Update: He’s here! Welcome Grant, and thanks to everyone for sharing your insight.
Beth writes:
We are really struggling with the choice for our third. Our first two are Lucy and Arthur. Their middle name is a shared family name; last name is three syllables and starts with a P.
We knew so quickly with the last two but this one is different. The favorites have changed over time and we are coming down to a May due date without a final choice.
The boy name we have narrowed (currently) to Jasper or Grant. My wife likes Grant a little better and I like Jasper a little better – but we both are concerned about the huge uptick in popularity of Jasper (especially in our town/demographic) and we would rather he not be one of many in his class. A few others that we considered but have been pushed down are Jude, Julian, George, and Simon.
On the girls side, the current top two are Rosalind and Eliza. Close behind that are Ida, Meryl, and Sasha. We feel a little all over the place with the girls. My wife prefers Rosalind (Roz). I like it, but can’t quite figure out if we can pull it off. I like the idea of “Roz” but the spelling feels weird (either way) and it still feels like a mouthful. And I don’t like the potential spelling confusion or the unclear “d” at the end (pronounce or drop?). But overall, it still feels like it is close to what we want. Eliza feels like it works, but might be more boring in her mind (she likes it still).
She was also fond of Marigold/Goldie – which I think is super cute in theory, but not for us/our kid. Some of my favorites feel a bit safer – Jane being my favorite, Audrey, maybe Anna. We toyed with June, Juniper, Zadie, and Mira. Generally speaking, we have mostly similar style/tastes so we aren’t on opposite ends of the spectrum. I just don’t want to get too “creative” with already an Arthur and Lucy at home. Though we did have a fond moment several months ago where we thought that we could pull off Story for a girl – but that has passed. But our girl names seem all over!
Do you have any feedback on the names that are mentioned and/or others that we might want to consider down the stretch? Do any of these patently NOT work for reasons we aren’t noticing? Any that work particularly well?
Please read on for my response, and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Beth –
Congratulations on your third! You’ve got a great shortlist, and you and your wife are clearly on the same page, style-wise. You really can’t go wrong with the choices you’re considering.
Of course, that doesn’t make it any easier.
I’ve always suspected that experienced parents are more willing to take risks with naming their kids. But … by then, we’ve got our traditionally-named older children, and, well, can you really have Lucy, Arthur, and Cricket?
You could.
But I completely understand if you wouldn’t want to, and I’m not sure I’d want to be the kid who got the odd-name-out, either. (Well, actually, I’d probably be horribly jealous of the more unusual name. You cannot win!)
Let’s talk boys first.
A Brother for Lucy and Arthur
It sounds like Jasper and Grant are the two finalists, so I won’t suggest any others. Instead, let’s talk about them both.
Grant has held steady, charting in the Top 200 – but never the Top 100 – from the early 80s until now. That’s a long run, and it makes Grant a solid citizen of name. It fits in well with Lucy and Arthur.
But so does Jasper! I’d describe it differently, though. Jasper has climbed steadily in the rankings since the year 2000; it’s now more popular than at any time since the 1890s. If Grant is solid, Jasper is sky-rocketing. It’s very possible that Jasper will reach the US Top 100 in the next few years. (Or not. My crystal ball is cloudy as ever.)
If that’s a concern – and if you’re already hearing Jasper in your circles – then I’d err on the side of Grant. Something else that might appeal: Lucy, Arthur, and Grant all have different ending sounds, which can be pleasing. They’re nicely distinct names.
So Grant gets my vote, assuming that your goal is to avoid a potentially trending name.
Now, on to the girls’ names, because there’s a lot more to work through here!
A Sister for Lucy and Arthur
As with your boys’ names, I can easily imagine Rosalind or Eliza working well for your family. Meryl sounds like a bit of an outlier, as does Sasha.
As for Ida? I think it works nicely, though it’s less expected. After Ava reached the Top Ten, and Ada started to rise, too, I fully expected Ida to follow. We know a little Ida who must be about nine now – it wears well. But so far, Ida remains under the radar. That could be a good thing!
I keep coming back to this line you used about Marigold: not for our kid. I’m happy to encourage parents to choose the names they love, and disregard the pressure to match their children like a set of china.
But there’s something deeply satisfying about finding the fit. You know when you’re assembling a piece of furniture or a toy and there’s that “click” of the pieces coming together and locking in? Sometimes that’s the feeling that you’re after, and I think that might be the case here.
I hear much more of a click with Eliza than Rosalind. Lucy, Arthur, and Eliza sound like siblings from a storybook. Perfectly matched, without feeling too similar in any way.
I’d say the same of June and Jane, too. And I think Ida falls in this category, even if it’s a little more daring than some of your other choices. But let’s take a minute and talk over some other possibilities.
