Update: “After weeks of discussion, we finally settled on Tessa Katherine. But then, in the hospital, I just knew she was Lucy Katherine! Thank you for all of the suggestions. It really helped to know how many people loved the name Lucy, too, and it wasn’t just a runner-up name.”
Kate writes:
We had no trouble deciding on a name for our first two children.
Jack Harrison is named for my grandfather and my husband’s grandfather. Both named John, but always called Jack. Harrison is my maiden name. We knew this would be the name of our first son from when we first talked about a family.
Sophie Helen just kind of came to us. We like Sophie’s meaning (wisdom) and thought it sounded kind of old-fashioned and different. Helen is from both sides of our family – his grandmother, and my aunt. We also liked Sadie, Lily, and Lucy, but Sophie was the one we both liked best.
We’re expecting our third child. If it was a boy, we pretty set on Owen, with either Carpenter (from his mom’s maiden name) or maybe Michael (my dad’s name) as a middle. Like with Sophie, there wasn’t really any reason for Owen. We just like it a lot. And we might have more children, so I can see us having an Owen in the future even if this baby is a girl.
Where we’re stuck is girls’ names.
While we have other boys named Jack, it seems like there’s always another Sophie/Sophia/Sofia in the room. It doesn’t really bother me, but I wonder if it will bother her? My name is common, but it never bothered me.
We can’t use Sadie with Sophie, but I also feel like maybe Lily and Lucy are runner-up names. It also bothers me that we might have another popular name, but we mostly like names that are traditional.
Our last name sounds like Shoe and Burt put together. We don’t have a middle name in mind this time, though it might be Elizabeth (my middle name) or Katherine, for me. (I’m not Katherine, just Kate, but I like Katherine better as a middle name. Is that weird?) Also, are these boring? We could keep looking, but until we have the first name settled, it seems hard.
Please read on for my response, and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Kate –
Congratulations on baby #3!
Jack and Sophie go together really well, and it seems like you have lots of family name connections to consider.
I think you’re wise to choose first name first, so let’s focus our attention there.
Some families keep names on their shortlist for every pregnancy. So if Lily was almost Sophie’s name, it would definitely become a future daughter’s name. But other families start fresh with every child. There’s no right or wrong answer.
But since it sounds like Lucy and Lily are out this time – and I agree, Sophie and Sadie are pretty close – let’s start fresh.
Ada – I keep thinking about girls’ names ending with a, especially shorter, two-syllable possibilities. It seems like you prefer names that are a little bit vintage, or at least not too modern. I can imagine Emma working well with Jack and Sophie, but since popularity is a concern, let’s look at names like Emma. Ada seems like a great match for Jack and Sophie, but there’s also Willa. Ada charts in the mid-300s, and while there are lots of Addie names (Addison, Adeline, Adalyn … and so on!) Ada feels short, sweet, and complete – which makes it stand out just the tiniest bit. Read more about Ada here.
Edie – If you love Sadie, but want to avoid something too close to Sophie, would you consider Edie? It’s very similar in sound, but that strong ‘e’ makes it distinctively different, too. Edie isn’t in the current US Top 1000 – what, I know!? – but Edith does fall in the 400s.
Lena – It sounds like you love L names, like Lily and Lucy. Would you consider Lena instead? It feels mainstream and familiar, but actually ranks in the high 200s. Read more about Lena here.
Lila – Or, if not Lena, maybe Lila? The downside of Lila is that it might suffer from the same phenomenon that makes Sophie feel more familiar. Lots of girls answer to names like Lily, Layla, and Delilah – which makes all of those L-l names seem far more popular than the numbers would suggest. Lila sits just beyond the current Top 200, but if Sophie/Sophia/Sofia frustrates, then Lily/Lila/Layla might, too. Still it’s a gorgeous name that pairs well with Jack and Sophie, so I’m leaving it on the list.
Mia – Yes, Mia ranks in the current US Top Ten, which is a reason many parents pass this name by. And yet, it’s the opposite story from Lila. Fewer names sound like Mia. There are some – Mila and Maya – but that’s still many fewer. If you’re not hearing Mia much in your neck of the woods, I think it could be a great sister name for Sophie and Jack. Read more about Mia here.
Molly – Or maybe Molly? Molly has the same casual but traditional feel as Jack and Sophie. It’s fallen out of the Top 100 in recent years, but still wears well. Read more about Molly here.
Nora – Lots of families love Nora, and yet nothing much sounds like Nora. (Sure, there’s Cora – but the C and N sound distinctly different.) Jack, Sophie, and Nora all combine a vintage sound with a modern sensibility. Read more about Nora here.
Tessa – I’ve saved the best for last, I think – how ’bout Tessa? Just like Jack started out as a nickname for John, Tess and Tessa were once short for Theresa. Today, though, it feels like a stand-alone name, less popular than Ella or Emma, but with the same vibe. It ranks in the low 200s – popular and familiar, but far from over-used. Read more about Tessa here.
I think these names hit the right note for lots of reasons. If your biggest concern is popularity, I suspect these will all feel less wildly popular than Sophie. (Though I have some reservations about Lila!) And I think they’re all nickname-proof, vintage-but-current options.
Tessa is my personal favorite, with Ada as a close second, and I like them both best with Katherine.
Why? First, if you imagine having a son Owen in the future, I think it’s a good idea to avoid another long ‘o’ sound. (I almost suggested Rose, but Sophie, Owen, and Rose? Oh my!)
