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!
Meagan writes:
My husband and I are expecting our first daughter in May, and we can’t agree on a name.
I grew up one of many Meagan/Megan/Meghans. There was almost always another girl with the same name in my class. (In high school, my softball team had four, with three different spellings.)
It’s very important to me that there be only one way to spell my child’s name.
In a perfect world, I’d like her name to be a little bit different, without sounding like a Kardashian. But my husband – who has never minded being one of many Andrews – shoots down anything that he hasn’t heard before.
It would be great if there were nickname choices, too. I went through a call-me-Maggie phase, but no one thought it was a “real” nickname for Meagan and it didn’t really stick. But if I find a great name without a nickname, that’s fine.
Names that Andrew has rejected so far: Evangeline, Octavia, Antonella, Bellamy, Alina, Coraline, Aurelia, and more that I’m forgetting.
Her last name will be Burrow-with-an-M, and we’d like either Jane or Joan, both family names, as the middle name. Because of this, I think the first name has to be three syllables or longer. It also rules out most M or J names.
Andrew’s only suggestion so far is Amanda, which was the name of the chief mean girl in my high school, so … no.
Please read on for my response, and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Meagan –
Quick – make some friends with cool names!
Just kidding. (Sort of.)
Congratulations on your new daughter. For some reason, dads – maybe some moms, too, but this feels like a dad thing – sometimes get stuck like this. “Real” names belong to the kids who shared the same craft table in kindergarten. And “wacky” names are anything from the current US Top 100.
The trouble is, of course, that Jessica and Stephanie are now mom names. Choose those names for your children in 2020, and they’re the odd ones out.
So your husband’s inclinations to choose names he knows? Could totally backfire.
I’m hoping that what he means is something timeless. Because if that’s the case, I think there might be plenty of common ground between your list and his idea of a good name.
ADELAIDE
A queen and an Australian city, Adelaide fits in with all of the Addie names, but stands out by virtue of the distinctive -laide ending sound. Your daughter might be one among several Addies, but Adelaide tends to be uncommon. #298 in the US.
CELESTE
A lovely name with a tailored sound that still feels thoroughly feminine and romantic, Celeste has a handful of pop culture associations. But it feels more timeless than trending. Odds are your husband has heard of it – but your daughter wouldn’t have to share it. #441 in the US.
DAPHNE
The names you love tend to be long and flowing, so I’m wondering if something shorter might appeal to your husband? Mythological Daphne has a spirited, upbeat sound. It fits right in with Penelope, but feels just a little different. #383 in the US.
GENEVIEVE
It’s possible you’re hyper-aware of names that are in vogue right now – especially if you’ve been reading up on name options – while your husband is blissfully unaware. This is the one of the more popular names I’ve suggested for you, and yet, it’s not exactly Emma. Plus, I can’t imagine your husband hasn’t heard of Genevieve … #172 in the US.
JOSEPHINE
Okay, Josephine ranks in the US Top 100. But nothing really sounds like Josephine. It comes up with so many great nicknames I can’t ever think of them all. And it’s a good balance between classic names of the past, and stylish choices for 2020 children. #91 in the US.
SERENA
Gossip Girl debuted in 2007, featuring Blake Lively as the wealthy, privileged Serena van der Woodsen. But the name has history to spare. Edmund Spenser used it for The Faerie Queen way back in 1590. I feel like it’s almost your style, but could satisfy your husband’s concerns. #392 in the US.
TABITHA
Back in 1940 or so, Tabitha would’ve been a weird name. But then came a handful of pop culture uses – especially supernatural sitcom Bewitched in the 1960s – and this name went mainstream. You might even know – or know of – a Tabitha if you really give it some thought. But it doesn’t feel stuck in a particular decade, and it’s not really being given to girls today. Outside of the current US Top 1000.
VERONICA
There’s a quirky, bouncy sound to Veronica. Elvis Costello has a quirky little song about a grandmotherly Veronica, but it’s not exactly a vintage name. And there’s the Veronica from the Archie comics, but it doesn’t feel mid-century. Technically, it peaked in the 1970s. And Riverdale could bring it back today. But I think it’s the perfect timeless, but not exactly classic, kind of name. #357 in the US.
Readers, what would you suggest to Meagan?
I love the suggestion of Tabitha! Evangeline, Coraline and Octavia are both on my “sad I just finished having kids and the naming is over” list. I would suggest (or second) the following:
Matilda
Violet
Sabrina
Eloise
Rosemary
Felicity
Dorothea (Dottie! Dori! Thea!)
Zelda
Miriam
Love the suggestions of Daphne, Tabitha and Veronica!
A few additional suggestions:
Laurel
Phoebe
Cora
Nina
Lucy
Greta
Ivy
Annika
Gwendolyn (Gwen Murrow sounds like an intrepid newspaper reporter )
Arabella
Holly
Hollis
Frances (love nn Frannie)
Antonia
Leona
Cora
Silvia
Irina
Naomi
Your picks seem farther afield than a lot of the suggestions so far, so I wanted to find a few that might veer toward yours with the hopes he recognizes some.
