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Name Help: Short, Unique Girl Names

January 10, 2020 By appellationmountain 18 Comments

Name Help: Short Unique Girl NamesThey’re expecting another daughter. Let’s help them find a short, unique girl name that works well for their family.

Tricia writes:

I’m looking for a name for a baby girl due in five weeks. Sisters are Halle and Qwen (pronounced like Quinn) and brother is Boone. Really struggling!

I like unique, shorter names … any suggestions?

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

Dear Tricia –

Congratulations on your new daughter!

It’s always tricky with multiple older siblings because, well, there’s a range. Boone and Halle feel more mainstream; Qwen is a one-of-one, never-meet-another kind of name.

I’m assuming that, with three older kids, you know lots of children. That often makes it more tempting to choose something that stands out, in order to avoid repeats. But it can work the opposite way, too. After all, if you have three kids and don’t know a single Ava or Ruby, maybe that ups your confidence in choosing a name higher up on the popularity charts.

So let’s focus on style, above all else. I think your ideal name should be:

  • Brisk and modern, so no to Ruth or Joan
  • Not invented – at least not from nothingness, though you’re willing to innovate
  • While Boone is a surname, your daughters’ names feel more like firsts
  • And it seems like you’d prefer to stay on the right side of feminine, so Drew is out

I’m going to avoid repeating B, H, and Q names – though there’s really no reason you have to do so!

Alix – Like Qwen, Alix can sound slightly unisex. But the ‘i’ spelling has been used for girls for centuries. Strictly speaking, it’s an old French spelling of Alice, which makes it a cousin to Adelaide, not Alexandra. Alix has never cracked the US Top 1000 for girls, though all of the Alex- names have had good runs in recent decades.

Edie – Halle and Qwen both feel rooted in the past, even though I’d call both more modern than vintage. Edie hits the same spot for me. Yes, it feels like it could be a nineteenth century name – Edith certainly is. But it also connects to current favorite Eden. I like that ambiguity, and I think it’s great with Halle, Qwen, and Boone.

Liv – The sound of Liv repeats in Olivia and Olive, and it’s close to names like Evelyn, too. But Liv is brisk and minimal, a short name with style to spare. Better yet, it’s not derived from those longer names at all. Liv comes from Old Norse, and while it originally meant protection, it coincides with the modern Scandinavian word for life. That makes Liv the new Zoe.

Lux – Lux could be perfect – short, but with a big sound. It’s the Latin word for light, so nothing too dreamed-up, and yet it’s not commonly heard as a name. It leans feminine, though I’ve heard it used for boys, too. One challenge: some pronounce it like Luke-with-an-s, while others say it like luck-with-an-s. I’m partial to the latter, but neither is wrong.

Sybil – Sybil might feel the most deliberately old-fashioned of all the names on this list, but I think it has a modern sensibility that puts it in step with Halle and Qwen. (And Boone, too!)

Raya – Raya could connect to so many names – Rhea and Ray, to name just two. As with Lux, the pronunciation may vary. I think Raya transcends cultures, belonging to none specifically but fitting in with many.

Tai – They’re before my time, but back in the 1970s, Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner were a wildly successful figure skating duo from the US. The next time I heard the name was in 1995’s Clueless. But it’s never really caught on, despite the wildfire success of Kai for boys. I think it has potential.

Vail – I love the sound of Vail, especially with your older kids’ names. But does Vail imply a Colorado connection? Maybe. Vale, a poetic word for a valley, might be a better choice.

My favorite from this list is Lux – Halle, Qwen, Boone, and Lux. I think it’s exactly right.

But I know readers will have some good ideas, so let’s open it up to the community.

What would you name a sister for Halle, Qwen, and Boone?

Name Help: Short Unique Girl Names

 

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Comments

  1. Luana says

    January 26, 2020 at 10:46 PM

    I really like the names Lux and Raya, and I think that a few other names that could work, could be: Ziv, Alba, Vita.

    Reply
  2. Sara L. Uckelman says

    January 18, 2020 at 2:55 PM

    I’m going to offer “Una” and “Aine”.

