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! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.
FINDING FITS-IN/STANDS-OUT NAMES FOR A SECOND DAUGHTER
Sara writes:
I was so excited when you wrote about Elspeth/Elsbeth! We have a daughter named Elsbeth Eden, after The Good Wife/The Good Fight/Elsbeth character and because I really liked the initials E.E.
Our boy name is Carden Christopher.
But if this baby is a girl, we’re not sure what to name her.
So far our list is all the runners-up from our first pregnancy:
- Veronica, which was my favorite name a few years ago, but my husband thinks is too long and I’ve kind of cooled on
- Nessa, but it doesn’t feel complete
- Agatha, I just don’t think I can do this and not sure I want to shorten it to Aggie
- Millicent, same thing as Agatha/Aggie and Millie
- Hadley, which we both like, but our last name is Irish, starts with M ends with -fee, so anything that ends with a Y isn’t great
We’re both kind of worn out on looking right now and have been waiting to have that moment that we had with Elsbeth. (We were binging The Good Fight and her character showed up and we just both knew it was our daughter’s name.)
Some new ideas from you and your readers would be great!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
SMART, SURPRISING NAMES FOR A DAUGHTER
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your second daughter!
When we find such a great name for our firstborn, it can feel that much more challenging to name a second child, right? But I think you’re on the right track.
GIRL NAMES THAT ARE JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT
CARYS
Like Elsbeth, Carys is familiar in the UK, rare in the US. It also has a great meaning: beloved. I’m probably thinking of it because Carden is your top name for a son. The issue here, of course, is that naming a daughter Carys now likely rules out using Carden in the future.
CLEMENTINE
Sweetly old-fashioned, but with plenty of spirit.
DOROTHY
On paper, I love Elsbeth and Dorothy. And while I agree that Hadley isn’t great with a two-syllable, ends-in-Y surname, the extra syllable in Dorothy changes that rhythm. (At least, I think it does.) It works in full, but nicknames like Dolly, Doe, and Dot match Elsbeth, too.
LUELLA
Lots of names with a strong EL sound came to mind, but too many of them conflict with Elsbeth. With Luella, I think it’s just enough match.
MATILDA
Instead of Millicent, how ’bout Matilda? It’s got lots of sparky energy.
OPAL
They both sound like old school names at home in the twenty-first century.
SYBIL
I think the -L ending in Sybil – and Opal – works nicely with Elsbeth. But while Opal is a Top 500 name in the US and rising, Sybil doesn’t even make the Top 1000.
TALITHA
I’m not sure if this name is a little too long, in the Veronica kind of way, but I feel like it’s worth mentioning.
Overall, I’m most drawn to Sybil. I think it matches Elsbeth’s vibe, but also shares the same tailored, but feminine, appeal. And I suspect your husband isn’t going to embrace a three-syllable name necessarily, while you’re not wild about anything that feels like a nickname. Sybil checks both boxes.
Plus, you chose Elsbeth for a whipsmart fictional character. In the ancient world, sibyl meant prophet, and women who served as sibyls did just that – held divine knowledge. So Sybil and Elsbeth match in that sort of smart, capable way, too.
On the repeating initial idea, I’ll suggest Sybil Sarai, with the middle name inspired by your name, Sara.
I should note that my first thought from this list was Carys Clementine. Except … if there’s any possibility you’d prefer to keep Carden Christopher in reserve for a future son? Then Carys Clementine doesn’t work for a daughter!
Avis — Avis Annabel or Avis Arden. Arden mirrors Eden, but is very close to Carden.
Bronwen / Bronwyn — Bronwen Bliss.
Fiona or Fionnuala — Fiona Frances or Fionnuala Frances. Fionnuala = fih-noo-la.
Grainne — Grainne Grace. Grainne = grawn-yuh.
Róisín — Róisín Rhianne. Róisín = row-sheen.
Saoirse — Saoirse Selene. Saoirse = seer-shu (as in “shun”).
I love Gaelic names, but they often aren’t intuitive to say or spell for English speakers.
Best wishes to you!
I agree with the person who suggested Vanessa in full if Nessa feels incomplete. I’d use Vanessa Valor. Goes great with Elsbeth!
Oh that is a really good thought! And Vanessa Valor is just enough of a comic book heroine, but still very much on the right side of real girl. LOVE!
Sephora
Leona
Zora
Peridot
Odessa
Idalia
Theoclea
Isolde
Sunniva
Isotta
I do like the suggestion of Fenella and Sybil
If you’re not holding onto Carden for a potential future boy, you could give it to a girl! It works well for either gender. A similar option would be Arden.
Here are the first names that came to mind when I read your list:
Agnes – It’s similar to Agatha, works well with Elsbeth, and would lend itself to Nessa as a nickname.
Imogen – Like Elsbeth, it has a vintage, literary vibe without sounding frilly.
Hilda – I’m waiting for this one to make a comeback. It ranked in the Top 100 a century ago and is still very popular in Scandinavia. Saint Hilda is the patron saint of learning, culture, and poetry.
And some other possibilities…
Althea
Astrid
Augusta
Cassandra
Edna
Enid
Eudora
Harriet
Heloise
Imelda
Ingrid
Irene
Iris
Lydia
Winifred
I also really like Laurel as a sister to Elsbeth, but with the L ending it’s difficult to pair with an alliterative middle … maybe Laurel Louise could work?
I also like Martha, but maybe too much with the surname.
Irene!
She’s gorgeous, peaceful, literary, and lovely with Elspeth. She also doesn’t sound sing-song with your last name but is clearly feminine.
Irene M’fee.
Elspeth and Irene
Elspeth, Irene, and Carden
OH! What a great suggestion – thank you!
Inessa is the Slavic version of Agnes. It’s pretty and unexpected.
I’d probably look for a tie-in to another fictional character or a family member or mentor you admire.
I liked The Good Wife character too, but you’re the ones who know why you like her. These are names I personally like that seem a bit offbeat and I think might appeal:
Ada, Alice, Astrid, Beatrix, Blythe, Coral, Elinor, Edith, Fritha, Garnet, Greer,Greta, Inez, Iris, Maren, Mathilde, Pearl, Quinn, Rosamund, Saskia, Tessa