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!
Kerrie writes:
This question is a little different. Our daughter was born early, at 30 weeks. We hadn’t talked about names seriously at that point, but we felt it was important to give her a name immediately.
We always knew her middle name would be Elizabeth. It’s my middle name and my grandmother’s name, and my husband’s mom is named Beth. So we named her Elizabeth, with no middle name.
Four months later, our daughter is home and doing great! And we realize that while Elizabeth is a very important part of her identity, it’s not exactly her name.
We both agree Elizabeth is her middle name, but we can’t agree on a first. Here’s our list right now, which is pretty much the same rough list we had right before her early arrival!
Can you help us figure out which one might be the best? We’re open to other names if you have ideas, but I feel like we’ve looked at every name and are still stuck at Something Elizabeth.
- Bella/Isabella/Isabelle
- Felicity
- Gia
- Hadley
- Julia/Juliette
- Lila/Lyla
- Maeve
- Noa
- Penelope
- Sage
- Teagan
- Willa/Willow
I think we could probably get there on our own, but we really want to settle her name question and fast. We have a family birthday gathering for my husband at the end of the month, and we’d really like to share her name there. (Otherwise I guess we’ll introduce her as Something Elizabeth!)
Our last name sounds like Carol with an H.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your daughter! That must have been so scary and overwhelming. I’m so glad everyone is home and doing well.
I think you made a really smart move. You know Elizabeth will be part of her name, but you’ve left yourself space to choose the name you love.
Your list feels a little challenging, though!
There are really more like fourteen or fifteen names here. And there’s LOTS of range, from modern Sage and Noa to antique Felicity and Willa. There are so many great names on this list, but they’re all very different.
Let’s start by grouping them:
- Surname-style names that are potentially unisex: Hadley, Teagan.
- Nature names/word names: Sage, Willow
- Antique names: Felicity, Penelope, Willa
- Compact moderns: Gia, Noa, Lila/Lyla, Maeve, Bella
- Classics: Isabella/Isabelle, Julia/Juliette
I’m sure those aren’t the only way to grouping the names, but it does illustrate the first challenge: is there a reason to drop any of these names?
There’s one that leaps out at me: Isabelle. Elizabeth and Isabelle are two forms of the same name. Say “Isabelle Elizabeth” and it sounds repetitive. Isabella is a little long with Elizabeth, and again there’s some repetition. But Bella? Bella works.
On those grounds, I’ll drop Felicity and Penelope. You could certainly use them, but if we’re looking to limit your choices, maybe length is a good enough reason.
The other factor? The strong L sound in your last name. Willow Carol-with-an-H is a bit of a tongue twister. Willa, Lila/Lyla, and Bella are all subject to the same challenge. (Though somehow I think Bella stays just on the right side of hard to say, probably because of the strong B sound.)
Still, I’m going to drop them all.
Hadley with your surname is either Marilyn Monroe-esque perfection, or a little too alliterative.
That leaves:
- Gia
- Julia
- Juliette
- Maeve
- Noa
- Sage
- Teagan
From this list, my favorites are Teagan Elizabeth Carol-with-an-H and Maeve Elizabeth Carol-with-an-H.
But let’s open it up to the readers, because I’m sure they’ll have some ideas I haven’t considered!
I love Eliza!
I think the idea of a nickname is intriguing! Maybe Eliza? Reminds me of Maeve. I also second Birdie.
Amateur psychologist here. Wondering if the real reason you haven’t picked her first name is because it really should be Elizabeth nn Lizzie or Betty or Betsy. Elizabeth Sage Carol(H) would be my pick. 🙂
Now that is a really good thought – thanks so much, Cathy!
If you like alliteration, I like Hadley best. But my other favorite is Maeve.
My favorites are Maeve, Gia, and Noa.
Georgia?
I love Hadley best from the list and I would be excited to use it alliteratively with the surname Carol with an H. I love the way the two names roll off the tongue. To me it makes it special and memorable. I don’t think there is a problem with too much L sound or that it is difficult to say. Hadley H-r-ll. Hadley Elizabeth H-r-ll
What about Arla which means early since this little lady couldn’t wait to meet you!!
Arla Elizabeth “Carroll”.
It keeps the L sound you like but it is balanced by the strong r, which tie so well to your last name. It is a mini name that leans modern but has a bit of international flair like Gia.
You have so many great names on your list already though so really you can’t go wrong!!
From your list, I think Julia Elizabeth is beautiful and classic. Or if you’re looking for something a bit more modern, Gia Elizabeth is also nice. For a new suggestion, I thought if you like Sage and Willow that you might also like Juniper, which goes nicely with Elizabeth.
