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!
Kristen writes:
Help! We’re expecting a second daughter at the end of August, and we can’t decide on a name.
Our first daughter is Veronica Claire. We chose her name almost instantly, during a long drive right after the ultrasound where we found out she was a girl.
What we like about it: it’s different, but everybody knows it. There’s really only one was to spell it. It feels sort of creative and fun, but it’s really kind of an old name. We sometimes shorten it to Vee and Vica and Vero at home, but most other people just use the full name.
People sometimes ask if she’s named after someone. She isn’t, and we’re not considering family/honor names this time around, either.
This time, it seems like all the names we like are either taken, or maybe a little too weird. My husband suggested Prairie, which I want to love. But I think it’s a little too much. Also, I keep seeing the Muppet in my head. I liked Josephine, but good friends of ours just named their daughter Josephine. Harriet was also on my list, but my husband doesn’t like the idea of the initials H.H. (Our last name starts with H, is two syllables, ending with -son.) Beatrice was almost Veronica’s name, but now that have Veronica-Vee, we really can’t have Beatrice-Bee.
Suggestions, please!
Read on for my response, and please leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Kristen –
Congratulations on your new daughter!
I know what you mean. I’ve been working on a list of creative girl names, but they’re much rarer: Tallulah, Romilly, Saskia. They sound almost like your style, but I can imagine lots of people having trouble with such unusual names. One of Veronica’s many charms is that we all immediately know to spell and pronounce it – without feeling like it’s a name we hear too often.
Other names, like Penelope, have the same vibe. But they’re Top 50 choices. Does that automatically rule it out? I’m not sure it should, but since part of Veronica’s appeal is the name’s relative uncommonness, I’m going to automatically cross out anything in the Top 100-ish.
It also strikes me that Veronica is a big name, with lots of sound. A shorter name might fade into the background compared to Veronica. And that’s not quite what you’re after, either, right?
One final consideration: you’re looking for a name that can be used in full, while still having rich nickname potential. That can be tricky! Some names beg to be shortened. Abigail is nearly always Abby, and I don’t think I’ve ever met a little Lillian who isn’t Lily. But most names mostly work in full, especially if you’re willing to insist upon it.
Cecily – Cecilia came to mind first, but I wonder if Cecily and Veronica make a better pair? Cecily doesn’t even crack the current Top 1000; for reference, Veronica stands at #378. Much like Emily can be Em, there’s something about the name that argues against it. Still, does Cecily have the same instant-recognition as Veronica? Maybe it’s a little too different? And Cecilia, at #168, might be a little too familiar?
Claudia – At #829, Claudia is less often heard than Veronica. But it shares many of the same qualities: a strong sound, an obvious spelling, and an immediate familiarity without being at all common. What gives me pause is that it might be tough to shorten as naturally as Veronica. But Veronica and Claudia sound like they could do nearly anything.
Francesca – Francesca is the last name I added to my list, but I think it might be my top choice. At #435, it’s similar to Veronica in terms of current use. And I love the way Francesca shortens so easily. (Frannie! Cheska, Chess, France …) But unless you choose one, I suspect most people would call her Francesca. Both feel slightly Italian, but not overly so.
Gwendolyn – Or maybe Gwendolyn is my favorite? First a quick note: Gwendolen, with the -len spelling, is the Welsh original, but the -lyn has long been preferred in the US. At #379, Gwendolyn is very close in popularity to Veronica. And I think it has the same quality – familiar, but not too popular. One downside: I can see this immediately being shortened to Gwen, unless you made a point of using the name in full.
Miranda – Miranda came to mind immediately, and I like it quite a bit with Veronica. Plus, I’m a sucker for the meaning: admirable. Miranda ranks #344, and nothing really sounds quite like Miranda. So I think that makes it very much like Veronica.
Rosalie – Cecily feels a little bit daintier than Veronica, I think, but Rosalie seems every bit as spirited and vibrant. At #236, I think it’s very much in the sweet spot for familiar, but not common.
