• 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 Susanna Jeanne

January 22, 2021 By appellationmountain 30 Comments

Name Help: A Sister for Susanna JeanneName 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!

Jo writes:

We have a three year old daughter, Susanna Jeanne, and we’re expecting another girl in March.

Our list for Susanna was pretty much Susanna and Penelope, and we went for the less popular choice. I’m so glad we did, because there are two Penelopes in her nursery school class already.

Jeanne is for my dad, Eugene, but I thought Jeanne was prettier than Gene/Jean.

This time, we’re talking about Louisa or Marina, but I feel like they’re not quite right.

Can you help us come up with some new ideas?

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

Dear Jo –

Congratulations on your new daughter!

My initial reaction is that Louisa and Marina both make great sister names for Susanna. I suppose you could end with up Sue and Lou, which would be way too cute. But … what are the odds that you’ll choose those nicknames?

But the more I thought about it, I wondered if Susanna feels like a summer name, all white sundresses and big, floppy hats. While Louisa and Marina feel like autumn. Maybe – just maybe? – there’s some essential lightness that defines Susanna?

I’m stretching, but I can almost hear why they’re not quite exactly right as sisters for Susanna.

Let’s see if we can come up with some ideas that are romantic and feminine, relatively rare, and have that same summery ease.

A SISTER FOR SUSANNA

BLYTHE

Brief and tailored rather than flowing and elaborate, Blythe shares Susanna’s light, bright feeling, possibly because of the name’s meaning – happiness.

CALISTA

Relatively rare, but familiar thanks to actor Calista Flockhart, this name’s meaning also appeals: most beautiful.

CORDELIA

Possibly Cordelia fits more with Louisa and Marina, but it’s an equally familiar name that’s seldom heard. Just Delia could be an option, too.

GEORGETTE

Take Georgia, mix in a healthy dose of Juliette, and this vintage rarity is the result.

ISADORA

Legendary dancer Isadora Duncan might be the most notable bearer of the name.

PERSEPHONE

If Susanna’s name was almost Penelope, then maybe a similar choice would work for her sister? Persephone is the logical alternative. While it does rank in the current US Top 1000 at #924, that’s far from saturated.

ROSALIND

Lots of the Rose names might be perfect sisters to Susanna, especially because Susanna means rose. (Or lily. Or possibly event lotus!)

TABITHA

A New Testament name, Tabitha has been used in small numbers for years – but remains relatively uncommon. If you like the idea of sticking with Biblical names, Susanna and Tabitha could be perfect together.

I think Susanna and Calista might be my favorite combination. It’s a good balance of gorgeous names no one is using, but everyone has heard.

Then again, you haven’t mentioned middle names. Is there a family member you plan to honor? Because something like Louisa Blythe could be downright gorgeous, too.

Readers, what would you suggest as a sister name for Susanna Jeanne?

 

More names you might like:

  • Name Help: A Sister for Maverick and ElliotName Help: A Sister for Maverick and Elliot
  • Name Help: A Meaningful Name for Sophie’s SisterName Help: A Meaningful Name for Sophie’s Sister
  • Name Help: A Sister for Emilia VioletName Help: A Sister for Emilia Violet
  • Name Help: Fourth Baby, Third GirlName Help: Fourth Baby, Third Girl
  • Name Help: A Sister for Gemma LouName Help: A Sister for Gemma Lou

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print

Comments

  1. Jonquil says

    January 25, 2021 at 3:28 AM

    Amaryllis
    Araminta
    Catalina
    Cressida
    Felicity
    Helena
    Lavinia
    Lydia
    Phoebe
    Verity
    Veronica

    Reply
  2. Sadie says

    January 24, 2021 at 2:15 PM

    Love to hear Susanna, and Susanna Jeanne is such a cute combination! I agree it has a summery/nature vibe–I think of black-eyed susans. I think Isadora and Tabitha from Abby are great, and from pps I like Georgia, Eliza, and Tess (might prefer Tessa for you).

