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!
Audrey Avalon or Alicia Avalon. (I’d suggest Alice/Alys but I think it’s too close to Elspeth.)
Lucinda/Lucy Laurel
Tallulah Tate or Tate Tallulah.
Olive Oceana.
Kerith Kathleen.
In light of the way you chose your daughter’s name, I recommend getting your husband to watch the Veronica Mars series. The character is smart and full of personality. Maybe you can convince him!
Other than that, I love Abby’s idea of Sybil.
Or maybe:
Astrid Alma
Greer Giselle
Harriet Hope
Phoebe Petra
Willa Wren
Keira Katherine
Mabel Melissa
Daphne Damaris
Agneska nn Nessa?
My first thought was Vanessa “Nessa”, which feels similar to Veronica. There’s a new show coming out called Agatha All Along, which I think will familiarize the name. I love Sybil, Imogen, and Sylvie for you!
Agnes
Annabel (Annie)
Augusta
Cecily/Cecilia (Cece)
Constance (Coco)
Beatrice (Bea)
Felicity
Florence (Flora)
Georgette (Georgie, Gigi)
Harriet (Hattie)
Helena (Nell)
Louisa/Louise (Lucy, Lulu)
Mabel
Maude
Olive
Tabitha
Theodora (Teddy, Thea)
Winifred (Winnie)
Cecilia Constance, Annabel Agnes, Mabel Millicent, Florence Felicity, Felicity Fern, Harriet Helena
You have the added pressure of a name background story to contend with! Big sister gets the “we watched a show and BAM we just knew that was your name!” and little sister might get “we made some name lists…” I suggest you stop the lists and get watching / reading / listening again for some inspiration! Really only you two can know what you’re drawn to, but here are some names from pop culture that might spark an interest:
Maude Millicent (Inbestigators – not a spelling error, a very charming Australian show)
Yvaine Yara (Stardust, but Yara as a tweak for mom!)
Iris Imogen (Goo Goo Dolls)
Prudence Piper (Beatles)
Verona Vivi (Romeo and Juliet… a twist on your Veronica)
Orla Olive (designer Kiely or Derry Girls)
Hilde Helena (Home Before Dark – I know it ends with an E-sound, but I think differing syllable lengths work with the surname…)
Good luck! If you’re not saving Carden for a boy, I love Abby’s suggetion of Carys.
Congratulations! Elsbeth Eden is lovely. I love the alliterative combo!
From Abby’s suggestions, I think Carys is a great choice
If not Veronica then maybe Miranda or Minerva?
Waverly or Ainsley instead of Hadley?
Odessa or Mirren instead of Nessa?
Greta or Gretchen instead of Agatha?
Phillipa, Linnea, or Lorelei instead of Millicent?
Best wishes! ๐
We just named our daughter Cecily (it’s not even in the top 1000, but has a familiar sound).
I’d love Cecily Clare for you.
Elsbeth Eden and Cecily Clare sounds lovely.
Congratulations on your baby!
I love Abby’s suggestion of Carys or Charis.
Here are some other ideas…
Aisla, Iona, Isla and Fenella
are all Scottish /Gaelic romantic names that go well with Elsbeth.
Catriona has a Veronica vibe but more of a Scottish flavor like Elsbeth
All varients of Katherine, Katy Katie, work well too.
Maybe even something like these…
Bridget Beatrice
Maisie Margot Merryhn
Are others you might just like.
Here are some more to consider:
Melusine
Darien/Darian
Bronwyn
Blythe
Solveig
Minna
Anwen
Gwendolyn
Isadora
Ariadne
Nixie
Congratulations & best wishes!!
I always think of Imogen as a sister name to Elsbeth.
Elsbeth Eden & Imogen Ivy?
Vanessa Veda instead of Nessa?
Tess or Tessa instead of Nessa?
Susanne or Susanna
Sylvie or Sylvia
I like the idea of Dorothy, but it doesnโt have 3 syllables when I hear it pronounced in my region.
Elspeth & Sylvie sound lovely together to my ears.
Congratulations on baby number 2!