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!
Caitlin writes:
We are looking for some help with naming our third girl, due in May, so getting close! Our first two are Scarlett Bay and Hazel ”Zella” Rae.
My husband and I have VERY different naming styles. He wants a name that will not raise eyebrows or inspire comments, while I like quirky and fun. For Scarlett Bay, we gave her the quirky middle and a Top 50 first name. For Hazel “Zella” Rae, we gave her a Top 50 first with a quirky nickname – a method I think I prefer.
My husband is learning toward sticking with the color theme, but neither of us are overly tied to that.
A few names we both sort of like, but don’t love:
- Irene (nn Ren), a family name for both of us.
- Aurora (nn Rory), which sort of makes you think of colors, like the Aurora Borealis.
- Opal (nn Polly), my favorite gem.
Others we have talked about, but one or the other rejected: Matilda (Tillie), Violet (Lettie), Willow, Ada, Daisy.
A few names we like for middle names, but not first: Sage, Clover, True.
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your third daughter!
You’ve navigated the divide between your styles and preferences with grace. But it does get harder with every new arrival, doesn’t it?
What leaps out at me: if your style is Top 50 with a quirky nickname, there’s only one choice on your list. Aurora ranks #36 and has built-in nickname Rory. Scarlett, Zella, and Rory – perfection, particularly because Rory feels like it falls somewhere midway between familiar Scarlett and very rare Zella.
Irene-called-Ren and Opal-called-Polly are great choices. But they’re pretty far outside of your usual range. Irene ranks #624 and Opal #659 as of 2020. That doesn’t mean you can’t use them – in fact, I think they’re great with Scarlett and Zella.
But I’m guessing that their relative obscurity is part of the reason they don’t feel like The Name?
Let’s come up with some fresh options.
A SISTER FOR SCARLETT and ZELLA
TOP 250 NAMES with QUIRKY NICKNAMES
Let’s start with names ranked in the current US Top 250 that offer cool, quirky nicknames. The lists goes and on, of course. But I’m skipping the most traditional of first names. While I think Elizabeth called Birdie might work, I’m not sure if that’s quite your style, based on Scarlett and Hazel.
ELOISE called LOLA
Both Eloise and Lola rank in the current US Top 250, but Lola still feels like a bold, unconventional nickname choice. For more formal name options for Lola, see this list.
GENEVIEVE called GIGI
While Genevieve has never been wildly popular, I think it fits in nicely with Scarlett and Hazel. Gigi could be a sparky choice of a nickname.
PENELOPE called POLLY
Penelope is a Top 50 pick, an obvious addition to your list. It could shorten to Polly, just like Opal. Of course, it might also shorten to Poppy … which gives you another color name to go with Scarlett and Hazel.
VICTORIA called VIA
The obvious Victoria nicknames are Vicky and Tori. But Via might be an unexpected, quirky option. There’s also Vica, which goes nicely with Zella and Scarlett, too. For more unexpected Victoria nicknames, check out this list.
COLOR NAMES with GREAT NICKNAMES
While you could pair the names above with a colorful middle – I’m a big fan of Penelope Sage – maybe there’s a more obvious color name to consider as a first?
CLEMENTINE called CLEO
The feminine form of Clement, Clementine isn’t a color at all. It means peaceful. Except clementines are a small citrus fruit, making this a name inspired by the color orange.
CORALINE called CORA or CALLIE
Neil Gaiman reversed two letters and his fictional heroine Caroline became Coraline. But Coraline also brings to mind the color coral, which makes it a fit.
JUNIPER called JUNIE
It’s not exactly a green name, but Juniper brings to mind the tree. And it’s associated with a pretty shade of green with blue undertones, too.
INDIGO – INDIE
A blue-purple color, and a bold choice for a child’s name.
MARIGOLD – GOLDIE
It seems surprising that Marigold is so rare. It’s a flower name like Rose and Violet, and Downton Abbey has used it for a character’s name, too.
PERIDOT – DOT
I know this is a stretch! But the green gemstone could make a completely unexpected name and nickname Dot is an obvious choice. It’s worth noting that Peridot is often pronounced like Margot, but I still think Dot is an option.
SIENNA – SUNNY
Sienna fits in the first list, actually – it ranks #166 and it’s a color name, a reddish-brown inspired by the earth of Siena, Italy. But I’ve kept it here because both Sienna and possible quirky nickname Sunny are such strong color names.
WINTER – WINNIE, WINRY
Maybe Winter isn’t a color, exactly, but it seems color-adjacent. Nickname Winnie is vintage, while Winry leans modern. Both work nicely with Scarlett and Zella.