Celia – I think Celia makes a solid substitute for Eliza. It’s old-fashioned, but has a modern sensibility, too. Cecilia and Cecily feel a little more vintage and frilly, but they might deserve a place on your shortlist.
Claire – It seems like spare, straightforward names appeal to you. I can’t resist adding Claire, because the meaning – clear or bright – feels so close to Lucy’s ties to the Latin lux – light. Clara might be another option.
Diana – Eliza makes me think of Diana. It’s a classic choice with all the cool of Wonder Woman to back it up.
Julia, Juliet – Julian made your boys’ list, so how about Julia or Juliet? I think they both work with Lucy and Arthur. There’s Julianne, too, which reminds me of Rosalind, but without the final ‘d’ question.
Rose, Rosalie, or Rosalind-called-Rose or Rosie – There are dozens of Rose names, so I wonder if you’ve considered others? Just Rose reminds me of Jane and June. It also sidesteps the problem of Roz. You could use it as a nickname if you were so inclined, but it’s not required. For an ends-with-d Rose name where the ‘d’ is clearly pronounced, there’s always Rosamond, Rosamonde, or Rosamund. Nickname Romy is an option with the Rose-m names, so that might also sidestep the Roz question.
Mariel – Meryl and Marigold bring to mind Mariel. It’s one of my favorite, underused names for girls at the moment. Spelling Marielle is another option, but since you’re attracted to names like Jane, maybe the sparer Mariel is the better choice. Marian and Marion could appeal, too.
Sabrina – Sabrina seems like another possible substitute for Eliza.
Willa – It seems like two-syllable, ends-in-a names aren’t your style, and yet I think Lucy, Arthur, and Willa work nicely together.
Am I right in guessing that your wife would be happiest with a more dramatic name? Something a little more unusual? If so, I can imagine siblings called Lucy, Arthur, and Juliet; or Lucy, Arthur, and Sabrina.
But I think it’s time to open this one to the readers. What do you think of Jasper versus Grant for a boy? And what’s the best sister name for Lucy and Arthur? Is it Eliza, Rosalind, or something else entirely?
He’s here! We are thrilled to welcome Grant to the world. Thanks for all of the great feedback. We feel great about this strong, handsome name and are so grateful that he is with us.
Beth, congratulations! I’m SO happy for you, and thank you so much for sharing the good news – and his handsome name.
I love the these names together. Author, Lucy and Grant.
I like how the one syllable name adds uniqueness to the set and introduces an interesting rhythm
I think I would try for the same with a girls name
Lucy, Author and June.
Lucy, Author and Claire
Lucy, Author and Rose
But there is something so sweet about Ida
I really like Eliza for your girl name! But I also like Abby’s suggestion of Willa. And I think Margot would be a great way to go a little safer than Marigold. I also like Jane with Arthur and Lucy.
For boy names, I also prefer Grant. I’ve always found Jasper adorable for a little boy, but harder to picture on a grown man. Some other ideas:
Everett
Miles/Milo
Elliot
Felix
Jonah
Owen
August
Oooh….what would you think about Alexander called Sasha?
I’m pretty late to commenting, but throwing more votes behind Grant! And also Eliza—I think Eliza is fun and spunky, and not at all a boring name, for what it’s worth. If Marigold is not quite right, I wonder if Margot might be?
Thanks! So many thoughtful comments and some great things to consider.
I think that the comments have helped us lean more solidly towards Grant on the boy’s side.
Girls are still under consideration – but Ida managed to make it into the top tier to consider now. 🙂
Some of the great ideas are off limits due to family, but certainly make sense/fit our taste! (Juliet/Julie-ish names, Nora (we love that one), Eleanor, Alice) And we are still absorbing some of the other ideas.
We loved hearing the feedback and thanks for the compliments. We feel very lucky to be in the position of choosing another name. 🙂
Someone beat me to the suggestion of Nora.
Other ideas…
Violet
Alice
Eva
Magnolia nn Nola or Maggie (might be the compromise for Marigold)
I have a Henry and a Rose, and Lucy Marigold/Marigold Lucy is my top girl name for my next baby and Felix Arthur/Arthur Felix is my top boy name for the next baby.
So I want to suggest Rose and Henry, and Felix! I also adore Marigold obviously.
I think Eliza is spot on with Lucy and Arthur. I also really like the suggestion of Clara or Clair! I think the suggestion of Eleanor is really nice too. And, being a mom to a Mariel, I wholeheartedly support that suggestion! Mariel wears so well and she gets so many compliments on her name (she’s almost 12 now). I think its a name that can fit so many different personalities.
