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!
Kasey writes:
I love our daughter’s name, Poppy June. It’s a little bit old-fashioned, but in the ready-to-climb-trees and skip-stones kind of way, not sit-around-in-a-white-pinafore-and-embroider way.
Our second daughter (and last child) will be here by the end of November, and we have our list down to four names, but we can’t choose.
- Maisie/Maisy – love it, but husband and I disagree on spelling
- Rory – this was nearly Poppy’s name, but I’m not sure about it being more of a boy name?
- Rosie/Rose – too much flower with Poppy?
- Selah – last minute addition to the list, not sure if it goes with Poppy’s name
We’re open to new ideas, too, but we feel like we’ve looked at every name already.
Our last name sounds like muh-thee-nee.
Can you help us decide?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your second daughter!
There’s no perfect formula for picking a sibling name. But since you’re confident this child completes your family, it does allow for some freedom.
In general, I would worry far less about matching. Nearly any two names, repeated together again and again, will start to sound compatible. And even two close names usually won’t be a tongue-twister.
It’s often the third – or fourth or fifth – sibling that complicates matters, and suddenly you’re the parents of Poppy, Rosie, Violet, Begonia, and Hawthorn. That’s not likely in your family’s case, so I think you can exhale. If your children’s names please you, you’ve done well!
Let’s look at the names on your list first. I’m going to rank them in order of how well I think they fit your overall criteria.
4. SELAH
This is a lovely Old Testament name, but I’m not sure it fits the overall image you’re describing.
3. RORY
Since you have personal experience with a boyish/androgynous name, I’m ranking this one lower. That said, Rory was given to 1225 boys and 956 girls in 2022. That’s not exactly unisex, but it’s pretty close. And this generation will grow up with more unisex names than ever before – just ask Charlie, Rowan, and River. So Rory fits right in … but maybe isn’t right for you.
2. ROSE
I don’t think two floral names is too much – not at all! Rose called Rosie sounds very much like a sister for Poppy.
1. MAISIE
Maisie and Poppy sound like sisters. They sidestep the double-floral issue. They’re both feminine, but sparky. I can use the same phrases to describe Maisie that you used for Poppy: “ready to climb trees and skip stones.”
Let’s talk about spelling for a minute. In the absence of any complicating factor, I always suggest parents default to the dominant – i.e., most popular – spelling. In this case, it’s clearly Maisie. In 2022, Maisie ranked #348, with Maisy a distant #988. (And yes, spellings like Mayzie and such are out there, too.) Maisy looks like the popular Daisy, doubtless why it’s in use … but it’s definitely not the most common or expected version.
Okay, let’s add in a few more ideas.
BRIAR
It’s not exactly old-fashioned, though Sleeping Beauty uses the name Briar Rose, which makes this feel a little bit vintage. It’s floral-adjacent, but subtle. Poppy and Briar have different sounds, but share a similar energy.
HATTIE
An antique gem with plenty of spirit.
LOLA
There’s something about the sound of Lola – it’s free-spirited, but with a certain vintage appeal.
SCOUT
This would be a modern word name, but A Catcher in the Rye’s principled Scout Finch dusts it with some black-and-white charm and plenty of substance, too.
ZARA
Zara reads a little like an update to traditional Sarah.
A SISTER for POPPY JUNE
From your list, my favorite is Maisie. It’s perfect with Poppy – a similar vibe, while sounding and looking distinct.
From my list, I’d be tempted to suggest Hattie for the same reasons. But I’m more drawn to Briar or Lola instead. I’m saying this for two reasons: first, I really think they’re great with Poppy and exactly what you’ve described. But I also wonder if you’re looking for something just a little different from Poppy. Maybe Maisie is too good of a match?
Hazel
Willow
Maisie from your list or Lola from Abby’s.
Also thought of Fern (like Charlotte’s Web), Maria, Ruth, and Ruby.
Poppy and Ruby would be so spunky together!
