Edit: She’s here! Welcome Allegra Soleil!
Kelsey writes:
I’m an avid Pinterest follower and just found you on Facebook. We are going to be surprised with the gender of our second child when he or she arrives in a month. We have a set of boy names we love but can’t pin down any girl names we adore. Baby’s big sister is Skylar Celina.
Any help is appreciated!
Please read on for my response, and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Kelsey –
Congratulations on your new baby!
Skylar Celina perfectly balances the modern and the traditional. It’s unisex and feminine, popular and unexpected.
But it raises the question of what you’re looking for next time around.
Often find that names I perceive as unisex are seen differently by parents. I hear Skylar and think Harper and Emerson and Kennedy. But maybe you’re hearing it as strictly feminine.
Another thing that strikes me about Skylar Celina – it’s a name meant to go up! Skylar brings to mind the sky, obviously; but so does Celina. Sound-wise, it reminds me of Selene, the moon. But it’s also an elaboration of Celia, from the Latin – heavenly.
So is it that meaning – subliminal though some of it is – that makes the name so appealing? If that’s the case, then a positive vibe, maybe with a virtue or achievement-oriented meaning, could be another key to finding a great name.
Lastly, I wonder if you’re after a less common name, or a more mainstream choice? Skylar ranks in the current girls’ Top 100 … but it feels fresh and new, since it wasn’t popular until very recently.
Let’s look at combinations that might appeal.
Stella Avery – Maybe this is too obvious, since they’re both Top 100 names, and the means of Stella and Skylar (star + sky) are so closely linked? Still, I like Skylar Celina and Stella Avery quite a bit.
Ruby Elowen – Like Celina, Elowen is gorgeous and unexpected. It’s from a Cornish name meaning elm tree. Ruby, obviously, is a noun name with a bold sound – I think it stands up nicely to Skylar.
Tristan Elodie – Tristan is used for boys, overwhelmingly and almost exclusively. (Over 3200 boys in 2017 versus about 50 girls.) In fact, I’m tempted to add it to your boy’s list, too. But Tristan also strikes me as an update to former favorite Kristen, so I think it works – especially if part of Skylar’s appeal is the unisex vibe.
Rowan Felicity – This might be the most closely matched to Skylar Celina – a unisex first with a romantic, even frilly, middle. I really like Rowan as a sister for Skylar, and Felicity carries a great meaning – happiness.
Juniper Esme – Or maybe you’d rather choose another name that feels unisex, but is much more common for girls? I like Skylar and Juniper together, and Esme is an unexpected middle, plus it means beloved.
Haven Amara – Haven is more like Juniper; a neutral name that’s used far more often for girls. Like Skylar points to the sky and achievement, Haven suggests safety and calm. Amara means grace; together it’s a very peaceful choice.
Brighton Elise – What would you think of something like Brighton? Like Skylar, there’s a great meaning waiting right underneath the surface – light and bright. Elise makes for a lovely, traditional middle to balance the bolder first, just like Celina does for Skylar.
Looking at all of these options, I’m not sure what direction makes more sense. After all, Skylar is modern but familiar; names like Brighton and Tristan are modern but unconventional. I’m most drawn to something like Rowan Felicity or Brighton Elise.
But I think the community will have some amazing suggestions for this one, so let’s hear them!
What would you name a sister for Skylar Celina?
Hi All, Thank you for all the beautiful suggestions! They really did help us come up with an idea of what we were looking for, and they really did come in handy as our surprise was in fact a girl! Allegra Soleil was born yesterday afternoon 🙂
Oh! How absolutely lovely! Congratulations to you and your family, and what a gorgeous name! Thanks for the update. 🙂
I love the name Allegra! And it’s gorgeous paired with Soleil. Congratulations!
Didn’t help you at all but wanted to say congrats on her safe arrival and wonderful name!
Rowan Felicity is too cute! It would be perfect.
Beckett is super cute with Skylar.
Beckett Marlena
Beckett Noella
Beckett Elinor
Beckett Imogen
Beckett Viola
Beckett Fiona
I love what you’ve done already with Skylar’s neutral first and feminine middle! Just a couple more ideas for you-
Beckett Louna -(both girls would have a moon in the middle) 🙂
Beckett Rosalie
Beckett Anika
Brighton Aurora
Rowan Marielle
Congrats!
