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!
Bethany writes:
We have a 3 year old daughter named Lucinda Kate. We had planned to call her Lucy, but right now, she’s still mostly Lulu at home, and Lucinda with friends and family.
Kate is for my husband’s mom Kathleen, but I also just loved the way the names flow together.
What I love about my daughter’s name is that it’s a “real” name, but it’s not one that lots of people ever hear. I like that she can choose a nickname. And I love how romantic and just plain fun her full name is to say! We get asked if she’s named after Lucinda Williams, the singer. The answer is no, but ever since we chose the name, Lucinda Williams has grown on me.
Our second daughter will be here at the end of October, and nothing is coming to us as easily as Lucinda’s name. My husband likes Aurora, but it doesn’t have the same kind of nickname options, and I think it’s probably too popular. We both thought about Elianna, but our good friends of have a new baby Ellie. Plus I don’t like the way it would be hard to spell.
Mostly I keep thinking we’ll hear the perfect name, but we’re running out of time!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations your new daughter!
It sounds like you’re both drawn to longer names, so I won’t try to suggest Claire or Sloane.
The ideal name for Lucinda Kate’s sister will:
- Be long, probably three or more syllables
- Easily shorten to at least one obvious nickname
- Be spelled in a single, straightforward way
- Not rank in the US Top 1000
- Feel familiar and not too different
- Work well with big sister Lucinda’s name
Did I miss anything?
In general, then, we’re looking for a sweet spot. No to names like Katrina and Katerina, that can easily be respelled. But we’ll also (probably) avoid long and lovely names like Dulcinea and Fiorella. They check a lot of the boxes, but they’re so uncommon that I can imagine some headaches and challenges.
A SISTER FOR LUCINDA KATE
ANTONELLA #558
Long and lovely, and easily shortened to Nella or Nell, Antonella feels like one of those names you never hear – even though everyone recognizes it.
EVANGELINE #263
Should you find yourself calling your girls Lucy and Evie, revealing their elaborate, lovely full names will be the most delightful surprise.
LILIOSA unranked
There are plenty of gorgeous Lily names, but many of them are more common – or, like Elianna, could be spelled multiple ways. Liliosa, though, has been around since at least the ninth century. It’s distinctive and different, though Lily is quite popular.
MARIANA #276
Strictly speaking, Mariana could easily be spelled Marianna. It fails this test. And yet, Mariana is far more common. And it’s only one question – one N or two? – as opposed to multiple variations. Plus, Mariana is every bit as strong and lovely as Lucinda.
SERAPHINA unranked
Fiery Seraphina doesn’t quite make the current US Top 1000. In fact, it never has. But it’s a logical sister name for Lucinda, equally dramatic and bold. I’d shorten Seraphina to Sera or Fee.
SUSANNA unranked
Like Mariana, there are two possible Susanna spellings – with or without the ending H. But Susanna regularly outranks Susannah, so I think it’s safe to recommend this version. As for nicknames, besides Susie and Sue, there’s also Suki/Sukie, Zuzu, and Sosie.
THEODORA #834
A classic and enduring name, Theodora is rich with short forms. And it feels weighty and meaningful, a little bit vintage, but still fun to say.
VERONICA #380
I love the sound of Lucinda and Veronica. They’re timeless – but not really classic – names. Both have energy to spare. I’d shorten Veronica to Vera, Vero, Vica, or Vee – but Ronnie/Nicki are choices, too.
So many of these names are great with Lucinda that it’s tough to narrow it down!
My top pick is probably Evangeline. Like Lucinda, it offers an easy, built-in nickname. But if Evangeline feels a little too familiar to you, then I think I’d opt for Susanna. Like Lucinda, it’s a name everyone knows, but no one is using.
What about Valentina? Lucinda and Valentina seem well paired. And Valentina has a long history of use. I know it is growing in use in the US but it is a fabulous name. Lulu and Vivi. Lucy and Val.
I love the name Lucinda Kate! My first thought for Lulu’s sister was Philippa nn Pippa. Other favorites:
Dorothea nn Dot or Dottie or Thea
Aurelia nn Goldie or Lia
Augusta nn Gussie
Althea nn Allie or Thea
Antoinette nn Nettie
Helena nn Nell or Lena
Cassandra nn Cassie or Cass or Cat
Claudia nn Cleo or Didi
Georgina nn Gigi
Miranda nn Mimi or Miri
Rosamund nn Rosie or Sam or Sammie
Adelaide nn Addie or Daisy or Della
Clarissa nn Clary
Lucinda is very unexpected! I really like the suggestion of Antonella—Nell, Toni, Anna… so many nickname options! Others that come to mind: Miranda, Natalie, Corinne, Matilda, & Wendy.
Don’t forget Anna or Annie as a nickname for Susannah (I’m biased, but much prefer the spelling with the h).
My Susannah also gets Zannah/Sannah from 1 cousin, although to everyone else she is always Susannah in full.
Like Lucinda, it’s familiar but not heard a lot … and it’s fun to say.
And how cute are these combinations:?!:
Lucinda & Susannah
(for everyday use)
Lucy & Anna or
Lucy & Annie
(for potential all the time nicknames)
Lulu & Zuzu or
Lulu & Zannah
(for home)
Perfect
I’m curious if you want to lean into the musician/song title vibes or avoid it. There are multiple songs called Evangeline, but the one by Emmylou Harris came to my mind, which is in the realm of Lucinda Williams, just FYI. I guess names in song titles comes up for Susanna and Ophelia and a million other names though, so maybe we shouldn’t rule those out!
Amelia (Millie, Amy/Amie, Lia)
Juliana (Juju, Ana, Julie)
Eloise (Lo or Lolo are such cute alts to Ellie)
Ramona (Roma, Mo, Mona)
So many good options! I bet you’ll choose something great
Oh, Lashley – good thought! And there’s a funny-sweet love song to Evangeline sung in The Princess & the Frog, too.
Arabella Nn Ari, Bella or Bell
Mayela Nn May
Millicent or Rosamund/Rosalie
I’m biased by the Lucinda I know and her mama’s style, but maybe:
Bernadette/Bethel called Betty/Birdie/Bernie
Tallulah
Alba/Alma
I love this question, I feel like Lucinda is a different style than a lot of the questions we see! So that’s really exciting, and Lulu is a darling nickname. I really like Liliosa, Seraphina, and Mariana, though I don’t think Mariana has the same unexpected quality as Lucinda and the others. And I accidentally misspelled Seraphina the first time I typed this out, so that could be an issue. Is Aurelia an option? Ophelia? Geneva? Cordelia? Valencia?
I also love this question! I love a girl’s name that has lots of consonants but still maintains a certain softness, so many of Abby’s suggestions are EXACTLY what I would have said– Evangeline, Seraphina, Susanna and Theodora are all long time favorites. And though Veronica may not have the relative softness of the others, I just adore it so much in all its “clunkiness.” So beautiful and underused! I would like to add Marguerite to the mix.
If not Aurora, what about Aurelia? She could go by Aurie, Goldie, Aura…
Other options:
Ophelia nn Ollie
Marigold nn Mari, Maggie, Margo, Molly…
Philippa nn Pippa
Georgiana nn Gigi, Gia, Ana…