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Name Help: A Sister Name for (maybe) Jack

March 3, 2023 By appellationmountain 22 Comments

Name Help: Sister for JackName 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!

Kelsey writes:

We are Team Green for our first baby, due on Mother’s Day!

If it is a boy, he’ll be John David III, called Jack. (My husband is Jay or JD; his dad is John.)

If it’s a girl, I feel a little lost. Part of it is knowing that even if this baby is a girl, any future son would still be named John David III, so it’s we’re almost naming our second kid.

Because I agreed to Jack for a son, my husband says that I can (mostly) choose the girl’s name.

  • I’ve always liked Caroline, but it feels WAY too Kennedy with Jack!
  • Josephine is another name I like, but I don’t want to be a family of all Js. (Well, except me.)
  • I love the sound of Everly, but I’ve always been frustrated at how 1990s/time-stamped my name is, so I really don’t want that for my daughter.
  • Victoria is great, but I don’t like any of the nicknames, and I’m not the kind of person who would want to use that long name in full for a little baby. It’s not my husband’s favorite, either.

Names we can’t use because of cousins/close friends’ kids include Hazel, Hannah, Sophia, Lily, Naomi, Genevieve, and Amelia.

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

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your first! How exciting to be due on Mother’s Day.

The first question I have to ask: are there any family names from your side that feel worth considering? Maybe a grandmother’s name, or even something less specific. Even something that reflects your side of the family’s heritage in broadest terms? If not as a first, then possibly as a middle?

While it’s not necessary, if there is something that feels significant, it might help narrow your name list – and make any name you choose feel more significant, too.

For now, I’m going to assume the answer is “not really” and move on to some fresh ideas. From Victoria, Caroline and Josephine, I assume we’re looking for something traditional but current, feminine but not too elaborate, and possibly nickname-proof. (Though I suppose it depends on how you feel about the nickname!) I’m also going to avoid Js.

BEATRICE

I think of Beatrice in the same category as Caroline and Josephine. It’s traditional, with a long history of use. Like Victoria, nicknames abound. But also like Victoria, there’s no requirement to shorten this name.

EVELYN

Another spare, tailored name with plenty of elegance.

ELEANOR

Eleanor sounds like a sister for John David. And Ellie – or Nora – could be the perfect sister name for Jack.

ELIZA

Of course, if you’re not sure about nicknames, Eliza is a classic that works well without any shortening at all.

KATHARINE/KATHERINE/KATE

Katharine – with the double A – feels sophisticated. (It’s the spelling used by Katharine Hepburn, among others.) But Katherine is every bit as lovely, or maybe even just Kate?

MARIE

Marie has been stuck in the middle spot time and time again. But choose this as a first name and it manages to be immediately familiar and surprisingly refreshing.

VIVIAN/VIVIENNE

Vivian is an obvious alternative to Evelyn, not quite as popular. And Vivienne feels like the oh-so-French Josephine and Genevieve.

If there’s no family/personal name you hope to pass down, I think it’s worth sitting with the idea of nicknames for a while. I love Marie or Evelyn if you’d prefer to avoid shortening your daughter’s name. But if you’re open to nicknames? That’s a tougher decision. I think I’d be more inclined to suggest Beatrice in that case, though that’s mostly because Beatrice “Betty” or Beatrice “Birdie” appeals so much as a sister for John David “Jack.”

Readers, over to you. What would you name a daughter knowing that a future boy would be called Jack?

More names you might like:

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Comments

  1. Maclary says

    March 6, 2023 at 8:46 PM

    Oh, and Avalon and Avonlea!

    Reply
  2. Maclary says

    March 6, 2023 at 5:47 PM

    I just thought of Verily as a sounds-like-Everly name, but definitely without a timestamp. Verity is not uncommon where I am (Australia) and could be another option.

    Reply
  3. The Mrs. says

    March 5, 2023 at 6:38 PM

    Geneva.

    She’s classic, without a time stamp, and has lots of nicknames but is great on her own, too.

    Geneva and Jack
    Jack and Geneva

    Bigger question:
    what would you name a second BOY? Are there honor names on YOUR side for a second son? Could any of those honor names be used in feminine form for Jack’s sister?

    Congratulations and best wishes!

    You are wise to be considering your opinions before any baby arrives.