I agree with Abby’s suggestions! Teagan and Maeve both sound great.
However, since the initials for Maeve Elizabeth “Harol” would be MEH, my vote goes to Teagan!
Teagan Elizabeth “Harol” is beautiful.
Truly, “MAEVE Elizabeth Carol-with-an-H” is absolutely my favorite from your list! It’ll age very well/fits every stage of your daughter’s life. Overall, it sounds melodic as well, good rhythm (I’m a musician so this is something I pay attention to).
Recommendations to add:
* ROWAN Elizabeth Carol-with-an-H
* ARIANNE Elizabeth Carol-with-an-H
Best of luck!
I agree with everyone else’s points about which names work and which don’t work as well.
My suggestion is for another option Pippa – it’s a bit Penelope, a bit Willa … Pippa Elizabeth “Harol”.
I also like Page or Paige for you – from Penelope x Sage.
Otherwise, with some of the longer names you like, would you consider a nickname? It would still make for a long combo but with a shorter nickname, it could work better. I do really like Penelope for you especially.
Penelope *Penny* Elizabeth “Harol”
Penelope “Nell” Elizabeth “Harol”
Penelope “Poppy” Elizabeth “Harol”
Agree. I would avoid Isabel and all its variants as it’s a version of Elizabeth.
Going from Something Elizabeth to Sage Elizabeth would be very sweet.
Congrats!
Oh, I love that!!
Agreeing with Abby and others – organizing your list into styles might help. Are you planning on future kids and will style match matter to you? What boy names do you like?
We went to the hospital with 7 names for our youngest and none felt right. We went out of left field with a name that linked her to the birthday she’d chosen. Maybe none of these names are it? She sounds like a fighter and probably born in spring? Maeve and Hadley would be my picks (and I know a Teagan who was ‘Tigger’ as a kid so maybe that suits!) How about:
Maude
Juno
Billie
Nova
Florence
Iris
Meredith
Or maybe you throw out Elizabeth and give her an Elizabeth variation up front? Liddy, Elsie, Liza, or even your list name – Isabelle! Isabelle Hadley, Elsie Teagan, Liza Juliette, Liddy Sage!
Also – so happy to hear she’s home and doing well. That must have been an incredibly stressful four months for you.
I would go with a two syllable first name! I think Teagan Elizabeth is my favorite. Gia Elizabeth and Noa Elizabeth also sound beautiful!
If you want a pleasing rhythm, I might go with a 3-syllable name since Elizabeth has 4 and your last name has 2. I’d probably go with Juliette from your list. It also sounds nice with the last name.
I love the short names with Elizabeth.
Noa Elizabeth
Gia Elizabeth
Bella since it can come from Isabella could be a nice double tie into to Elizabeth if you really wanted to emphasize that family name.
Bella Elizabeth
Maeve!
Maven might give you a better opinion, too, because it has the same feel as Hadley and Teagan.
Congratulations on your sweet daughter. What a blessing!
I agree that with your surname, some of your favorites may have too many “Ls”. And I wouldn’t use any form of Isabella, Isabelle, Bella, the romance languages’ “translation” of Elizabeth.
On the otherhand, I think a 3-syllable name sounds really nice with 4-syllable Elizabeth and is not too long, especially with a 2-syllable surname. I have a granddaughter named Miranda Elizabeth (sometimes called Mira) and love that name.
I also have a granddaughter called Emma Elizabeth and love that combination with a shorter 2-syllable first name too.
From your list, I especially like:
Felicity Elizabeth “Carol”
Julia Elizabeth “Carol”
(I pronounce Julia with 2 syllables, but some say “Ju lee ah” with 3 syllables. Either way, the name works with Elizabeth.)
From your list, Sage jumps out as a strong favorite for me. I really like the sound of the full name–Sage Elizabeth Carroll– and it combines a number of styles you like. It’s a unisex nature name that is familiar and versatile, but not overused. Sage gets my vote!
My favorites are Juliette, Penelope, & Teagan, many eliminated for the same reasons Abby mentioned. I love the name Maeve (so much I gave it to my daughter) but your daughter’s initials would spell “Meh”, which seems a bit unfortunate. Have you tried calling your daughter these names for a day and seen how each felt?
I’m looking at your list and seeing many varied elements as Abby pointed out.
I’m liking the idea of sweet and vintage but shorter.
With your names Noa, Gia, Bella and Teagan and wondering if you might like Thea?
Thea Elizabeth Carroll (H)
Thea has a sweet vintage feel but falls in with many popular names.