Name Help: Charlie, Daisy, and …

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!

Em writes:

We’re expecting our third, a delivery surprise, this summer. Our kids are Charlie James and Daisy Kathleen. That’s our style pretty much – easy, breezy, nothing too different but not really top ten, either.

If Daisy had been a boy, our top name was Max. It’s still on our list, but we’re also thinking about Arlo, Milo, Theo, Archie, maybe something else. Middle name could be Paul for my dad (James is for my husband’s dad) or maybe Pierce, my mom’s maiden name.

Another name we really like is Lucy. But my mom just got a puppy named Luna, which is close and she calls her Lulu, which sounds like it could be a nickname for Lucy, too. Is that too weird? I sort of think yes, especially because my mom (and Luna) live nearby and we’ve decided that grandma’s puppy makes up for the dog we cannot possibly add to the general craziness around here.

We’re also debating whether we want another name that ends with the same sound as Charlie and Daisy. Maybe it’s too cute?

Other names that are out:

• It feels like we know lots of Ellies.
• I’m Emily, and even though I go by Em, Millie would be like naming a daughter after me, which we don’t want to do.
• We also dropped Lily, because we definitely don’t want two flower names.

Middle names for a girl could be Elizabeth or maybe just Beth, or Mary/Anne/Mary Anne, for my husband’s mom.

Our last name sounds like Sea-fort, so we’re avoiding S names. (Too bad, because I really like Sage for a girl.)

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

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your third!

Let’s start with the big question – and a surprisingly common one, too.

Is this name too much like the name of our dog/cat/parakeet or our Aunt Sandy’s dog/cat/sugar glider?

Can we still use this name even though our mom had a chinchilla with the same name in the 70s?

My instinct here is to rule Lucy out.

Call it the Pet Proximity Principle.

Luna/Lulu lives nearby and is similar in age to your children. It’s a recipe for confusion and/or resentment that your kiddo shares her name with the (extended) family pet.

If it was your absolute #1 name, I might reluctantly chance it. But since it sounds like it’s just a name you like a lot? I think we can find something else.

As for the -ee/no -ee ending question … I’m not sure there’s a problem with a third ends in -ee name. But if you have a few seats left to fill in your minivan, would you think that you’ve set an unbreakable pattern? Daisy, Charlie, and Archie might make it even harder to name a future child Max.

Let’s look at both options, but my sense is that seriously considering non-ee-ending names is a smart move.

A BROTHER FOR CHARLIE JAMES AND DAISY KATHLEEN

From your current list, the names that stand out are Arlo and Milo. The O ending is upbeat and energetic, a good match for Charlie and Daisy. They work well with your preferred middle names of Paul or Pierce.

Theo is great, too, but Theodore ranks in the current US Top Ten and most of those boys answer to Theo. So it might be a little more popular than you’d prefer.

I think Archie is every bit as good a choice, but there’s the -ee ending question.

FRESH SUGGESTIONS:

1. FINN – Brief and complete, Finn feels like a brother for Max, or maybe a replacement with a slightly breezier feel.
2. HUGO – As traditional as Theo, but not nearly as popular.
3. JESSE – A long-time favorite, this Old Testament name feels approachable and warm, especially compared to more serious cousins like Nehemiah or Malachi.
4. LUCA – Lucas names are classics, but the Italian form feels a little lighter. The Pixar movie character emphasizes that image.
5. WELLS – I’m not sure about S ending names with your surname, but like O enders, they can sound fresh and interesting, and also energetic.

A SISTER FOR CHARLIE JAMES AND DAISY KATHLEEN

When it comes to girls’ names, it feels like you’ve ruled out more than you’ve got on your shortlist, right? Ellie, Millie, and Lily are out, and I’m inclined to drop Lucy, too.

The good news: Elizabeth/Beth and Mary/Anne/Mary Anne are very flexible middle names, so your options are wide open.

FRESH SUGGESTIONS

1. BONNIE – Like Daisy, Bonnie feels equally vintage and very 2020s.
2. KATE – A classic to be sure, but also a brief, strong, and casual name at the same time.
3. JUNE – Summery and sweet, with the same OO sound as Lucy.
4. MARGOT – An O ending option for a daughter that sounds just right with Daisy and Charlie. One note: in the most extended lists, both Margot and Daisy appear as nicknames for Margaret.
5. POLLY – Molly could work, but Polly is far less expected … and it might be a way to use the honor name Paul.
6. RUBY – Another logical OO name to replace Lucy.

A SIBLING FOR CHARLIE JAMES AND DAISY KATHLEEN

Overall, my favorites for a boy are Arlo from your list, and Hugo or Jesse from my suggestions.

For a daughter, I do think Polly is quite clever, with the subtle nod to grandpa Paul. But June replaces Lucy beautifully, and Margot feels like the obvious equivalent to Milo and Arlo that you both like so much.

Readers, over to you! What would you name a sibling for Charlie James and Daisy Kathleen?

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