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!
Monica writes:
We are expecting a daughter in June, a sister for Adele and Hugh.
We are looking for a classic name with no nicknames outside of the top 100.
Some of the names on our list include Blair, Esther, Louise, Odette, and Sloane. I’ve seen some negative connections with the name Sloane and I’m not as sold as I was before. I love Odette, but wonder if it’s too close to Adele with the de_e.
Our other kids have 8 letters in their first and middle name (not on purpose) and we think it might be neat to have baby #3 with the same, although this is not mandatory. Our current front runners would make this difficult.
Please read on for my response, and leave your helpful suggestions in the comments.
Hi Monica –
Congratulations on your new daughter!
This makes for an interesting puzzle. Let’s take a look at your wish list:
Not in the Top 100 – This should be straightforward, and it usually is. Except. The current data we’re looking at dates to 2015. We won’t have 2016 numbers until May 2017. So we do need to look at trend lines, and rule out any name that’s moving up too fast.
No nicknames –Â There are a handful of nickname-proof names, and plenty of nickname-resistant names. I’d call Adele the latter, and I’m not quite sure which category best contains Hugh. Again, this is a fairly easy request to satisfy.
Classic – Now we come to the hard part. What makes a classic name? Adele and Hugh make the cut. Esther and Louise, too. But I’m less certain about Sloane, Blair, and Odette. They’re great names. And I think I understand the quality that appeals. I’d call them tailored but feminine names, names with a certain sophistication. But if I think about the most evergreen and traditional names – names like Elizabeth and Katherine – I suspect they wouldn’t appeal. (They also, of course, fail the no nicknames test in a big way!)
I’d describe your ideal name this way: spare and sophisticated, familiar but not common.
With this in mind, let’s look at the name on your list. I’d say every choice meets those criteria.
Odette – Perfect, except I agree it shares too many sounds with Adele. Plenty of sisters have survived with close names, like Lily and Lucy, so it’s only a deal breaker if it bothers you.
Sloane – From some other comments you made, I wonder if you’re bothered by the term Sloane Ranger? It’s roughly the equivalent of the 1980s-era term preppy in the US; the late Princess Diana was called a Sloane Ranger before she married Prince Charles. It’s a slightly snobbish connotation, but it’s also reasonably obscure in the US. My guess is most people would think of Ferris Bueller or Entourage before they think of London’s Sloane Square. Still, if it bothers you, it’s best to move on.
Blair – Blair makes a great substitute for Sloane. It’s every bit as tailored and sophisticated, but still on the right side of feminine.
Louise – A great sister name for Hugh and Adele. It’s traditional, familiar, outside of the current Top 1000, and requires no nickname.
Esther – More popular than Louise, but otherwise shares the same set of attributes. Another bonus? If Louise is nickname-resistant, Esther edges closer to nickname-proof.
Overall, I’d put Louise at the top of the list for you. But let’s look at some other options:
Daphne – Daphne combines history galore with a modern sound, in the key of Chloe and Penelope. It’s familiar, but far from common.
Edith – Esther reminds me of Edith. If one seems not-quite-right, the other might be.
Hadley – Like Sloane and Blair, Hadley feels more modern. But it also brings to mind Hadley Hemingway, the first wife of Ernest, profiled in The Paris Wife. The name shares Hugh’s first initial, and the d sound of Adele, but it still feels distinctive. One hesitation: it currently sits just outside of the US Top 100.
Helen – Like Louise, Helen makes for a traditional, tailored name long overlooked in the US.
Irene – Another name in the key of Louise and Helen.
Iris – A botanical alternative to the very popular Violet.
Jane – Jane seems every bit as spare as Sloane and Blair, but might be more of a style match for Adele.
Marie – Yes, Marie! It doesn’t even appear in the current US Top 500. Mary might seem terribly old-fashioned, but Marie seems like a sophisticated and slightly French possibility.
If not Louise, I love Edith, Helen, and Marie for your daughter. But let’s open this up, because I know there are many more possibilities.
Readers, what would you suggest to Monica for a sister for Adele and Hugh?
I love love love Lenore with Hugh and Adele! My other faves are Agnes, Celine, Edith and Olive!!!
Hugh, Adele and Lenore
Hugh, Adele and Agnes
Hugh, Adele and Edith
Hugh, Adele and Celine
Hugh, Adele and Olive
Ok. Olive is my second fave. Have fun! Can’t wait to hear what you choose!!!
What about Mona?
Rose! Classic, no nicknames and sounds great with a Hugh and Adele. And it’s actually out of top 10.
Blair Sapphire. 8 letter middle name
Odette sounds cute alongside Hugh and Adele. I also love the suggestions above of Esme, Clara, Esther, and Thea. Good luck 🙂
I don’t think that Adele and Odette sound too close, but Odile is the name of the black swan in Swan Lake (Odette being the white), which could get a little weird if their is any sibling rivalry.
How about Brynn, Ofelia or Celine?
I LOVE the suggestion of Clara. I think that fits perfectly with Adele and Hugh and mostly meets the other criteria (slight possibility of a nickname of Clare).
And Clara Ivy or Clara Mae fit the 8 letter theme, too!
Celia or Bryce.
Some great suggestions already.
Hugh and Adele remind me of (post-conquest) medieval English names, so I’m using those as a starting point and keeping a vaguely French influence. A few of these have nicknames, but I’m avoiding the most popular and obvious – Margaret, Elizabeth, Katherine, Eleanor and Isabella.