Tessa and Ada sound compatible, and yet completely different than Jack and Sophie.
But I’m curious to hear what others will suggest, because I know there are lots of options I’ve overlooked. Readers, what would you name a sister for Jack Harrison and Sophie Helen?
My first thought was Isla. Isla Kathleen I think would be pretty (A variant of your name) like others have suggested. Either that or
– Pearl Kathleen
– Scarlett Kathleen
– Rosie Katherine
– Harriet Kathleen
– Valerie Kathleen
– Zara Katherine
– Cora Kathleen
– Mara Kathleen
– Brielle Katherine
– Eleanor Kathleen
– Polly Kathleen
– Freya Katherine
It seems to me that when a parent’s name is used as her child’s middle name, that name is more of a shared name, linking the parent and child, than an honor name — which is often chosen to “honor” a grandparent, aunt/uncle, etc. My husband and I had a daughter and a son, whose first and middle names were family names (his aunt, my sister; my father, his father). We subsequently adopted a daughter and then a son. I shared my first name with our younger daughter as her middle name and my husband did the same with our younger son.
Your name Kate (or Katherine) is a beautiful name (our older daughter is Catherine) and would be a lovely link with your younger daughter. While I do find Sophie and Sadie too close, I love Lucy Kate (or Lucy Katherine) for you!
Jack, Sophie and Lucy
Lucy Katherine is lovely! I also love Nora or Lila with the sibling names. I had the same guilt about using a “runner up” name from my first pregnancy. That’s a normal feeling, don’t let it stop you if you love the name.
I like Ada, Edie and Nora for you. And I love Tess (prefer over Tessa) bit out runs into your last name.
Others:
Margot
Maisie
Greta
Cora
Annabel (nn Annie)
Frances (nn Frannie or Francie)
There’s a book series about a girl named Lucy Kate. Also, I know a set of sibs named Lucy and Sophie. I like Lucy because it matches in both style and popularity with Jack and Sophie. I like Sadie too and don’t think it’s too close. Other options: Maisie, Daisy (Sadie rearranged), Sally, Anna/Anne/Annie, Alice, Jane, Rose, Betty, Ruth, Josephine/Josie, Willa, Audrey, Stella, Leah/Lia, Hallie
I like the suggestion below of Annie. But also Anna
Anna Kate or Anna Elizabeth
Just to add a few more- Bridgett, Vera, or Alice all sound great with Jack and Sophie. 🙂 Btw- I too have a Sophie! (The oldest of our five kids). Many of the names mentioned by you and Abby were considered over the years…
I also love Lucy from your list and Tessa is adorable! Congrats!!
Annie (top choice with Jack and Sophie)
Molly
Maggie
Katie
Polly
Tess
Nell
Hattie
Rosie
Love Nora and Tessa…
Lydia
Olive
Henley
Bridget
Genevieve
Violet
Belle
Thalia
Eloise Kate
Amelia Kate
Eliza Kate
Before I read the letter, my first thought was Lucy based on sibs fyi. Lucy Katherine is awesome. I like Eloise a lot with Sophie too if you want less popular.
I think Molly would be a great fit with Jack and Sophie. Clara and Violet could also fit, if you like them. Good luck with your decision.
Evie
Claire
Violet
Grace
Nora Katherine
Perfect.
From Abby’s list, Tessa is my favorite match for the other names.
What came to my mind was Anabel. I know the “belle” part is enjoying a moment, but you could always use the full name to set her apart.
Jack, Sophie, Anabel [and Owen].
I really like Nora! I also like Amelia, Camille and Hazel. Like Josie, I would go with a different sounding ending for a name—basically anything but the “ee” sound.
I also want to add that Elizabeth would make a lovely first name as well.
Annie came to my mind instantly, or how about:
Lola
Lucia
Emilia
All the best
Other names that come to mind for me in the “kind of old fashioned and different” category, that may not have the popularity of Sophie:
Claire
Alice
Meg
Frances
All the best!
My first thought was Hannah for a girl. It’s not very up-and-coming like some other traditional feeling names, and its not as blazingly current as Lily (I love Lily, but… everybody does) and Hannah and Sophie and Jack and Owen feel of a kind to me.
I picked Hannah in my head before I saw Ada/Lila/Nora, them but they hit similar notes and I like them too.
I like Molly but tbh I like something with a different ending sound than Sophie. But Molly, Ruby, Phoebe are all nice names that don’t sound wrong with Sophie and Jack if you are less pedantic about sounds than I am.
What about a one syllable name like Jack? Mae Katherine? Mae gets thrown around a lot as a middle but I rarely see it as a first.
I think Tessa is perfect here, and Tess is one of my all-time favourites. (Although we ruled it out because of an S-surname.) I was wondering about Louise for you, or Lucille? Similar to Lucy but less common, plus doesn’t repeat the -ie/y ending with Sophie. And I think if you want to give her Katherine as a middle to honour yourself, go for it! You know best what will honour yourself.
I love Molly! That way they all have names that were once used as nicknames. And all the names havee a similar vintage feel.
My favorite suggestion is Nora. I also like Tessa /Tess and I would add Nell and Celia. I quite like Lucy Katherine and Lily Katherine with the sibling names if you decide to come back to them. One final thought: Elise. Elise Katherine would be lovely with the sibset.
I like the suggestion of Ada!
Eva
Anna
Greta
Ivy
Thea
Jewel
Calla
Diana
Etta
Fern
Naomi
Pippa
Ida