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!
CHOOSING NAMES THEY JUST PLAIN LOVE
Michelle writes:
We have two girls, Maya Elizabeth and Justine Rose. Both names just sort of came to us and it didn’t take too much discussion. Neither name has any specific meaning/reason we chose it, but we do really love their names.
This is our third and final child, and it’s not coming together for us this time. Maybe it’s because we’re having another girl, and we like our girls’ names so much, it’s hard to come up with something that fits that we both agree on.
His favorite is Marigold. My favorites are Sylvie and Danae/Danai. We both like Dinah, but probably not enough to use it.
Can you help us think of some more names? We don’t get too excited about popularity, but probably we don’t want names that we’re hearing a lot, either.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
DEFINING YOUR STYLE
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
Let’s begin by thinking through what your older daughters’ names have in common. If we can put some criteria in place, it will be easier to work through your current short list and maybe find some new possibilities, too.
Maya and Justine are both:
- Straightforward, nickname-proof names
- Easily pronounced
- Broadly familiar
- Feminine without being too frilly
The differences between the two names are obvious, too. Maya remains in the US Top 100, while Justine left the US Top 1000 after 2008. But since popularity isn’t a major consideration for you, I think that can safely be disregarded. Also worth noting: “not currently in the US Top 1000” would probably surprise people, as Justine remains broadly familiar as a given name.
EVALUATING YOUR CURRENT SHORTLIST
DANAE/DANAI
I love Danae – always have, ever since I stumbled on it in Greek myth. But I think pronunciation is potential hassle. It’s often spelled Danaë, indicating that it’s a three-syllable name: dah NAH eh. The only Danae I’ve ever met in real life pronounced it dah NAY, which is closer to actress Danai Gurira’s pronuncation. So … as much as I love this name, it’s not quite as straightforward as Maya and Justine.
DINAH
Dinah, on the other hand, feels like more of a Justine – familiar, but rare. It’s pretty easy to pronounce, too. And yet, I think I know what you mean about it not quite pairing with Maya and Justine. Dinah is a sparky vintage revival, but it’s not quite as sleek and current as Maya and Justine.
MARIGOLD
Marigold is really having a moment, I think – and it’s a marvelous name. Like Maya and Justine, I think it would be easily spelled and pronounced. And it’s familiar without being too popular. But I’m not sure I hear it as a sister name for Maya and Justine.
SYLVIE
Sylvie is my favorite of the list. I’m not sure I can top it! It’s brief and complete, feminine but no frills, easily spelled and pronounced. It’s familiar, too, making it easy to wear. I’d give it 13 out of 10 stars.
And yet .. if you haven’t yet agreed on Sylvie as the ideal name for a sister for Maya and Justine? Maybe it’s worth taking some fresh ideas, too!
A SISTER FOR MAYA AND JUSTINE: MORE NAMES
COLETTE
Slightly French, like Justine, but maybe a little closer to Maya in terms of popularity. Perfectly tailored, still quite feminine.
DELIA
Because you seem to love D names, I wonder if Delia is a good split between Danae/Danai and Dinah?
ESME
I probably suggest this name lots, but I think it’s a great example of a very current name with roots.
IRIS
Because Marigold is your husband’s top pick, I wonder if another floral is worth considering? I’d nominate Iris, a name that’s vibrant and sophisticated at the same time.
PHOEBE
Another name that feels timeless and current, like Maya and Justine.
MARIEL
There’s something very pretty about the vowel sounds in Sylvie and Danae/Danai. Mariel has a little bit of that, too, but it’s a smidge closer to Marigold.
SARAI
An older form of Sarah, pronounced sah-rye, this name feels like a substitute for the potentially confusing Danae, with a nod towards Sylvie, too.
VALERIE
One of those great names that isn’t quite a classic, but is nicely timeless, too.
Overall, I’m still not sure I’ve topped Sylvie. Would Sylvie Marigold work? But from my list I love the idea of Delia or Sarai. If Marigold isn’t a middle option, I wonder if something like Evelyn might appeal?
Petra
Verity
Tallulah
Harriet
Astrid
Rhea
Violet
Damaris
Phoebe or Sylvie do sound kind of perfect to me! I also thought Willow or Cleo could be really lovely with Maya and Justine.
I thought about Diana, which I do think fits well. I think Simone is a good suggestion, too. How about Camille. I know a young Camille and it wears very stylishly:
Maya, Justine & Camille
Natalie was the first name I thought of that fits Abby’s bullet points of straightforward/nickname proof, easily pronounced, broadly familiar, and feminine without being too frilly
I like that it has a different ending sound from your other girls as well
Maya, Justine, and Natalie
I’ve known a couple of women named Danae, both of whom pronounced it to rhyme with Renee. I think that’s the standard American pronunciation and no one would think to pronounce it the way the classic Greeks did. Danai, on the other hand, I would pronounce to rhyme with tie. I’d consider them different names.
I would also suggest: Adele, Bridget/Brigitte, Cecile, Cecily, Celeste, Celia, Celine, Claire, Daisy, Dahlia, Dana, Danica, Daphne, Deena, Deirdre, Delia, Della, Davina, Diana, Diane, Dorian, Hope, Katrina, Laurel, Lena, Lina, Maren, Monique, Nina, Paige, Phoebe, Renee, Rosalie, Susannah, Suzanne, Talia, Tessa, Thea, Willow
I like the idea of another unique end sound. As we have A and E already. So maybe Y or N.
Imogen Bell.
Hailey Faith
Girl names
Maya Elizabeth
Justine Rose
Eleanor Jane
These sound like sisters.
Different first letters with a bond through Elizabeth to Eleanor with the letter E.
A bond through Jane to Justine with the letter J.
A nice little touch for them to have.
Maya, Justine and Eleanor are all unique in their own right too.
I love Sylvie and I think Sylvie Colette would be beautiful, if you wanted to choose a name that Abby recommended. Here are some others that have a similar style: Dahlia, Diana, Nina, Skye, Sophie, Grace, Mira, Celeste, Calla, & Mara. Congratulations and best wishes!
First off, I love the name Marigold, and Sylvia isn’t far behind. But if you’re looking for other ideas, here are a few I think would pair well.
Maya, Justine, and…
-Adele
-Audrey
-Daphne
-Etta
-Flora
-Leila
-Lena
-Lila
-Lola
-Molly
-Thea
-Zara
Would love to find out which name you choose!
Oops. I meant to write Sylvie, not Sylvia. I agree with Cristina, Sylvie Colette is lovely.
I also like Simone and Sybil.
How about Simone or Alice or Naomi? I do like Sylvie best of your list.
I came to suggest Simone!
Yes!
Maya, Justine, and Simone.
If she just won’t work, how about Maya, Justine, and Bernice?