Poppy and Fern make me think of a sweet summer themed children’s book. So many adorable adventures!
I love the advice, both from Abby and from the comments, but- “A Catcher in the Rye”?? Abby, you know Scout was in “To Kill a Mockinnbird”!!
My first thought was Rosemary nn Rosie. It isn’t floral but a nature name… but you get where you want to be… Rosie
My second thought was Olive. Poppy and Olive. All the vintage, all the spunk.
My third thought was Phillipa nn Pippa. Poppy and Pippa may be too close for some but Pippa is definitely a tree climbing, good sport kind of name.
I feel like Clementine fits the criteria, but I’m not sure it is you style? Same with Josephine nn Joey or Jo-Jo. Lots of chutzpah, with vintage roots.
Love the name Maisie.
I saw a name Valley Sue for you.
I also like Vale.
I am also on team “Maisie” for spelling. For my ear when I hear Maisie I hear the MAY sounding part which then links to June in Poppy’s name. Mae would be a very sweet nickname indeed. Maybe even consider having simply Mae?
I almost chose Rose for my last daughter, so I’m in love with that as it’s got the matching floral feel with Poppy and Rosie.
The other one which made me gasp at the perfection was Lola.
Poppy June and Lola Mae ohh that’s heaven….
Poppy June and Maisie Lola
One other suggestion is Hazel. It’s got a spunky vibe. Poppy and Hazel
Lola Mae “Muh-thee-nee” is gorgeous!
Maisie is so good!
Otherwise, I agree that Daphne is excellent. She is complete, quietly botanical, and has just enough sass to her.
Zora means “dawn” but carries a more elegant spunk.
You’re doing well! You’ll pick just the right name!
I think Maisie is perfect with P0ppy and it evokes the image you envision. I like the “ie” version best but I would not give up the name over the spelling. Others that seem to fit:
Lulu (maybe Louise nn Lulu)
Edie
Ada
Willa
Blythe
Trixie
Callie
Tillie
Cora
Liza
Stella
Georgia
Scottie
Cleo
Aggie
Clover
Daisy
Eloise
Faye
Fern
Lottie/Lotte/Lotta
Lucy/Lucie
Mabel/Maple
Mae/May
Matilda/Tilda/Tilly
Pearl
Sally/Sallie
Clover
Daisy
Faye
Fern
Mae/May
Maple
Maisie is perfect with Poppy, and the alliteration with your last name works well because of the difference in syllables. Poppy and Maisie.
I also like Selah (pronounced say-luh). Possible nicknames could be Sally or even Sadie. Poppy and Selah.
Other names you might like:
Bliss — this is my “out in left field” suggestion that I try not to make too often. It’s probably better as a middle name, but I love it. Poppy and Bliss.
Daphne — Poppy and Daphne.
Hazel — nicknames could be Hallie or Hayley. Poppy and Hazel.
Lila/Lilah Lyla/Lylah — Poppy and Lila.
Lily/Lilly — likely too on the nose with the flower theme, but such a beautiful name. Poppy and Lily.
I agree with Abby, Maisie is the best option. I like the -ie ending, because it gives each sister a different ending.
Other than that, I suggest:
Ruby Lee
Poppy June is delightful. I love the imagery. (I also wanted my girls to have a bit of spunk in their names and I’m thrilled to see both of their names come up in comments.)
For some reason, one syllable names are feeling well suited for her sister? Maybe it’s flipping the pattern that feels neat. I would 100% name her sister Bea. It’s spunky, connected to nature in sound, and just fun to say. Bea Maisie! (Maybe that’s too much EE sound, hard to tell the surname flow.)
Jules
Tess
Cass
Nell
Maeve
Lou
Or going with the 2-syll -EE pattern you like:
Goldie
Mimi
Daphne
Tilly
Or how about Zuzu? She’s a winter sweetheart. Or even Winter? She turns into Winnie!
Okay my faves are Bea Maisie or Mimi Pearl. But you can’t go wrong with Maisie!
