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!
Stephanie writes:
Last year I wrote you looking for name help finding a formal girl name for the nickname Doe. After your suggestion of Odette, it made me look at names starting with “Od”, and I came across the name Odessa and fell in love with it and named our daughter that.
Well now I’m expecting baby #2 and have some names picked out for a boy and girl but nothings hitting me like Odessa did. The boys names feel too plain and the girls are what was left over from our daughters lists and nothing feels like it goes with Odessa.
I love how Odessa is vintage, and it feels familiar due to Odessa, Ukraine and Odessa, Texas, among others places that share the name. And I like that it’s not too out-there because it feels like Vanessa or Tessa or popular “O” names.
I’m looking for a name that has the same feel, but I’m also interested in fall names too since baby is due in October. But all the lists I’ve seen are obvious fall-related names or names inspired by horror films.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Please read on for my response, and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Stephanie –
Congratulations on your new baby on the way!
I think I know exactly what you mean about Odessa. It’s a vintage name, but there’s something bold and daring about it. And while it feels familiar, there’s no question that it’s quite rare.
But maybe part of the challenge is this: you’ve warmed to Odessa as a name. Sure, it struck a chord as soon as you heard it. Over a year, it’s gone from name-that-might-possibly-work to The Name for our child. When we’re searching for latter feeling, it’s easy to forget that it’s rarely a lightning bolt moment. It’s one of several reasons that naming a second (or third or fourth) child can be harder.
That caution aside, let’s see what goes with Odessa.
A Brother for Odessa
Cassian – I almost suggested Caspian, except that implies you’re naming all of your children after large bodies of water. Besides, Cassian seems a little more vintage. It’s an ancient name, one made modern by Diego Luna’s character in the Star Wars series. And while the name rose dramatically in use following 2016’s Rogue One, it remains well outside of the current US Top 1000.
Leopold – Leo appears in the current US Top 100. But Leopold? Nope. Just 114 Leopolds were born last year, which puts it well outside of the current Top 1000. It’s a good compromise between the familiar and the out-there. Plus, I like the long ‘o’ sounds linking the two names.
Ransom – It rhymes with handsome, and while it might bring to mind cut-up letters glued into a threatening note, Ransom has another meaning: redemption. It’s often used in a Christian context, but it comes from the Latin redemptio via French. That makes it a powerful, uplifting choice.
Rufus – If everything old is new again, Rufus’ time is near. It’s faded to near-obscurity since the 1920s, but sounds just right with Lucas.
Thoreau – Odessa brings to mind the natural world. And while it’s rare as a given name, we recognize it from the map. Thoreau feels the same – tied to the great outdoors. It’s seldom heard as a first name, but the author’s fame makes it immediately recognizable.
A Sister for Odessa
Cosima – Vintage and rare, Cosima sounds like a sister for Odessa.
Delphine – A little more tailored, but still nicely matched.
Sonnet – I wonder if trying to find another vintage name is actually part of the problem? Lots of more modern choices feel compatible with older names. Sonnet tops my list of names considered modern and unusual, but still nicely at home with names like Odessa.
Thisbe – I wonder if you’d like Thisbe, called Bee? It seems to echo the pattern of Odessa/Doe that you established with your daughter. Plus, with names like Chloe and Penelope so stylish, Thisbe fits in, while still standing out.
Zelda – The most popular name I’ve suggested so far, Zelda sounds zippy and bold. It’s a jazz age name (think Zelda Fitzgerald) and a modern one, too, thanks to the letter Z and the video game series that started way back in 1986.
Overall, my favorites are Cassian and Thisbe. I’m not sure what draws me to Cassian over the other names, but Thisbe’s possible nickname Bee feels like a great pair with your older daughter’s name – without feeling too closely matched.
Readers, what would you suggest as a sibling name for Odessa?
Isadora, Winona, Ida, Agnes, Inez, Agatha.
Odessa is lovely.
Odessa & Elettra would be fun, or Odessa & Evanine.
I think Auden or Ariston would be lovely name choices for Odessa’s brother.
Forgot to mention girl name…Ophelia.
