Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every Saturday, 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!
Amber writes:
My husband and I were only expecting to have one child together, so we picked a name for our daughter that fit the pattern set with his two older children from a previous relationship. His older two children are son Laramie Arden and daughter Malarie May. Our daughter together is Naomi Shae.
We decided to have another and are forgoing the pattern. We’ve already picked a name we love for the first name – Cressida! We’re saying it just like it’s spelled, Cress-ih-dah.
There are two problems.
- Our families don’t like the name and they’ve already started using the nickname “Cressy” for her, which I just can’t stand.
- We also can’t agree to any middle names. I’m hoping we can find a middle name that lends itself well to a nickname that we can encourage rather than Cressy.
My husband likes Kay because it follows the patterns of the older two girls, and I like the alliteration of the two hard “kah” sounds, but I just don’t love Kay. I’m also not sure what nickname we could draw from this.
I have been trying to get to Cece as a nickname by finding another C middle name. I love the sound of Cressida Christine, but we’re not religious and I worry about the religious origin of Christine. I’m open to names that start with completely different sounds as well!
Do you have any thoughts on middle names that could be used to suggest an alternate nickname? Or even other nicknames we could pull right from Cressida?
Before deciding on Cressida, we also considered Delilah, Gwendolyn, Ramona, Fiona, Lorelai, Eloise, Adalynn, Cordelia, and Vivica.
We’re getting a little desperate as we have less than six weeks left. Thanks for your help!
Read on for my response, and please leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Hi Amber –
I love the list of girls’ names you considered. And I’m delighted that you made the decision to break the pattern. There’s nothing wrong with sticking to a pattern, of course. But if none of the names that you love work, it’s best to move on.
Cressida is a gorgeous name, but Cressy? I share your hesitation about that nickname!
I do think Cress has some appeal. But that’s probably because I devoured the first few books in this YA series, The Lunar Chronicles. It’s a collection of fairytales set in a dystopian future. Cress is short for Crescent Moon, and she’s the Rapunzel-like figure. Also, a ninja with all things tech.
But Cress would inevitably lead to Cressy, so I don’t think you can go there.
Cece is a great alternative. Some well-meaning types will almost certainly tell you, “just don’t let them call her that!” But I think the more practical, diplomatic approach is to offer a nickname you do like.
A few other possibilities that are hiding in Cressida: Resa, Rida (like Rita, but with a d), Ida, Iddie, Essie, and Sidda.
I do think Cece is your best bet. You don’t necessarily need a C middle name to get to Cece, either. The soft ‘c’ sound is in Cressida. Cressida Jane could be Cece just as easily as Cressida Christine.
Of course, your daughter still needs a middle name, so let’s look at some options:
Cressida Cai – I thought of this as soon as I saw Kay suggested. Cai sounds like Kai and rye, so it breaks the pattern. But Sir Kay in Arthurian legend was also called Kai or Cai, possibly from the Latin name Gaius. Cai is the Welsh spelling, and typically masculine, but not unknown for girls.
Cressida Cay or Cressida Cae or even Cressida Caye – If Kate can be spelled Cate, then there’s no reason Kay can’t also take a C and be spelled Cae, Cay, or Caye. Cay adds a nature name element to the name, since cay is another word for key, as in Key West. And, of course, it fits your pattern exactly while giving you the initials C.C.
Cressida Cate – Almost just like Kay. Or Cay. But not exactly.
Cressida Cecile – Cecilia is a famous saint, but I don’t think this name feels religious at all – and Cecile comes from a Roman family name, so no religious roots. When I was thinking of alternatives to Christine, Cecile immediately came to mind.
Cressida Claire – Is this too plain, or maybe too obvious? Claire – this spelling – is currently in the US Top 100, and is one of the most natural ways to get to the initials you like.
Cressida Coraline – I noticed the lovely Cordelia on your shortlist. Cressida Cordelia might be too much name, but Cressida Coraline has some appeal.
Cressida Rae, Cressida Bay, or Cressida Jay – None of them get to the initials C.C., but they continue the May/Shae sound. Other possibilities with the long ‘a’ sound that don’t quite rhyme: Jane, Lane, Gray, and there must be a dozen more!
