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!
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?
Josephine is my favourite suggestion!
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.
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 🙂
Names that spring to mind to me as a sister for Susanna:
Lydia
Constance
Eleanor
Judith (a rogue choice but I love it)
Josephine
Loooove the suggestion of Judith. I know sisters named Judith and Meredith and think both are great with Susanna!
I think Shakespeare named his two daughters Susanna and Judith! You’d be in good company!
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
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
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!
Oops! Meant darling with Susanna.
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
Susanna was on our list for a girl and I always like Belinda for a sister name.
Oh or Bethany.
Oooh Belinda! Definitely a name that we should talk about more often!
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