Sabrina – Sabrina comes from poetry, rocketed into pop culture thanks to Audrey Hepburn and Charlie’s Angels, and yet somehow never became so wildly popular that it’s tied to a single generation or decade. At #434, I think that makes it a great sister name for Veronica. Except – could you have Vee and Bree? That gives me pause …
Tabitha – Get this: Tabitha does not appear in the current US Top 1000! It left entirely after 2016. It’s never made it as high as the Top 100. I think Veronica and Tabitha sound unexpected and creative, but it’s definitely an old name – Biblical, even.
Okay, so I like all of the names on this list! But I wonder if Gwendolyn, Tabitha, or Francesca works best?
Readers, I know you’ll have some great suggestions for Kristen. What would you name a sister for Veronica Claire?
Cassandra
Regina
I love so many of the suggestions you’ve already received so I won’t repeat those, but I want to cast another vote for Beatrice/Beatrix. If you still love it, I think you should reconsider using it. Veronica is one of my favorite names, but our last name starts with Ca- so it sounds like you’re stuttering. Similarly, Beatrix is one of my faves. I’d love to meet sisters called Veronica and Beatrix! 🙂
I knew sisters Valerie and Veronica and the names will always go together as a set to me.
Also: Bridget, Estella, or Vivienne?
Some of these suggestions work so well!
Most of my thoughts have already been mentioned, but I wonder whether any of these might appeal:
Fiona
Cassandra
Marianne
Adelaide
Celia
Edwina
Clementine
Sylvia
Serena
Bernadette
Philippa
Winifred
Jessamine
Georgina
Louisa
Allegra
Marguerite
Rhiannon
Roxana
Lavinia
Good luck!
Whoops, Georgina is a repeat. Sorry!
Before reading Abby’s suggestions, my first thoughts were Cecilia and Claudia. Claudia is my favorite, with possible nicknames Claude, Claudie, Didi, or Clio. Other ideas that are spunky and nickname rich: Dorothea nn Dot or Thea, Georgina nn Georgie, Gigi, or Nina, and Carolina nn Caro, Callie, Rory, or Lina.
Dorothea is genius. Such a beautiful name with lovely and spunky nicknames. Plus, it isn’t used often but is easily recognized AND it has four syllables like Veronica.
I came to suggest Felicity but I see someone has already suggested that. How about Titania. Anne, Annie, Anna, Nia, Tia, etc.
Matilda!
I’m curious about your husband’s love of Prairie…and your wish that you could love it too. Is it a significant place for you? Would Willa or Antonia be a more name-ish way to get to the same feeling? Or maybe Suzannah? (I was looking up prarie flowers, and noticed Black-eyed Susans).
I’m going to jump on the bandwagon and say that Beatrice or Beatrix would be pretty close to perfect, and there are enough nickname options (for both girls) that I don’t think Vee and Bee will be a problem.
Other ideas:
Veronica & Eleanor,
Veronica & Carmen,
Veronica & Genevieve,
Veronica & Victoria (OK, probably not), Veronica & Maribel,
Veronica & Eloise
Veronica & Gabrielle
I was coming here to say use Beatrice with nickname Bix – one of my faves. You love Beatrice, you can avoid Bee if you need. Lots of nickname options. But maybe it just feels wrong to use Veronica’s back-up name on baby sister?
Lots of great suggestions already (love Whitney, she deserves a chance), but how about some without the matching A-ending mostly for fun…love Abby’s suggestion of Gwendolyn (Dolly as a nickname!) and I wish your husband was a fan of alliteration cause Harriet is such a gem.
Francine (has the romance of Josephine and could lead to CeeCee as a nickname)
Pauline (love Polly and you could even try Prairie as her nickname, especially if you use an R-heavy middle name like Rory or Roux.)
Imogen (I love this so much with Veronica)
Felicity (such fun nicknames for this one.. Flick, Liddy)
Meredith (why isn’t this one more popular?? Merry, Red, Mimi)
Mary Jane (I know one and she loves that she’s named after a character from Spider-Man and is oblivious to the other connotation)
Good luck! Your first daughter is wonderfully named and I know how hard it is to name a second girl. It’ll come! Keep us posted.
Love the suggestions of Miranda, Francesca (love Frannie or Francie for nn), Gwendolyn, Claudia and Rosalie. I could also see Rosemary, nn Romy.
I love the name Veronica and I love three of Abby’s suggestions with it – Tabitha, Miranda, and Gwendolyn. If you love Beatrice – Betty or Bette or Tris work.
