner, so hopefully you’ve already settled on a name and are just awaiting your daughter’s arrival. But, if you’re still deciding, and if you want to incorporate your maiden name in some way, Scarlett could be a possibility.
Scarlett captures the beginning sound of your maiden name; it has a literary reference (Katie Scarlett O’Hara), and it gives you the nickname option of Etta by virtue of its end sound.
Scarlett Josephine is a bit of a mouthful, especially compared to Huck James, but shortened for daily use, Etta Josephine is sweet and Etta Jo is sweetly spunky. At #20, Scarlett isn’t rare, but Etta was ranked at #951 last year.
Huck and Scarlett, Huck and Etta, Huck and Etta Jo
Best wishes to you and your family!
I agree that Josephine is the obvious middle name choice, but I love Etta as the first. Huck and Etta. Huck James and Etta Josephine.
My first thought for suggestions, though, was Lula. Or maybe even Luella, though that might be too country.
The Lulu-s make me swoon. Husband: “I used to go to bar named Luella’s.” Thanks babe.
> “I love Huck’s name for a few reasons: the literary link to an adventurous little boy with friends from all walks of life”
Scout? Or is that not unusual enough these days?
If Huck had been a girl, Scout was way up on the list. Since then I’ve launched a children’s book gifting website and now I’m afraid it just screams IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED WE REALLY LIKE BOOKS AROUND HERE.
You don’t say what other names you’ve looked at to get to Mimi, but I wondered about Jemima?
Huck James & Jemima Josephine
Huck & Jemima / Huck & Mimi
Yes!! Jemima Josephine!!!
This is just the right balance of class and sass.
Marvelous suggestion!
I really like Etta from your list. Etta Josephine sometimes called Posy sounds perfect to me. If you still want other ideas:
Maeve
Jane
Eve
Ida
Ivy
Zelda
Fern
Opal
Zora
What about Vera? Tailored, established, spunky, slightly southern. The hook of the r is there like Mirabel. Plus there is some sounds from Percy in there too. Huck and Vera. Vera Josephine R—ez
Another name I love and may work if the P is desired is Petra. Okay, so not southern but established, strong, tailored, underused. There is always Phaedra too, nn Phae or Dre?
Best of luck!
Vera sounds awesome!