I love all the names on your list. Since others are giving you the end in -y/-ie options, I’ll suggest a few names more like Selah, although Sally jumps out as the middle between Maisie and Selah.
Suzette
Hazel
Viola/Violet (depending on whether you like the flower theme)
Anya
Annette
Eloise
Ivy
Isla
Margo
Becca (just Becca)
Bess
Beth
Zola
Lula/Lulu
Lilou
Liv
Willa/Willow
Nelle
Prue
Autumn
Maisie is great!
Other options:
Annie
Maggie
Birdie
Betsy
Sadie
Imogen (or Emmagene, whichever spelling you like)
I would probably name Poppy’s sister Mae, but Maisie is fabulous!
Maisie is a perfect choice! I also love Lola from the list of wild cards.
(By the way, Scout Finch is from To Kill a Mockingbird, not The Catcher in the Rye.)
Josie Pearl!
I love the symmetry of the reversed initials, and it’s the same kind of vintage vibe. No flower issue, no spelling issue, and vintage cute while skipping stones for days.
Hattie is my favorite from Abby. Others that give me a similar vibe:
Lottie
Millie
Molly
Betsy
Nellie/Nell
Darla
Sadie
I love Maisie for you, but whichever way you choose there will be people who spell it the other way. Probably similar to Poppy, though. I bet some people will want to spell it Poppie, despite the word.
The other names on your list are less cutesy, with Selah giving neither cute nor old fashioned vibes to me. I think you want something that feels well established, familiar, but is under used.
Of Abby’s options, I’d go with Scout or Lola. Other suggestions:
Rosemary. If you like Rose and Rory, Rosemary will get you to both. Or you can go straight to Rosie. I suspect that you prefer not to use nicknames, though. You’re ok with a nickname name, but all your options are pretty nickname proof or are nicknames.
Rosa. Another Rose alternative, but the A gives it a little extra heft.
Selma or Zelma. Similar to Selah, but slightly more familiar.
Agnes
Sylvie
Clementine. Longer than your other choices but too cute, and I definitely see her skipping stones!
Helen
Blythe
Georgia/Georgina
Hester
Claire
Ruth
Ruby
Cecily
Dorothy
Emmeline
Of course, there’s nothing that says sibling names have to go together. If each time you pick a name you love, then that is what ties them together; the “theme” is “names you love.” Poppy and Selah? Go for it! At worst people will say/think “huh! Those are two very different names, is Poppy a nickname, or are they family names?” And you’ll smile and say, “Nope! They were the two names we loved best!”
Maisie.
How about Rosemary Selah, nicknamed Rosie or Rory? The sounds for Rory are there, with the starting Ro and ending ry. It also is less of a flower name and less matchy matchy I would probably go with whatever spelling is most common, which is Maisie. Maisy doesn’t look quite right to me.
Maisie most definitely! Though Selah would be my second choice. My husband and I could not agree on the spelling our daughter’s name for the entire pregnancy and we almost gave it up. I wanted the wider known spelling (Maeve) and he wanted the Irish spelling (Meabh). I won in the end—I carried and gave birth to her, and my husband gave in.
I agree with Abby, Maisie is the clear winner, regardless of spelling. As someone who has grown up with an unconventionally spelled name, please pick the most common spelling. It is not fun to spell your name repeatedly & have it spelled wrong, even though you have spelled it. It sounds like you & your husband both like it, so that’s a huge bonus.
I also like Rory, but would use it as a nickname for a longer, more feminine name -Aurora is my favourite.
I love your description of how Poppy makes you feel. I had many many names on my list that would let me use the nickname Annie, because it gave me the same skipping-stones-climbing-trees vibe. My favourite Annie name is Annika.
Another name that fits the brief imo is Blythe.
Poppy & Maisie seem perfect together, but if not
Poppy & Aurora, nn Rory
Poppy & Annika, nn Annie
Poppy & Blythe
There are so many amazing options! Many blessings on your family as you welcome this addition.