Octavia
Katrina or Katerina
Matilda
Juniper / Lavender / Marigold – these maybe diverge from your style but I was trying to bridge from “very old name with one spelling” to “Prairie”? They are pronounceable, straightforward to spell, and I kind of love Veronica and Juniper.
Abby’s suggestions are so perfect, and I love the reader suggestions already posted as well.
I immediately thought Ramona, so I want to second Sadie on that one. Romy (or just Ro!) would be a great nickname.
My daughter is named Gloria—I think it’s similar to Veronica in that it’s known but relatively unused and might work for you. We call her Glo at home but everyone else uses her full name.
From the list I like Veronica with Claudia, Francesca, and Miranda.
I had a friend Veronica whose younger sister was Daniella/Danielle.
If you love Beatrice I wouldn’t let the Vee and Bee nickname names stop me. Their given names are so different. And on the occasion you do say Bee and Vee is sounds super sweet! Would you also rule out any names that begin with B, C, D, E, G, P, T and Z just Incase you call her by her initial?
A name from my list for the same reasons you listed is Bianca. But then you still have Bee and Vee…
Love Veronica. Both Josephine and Sabrina take you in the direction of comic books/ pop icons. Tabitha might have that problem too, although it’s not quite as obvious with Veronica.
How about:
Marina, Melinda, Jennifer, Cynthia/Thea, Cadence, Theodora, Cordelia, Celeste, Constantina, Justine, Lucinda, Lorelei
I think either Prairie or Harriet might work as your middle name.
Theodora is a great idea. I was also thinking about Lucinda as a great choice. Lucy is cute nickname or Cindy.
Susanna! Like Veronica it’s classic and recognizable but not common, and carries some great nicknames- Suzy, Annie, Zuzu, Sunny, Zannie
I would love to meet sisters Veronica and Susanna 🙂
Lucinda -would be pretty too for another option… 🙂
Congrats on your second daughter!
I think Francesca is genius. Good call! I think you should just stop there:
Veronica and Francesca.
However, I also like Clover as an option. It is very unusual, but a name that everyone recognizes and knows how to spell. Clovey is a darling nickname, or Clo, or Lucky.
Also, I think double initials isn’t a good enough reason to forego Harriet. It is such a great name.
Veronica and Clover
Veronica and Harriet
I would try to find another four syllable name as a way to narrow your search, because Veronica is fun to say.
Good luck!!!!
I was thinking about this more (because this is a great question and Veronica is so rarely brought up in naming questions) and I think Morwenna might be a good choice. It isn’t stylistically the same but it is just as fun to say as Veronica. Veronica and Morwenna–I would happily say those names all day!
I think Claudia, Cecilia, and Tabitha all sound good with Veronica. I also like Irene, Corinne, and Florence from other posters.
Bianca
Colette
Flora
Ingrid
Isadora
Marcella
Marina
Ramona
Simone
Veronica makes me think of Antonella/Antoinette (Vera and Annie) or Victoria (Vee and Tori).
I really think you could do Beatrice! She could be Trixie and Tris if Bee was too close.
Vanessa (If it didn’t start with a V I think it would be perfect but I still think it would work really well)
Bethany
Phoebe
Rachel
Daphne
Jasmine
Kelsey
Katrina
Dorothy
Natalie (This is more common but I personally never hear it)
Natasha
Corinne
Bridget
Whitney
Tara
Patricia (heard this recently on a little girl and was surprised how well it worked)
I know a Beatrix who goes by Bix.
Abby’s suggestion of Claudia is genius!
How do you feel about Rowena? She’s strong and feminine, familiar but underused.
Rowena Prairie perhaps?
Veronica and Rowena. Vee and Ro.
Then there’s classic and peaceful Irene. Everyone recognizes her, but few children share the name.
Veronica and Irene. Vero and Rina.
Golden and sweet Melora is the outlier on my list. She’s gentle but not silly… a name for a little girl or a woman.
Veronica and Melora. Vera and Melo.
And finally… Florence. Elegant, Italian, and rich with positive associations. She exudes life and prosperity.
Veronica and Florence. Vica and Wren.
Best wishes!!
Corinna
Marlena
Marjorie
Paulina
Loretta
Aurora
Adelia