    Reply
  4. FE says

    March 5, 2023 at 3:05 AM

    Elise definitely works. I’m tempted to suggest Elsie, but rhyming names within families is not ideal … however first middle initials L.C would be okay! Lucinda Claire, perhaps … Jack & Lucy …? It would be a very subtle honour, you’d know it’s there!

    Reply
  5. Aurora says

    March 4, 2023 at 10:11 PM

    I like the sound of Everly too, without it feeling like a name “for us” somehow. I’m trying to follow the feeling of the sounds, and come up with Harlow, Larkin, Beverly, Devon, Clarity, Evangeline, Elodie, Elena. I have no idea if any of those are useful.

    Other names that come to mind from your larger list:
    Susannah
    Cordelia, (Cora or Delia)
    Gisele
    Georgia
    Louisa

    Reply
  6. Elizabeth says

    March 4, 2023 at 6:16 PM

    I’m tempted to come up with a girl name after the letter writer since they want to name a son after his father! Maybe something that shares some of the letters and sounds of Kelsey? I think Elise fits.
    I love the suggestion of Katherine and you could give her the same initials as her mom.

    Reply
  7. Renee says

    March 4, 2023 at 4:04 PM

    I agree with Abby, love to hear some names from your side! And a definite nod to you for your daughter. Can you use your middle name? Or another K name? Katherine is so lovely – Kit & Jack would be adorable. Or maybe Kathleen with a more surprising nickname like Lina or Lilou?

    What if you end up with only girls? Will you forego the tradition or will you have a Joan / Johanna? It might be sad to think you’ll never have a son, but let’s say you want two kids and they’re both girls. I’d use Caroline now (as others say it’s not TOO tied to the Kennedys) and Josephine if the next is a girl. Such a lovely pair of sister names – Caro & Josie, Carly & Jojo, Cici & Posey…

    Reply
  8. Lynn Anderson says

    March 4, 2023 at 3:23 PM

    Amber Leigh Brandi Lynn Zoey Zola

    Reply
  9. Em says

    March 4, 2023 at 12:04 PM

    Valentina
    Charlotte
    Cecilia/Cecile
    Jane
    Julianna/Julianne
    Rosalie
    Amelia/Amelie
    Aurelia/Aurelie
    Coralie
    Clementine
    Emmeline
    Evangeline

    Reply
  10. Alison Doherty says

    March 4, 2023 at 9:56 AM

    I love the suggestions of Vivian and Beatrice! So cute!

    I also think if you love Caroline, have your thought of Cora? It’s similar and classic, with a shorter name for a sweet baby.

    Reply
  11. Jenna says

    March 4, 2023 at 9:44 AM

    I don’t see a problem with Jack and Caroline. I wouldn’t have thought “Kennedy” at all. Go for it, if that’s your favorite!

    Other names:
    Alice and Jack
    Tessa and Jack
    Lucy and Jack
    Molly and Jack
    Eva and Jack
    Ivy and Jack
    Violet and Jack
    Catherine and Jack

    Reply
  12. keats says

    March 3, 2023 at 10:34 PM

    What about Lillian with a nn of Lily? Lily and Jack are darling. And Lillian seems to fit with Josephine, and Caroline.

    Reply
  13. FE says

    March 3, 2023 at 9:55 PM

    Love Philippa!

    Reply
  14. Maclary says

    March 3, 2023 at 7:03 PM

    You’ve had so many great suggestions already – there are so many timeless, classic girls’ names to choose from, you can’t go wrong with any of them.

    I’m echoing the idea of checking your own family tree for names you might like, since a son would automatically get a family name.

    I also had the idea of using the same initials as John David, but perhaps flipped: Daphne Josephine, Delphine Julia, Delilah Joelle, Daisy Juniper, Daniela Jane, Daria Jessamy, Danica Juliet … I really like Delphine for you as an alternative to Josephine. Or perhaps Seraphine?

    Everly makes me think of Evelyn (already suggested by others – and I’ll add the option of Eveline which has more of a Caroline/Josephine feel) but also Beverly. It’s time-stamped in different way, but I actually think it has potential.

    Adeline or Madeline might also appeal. Or Adelaide, or just Adele?

    Other ideas: Elodie, Imogen, Bernadette, Adrienne, Harriet, Rosalie, Charlotte, Alice, Celeste, Bianca, Natalie, Fiona, Coralie, Georgina, Sabine, Therese?

