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!
Amber writes:
My husband and I are expecting a daughter together in March. She is my first child. My husband has a 7 year old son named Maverick Dillon from an earlier relationship. Maverick’s mom has two younger children: a girl named Mylah and a boy named Zion. We live in the same area, so the kids will likely spend time together, at least occasionally.
I’m not really sure how to think about Maverick when it comes to choosing a name for our daughter. I know it probably rules out Maeve, a name that I love. But I don’t want to “match” Maverick, and I don’t think I have to, right? And should Zion and Mylah’s names be considered in my decision? I do like Zara and Zoe/Zoey, but maybe I shouldn’t even think about Z names? I’m definitely avoiding M names.
So far, my husband says the decision is up to me and I think that’s probably not going to change. The only name he has suggested is Paisley, which is okay for someone else, but I don’t really like it.
I’d say that I like more traditional names, or at least a little more traditional.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
Blended families take some extra effort, and there’s not always a perfect answer for some of these questions.
But when it comes to half-siblings, it sounds like you’re taking the right approach. Don’t make an effort to match an older kid’s name if that’s not your style, but do choose names that don’t conflict.
This is true even if the age gap is significant, or the children will rarely spend time together. For many families – like yours – it’s matter of making daily life run smoothly, too. Maverick and Maeve would be awkwardly close. Not unworkable, no. But unless there was a reason that Maeve had to be your daughter’s name, I’d encourage you to keep looking.
And you are – perfect!
I think you can give the names of Maverick’s half-siblings less consideration. Sure, they’ll be thrown together from time to time, like maybe at their mutual brother’s birthday parties. That said, Zora and Zion? I wouldn’t raise an eyebrow.
Still, it sounds like you’d rather avoid them – and that’s fine, too.
So let’s brainstorm some names loosely based on Zora, Zoey, Maeve, and Paisley.
CORA
An alternative to Zora, Cora feels a little more traditional. Maybe it’s because we’ve swapped the Z for a C. Or maybe it’s the Downton Abbey association.
DAPHNE
Zoey has been powerfully popular for years. Daphne is beginning to catch on now, a Greek import with style to spare.
GEMMA
Yes, it’s Emma-with-a-G. But it’s been used for girls in Italy for ages. (The author Dante Alighieri’s wife was Gemma, which takes us back to the fourteenth century.)
ELIZA
Originally short for Elizabeth, Eliza feels brief and complete. Like Maverick (and Zion), it has a high value Scrabble letter. But lively Eliza also feels gently old-fashioned, in part because Broadway reminded us that it’s the name of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton’s wife.
HADLEY
It’s a surname name like Paisley, but Hadley reads slightly more traditional. That’s probably thanks to Hadley Richardson, the first Mrs. Ernest Hemingway. A fictional biography of Hadley titled The Paris Wife became a bestseller in 2011, pushing the name into wider use.
SAGE
This name checks all the boxes. It’s a pretty shade of green, a word meaning wise, and an herb, too. It’s the best of Scarlett, Grace, and Rosemary, all in a single name!
SYLVIE
The French form of Sylvia, but also a casual update to that 1930s favorite.
VIOLET
A lovely floral name, Violet shares the V of Maeve, but sounds nothing like Maverick. At the same time, it is another noun name, subtly connecting the half-siblings.
Overall, I wonder if Sylvie would appeal? It has the same V of Maeve, and hits the same traditional, but seldom heard vibe.
If you love the letter Z, I’d suggest you to go all out and name her Zazie. It’s quite traditional in my eyes as it’s a nickname for Elizabeth.
I love every suggestion! If it hasn’t been mentioned, Zadie I think would be a fun option. I don’t think you should avoid Z (or M) names if that is what your heart longs for! I do think it would be fun to have a more traditional name with a spunky nickname (the spunky nickname being more of the “Maverick” style of name). Katherine nicknamed Kit, Cordelia nicknamed Cori (or Cora, Dell, Lia, Delia, or any of a number of combinations), Juliette nicknamed Jett. Something along the those lines might be fun.
I also vote for Sylvie! Or perhaps another V-centric name like Vera or Ivy!
I love all of Abby’s suggestions. I would also suggest:
Liv
Liza
Lyra
Azelie nn Zelie
Aveline
You have Maverick in your life and I’m hearing you are being thoughtful of him and the other half siblings.
I would encourage you to embrace your chance to choose a name. Other than names that sound super similar to Maverick I’d say literally anything else is on the table. Forget styles “matching” because you didn’t choose Maverick.
I genuinely think you should go with your own heart otherwise your choosing a name based on someone else’s style.
Paisley was suggested by her daddy. It’s ok, but you seem to lean towards Z names, similar sounding is Zahli.
I feel like the best middle spot compromise is Bell. It’s clear your husband likes word names and it’s a feminine , traditional word name. Maverick and Bell. Personally I’d lose the E but it would work either way.
It’s already been mentioned, but the first name I thought of was Averie. I prefer Averie to Avery for a girl, but either spelling gives you the long A and V sound of Maeve.
Other possibilities:
Eva
Haven
Raven
Regan or Reagan
Saoirse — SEER sha, means “freedom” or “liberty.”
Vera
Best wishes to you.
If you like the sound of Maeve, how about Neve?
Haven might appeal, too. Or Avalon? Love this name…
Ava came to mind as alternatives to Maeve. Or perhaps Liv (Olive, Livia etc), Haven, Jovie, Waverly, Neve (or Niamh), Viva, Nova, or Dove?
If your husband like Paisley, have you considered Peyton or Presley? Or Haisley?