UPDATE: Welcome to the world, Emery Grace. Rachel writes: Reading that it was really okay to keep going with our “theme” made me realize that Emery was truly my favorite name. Thanks for all the encouragement!
Rachel writes:
We have a naming problem. Or I think we might have a naming problem, and it would be good to hear from someone outside my own head!
We have Larkin Louise, 6, and our twin boys, Hunter Andrew, and Parker William, almost 3. We’re expecting another daughter in September, and we like last names as first names.
But if we name four kids with last names, does it sound like a law firm? A friend of mine said something about another friends’ kids’ names sounding like it belonged on letterhead, and then hurried to say, “Oh, but I like your kids’ names.”
I Googled law firms and found names like Baker McKenzie and Sidley Austin, which, okay, yes, I really like Baker for a boy and Sidley for a girl!
Now I’m wondering if we should we try to find more of a name-name?
Our current list is Marlowe, Emery, and maybe Collins. Wondering if I should add something traditional and name-y, or if you have any other suggestions. But names like Emma and Sophie don’t sound right with our kids’ names, either, do they?!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Rachel –
Congratulations on your new daughter!
Now, time for a confession.
The law firm thing? I’ve probably said something like that.
I mean … that’s the way professional services firms get their names – law and accounting practices, especially, but consultants, engineers, heck, even Baskin Robbins! List the founding partners’ surnames, and there you go.
So Larkin, Hunter, and Parker? Yeah. I can see it on letterhead.
But I can also see it on any family tree. Because surnames-as-firsts has become perfectly mainstream. At least a quarter of the current boys’ Top 100 and maybe a dozen of the girls’ Top 100 all qualify as surname names.
It’s also good to note that the line between surname and given name has always been blurry. And, as time goes by, we re-categorize things. For example, Ryan started out as more of a surname name. (Hello, Jack Ryan.)
So I wouldn’t worry about changing your style. Unless, of course, you happen to fall in love with a name that doesn’t fit.
Right now, both of your favorites do fall into the same category as Larkin.
Between Marlowe and Emery, I might rule out Marlowe. It’s a great name, and I adore it with Larkin. Except there’s a strong AR sound in Larkin, Parker, and Marlowe, which feels a lot of repetition.
Let’s look for some more options in the key of Emery and Collins.
SURNAME NAMES FOR GIRLS
BRIONY
Briony isn’t a surname – or, at least, I’ve seldom heard it as one. It’s a nature name, borrowed from a climbing vine. It’s bigger in the UK than the US. Saoirse Ronan’s first big breakout role was in 2007’s Atonement, playing a character named Briony. So it is very possible to find names that sound like surnames … but aren’t really.
CAMPBELL
Back to the more conventional suggestions! Campbell is relatively rare as a given name, but it’s seen a little bit of use for girls and boys in the US in recent years. The -bell ending makes it especially wearable as a girl’s name.
DELANEY
Delaney peaked a few years ago, but it’s held steadily popular since then. I think it’s a good example of an on-trend name that isn’t really rising or falling in use. Like your older kids’ names, it’s instantly familiar. But the sound is just different enough that it stands out, too.
EMERSON
We love Emma names. And choices like Madison and Addison have been big for our daughters, too. Put the two trends together, and Emerson feels like an obvious choice for a daughter. If Emery’s not quite right, maybe Emerson is?
HOLLIS
If Collins is close-but-not-quite, would Hollis appeal?
QUINLAN
Quinn is one of those names that feels more like a first than a last these days, simply because it’s become pretty common since the 1990s. I think it has potential, but maybe Quinlan sounds more like a sister for Larkin?
WAVERLY
Larkin sounds like a surname, but also like a nature name – even though it has nothing to do with birds. Waverly, too, straddles the categories, thanks to the beachy first syllable “wave” in a conventional surname.
WINSLOW
If you love Marlowe, but agree that the repeating ‘ar’ sound isn’t ideal, Winslow might substitute.
Overall, I’m most drawn to Hollis and Waverly. They both sound a little bit like nature names – holly and waves – so that echoes Larkin’s name.
But has anything really topped Emery? I’m not convinced.
And I’m still in love with Marlowe, too, though I think Emery sounds a little better when the names are said together.