I think an alliteration would be cool here to consider
Beckett Brea
Beckett Brynn
Beckett Brianne
Since you stated that you love in a sea community, I think Maris would be lovely (Latin for Sea). Maris Waverly would be nice with Skylar Celina.
I love all the suggestions! Thank you everyone for your input! Skylar will be 9 this summer, her name wasn’t in the top 100 when we had her, and Celina is her maternal great-grandmother (the connotations were a very happy accident!). Stella is actually my niece, so that’s out, but a beautiful name for sure. I am more influenced by names once I know the meaning. We do live in a beach community, so the sea and sky options are definitely appealing as well. My husband and I agree that Rowan and Brighton are great options (I had Tristan on my short list which was vetoed). We are also considering Beckett (but are stuck on a middle to make it more feminine.
Trying to come up with some combos where first and middle have related meanings, just like in Skylar Celine:
Jade Margaret (mineral)
Blair Louise (militar)
Aurora Eloise (sun)
Blake Melanie (dark)
Maren Delphine (sea)
Isla Meredith (sea)
Laurel Nicole (victory)
Fiona Claire (light)
Katherine Annice (pure)
How about- Summer Aurora
Skylar Celina and Summer Aurora. 🙂 I love the ties to the sky in both names.
Some other combos for Summer-
Summer Lucia
Summer Anastasia
Summer Estella
Summer Mirabel
I also love Abby’s suggestion of Haven Amara. 🙂 Haven Aurora sounds pretty together too…
Hope you find a girl name you love! Congrats on baby number two!!
Abby, your suggestions make me swoon! I don’t have anything to top them, but just wanted to say I’m especially partial to Ruby, Rowan and Juniper.
I agree! These 3 combos were my favorites, with Rowan Felicity top of the list. Good luck with baby #2!
With Skylar, I would probably name a sister:
Darby
Merritt
Tiernan
Tierney
Teagan
Rory
Remy
Romy
Britton
Collins
Ainsley
For whatever reason, I have always thought of the names Skylar and Kendall as a complimentary pair.
I also love Stella suggestion and also would like to add Nova to consider.
Many congratulations!
Sienna
Brooklyn
How about Celeste it means heavenly and goes well with Skylar and seems a subtle nod to your daughters middle name.
Aurora is another good choice it means Dawn.
If the repeated start sounds are part of the attraction of Skylar Celina, I wonder whether something like Juno Genevieve or Juniper Giselle might work?
Some more thoughts:
Ember Aurelia
Quinn Coralie
Everly Aurora
Ashlyn Oriana
Eden Rosalie
Brooklyn Cordelia
I love the connection with Stella!
Ruby hits the right note for me too
I also really enjoy Rowan, Harper, and Luna
Tatum Aurora!
Or maybe even Aurore.
Harriet Claire
Sadie Lucinda
Malia Eleanor
Georgia Roxanne
Clara Emmeline
Helena Aubrey
Ellie Serena
Laney Alberta
Trinity Akiko
Kinsley Akira
You’ve given some truly lovely and thoughtful options, Abby. Wow! I like your reasoning behind each one!
Juniper Esme resounds for me, but (as you considered) it’s all about what angle the parents are coming from.
Sky & June are sweet nickname pairings!
Is it the s that draws you? Maybe Sierra Kate or Sadie Susannah or Stella Sharona?
Given the popularity of Hamilton and the Schuyler sisters, maybe Alexandra or Eliza.
Maybe use a strong meaning as a starting point. For example, instead of sky and upwards, what about the seas? Sea-related names that sound like a sister for Skylar could be Maren or Dylan:
Skylar Celina and Maren Elodie
Skylar Celina and Dylan Eloise
Wow! I had no idea Skylar was so popular in the US. It’s not as much here in Canada. I only know one who is maybe 9yo and her little brother is London, a great set I always think. (Although I have encountered a few adult Schuylers .)
I agree it’s hard to know what style the writer has without any other names to go on. I like Tristan Elodie best of your suggestions.
Dutch vibe suggestions:
Fleur
Daphne
Gemma
Jetta
Mies
Leonie
Noor
i’m all about Juniper