Overall, I’m most drawn to Penelope Sage called Polly or Poppy. It really does check every box!
Thanks for all the suggestions! We ended up with Opal Irene, called Polly. The older girls love her name. She’s a week old today!
Caroline called Liney or Callie?
Katherine called Kit or Wren?
Adelaide called Lady?
Scarlett Bay, Hazel Rae (Zella) and…..
Penelope Faye (Pippy)
Susanna Faye (Suki)
Juniper Faye(Pippy)
Antonia Faye (Annie)
Rowenna Faye (Winnie)
Or Violet Irene called Vera?
Aurora Sage! Yes! I know of a 6 year old Aurora nicknamed Ari.
Opal called Polly – or just Opal is my favorite! I think it goes great with Scarlett and Zella and feels like a color name even if it isn’t as clear as the other too. Aurora called Rory also feels like a really lovely fit. And my third choice from the list would be Clementine called Cleo. In terms of more popular color names, I think Olive mad Ruby are your best bets. But I think Lilac or Lavender could be really sweet names for your sibset as well!
I love the suggestions of Iris, Sienna / Sunny and Penelope / Poppy. Olivia nn Iva would work too.
Scarlett Bay, Hazel Rae and Olivia Mae. Scarlett. Zella and Iva.
What about Ruby nn Rue?
Scarlett Bay. Hazel Rae and Ruby Mae.
Or Rosemary for that matter. You still have the color Rose in there. Nn Rory if Rosie doesnt ork for you.
Scarlett Bay, Hazel Rae and Rosemary Day.
Coral called Coco!
Irene Violet called Ivy?
Aurora called Rory seems like a great option! Indigo/Indie is my favorite within the world of colors.
I also like
Luisa (Lulu)
Susanna (Susu or Sanna)
On the color/gemstone/nature path, you could consider (some of these have already been said) Sage, Willow, Ivy, Holly, River, Ash, Azure and all sorts of name-adjacent color names from other languages – Jaune (which sounds similar to Joan) comes to mind.
Would Etta make Violet work better for you?
If Willow was rejected for lack of nickname perhaps the French Loie could work in that way
Ida or Aida instead of Ada
Irena instead of Irene
Isis nn Sissy instead of Iris
Penelope nn Poppy is brilliant.
Olivia “Via” True or Olivia “Vivi” True, if you’re particularly religious Via is great because you have the way and the truth of “the Way, the Truth, the Life” plus implied meaning peace.
Similar Olympia nn Pia (definitely not top 100 but so similar)
Any of the Ev names nn Effie
Elizabeth nn Zsa Zsa
Victoria “Vita” True (the Life)
Genesis nn Essie
I thought of Ebony, nicknamed Bonnie, but sadly I don’t think that works with a sister named Scarlett.
Reading through the suggestions I thought of Pip as a nickname for Juniper, but Pip or Pippa could work for Penelope too! I quite like Scarlett, Zella and Pip.
Quite a random thought, but I see you’ve got Violet “Lettie” on your not quite list. It’s likely too late to introduce a nickname for your eldest daughter, but Lettie works just as well as a nickname for Scarlett. Only you will know how this will fly with your daughter, but perhaps you could gradually introduce it as an occasional use nickname? Lettie, Zella and Pip?
What about the name Ivory with one of the middle names already mentioned? It is a color and would go with your theme without being too obvious. Nickname maybe could be Ivy.
Also…could use Mae or Faye as a middle name…continue with similar sounds as the others & Faye would have both the “y” & “e” from the middle names of the first two.
I think the suggested Iris is brilliant! It’s a nod to Irene, but it’s also all the colours. I like the pairing of Iris True, from your middles list. Or maybe Iris Lane, to go with the -ay/ae middle theme and lead to a top 100 nn of Isla?
Without reading any of your context, the first thing that popped to mind was Olive Faye. It’s not top 100, but it’s close enough to a top top name to fit maybe? I LOVE Sienna nn Sunny here, she just seems like the perfect sister.
I think the trickiest part is a familiar enough name to pass your husband’s approval, that also somehow ties into a theme. I adore your Opal / Polly pick but it doesn’t seem to pass his test? Both the names you’ve chosen are short and snappy, so I’m tempted to suggest (from the top 100):
Luna Sage nn Lulu
Paisley Cate nn Pax
Ivy Cate nn Vita
Emery/Emerie True nn Malou
Jade Caitlin nn Jax
I really think your name could be great in the middle, or just shorter Cate to match sister middles!
I love Victoria called Plum!!!
Iris Gem!