    Caroline
    Dorothea
    Flora
    Harriet (Hattie)
    Leona
    Lorelei
    Marian (could be Molly, Mae, or Maisie)

    Reply
  3. Lisa T. says

    January 24, 2021 at 5:54 AM

    Josephine is my favourite suggestion!

    Reply
  4. Maddison says

    January 23, 2021 at 11:03 PM

    I’m going to throw out one I don’t think anyone else will suggest – Yolanda. It sounds perfect for a sister to Susanna and it has the pretty meaning of Violet.

    Reply
  5. FE says

    January 23, 2021 at 5:44 PM

    I haven’t seen Clara suggested. That would have been my Susannah’s little sister if that baby had been a girl. Older sister is Harriet, if that helps 🙂

    Reply
  6. Cece says

    January 23, 2021 at 4:29 PM

    Names that spring to mind to me as a sister for Susanna:

    Lydia
    Constance
    Eleanor
    Judith (a rogue choice but I love it)
    Josephine

    Reply
    • Liz says

      January 23, 2021 at 5:08 PM

      Loooove the suggestion of Judith. I know sisters named Judith and Meredith and think both are great with Susanna!

      Reply
    • Kate says

      January 23, 2021 at 8:14 PM

      I think Shakespeare named his two daughters Susanna and Judith! You’d be in good company!

      Reply
  7. Diane says

    January 23, 2021 at 1:46 AM

    I prefer a name that does NOT end in an “a.” I can imagine Dorothy, Felicity, Marielle, Phoebe, Charlotte or Rachel as a sister to Susanna

    Reply
  8. Kirstin says

    January 23, 2021 at 1:17 AM

    Congratulations! Here are a few more suggestions that might hit the same note as Susannah, especially paired with a vintage middle:

    Bethany
    Allison
    Amber
    Sabrina
    Miranda
    Laura

    Reply
  9. Dani says

    January 22, 2021 at 7:44 PM

    This may be my favorite “Name Help” post ever! If I am fortunate enough to have another baby girl, Susanna would almost certainly be her name. It checks all the boxes for me– nature name, saint’s name, underused, excellent nickname possibilities. So many of the sister names recommend are among my favorites, as well, and I hope we will eventually get to hear what you choose. 🙂 Of those Abby recommended, Georgette and Cordelia are so lovely and sweet with Susanna, and from the comments, I adore Belinda, Juliet(te), Phoebe, Felicity, Matilda, Gwendolen, Rosalie, Bonnie and Tess. All beauties and darling with Tess! Congratulations and best wishes!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 22, 2021 at 10:05 PM

      Oops! Meant darling with Susanna.

      Reply
  10. Erin Beth says

    January 22, 2021 at 6:20 PM

    I quite like the suggestion of Lydia and Phoebe. Other ideas:
    Jessamine
    Philomena
    Eliza
    Octavia
    Ginevra
    Faustina
    Paulina
    Magnolia
    Magdalena
    Georgina
    Clarissa
    Evangeline
    Angelica
    Antonia
    Virginia

    Reply
  11. Annie says

    January 22, 2021 at 4:53 PM

    Susanna was on our list for a girl and I always like Belinda for a sister name.

    Reply
    • Annie says

      January 22, 2021 at 4:55 PM

      Oh or Bethany.

      Reply
    • KM says

      January 22, 2021 at 10:57 PM

      Oooh Belinda! Definitely a name that we should talk about more often!

      Reply
  12. Jaime says

    January 22, 2021 at 2:49 PM

    Hmm. Of your two options, I prefer Louise. Of Abby’s suggestions, I like Isadora and Calista best.

    A few additional suggestions:

    Juliet
    Lydia
    Elizabeth, nn Betsy
    Esther
    Bonnie
    Georgina
    Felicity
    Margaret, nn Maisie
    Teresa, nn Tess
    Gwendolyn
    Helen
    Millicent, nn Millie
    Beatrice, nn Bea
    Estelle
    Katherine, nn Kit

    Reply
  13. Istas says

    January 22, 2021 at 2:33 PM

    Dahlia
    Cassiopeia
    Daphne
    Alma
    Fioretta
    Talitha
    Delfina
    Gwendolyn
    Vivienne/Viviana
    Philomena

    Reply
  14. Marie says

    January 22, 2021 at 1:03 PM

    I suggest looking a different ending instead of A, maybe that is what is giving it the just not right feeling.

