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Name Help: Something like Nicoletta or Alexandrina

October 30, 2020 By appellationmountain 22 Comments

Name Help: Sister for Sebastian ElijahName 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!

K writes:

For as long as I can remember, I have loved the longest girl names. When I read that Queen Victoria’s first name was Alexandrina, I thought that’s what I would name my daughter. My best friend growing up was Nicole “Nikki” and I loved the idea of longer names, like Nicolina and Nicoletta. Other names I really liked were Cassandra, Gabriella, and Esmeralda.

We have a son named Sebastian Elijah, and we’re expecting a daughter in December. My partner is pretty indifferent about names, though he’ll sometimes surprise me by disliking a name I really love. (He shot down Elizabella, because he went to school with a mean girl named Eliza.)

The problem is that I feel like all the names I loved for all those years don’t seem like the right choice for my daughter now. Does that even make sense? I still like them, but they’re not her name. My mom keeps suggesting Olivia and Isabella, and while I think they’re pretty, I feel like I hear them a lot.

Help!

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

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new daughter, K!

I think I know exactly what you’re experiencing. If you start dreaming of names in 2005, but aren’t actually naming children until 2015, a lot can happen. Every year that passes increases those changes, so if you made your first “names for my future children” list in fifth grade, well … chances are you’ve heard an awful lot of names between then and now!

Names come in cycles. The most popular choices of 1999 sound they’re from another century in more ways than one.

But the style you’re describing – elaborate girls’ names, rooted in tradition, but with a little bit of a twist? They’re enduring.

It’s just a question of finding some fresh ideas!

LONG GIRL NAMES

ANTONELLA (#542)

Antonia is long, but Antonella turns it up to eleven. It sounds a little bit like Isabella, but is far less popular.

COSIMA (unranked)

An Italian name meaning order, Cosima is related to another word for the universe – cosmos.

ISADORA (unranked)

A logical alternative to chart-topping Isabella, it brings to mind legendary dancer Isadora Duncan.

MAGNOLIA (#240)

A floral name far more elaborate than Lily or Rose, but just as wearable.

OPHELIA (#387)

A literary name from Shakespeare, long and elaborate Ophelia follows Olivia up the charts.

PERSEPHONE (#924)

Most of your favorites seem to end with a, but mythological Persephone is one long, elaborate girls’ name with a slightly different sound.

SERAPHINA (unranked)

Fiery Seraphina might be too close to Sebastian if you’re avoiding an initials repeat. But it’s also a great choice for underused girl names.

VIVIANA (#421)

Vivian is far more popular, but the Italian Viviana takes this tailored name in a romantic direction.

My favorite for you is Antonella. It sounds like a logical successor to Alexandrina, with the -ella sound you’ve appreciated in Gabriella and Isabella, too.

If not Antonella, maybe Ophelia? Parents sometimes dismiss it because it lacks an easy, obvious nickname. But it sounds like that’s not a drawback for you.

And – oh – middle names! Antonella Rosalie, maybe? Or Ophelia Lucienne?

Readers, what would you suggest for Sebastian Elijah’s sister?

long elaborate girl names

More names you might like:

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  • Name Help: A Sister for Kellan and KendallName Help: A Sister for Kellan and Kendall
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Comments

  1. Laura says

    November 17, 2020 at 3:30 PM

    I came up with a lot of double names with added endings to bulk up the frills. What do you think of:
    Adrianette
    Georgianna
    Ivelisse( from another of Abby’s blog posts)
    Alexandrina
    Augustina
    Valeria Maria
    Jocylena(like Jocelyn with Lena)
    Zillah
    Sybalise(Sybil with Lise)
    Yvette
    Estella
    Elianna
    Gracelyn
    Varicella
    Brynlee
    Antionette
    Please note- Adrianette, Georgianna, Ivelisse, Alexandrina, Augustina, Zillah, Yvette, Estella, Elianna, Gracelyn, Varicella, Brynlee, and Antionette are all official names while the rest of meshed and blended bits of other super girly names. Tell me what you think and best of luck!

    Reply
  2. Kirstin says

    November 2, 2020 at 11:17 AM

    Congratulations!

    Aureliana
    Coretta
    Analisa
    Benadetta
    Bronwyn
    Willemina

    Reply
  3. BSharp says

    November 1, 2020 at 6:54 PM

    Emmanuelle
    Valeria
    Ilaria
    Cassiopeia
    Andromeda
    Kassiani (cass-ee-ah-NEE)
    Perenelle
    Zephyrine, Zephyrina

    Reply
  4. Rachael says

    November 1, 2020 at 9:21 AM

    I love long names:
    Cordelia
    Mariana
    Lucinda
    Carolina
    Catalina
    Clarissa
    Clementine
    Raphaela/Rafaela
    Madeleine
    Marielle
    Alannah
    Gabriella
    Aurelia
    Luciana
    Mireille

    Reply
  5. Andrea says

    October 31, 2020 at 10:34 PM

    Adelia, Anastasia, Aurelia, Azalea, Callandra, Christabel, Christiana, Coraline, Eliora, Francesca, Georgiana, Ilaria, Jacqetta, Leandra, Leonella, Lucinda, Luella, Magdalena, Melita, Millicent, Ornela, Rosalie, Sylvana, Theresia, Victorine, Zenaida.