So I’ll say Emery is my top choice from your list, and I love Hollis for you, too. But let’s turn it over, because I know we’ll get some great suggestions from the audience.
Readers, what would you name a sister for Larkin, Hunter, and Parker?
Personally the law firm thing is right up my alley so I’d take that as a compliment. Love Winslow that would be choice from the list suggested. If you don’t mind repeating initials I want to suggest a name from a law firm close to me – Hatherly.
Other suggestions –
Flannery
Sloane
Belmont
Bristol
Kensington
Joplin
Landry
Rydell
Maelyn
It sounds like surname without being one. Matches Larkin with the ending n but still sound distinctive.
I came to suggest Hadley, too!
Arden is a gorgeous suggestion. Shakespeare used it for a magical forest, so she’s as much nature-oriented as Larkin.
Congrats and best wishes!
Love Arden!
What about Tarin?
It keeps the strong r sound from all the other names, but ends in n like Larkin. It has the ar of Larkin while Parker and Hunter share er. It has the t/n of Hunter while Larkin and Parker share the k. Has its own initial and a strong consonant sound to distinguish it from her siblings.
Larkin, Hunter, Parker and Tarin.
I agree with a poster above who suggested a nature name to go with Larkin.
What comes to mind for me…
Linden
Sequoia
River
Phoenix
Oakley
Or a word name…
Ever
Sunny
Oh I love Waverly and Winslow. If you want a less surname-y surname , you might consider Bell.
Briony and Campbell reminded me of Bellamy, which I think goes great with your 3!
Monroe maybe instead of Marlowe?
I think I like Waverly with Larkin. I wonder if a single syllable name would work.
Shay
Leigh
Brett
I always seem to like a change in syllables in a list
Larkin, Hunter, Parker & Shay
From your list, I like Collins a lot. From Abby’s, love Hollis.
Def think you should stick with the surname style. I sort of feel like Larkin, Hunter, Parker and something like Abby or Lydia etc would stand out in an odd way. I also would avoid another L, P or H name. Oh, dang. I guess that precludes Hollis. Sigh.
A few additional ideas:
Merritt
Ainsley
Vale
Tiernan
Tierney
Sutton
Clancy
Darby
Flannery
if not a surname, maybe something like Zoe or Reagan.
What a great sibset! Emery from your list is a great fit. I also like Hollis from Abby’s list.
Here are some other possibilities. Some of these are seconding others’ suggestions.
Sutton
Sullivan (possible nn Liv)
Regan or Reagan
Embry
Marsden
Avalon
Blake
Since Larkin contains “lark,” you could go with a bird or nature name [Just nothing Hunter would want to hunt ;)]
Bird:
Wren (or Lauren called Wren/Ren, but Larkin and Lauren… too close?)
Robin
Sparrow
Nature:
River
Valerie/Valentina called Valley
Meadow
Willow
Aspen
Possibly more girly than you want, but suggested anyway:
Felicity
Corinne
Vivian
Arden
For some added fun-
Hunter and Parker both end in r
Larkin and Arden are both n endings
I love Arden ❤️
That name set is way too cute to be a law firm. I like Campbell and Delaney for your new addition too (and Marlowe).
Here are a few more suggestions:
Sutton
Tatum
Ellison
Brinsley
Leighton
Darby
Harper
What about Elliott or Everett? Both names that are common as first names or last names.
Ridley
Miller
Sawyer
Finley or Finney
Hadley is another lovely surname-name used for girls.
Love the list, Abby. My favorite is Delaney–Lane/Laney is a great nickname that still fits with the sibset! Hollis is incredible too, and makes me think of Ellis, which could also be a great option. I also really like Collins from the original list.
Larkin, Hunter, Parker, and Ellis — cute!
Other thoughts:
Cheney
Quinn
Avery
Holland
Aderyn
Maybe not technically a surname name, but I like Maren with your sibset. It might be a little matchup, but I’m stuck on this idea of the boys names ending in R and the girls names ending in N.
Larkin & Maren
Parker & Hunter
Some other ideas not necessarily fitting this pattern are Quinn, Fallon, Rowan, Finley, Corrigan. (All skewing very Irish)