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!
B writes:
We have two sons: Maverick Jay and Elliot Watt, and we’re expecting our first daughter in March 2021.
Boy names have always came to me so easily, but I‘m struggling to pick out a name for our baby girl.
We don’t like anything very popular or super girly/princess-y.
We prefer to use a family name for the middle name, like our boys, but we’re open to other suggestions as well. Family names include Golden/Goldie, Cary, Rayne, and Norma Jean.
First names we like but haven’t fallen in love with so far: Adrienne, Piper, and Wrenley.
One big obstacle is our last name: L@dy. So, no descriptive words as names, unfortunately.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
How exciting to be expecting your first girl!
So often, we look at lists of names and try to pin down our style. Vintage gems, boho chic, traditionals with a twist. You get the idea. But it’s often not that straightforward. I doubt I’d have suggested Elliot as a brother for Maverick, but they do sound right together. And Piper, Adrienne, and Wrenley don’t all neatly fit in the same box, either.
That means you have all the freedom in the world to choose a name you love for your daughter. But it doesn’t make the process of finding a favorite name any easier!
We’re looking for names that are tailored, unusual, and won’t sound like a phrase with your surname.
A SISTER FOR MAVERICK AND ELLIOT
BLAIR (#404)
Spare and tailored, Blair has been used in steady numbers for girls for decades. It’s never been wildly popular, though. The -r ending seems perfect with your surname, and I love the possibility of Blair Golden.
CAMBER (unranked)
There are backstories for Camber, but they’re all a little murky. It’s never really caught on, either, for boys or girls. But it sounds like C+Amber, or maybe a spin on Cameron. If you like Piper, but that’s not quite right, would the much rarer Camber appeal?
COLETTE (#496)
I find Colette tailored. Others argue that it’s so French that it still sounds frilly. I like it for lots of reasons – the subtle repeating ‘l’ sound with Colette and your surname seem pleasing. And it’s a name that everyone recognizes, but few people actually share.
GWENDOLYN (#370)
I’m not sure if Gwendolyn is quite your style, but the thing about this name? I’m always surprised at how well it works with a diverse and ever-evolving set of sibling names.
EMERSON (#152)
Emerson fits with names like Allison and Madison. If your daughter does want something more conventionally girly, Emme makes a sweet nickname. But Emerson in full has a lot of strength.
JUNIPER (#195)
I know! Juniper violates the no-noun-names rule. And yet, I really like it with your surname. Maybe it’s because I don’t have a strong sense of what a Juniper is. Is that just me?
MADIGAN (unranked)
A logical successor to Madison, which a slightly different sound.
WAVERLY (#815)
Three-syllable names work so well for your family – it’s no mistake that you’ve landed on Maverick and Elliot. I wonder if Waverly would work for their sister?
Overall, my favorite is Blair Golden. I think it hits the exact note you’re aiming for – not too popular, but still a recognizable name. It picks up on Piper’s -r ending, but is even a little shorter and sparer. Despite being just a single syllable, I think this name packs a big style punch, too.
I’ve always loved the name Rayne, so I am partial to the use of it, especially considering Rayne is a family name for you! Otherwise, I adore Blair in the sib set!
Here are my suggestions:
Blair Louise
Brynn Antonella
Mila Juliette
Rayna Elise
Rachel Elise
Danika Ariella
Mavis/Maeve Marie
Estella McCoy
Olive Estelle(nn Olli)
Serena Golden
Vivian Wren
Everett Rayne
Bronwen Cary
I’d avoid using another M or E name (just a personal preference).
Of Abby’s suggestions, I like Blair and Gwendolyn best. From yours, I like Piper.
A few additional suggestions:
Teagan
Tiernan
Brynn
Ivy
Quinn
Juliet
Adair
Britton
Dorian
Sutton
Tatum
Taryn
Vada
Sasha
Claire
Cora
Nora
Bronwyn
Love the idea of Carys as an honor for Cary. I also like:
Quinn
Cora
Teagan
Tessa (or just Tess)
Avery
Spencer
Camille
Kate
Winslow or Winslette (called Win! The cutest nickname ever)
A few suggestions:
Arden
Harlow
Carys
Quinn
Sloane!