My son’s 2nd middle name is Obed, after his great-grandfather. It is a nickname for Obadiah, pronounced Oh-ba-die-ah. I like Obadiah and Odessa.
The suggestion of Sonnet somehow made me think of Cameo … a name I saw suggested somewhere and thought was quite lovely. Odessa & Cameo.
For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t use Sonnet with Odessa … would make me wonder if you were aiming for a poetry theme (and then I start to think of potential siblings – Psalm, Ballad … Limerick anyone ?).
I also think Claudia is nice … Odessa & Claudia.
Can’t help with boy names, sorry.
… or Evangeline, Odessa & Evangeline.
I haven’t read any of the other comments yet, so sorry for any repeats!
Opal is an autumn name to me because it’s the birthstone of October.
Odessa and Opal.
Perhaps another place name would give you all the feels? What do you think of Catalina? She’s rare but familiar, classic, and a gorgeous island off the Californian coast.
Odessa and Catalina.
Ooh! Or there’s Valencia! She’s got the whole Veronica-Valentina-Verity vibe AND is found on the map.
Odessa and Valencia.
Iona might suit you… she’s a Scottish island, strong and feminine but also familiar-ish thanks to Isla, Una, and Lila.
Odessa and Iona.
For a son, how about Royce? He has history and undeniable style.
Odessa and Royce.
Then there’s Trenton. He’s got the in-style sound of Jackson or Ethan, but he’s quite under-used. Bonus points for being a state capital!
Odessa and Trenton.
Further out on my guessing limb… do you like historical literature? Ingalls could fit your bill. He’s completely recognizable, well-viewed, and handsome.
Odessa and Ingalls.
Congrats on your little one and being such a great namer!
I agree that Trenton has a very hip sound! But as a New Jersey resident, I’ll just mention that folks from the Mid-Atlantic states might not have positive associations with that name. I believe our little capital can work its way back to being a great place, but right now (and for the past few decades), it’s been known for violence, economic depression, and pollution.
I like Sonnet & Delphine, I’d also aDd Jewel, Belen, and Juliette … From the suggestions in comments I’m partial to Avalon, Ingrid, Guadalupe, Maeve! Good luck! Odessa is gorgeous 🙂
LOVE Cosima as a sister for Odessa!
Also love Linnea. Sweet and vintage, like Odessa.
Prefer Lionel nn Leo to Leopold.
Romily
Soren
I worked at a childcare centre that had an Odessa with a sister named Amara. I thought the names went together nicely.
Those are GREAT together, Julia!
Wow – I think Abby really nailed it. My only additions are Homer, Horace and Hadrien for boys (I see someone else also suggested this! It was on our short list for our second son) and Paloma, Polina (Polly!) and Thiphaine (Tiff) for girls.
With Odessa I like ..
Ginevra
Geraldine
Miranda
Amalia
Allegra
Francesca
(And I really like the suggestion of Cosima)
For boys:
Marius
Augustus (doe and Gus – love)
Wallace
Frederick
Alistair
I know the list is alphabetical, but Abby, it can’t be a coincidence that you suggested Cosima and Delphine right next to each other, right?
My first thought was Octavia.
Adelaine nn Del or Della (Doe and Del?)
Or choose a birthstone based on the month the baby is due in the fall…
Sept. (Sapphire)–Zafiro (Spanish)
Oct. –Opal (shares the long O of Odessa)
Nov. –Citrine
Avalon and Avonlea sprang to mind immediately for a sister. With its meaning of “isle of apples”, Avalon especially fits the autumnal theme beautifully.
Another thought: Mirabel/Mirabelle. The latter is the French for “plum”, which would make for an adorable nickname alongside Doe!