    Reply
  6. Jean C. says

    October 31, 2020 at 4:53 PM

    I wonder if you would like Colette? Not long but similar to Nicole while more modern sounding. Or Natasha? Octavia, Fernanda, Felicity. Wilhelmina. Penelope sounds like a beautiful sister name to Sebastian. Priscilla. Theodora.

    Reply
  7. Em says

    October 31, 2020 at 3:33 PM

    Audrina
    Adrianna
    Emmeline/Emmelina
    Julianna/Guilianna
    Mariella
    Alessandra

    Reply
  8. Christina says

    October 31, 2020 at 7:53 AM

    So many great suggestions here. I second Anastasia that someone else suggested. Sebastian and Anastasia – wow wow! I also love the name Isadora.

    Not sure if another S name is an option but I’ll throw out on of my husbands favourites – Simonetta. A beautiful Italian name.

    Others:
    Antoinette
    Celestina
    Lavinia
    Cordelia
    Graciela
    Ginevra
    Giovanna

    There is also Alexandria which is similar to Alexandrina.

    Reply
  9. alex says

    October 30, 2020 at 10:15 PM

    How about

    Aurora
    Anastasia
    Eloisa
    Cataleya
    Evangelina
    Clarissa or Larissa
    Angelica
    Esmeralda
    Antonina or Antonietta
    Josephina
    Rosalia or Rosalinda
    Alessandra or Alessia
    Philomena
    Emmanuella or Emmanuelle
    Marceline or Marcelina
    Viridiana
    Celestina
    Florencia
    Apollonia
    Raphaella or Raffaella
    Cristiana
    Donatella
    Cassiopeia
    Clementine or Clementina
    Aureliana
    Caledonia
    Cleopatra

    Reply
  10. Taylor says

    October 30, 2020 at 3:47 PM

    Liliana?

    Reply
  11. L. says

    October 30, 2020 at 3:26 PM

    Why not stick with your first love, Alexandrina? Or, what about Audrina, Andromeda, Arabella, Augustina, Cordelia, Graciela, Juliette, Wilhelmina, Marianna, Marguerite, Thomasina, Violeta?

    Reply
  12. keats says

    October 30, 2020 at 3:17 PM

    Valentina was my first thought too. Or Veronica. Or what about Mariella? I kind of dig the last one… Sebastian and Mariella.

    Reply
  13. Zena Eve says

    October 30, 2020 at 12:49 PM

    I love long, elaborate girl names, too!

    Andromeda
    Gwendolyn
    Artemisia
    Theoclea
    Delphinia
    Philomina
    Violetta
    Silviana
    Octavia
    Lavinia
    Amaryllis
    Ilithiya

    Reply
  14. Renée says

    October 30, 2020 at 11:29 AM

    I’ll add a few more that I think would be great with Sebastian – lots of great options above and from Abby! Hope one feels right.

    Eloise
    Mallory
    Cassidy
    Amelie

    Reply
  15. Iris says

    October 30, 2020 at 11:16 AM

    Maybe Alexandria will feel fresh enough for your daughter, while using your all-time favorite name? It’s just me, but I think in the long run I would regret not using that all-time favorite, so a slight change might be the answer. Another possibility is Georgiana, which I think sounds beautiful with Sebastian.
    Also, to me a good sibling name to Sebastian is Margaret, but since it probably isn’t your style, maybe Marietta?

    Reply
    • Brenna says

      November 2, 2020 at 3:45 AM

      Love these suggestions!! Seraphina and Isadora are my favorites from Abby’s list. Anastasia is another inspired suggestion from the comments.

      Apologies for repeats from other suggestions, but are few thoughts:
      Catarina nn Cat, Kit, or Rina
      Bettina nn Betty, Bette, Betsy, or Teeny
      Florianna nn Flo, Flora
      Evangelina nn Evie, Vanna, Lina
      Phillippa nn Pippa, Philly
      Georgianna nn Georgie, Gia, Gigi

      Congratulations and best of luck!

      Reply
  16. Alison Doherty says

    October 30, 2020 at 9:30 AM

    I’ll add a few of my longer names to the suggestions too – Calliope, Emmeline, Coralie, Sylvia, Leonora, & Mirabelle.

    Reply
    • Alison Doherty says

      October 30, 2020 at 9:30 AM

      *my favorite

      Reply
  17. A says

    October 30, 2020 at 8:54 AM

    How about Miranda?

    Reply
    • appellationmountain says

      October 30, 2020 at 9:12 AM

      Ooh … great suggestion, thank you!

      Reply
  18. Megan says

    October 30, 2020 at 8:51 AM

    I love Abby’s suggestions Isadora-Viviana. If you’re a nickname person, I can think of at least five for Seraphina, and at least two each for Isadora, Magnolia, and Ophelia.

    Catriona could be gorgeous.

    Alternatives for names you like:

    Alexandrina – Alexandria, Magdalena, Bethany

    Nicoletta/Nicolina – Augustina, Marietta/Mariana, Josephina, Jacqueline, Leonille (lay oh NEE)

    Cassandra – Calliope, Cressida

    Gabriela – Michaela (mih kai el uh), Raphaela

    Esmerelda – Esperanza, Evangeline, Yvelise, Eulalia

    Reply
  19. VEL says

    October 30, 2020 at 8:06 AM

    I’ll suggest Natalia, Mariana, Camilla, Marina, and Valentina.

    Reply

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