Maud/Maude (or Matilda)
Anne
Cecily (or Cecilia, Celia, Celine, Celeste)
Joan/ Jean (following Abby’s suggestion of Jane)
Agnes
Blanche
Beatrice
Lenore
Helene/ Elaine, following Abby’s suggestion of Helen)
Lucille (or Lucia)
Estelle (too close to Adele?)
Sylvie
I have a Louisa (so obviously love louise too) and we call her Lou, among a range of other nicknames. I also adore the name Hugh but, Hugh rhymes with Lou and makes me think of Huey, dewey, and louie like the ducks…. Just something to consider ☺
Oh goodness! Didn’t even THINK of that. Too close! Sadly, scratch Louise …
I personally don’t think Odette is close to Adelle at all. The d and e sounds are soft and to me the emphasised sounds are completely different. I love Odette. I wanted to suggest June, but that one sadly is too close to Hugh.
Rosalie
Cora, Eden, or Willa popped into my head!
Somehow I skipped right over the 8 letters bit. Such a fun challenge! Willa May/Bay/Gem, Eden Iris/Opal/ Cora Dove/Bell/June
Clara … or Clare/Claire whichever you prefer would be sweet.
Particularly like Adele, Hugh and Clara.
I love the suggestion of Iris! Mae is my only other suggestion. You have some great names; Louise is my favorite from your list.
I also think Odette is gorgeous and underused and not too close to Adele, but if it’s too close for you I get it. Love the suggestions of other posters of Opal, Rosemary, and Vera. Good luck!
Clarice, Maris, Adair? Beatrice, I love Odette though and don’t necessarily think it’s too matchy with Adele.
Oh, spot on with Daphne!!
Maren might feel right to you. Oh! Or Mavis!
Esme? She’s not in the Top 100, right?
Irene would be lovely and peaceful.
Carys feels vintage and tailored, yet nicely feminine.
Best wishes!
Imogen! Adele, Hugh, and Imogen!
What about Fern? I love Fern!!
Hugh, Adelle and June
Hugh Adelle and Norah
Hugh Adelle and Zara
I love Abby’s suggestions of Jane, Iris, and Marie. Absolutely perfect!
I immediately thought of Zelda. Other new ideas: Ingrid, Mira, Myra, Eloise, Gwen, Freya, Lila, Maisie and Nova. I also thought of Vera, Faye, Celia, Elise, Greta, and Olive. Love your kids’ names. I can’t even decide my favorite since these are all the kind of names I love, but I feel like the best style match to Adele and Hugh is Greta.
My favorites for you are:
Jane
Maeve
Olive
Ooh… I love classic names.
What about Thea? That’s pretty tough to get a nickname out of. Love Thea.
I LOVE the name Pearl.
What about Esme?
I recently have met two little baby girls, one was named Ruth and one was Beth. Both surprised me, particularly Ruth, as there aren’t many new babes with these names and yet they were surprisingly fresh.
Another name I really love is Vera.
I was going to suggest June until I saw she is due in June so that might be over kill?
We have a Rose, which we love but we often call her Rosie so not sure if you would like it.
Other names:
Opal
Edith
Flora
For the record, my favorite name off your list is Esther. good luck!!
Eve? I feel like people are less likely to turn Eve into Evie, than Evelyn or Everly. It’s so classic and retro like Adele and Hugh (for me.)
Marie is a great suggestion too. I think it’s one of those solid middles for generations and takes knowing a child Marie to turn it into a refreshing choice. My preschooler has a friend named Marie and I did a double take but now I see it’s so smart! She stands out in a good way.
Louise is a huge fave of mine! My daughter’s middle. Would be great in your set.
I love all of these, but especially Louise, Esther, and Edith! So lovely, and such lovely names already- Hugh and Adele.
I don’t expect to be able to beat Abby’s suggestions, but I think Elaine, Vivian, Agnes, Camille, Zella, Therese, Selma, Sybil, Eve, Thea or Theda, Alice, Elise, Pearl, and Flora.
Some of these may be more common or more out there than you want to go, but I think all create pretty beautiful sibling sets.
Agree with the suggestions of Marie and Helen. I also really like Helena, but that is not as nickname-proof. I had to look up Odette because I thought it was the little girl from Les Mis, but that is Cosette!
With big sister Adele and big brother Hugh
(no top 100, no nickname, classic)
I’d suggest:
Thea
Willa
Agnes
Leda/Leta/Lena
Maura
Greta
Marta
Faye
Vera
Celia
Harriet
Hattie
Bridget
Frances (def has some nicknames, but I just love it)
Rosemary
I think my favorites would be Thea, Greta, Vera, Hattie and Rosemary.
I’ll suggest Nina. I love Louise and Daphne too 🙂 and Iris is on our list if we have a second girl.
I love Odette so much- I think it shares a rhythm with Adele but the apparent similarities are all visual- the only actual shared sound is the de in the middle. And it sound absolutely perfect with Adele and Hugh. So pretty, and uncommon, and in exactly the style of your first two, and I think quite nickname-resistant.
Go with your gut, OP! Embrace Odette!
I think Daphne and Iris would be pretty darned perfect for your sibset. I also wanted to suggest Colette or Veda/Vada.
I think Louise is far from nickname-proof. Lou and Lulu seem like pretty natural ones.