I really like Thisbe and Cosima for you. A few others:
Cressida
Xanthe
Phaedra
Zinnia
Orla
Daphne
Cosette
Rowena
Rhiannon
Sybil
Ingrid
Petra
Zella
For a boy, I do love Rufus and Caspian. Or maybe:
Ivan
Gideon
Emmett
Stellan
Jasper
Tobin
August
Here’s some thoughts:
Odessa and Pearl
Odessa and Miriam
Odessa and Rose
Odessa and Carmen
Odessa and Marit
Odessa and Toby (I super love the name Toby)
Odessa and Emil
Odessa and Oscar
Odessa and Lawrence
Odessa and Remy
I immediately thought of Poe stories for the Fall theme. We have Roderick and Madeline from the Fall of the House of Usher. Camille, Auguste, and Adolph from The Murders in the Rue Morgue. He also has a Rowena. I also think of Thanksgiving with Fall and that makes me think of the names Amity, Mercy, Faith, Verity, and Myles for Myles Standish. How about Lugh the Irish god of the harvest?
Medora, Kassiani, Theodosia, Laetitia, Salome, Petra, Romola, Bibiana, Callista, Minka.
Orlando, Roman, Kirill, Killian, Lucian, Felix, Leopold.
I feel like all the boy names except Rufus fit decently with Odessa. I feel like Cosima (called Coco?) and Thisbe called Bee are clear winners. I think Bram, Sabrina and Helena are great fall themed names. In the same vein as Delphine is Daphne, which I feel like I always assciate with Scooby Doo, but that’s what give it a fall vibe for me.
Catrina is a great fall name for a girl, that is the proper name for a “sugar skull” and also is a Spanish variant of Catherine (see also the Irish Catriona). Following that train of thought Jose, Joseph, Josephine, Josefina, and Guadlupe since catrinas were made popular by the artist Jose Guadalupe Posada.
I always think of rain when I think of fall, and city names are trendy so Olympia could work.
I also think of witches when I think of fall, so some witch characters are:
Minerva could be Minnie
Mirabelle (mage from Skyrim, rare, but has the trendy bell sound)
Serafina (witch queen from His Dark Materials) ironically means burning or fiery one
Marnie (from Halloweentown, just sounds so high end much like Odessa)
Safiya (from The Witchlands, a well known name thanks to YouTuber Safiya Nygard)
Regina (Once Upon a Time)
Morgan (I actually love this for a boy. There’s Morgan Le Fey, The Morrigan from Lost Girl, Rachel Morgan)
Weaver (as in Detective Weaver i.e. Rumplestiltskin from Once Upon a Time)
As far as Harry Potter names go I love Erised for a boy, which is an anagram for desire. I feel like Erised and Odessa are a great match.
So many nice suggestions! Odessa makes me think of Geneva, another place name with appealing sounds and similar level of usage. Doe and Neve
Anthea
Opal
Irina
Zoraida
Lavinia
Vivienne
Rhiannon
Maeve/Maeva
Leona
Peregrine
Ezekiel
Hector
Basil
Alistair
Nicodemus
Clark
Ulysses
Caius
Felix, Gordon, Elias, Jethro, Octavian/Tavian, Hadrian, Malcolm, Vince, Walden, Julius, Darius
Ginetta, Guilietta, Marian, Marta, Marys, Delia, Ramona, Sienna, Florence, Aurora, Lygia (a variant of Lydia, which is a place name)
What about Bram for a boy, as in Bram Stoker, author of Dracula?
The Dracula vibe feels very appropriate for an October baby but not too spooky/creepy plus there’s just some sort of cozy quality to it that just makes it *feel* like a fall name, IMO. I think Bram has a good “fits in but stands out” quality to it, just like Odessa. It feels familiar thanks to sound alike names such as Abraham, Cam, and Brandon yet I doubt he would ever have another Bram in class with him. Bram is a winning choice!
I don’t have such a standout choice for a girl’s suggestion but I do like Sabrina and Miranda with Odessa. I feel like the Harry Potter series would be a good place to look for an offbeat, fall flavored girl’s name. Minerva is a big one that comes to mind.
I love Odessa! It’s a serious favorite of mine–definitely a rare gem. And I really love Cassian, too, so that would be my vote for a boy.
But for a girl, I would suggest some other favorites of mine that fit your criteria.
Lilia
Helena
Petra
Micaela
Gianna
Corinne
Amora
Giselle/Gisela
Annika