Cressida Elise – I noticed Eloise on your shortlist. Elise doesn’t have the same spunkiness of Eloise, but the sound is close. If none of the C names feel like a good fit, Elise could be a great alternative.
Readers, are there are other middle names that you would suggest to go with Cressida? Or are there other Cressida nicknames that might work?
UPDATE: She’s here! Thanks to Amber for stopping by to let us know that Cressida Caye arrived in June 2015. Wishing the family all the best.
I think that the way family members react to a name BEFORE the child arrives and AFTER the baby arrives is so very different. My mother initially did not react kindly when we told her we were using her first name as her granddaughter’s middle name. After my daughter arrived, she tells everyone about the honor name and is thrilled by it. When I asked, she scoffed, “Don’t you know me? I was trying not to cry.” My mother also used a nickname for daughter that grated on my husband’s nerves EVERY TIME she referred to the baby in utero; after the baby was born, she uses the nickname we prefer more often and only occasionally uses the nickname she prefers. Every family is different, but I think there is hope that the extended family will use the nickname that you chose to use, or no nickname at all if that is your preference. With Cressida, I wouldn’t want nickname and would almost put this into the “nickname-proof” category. Also, once the baby gets to a certain age, she can tell your family members exactly which name she wants used. My name is Jessica. I can remember adamantly telling certain family members that Jessie was NOT my name around age 5.
I wondered when reading this – do Laramie, Malarie, and Naomi have nicknames? If they don’t, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cressida doesn’t automatically get a nickname either.
For middle names, how about these?
– Cressida Millay (expands on the established AY theme)
– Cressida Lilias (fits with the Gaelic Shae)
– Cressida Neve (Gaelic)
My favorite to get to CeCe is Cressida Cerise.
JMV, that’s an excellent point – there’s a big difference between how we talk about names before the baby is born, and after it’s the child’s name. And people are generally far less critical once the baby is actually here!
I know a woman named Cressa- that might work as a nickname option for you!
Cressida Camille
I love the name Camille particularly because of Saint-Saens.
Cressida faye
I like Cressida Cecily better than Cressida Cecile. Anyway, to me this looks like the easiest way to get to Cece without too much stretch. Also, Cressida and Cecily are both gorgeous shakespearian names!
I quite like Cressida Cate. Cate has the long A sound of Shae and May but with a lovely Te ending that matches the strength of the Kah sound in Cressida.
To support what Abby wrote, ‘cay’ is another word for bay. If people can use the name ‘Isla’ from the globe, why not Cay? Love the sound of Cressida Cay.
Cressida Carys is lovely, too. Cressida Celine gives you both the hard ‘c’ sound and the soft ‘s’ sound back to back. Cressida Corina feels very Renaissance. Cressida Coralie gives her the same ‘ee’ sound as her siblings (in case she feels left out), but it puts it firmly out of the way of her nickname.
Best wishes as you welcome your darling daughter!
Good point about repeating the ‘ee’ sound with Coralie! And ooh, Carys – such a gorgeous name. Great suggestion!
I don’t think Christine, despite containing Christ, has any religious connotations whatsoever to most people. If the association bothers *you*, definitely don’t use it, but I wouldn’t worry if the concern is that people will hear the name Cressida Christine and assume you have deeply held religious beliefs because of it. It’s very, very secular in sound and connotation.
Absolutely agree. Christine may mean daughter of Christ, but it is also a very popular name in our culture, and it is usable for everyone.
It’s a good point, Emmy. I wouldn’t assume that Christine/Christina/Kristen/Christopher or even Christian was given to signal a religious affiliation. But if it makes the parents hesitate, that’s probably a good enough reason to move on …
For some reason Cressida Cerise appeals to me!
Lovely combination, Sara – I think Cerise is a great, underused middle name option.
One thing nice about Cressida Christine is that the ending is similar to Arden, so you have May & Shae and Arden and Christine.
This makes me wonder if you’d like Calen, Carmen, or Carsen. Or Celine, or Corine, or actually the possibilities are pretty endless.
My personal favorite is Cressida Celine I think.