Cecily or Cecelia
Odessa or Odette
Magdalena
Delia
Amalia
Beatrix
Rafaela
Ophelia
Jane is a great middle name. I prefer it to Joan, but Joan is nice too and not as commonly used as Jane.
Fiona Jane — Fi, Fifi, Fiji
Francesca Jane — Fran, Frannie, Frankie, Ceska (pronounced CHEH ska), Chessie
Hadley Jane — Haddie, Hattie
Louisa Jane — Lou, Lu, Lulu, Lucy
Penelope Joan — Pen, Penny, Nella I prefer Joan with Penelope, because Penelope Jane sounds too much like Calamity Jane to me.
Savannah Jane — Savvy, Vanna
Sometimes alliteration is a good thing:
Magnolia Jane — Maggie, Nola
Matilda Jane — Mattie, Maddie, Tilda, Tilly
Melissa Jane — Mel, Melly, Melia, Lissa, Lissy
Meredith Jane — Mer, Mere, Merry The full name sounds better with your last name than the nns do.
Miranda Jane — Mira, Mia, Mindy, Randa, Randi
Lovely names, but perhaps too common or present multiple spelling issues:
Elizabeth Jane — the nickname possibilities are almost endless! Joan works well as a middle name.
Katherine Jane — again, so many nicknames, but also so many ways to spell the name.
Isabel Joan — same spelling issue as Katherine
Daughters are wonderful — congratulations to you and your husband!
I’m going to suggest my own daughter’s name, Gwendolyn. It’s three syllables, works well with a one syllable given name (hers is Rose), it’s a readily recognisable/familiar name (no Kardashian-worry here), it has a great nickname (Gwen, Gweni, but could also use Lyn or even Dolly), and rare enough that you’re unlikely to meet anyone else with the name. Another thing about it that I like: Neither it nor its common nickname (Gwen) ends in \ee\ or schwa, like so many other common feminine names do nowadays.
Augh, should say “one syllable MIDDLE name” rather than “one syllable GIVEN name”.
Several first name options spring to mind, and I might share those later, but would having more flexible middle name options help you feel less limited in choosing a first? Jane and Joan are wonderful, as is their honor connection, but using one limits you in choosing a shorter first, which seems like a potential point of compromise, what about Joanna/Johanna? They come from the same roots as both Jane and Joan, and could be seen as honoring both at once. Something like Daphne Johanna is gorgeous!
Why not Jane or Joan for her first name? Margaret nn Maggie, Caroline, Helen, Amy, Phoebe, Laura, Hannah. Pretty much every name in use for females in English has some alternate spelling, or some people will guess and spell it wrong or mishear it and confuse it with another name. If you can get over there being a secondary spelling in use, I would add Sarah and Anne nn Annie. I would encourage you to drop your 3-syllable rule if it’s just because of the flow of first-middle-last. After the birth announcement, she’ll be known as first name+ last name 99% of the time. I think loving the sound of that combo is way more important than the sound of all three names together.
My top vote is Jane, which is super cute and recognizable, coming back into fashion but not common, and hopefully no one will spell it Jayne!
I feel you on the Megan thing. In many grades I was one of four Megans in my class.
Ironically, I think Jessica would be great. it would fit your husband’s idea of normal as well as your criteria of uncommon, one spelling, and has a nickname. I personally think Jessie Jane would make an adorable, cowgirl-esque nickname.
I think Margaret is an obvious choice. It shares a meaning with your name, and has nicknames a plenty. Midge, Madge, Marge, Maggie, Maisy, Margo.
Our generation’s grandparents’ names are coming back. Lucinda could be an option with nicknames Lucy and Cindy.I know you already have Jane picked as an honor name. but what about using one or both of your grandmas’ names? There’s nothing wrong with having two middle names. If your kids will be lucky enough to know their great-grandparents I don’t think name sharing would be a concern since you plan to use a nickname.
Looking at the top names from the year my grandma was born, I see Ollie ranked for girls just under Lucinda. Ollie could be a great option with the popularity of Olivia and nicknames as given names. Of course if you really want a formal name and a nickname this won’t be the one.
Seraphina has only one other spelling, Serafina, but your unlikely to meet either. She could go by Sera, Sadie or Fifi. If you like boyish names for girls she could go by Rafi or Rafa, which are normally short for Raphael.
I was going to suggest Jessica, too! Or Melissa, Samantha, Alexandra, Victoria… you might want to seriously consider some of the names that were quite common when you were a kid through the lens of their rankings today – much more uncommon than you might expect!
Savannah Jane
Eliza Jane
Rosalie Jane
Mariah Jane
Karina Jane
Alison Jane
Eliana Jane
Great suggestions for the tall order of “not-super-popular, multi-syllabic, standardly spelled, maybe nickname-able, recognizable, and workable with FN Jane/Joan Burrow-with-an-M” names!
I will add: Claudia, Fiona, Eliza, Naomi, Lydia, Victoria, Julia, Harriet, Felicity, Diana, Bianca, Cassandra, Helena, Alexandra, Rebecca, Natalie, Sabrina
Congrats, Meagan!