    Susanna is wonderful.

    Cassidy
    Brooke
    Sylvie
    Brynn
    Aubrey
    Maxine

    Reply
  15. Emma says

    January 22, 2021 at 12:31 PM

    I am just head-over-heels for Abby’s suggestion of Delia! Susanna & Delia would make stunning sister names.

    Reply
  16. Iris says

    January 22, 2021 at 11:32 AM

    Some ideas:
    Phoebe
    Beatrice
    Matilda or Magnolia (maybe different enough from Marina?)
    Adelaide
    Ophelia
    Geneva
    Marigold (another flower name, like Susanna)

    But my personal favorite for this family is Clementine. Susanna and Clementine 🙂

    Reply
    • Renée says

      January 22, 2021 at 5:25 PM

      I was coming to suggest Clementine too! When I see Susanna I hear ‘Oh! Susanna’ and ‘Oh, My Darling Clementine’ feels like a lovely sister name.

      Would Eloise feel nicer than Louisa? Or Mirabel instead of Marina? I agree that having different endings makes a nice sibset.

      Reply
    • Iris says

      March 7, 2021 at 5:17 PM

      Or maybe Natalie. Susanna and Natalie!

      Reply
  17. KM says

    January 22, 2021 at 10:47 AM

    If it’s the ending vowel tripping you up, maybe Maren instead of Marina? I like Abby’s suggestion of Calista. Do you like Lillian or Josephine? Best of luck and congrats!

    Reply
  18. Alison Doherty says

    January 22, 2021 at 10:33 AM

    I’m wondering if both names in the a vowel is what’s tripping you up. Maybe Louise or Eloise would fit but not be as rhyme-y. Other thoughts that had Penelope vibes were – Calliope, Lucille, Rosalie or Rosemary, or Vivian.

    Reply
  19. keats says

    January 22, 2021 at 10:08 AM

    I think Calista is a great suggestion, especially if the uniqueness appealed to you so much in selecting Susanna. Nicknames Susie and Callie seem well paired too.

    While Abby suggested Georgette, what about the more familiar Georgia? I think they pair nicely as sister names and both have the summery vibe Abby mentions.

    In the vein of Penelope, what about Anastasia? It seems you like the longer names (3+ syllables), plus it has the same familiarity but lower usage of Susanna and the same accomplished, feminine vibe as your other names.

    Lastly I think Louisa Blythe is lovely. Susanna Jeanne and Louisa Blythe sound great together.

    Reply
  20. Alexandra says

    January 22, 2021 at 10:06 AM

    Susanna is one of my favorite names – so lovely! I’d suggest Claudia and Philippa, which to me share the same “recognizable but not common” vibe. Good luck!

    Reply
  21. Andrea says

    January 22, 2021 at 9:19 AM

    I don’t get a summery vibe at all from Susanna. It’s a Biblical classic or, these days, a rather rare English classic name that was quite popular in Elizabethan England. My suggestions, some of them frillier than others: Clarissa, Delia, Petra, Petronilla, Priscilla, Helena, Julia, Lucinda, Marcella, Mariah, Millicent, Rosalie, Thea, Victoria, etc. I also had a classmate named Patricia who had an older sister called Susanna.

    Reply
    • appellationmountain says

      January 22, 2021 at 11:46 AM

      Andrea, I think that’s a good point. I’m not sure why I hear Susanna that way, but it does fit with Priscilla + Marcella + the other names you’ve listed, too.

      Reply
  22. Kait says

    January 22, 2021 at 7:41 AM

    I love Louisa! It makes me think of Little Women and Sound of Music, both happy associations. From Abby’s suggestions, Tabitha is my favorite! In the Bible she was “always doing good and helping the poor.” Tabitha is a beautiful and not so common name. I like both of these for a sister to Susanna

    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