I love the suggestions of Meridian, Larkin, Linden, Nora Rayne, and Simone. Rayne is a great option for the middle and I quite like the alliteration of first names that begin with L. A few other ideas:
Sheridan
Tamsin
Kerrigan
Gwynne
Fallon
Corinne
Meredith Rayne
Siena
Lorayne–just a thought!
A few other ideas:
Seren
Celine
Devon
Brynn
Brett
Eden
Neve
Maren
I do like the sound of a hard consonant at the end.
I really like names that end in a consonant before your last name, like Maverick and Elliott. So Camber and Blair from Abby’s list get my vote.
(*** Hmmm. I’ve now said Blair L@dy so much that it sounds like Bare L@dy which takes me to Bare Naked L@dies the band. Nuts. I really like Blair. )
The thought I had was Linden L@dy. Linden Rayne L@dy. Maverick, Elliot and Linden.
Best of luck!
Marlowe, Bethany, Vivian, Hermione, Fiona, Natasha, Sara, Veronica, Naomi, Willow.
The thing is you put any name before Golden Lady and it always sounds like a Feminist statement, which is nice, but the point is for it to sound like an actual name.
Perhaps Eden, Tessa, Brooke, Nadine, Simone, Alexandra, Kiersten?
Meridian
Winry
Morgan
Clarkia
Ida
Clarion
(Written before reading Abby’s thoughts or the comments)
Inspired by Wrenley:
Kinsley or Kinley, Lauren, Larkin, Hensley
To me, the -ley ending seems to run into the last name a bit, but that may not seem the same to you. And once the name represents an actual child, this “issue” (or not) won’t matter.
Inspired by Adrienne:
Vivienne, Corinne, Lucienne, Simone, Celeste, Felice, Clarisse
Inspired by Piper:
One reason you may not have committed to this name yet, is that it can sound like an adjective with the last name, a profession. Instead, you might like
Other -er names
Aster/Esther, Hollister, Palmer, Skyler, Summer (I know a sibset with a Maverick and a Summer), Vesper
Other long I names
Ivy, Lilah or Lilac, Maya or Micah, Rylin or Ryan, Kylie, Shilah or Shiloh
Or Names that seem similar in style to Piper
Willow, Hazel, Olivia, Harlow, Marlow, Violet, Clementine, Nora, Audrey
I love Rayne as a middle name.
Kinsley Rayne
Celeste Rayne
Vivienne Rayne
Lilac Rayne
Hazel Rayne
Hollister Golden
Nora Rayne (sort of honors the Norma Jean and the Rayne)
Shiloh Golden
Audrey Rayne
_________________________________________
(Written after reading Abby’s thoughts and the comments)
I had Colette on the list, too! But then I remembered a forum comment where some French speakers said those names are not in use much in France anymore. Might not be an issue if you don’t live in France.
The reason we added -ley to “Wren” is because my first name ends in -ley. I think she left that out to help keep me anonymous since our last name is listed. I absolutely love your suggestions and comments!!
I hope you guys will find the perfect name!
Love the suggestion of Hensley with either Golden or Rayne as a middle.
Here’s some I could see working with your set…
Arden
Pauline
Whitney
Orla
Tenley
Quincy
Perry
What about Ridley (or Riddley?)
My first thought was Marvel, then Mirabelle both from the Latin mirabillis or, roughly, wondrous, miraculous. If the repeating first initial is a no go, perhaps Valkyrie which feels perfect, at least with Maverick.
Some other names that fit:
Athena
Artemis
Fable (though Fable L@dy definitely read fae)
Hunter
Skylar/Schuyler
I definitely lean Marvel, Artemis or Fable.
I think Piper fits really well!
Suggestions: Simone, Claire, Daphne, Tatum, Maya