• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Request a Name

Appellation Mountain

Where every name has a story

  • Baby Name Advice & More
  • Master List: Girl Names
  • Master List: Boy Names
  • Private Baby Name Consulting

Name Help: A Sister for Maverick and Elliot

October 23, 2020 By appellationmountain 20 Comments

Name Help: A Sister for Maverick & ElliotName 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.

Readers, over to you! What would you name a sister for Maverick and Elliot?

More names you might like:

  • Name Help: Connecting Names for Boy-Girl TwinsName Help: Connecting Names for Boy-Girl Twins
  • Name Help: A Sister for Nora ClairName Help: A Sister for Nora Clair
  • Name Help: A Sibling for MabelName Help: A Sibling for Mabel
  • Name Help: Fourth Four-Letter Boy NameName Help: Fourth Four-Letter Boy Name
  • Name Help: A Sister for LilyName Help: A Sister for Lily

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print

Comments

  1. Laura says

    November 15, 2020 at 10:46 AM

    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)

    Reply
  2. Lori H says

    November 14, 2020 at 2:03 PM

    Serena Golden

    Vivian Wren

    Everett Rayne

    Bronwen Cary

    Reply
  3. Jaime says

    October 25, 2020 at 7:28 PM

    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

    Reply
  4. Jean C. says

    October 24, 2020 at 8:21 PM

    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)

    Reply
  5. Kirstin says

    October 24, 2020 at 2:54 PM

    A few suggestions:

    Arden
    Harlow
    Carys
    Quinn

    Reply
  6. Teeny says

    October 24, 2020 at 11:41 AM

    Sloane!

    Reply
  7. Erin Beth says

    October 24, 2020 at 10:10 AM

    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!

    Reply
    • Erin Beth says

      October 24, 2020 at 10:23 AM

      A few other ideas:
      Seren
      Celine
      Devon
      Brynn
      Brett
      Eden
      Neve
      Maren

      I do like the sound of a hard consonant at the end.

      Reply
  8. keats says

    October 24, 2020 at 8:43 AM

    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!

    Reply
  9. Iris says

    October 24, 2020 at 4:39 AM

    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.

    Reply
  10. A says

    October 24, 2020 at 12:43 AM

    Perhaps Eden, Tessa, Brooke, Nadine, Simone, Alexandra, Kiersten?

    Reply
  11. Zena Eve says

    October 23, 2020 at 3:48 PM

    Meridian
    Winry
    Morgan
    Clarkia
    Ida
    Clarion

    Reply
  12. Anchors_and_Whales says

    October 23, 2020 at 2:58 PM

    (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.

    Reply
    • Blady says

      October 23, 2020 at 4:04 PM

      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!!

      Reply
      • Anchors_and_Whales says

        October 23, 2020 at 11:09 PM

        I hope you guys will find the perfect name!

        Reply
    • Candy says

      October 23, 2020 at 4:06 PM

      Love the suggestion of Hensley with either Golden or Rayne as a middle.

      Reply
  13. Renée says

    October 23, 2020 at 11:04 AM

    Here’s some I could see working with your set…
    Arden
    Pauline
    Whitney
    Orla
    Tenley
    Quincy
    Perry

    Reply
  14. Em says

    October 23, 2020 at 9:53 AM

    What about Ridley (or Riddley?)

    Reply
  15. megan says

    October 23, 2020 at 8:46 AM

    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.

    Reply
  16. VEL says

    October 23, 2020 at 8:17 AM

    I think Piper fits really well!

    Suggestions: Simone, Claire, Daphne, Tatum, Maya

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


POPULAR POSTS

Tweets by @appmtn
Visit Appellation Mountain's profile on Pinterest.

Copyright © 2023 · AppellationMountain.net on Genesis Framework · Privacy Policy · Log in