    Reply
  15. Iris says

    March 3, 2023 at 6:24 PM

    Violet
    Grace
    Lucy
    Nora
    Maeve
    Ruby
    Caroline is beautiful, maybe it can work with a nickname

    Reply
  16. Emmeline says

    March 3, 2023 at 5:56 PM

    I just wanted to reassure that I don’t get a strong Kennedy association from siblings named Caroline and Jack. They just sound like timeless names that go together well. Now, if his nickname was to be JonJon, that would be another story. Though, still, a reference only adults would get, and even then, probably only those Gen X/older millennials and older. I don’t think Caroline Kennedy looms large for Gen Z, and her brother and parents have been dead so long now, while most will know of JFK, and Jackie, and might recognize the iconic photo of JonJon saluting his father’s casket, and some younger folks may have heard of JonJon thanks to recent conspiracy theories, I doubt they could name JFKs daughter, or even say whether he had any. Caroline K and her family are not going to be the first thing people think of when they hear the names, either together or separately. And once the kids are here (assuming you have one son and one daughter, which is a big assumption, you may have all girls, or all boys, or a child that comes between Caroline and Jack) the association will quickly fade for you, too.

    TLDR: use Caroline, if it is your favorite, while resting assured that it won’t read political dynasty.

    Reply
  17. C in DC says

    March 3, 2023 at 5:53 PM

    Other V names that might appeal that aren’t tied to an era: Vera, Veronica, Siobhan (bh=v), Viveca, Olive, Waverly, Vesper, Eva, Ava, Evangeline, Virginia.

    Reply
  18. Emmy Yage says

    March 3, 2023 at 5:32 PM

    I agree with Abby on looking at your side for possible inspiration. We went back to a great great great grandmother for my daughter’s middle name and love to explain where it originated with her.
    Katherine was one of my thoughts too as Kate or Katie feel like a classic with Jack but also a nod towards Kelsey. She could share an initial with you. However, you do need to consider if there will ever be 3 children as that sets up a challenge naming a third child.
    Eliza is a great choice as it’s shorter and classic.
    Evelyn nn Evie seems like the obvious choice as it’s similar to Everly.

    Thinking about your love of Everly…. It’s actually still pretty popular on current charts. If you like it then use it. Don’t let perceived popularity prevent you from using a name that feels right to you.
    Some similar alternatives….Sylvie or Ivy have the v. Other short but classic names that end with ee sound are Emily, Lucy, Audrey, Daisy or Zoe. All of which sound great with Jack.
    I personally don’t think you have to stick with classic though. Just because you might have a Jack which is a family name shouldn’t bind you to a classic tradition for another child. If you prefer something different feel confident choosing that.

    Reply
  19. FE says

    March 3, 2023 at 5:17 PM

    Perhaps the nickname Jack was your compromise in following your husband’s naming tradition and it’s a name you love … it does seem the next logical nickname to distinguish him from the previous generations of John Davids, while being traditional and current. Just a thought, though, based on your girl name possibilities … you like Josephine, would you consider John David III, nn Joe? It’s not conventional, but I think it works and it would put Caroline back on the table for a daughter. It also leaves Jack available for a future generation to follow tradition if they so choose 😉

    Otherwise, I like the idea of an L name to loop you in. Not necessary but could be fun … and the are so many lovely L names:

    Lydia
    Louise
    Louisa
    Lucinda
    Laurel
    Laura

    Reply
  20. Istas says

    March 3, 2023 at 1:05 PM

    Gwendolyn
    Philippa
    Antonia
    Estelle
    Helena
    Leona
    Isadora
    Coraline

    Reply
  21. Alexandra says

    March 3, 2023 at 12:53 PM

    What about Genevieve? It reminds me of Josephine, but gets you away from the “J” issue, and brings in the V sound from Everly and Victoria. There are also lots of possibilities for nicknames!

    Reply
  22. A says

    March 3, 2023 at 12:24 PM

    Evelyn or Vivian were my first thoughts after reading that you love Everly but don’t want something that will eventually feel time stamped. Evelyn and Jack, Vivian and Jack. Yes! I love Abby’s suggestion if Katherine “Kate” as well (or Catherine “Cate” if you prefer that spelling)

    Victoria, Josephine, and Caroline all feel very evergreen and timeless to me so I also want to throw in Audrey as a suggestion. She is timeless and elegant, yet modern feeling all at once; like the little black dress of girl names. Audrey Caroline perhaps? Audrey Josephine?

    Jack and Audrey! Perfection.

    Reply

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