    Reply
  3. L. says

    January 16, 2020 at 1:14 PM

    Marlo, Ada, Ever, Kaya, Wren

    Reply
  4. Jorja says

    January 16, 2020 at 5:31 AM

    My favourite from the suggested names is Liv. So beautiful!

    A few more ideas are Juni, Roux/Roo, Mavis, Zooey, or Sloane.

    Reply
  5. RL says

    January 11, 2020 at 7:18 AM

    I see so many great suggestions, but I know a little Luce in my son’s class and love it.

    Halle, Qwen, Boone and Luce

    Reply
  6. Liz says

    January 11, 2020 at 6:16 AM

    I think Vale is just perfect and I love the suggestion of Rae. I know sisters named Halle and Yana (or Jana) and love that pairing. The name Quinn always reminds me of Sloane, though I’m not sure if that is too close to Boone. Merrick randomly came to mind too!

    Reply
  7. Em says

    January 10, 2020 at 11:32 PM

    Or Lumi could work too.

    Reply
  8. Em says

    January 10, 2020 at 11:30 PM

    What about Nomi?

    Reply
  9. Jonquil says

    January 10, 2020 at 6:28 PM

    Del means “pretty” in Welsh and is the source of the longer Delyth.
    I think Della, related to Adela, is nice too – rather spunky.
    Or maybe one of these:
    Fawn
    Fern
    Fleur

    Reply
  10. Jaime says

    January 10, 2020 at 6:16 PM

    Wanted to add: Blair, Ivy and Vada

    Reply
  11. Jaime says

    January 10, 2020 at 6:14 PM

    I think Vale (prefer this spelling) is pretty perfect. I also love Sybil and Liv and Edie. I’d be tempted to go with a two syllable name to balance out Halle with her siblings.

    I could also see Faye (my little Faye is 3 and I always get compliments on her name). Or Shea/Shae, Rae/Rey, Maeve or Tess? Or Nina!

    Reply
  12. The Mrs. says

    January 10, 2020 at 5:48 PM

    I agree with the suggestion of Lark!

    I’ve known one, and she grew up to be a florist. Sweet lady.

    Lark is clearly feminine, but she’s also a noun like Boone.

    Halle, Qwen, Boone, and Lark.

    Best wishes!

    Reply
  13. Julie G says

    January 10, 2020 at 5:20 PM

    Rae

    Reply
  14. ab says

    January 10, 2020 at 4:44 PM

    I like Liv.

    I also like:
    Ada
    Juno
    Laine
    Lark
    Merrit
    Sage
    Tess/Tessa
    Thea

    Reply
  15. A says

    January 10, 2020 at 2:14 PM

    I was going to suggest Eden. It has the same kinda spunk to it that your other children’s names have with the same level of familiar but not super popular.

    Another suggestion is Nadine (Nay-dean). That long A sound helps it sound fresh as opposed to other sound alikes like Pauline and Janine. I believe it means “hope” as well which is a lovely meaning.

    Other suggestions

    Mira (Meer-a)
    Myra
    Zola
    Zora
    Zoya
    Zosia
    Vada
    Greer
    Sloane
    Wren
    Shiloh
    Lia
    Cleo
    Layla
    Jana/Jayna/Jaina
    June
    Nola
    Greta
    Ingrid
    Stella
    Rae
    Ainsley

    Reply
  16. Alison Doherty says

    January 10, 2020 at 10:29 AM

    Even though it repeats the B – I think Blythe sounds nice!

    Reply
    • appellationmountain says

      January 10, 2020 at 5:27 PM

      Funny, Blythe was on my list – a lot! I think it’s perfect.

      Reply
  17. Megan says

    January 10, 2020 at 9:26 AM

    I feel like Vada, Zora, or Naya would round out the set nicely. Very feminine but also edgy, they balance Halle nicely.

    I also like Ellis but with Qwen and Boone it could lean the set too surname heavy and make Halle seem like a bit of an outlier.

    I’m also a fan of Hollis, but a) is that too similar too Halle, and b) would the set be too surname heavy, or c) would points a and b balance each other perfectly?

    Reply

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