Hugo immediately sprang to mind for a boy. Charlotte would be a pretty name for a girl, and fits (in my opinion) with Lucy and Arthur.
I love the Rose options.
What about Rosemary?
I know a little Rosalia nn Zalie which is lovely.
Rosalind has a sweet spot in my heart, since I played her back in high school, so that gets my vote. Lucy, Arthur , and Rosalind -very classic British, but but Rosalind is a bit more unexpected. I personally like the hard d, and I think people pay attention to those things these days. Roz does hav a lot of spunk, but the full name works well, too.
I’m leaning towards Grant, too – it has such a tailored presence to go along with the sibset. Great taste in names, you two!
I really like Ida from your list!
Ezra
Seth
Martin
Junia
Dahlia
Rhiannon
Vivian
Out of the suggested choices, I love Rosamund, and it seems like your all leaning towards a rose name anyways. But, I would also suggest Teddy, I think that would fit perfectly with the vintage vibe of all the other ones. And I have to say, I love Story! Your other children have what I would describe as storybook, so Story would be a little different, but I feel it flows.
I can see your conundrum. Lucy and Arthur seem fairytale yet grounded. Easy to say and spell. Serves your desire for classic but the edginess for your wife. Hmmmm…
Jasper is so hot where I am. We are behind the UK but ahead of the States, and I know 5 Jaspers born in the last few years. I love it and I feel like it matches your sibset best, but I would be wary too. For that reason, Grant gets my vote. I imagine Cary Grant and suddenly it’s perfect.
The girl names are way harder indeed. Rosalind is beautiful and Roz is super spunky. But the alternate pronunciations have deterred me in the past. I love Abby’s suggestion of Rosamund. Or how about simple Rosa? Both could get you to Roz in a pinch, but are more straightforward. Eliza is one of my longtime favourites. I feel it has the same feeling as Lucy and Arthur. Eliza Doolittle!?! But if it doesn’t give your wife the feeling, maybe you’d like Elise or Delilah? I LOVE Ida for you. So refreshing. (I agree that Meryl and Sasha feel like outliers.) Loving the suggestions of Willa, Greta, Juliet and Margot.
Lots of great suggestions so far! Here are a few I haven’t seen yet…and I’m for not repeating endings, so no -ie/y/ee from me…
Mabel
Nell
Pippa
Simone
Meg
Happy Naming! Can’t wait to see where you land.
I love Lucy, Arthur and Juliet! Rosalind also makes a beautiful choice. What about Margot or Greta? I’m crushing on those right now and I think they sounds fabulous with Lucy and Arthur.
You have some really great choices left so I can understand why you’re having trouble choosing! A couple thoughts for a girl-
Eloise- Eloise has a lot of the sounds you seem to be liking and also sounds great with Arthur and Lucy.
Ivy- if you like Ida, maybe Ivy would be a good substitute.
Norah- Norah and Lucy seem like sisters.
If you love Eliza or Rosalind, go with one bc they are both gorgeous names. I love Eliza, but would really love to meet a little Rosalind, and Roz or Rosie work as adorable nicknames. Of the two, Rosalind gets my vote. 😉
Jasper and Grant are both handsome. You really can’t go wrong there…but if you love jasper more you should pick it, and not worry about how popular it is. However, I agree with Abby- if your primary concern is popularity and they are both equal, than Grant would be the better option.
Good luck and congrats!!
The first name that sprang to mind when I saw the two kids’ names was Marin, and I still like it after seeing Meryl and Mariel mentioned.
Grant is my favorite boy name of all time (that I sadly couldn’t use due to the poor flow with my surname) so it easily gets my vote. I do like Jasper as well and think it’s a good fit, too.
For a girl, Eliza seems the best fit as well for all the reasons listed by Abby. I also like Claire from Abby’s suggestions. Audrey and June appeal as well. Four additional suggestions:
Margot
Daphne
Phoebe
Tess (or Theresa, nn Tess)
I’ve always loved Meryl. I also think Marion or Marian work beautifully with Lucy and Arthur!
Before reading anything but Lucy and Arthur I thought Eleanor so I’ll add that!
I *love* this shortlist. Jasper and Grant are great choices, and I agree with Abby that Grant seems to edge out Jasper by a hair. That said, I wonder if you’d consider Casper (which is much less common than Jasper but obviously shares that fresh sound) or Graham (if you’re still on the fence about Grant, but like the sound over all).
Eliza and Ida are my favorites from the girls side, but Abby’s suggestion of Claire is adorable.
Good luck!
I really love Eliza with your sibset. Jane and Clara are wonderful suggestions as well. I would also offer Sally/Sallie and Pauline, but my favorite is Eliza. I think both of your boys’ options would work well.