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!
Danielle writes:
We are THOSE people. We had two girls names. Our daughter, Ella Esther, was born first. We always knew her sister would be named Georgia Grace.
But then it took years before we had our second baby. We’d had a list of boy names, but friends and family took them all.
By the time we had our son, we were out of names. And we figured we’d never have another daughter, so we kind of took apart Georgia Grace and came up with Grayson Garrett.
Now we’re having a total surprise baby, it’s a girl, and I’m not sure what to do!
Do we name her Georgia Grace? Or is two (four) G names too many for a single family?
For many reasons, we’ve waited until very close to Grayson’s due date, and again this time, before really thinking about names.
My husband says we should just name her Georgia Grace, but I don’t feel like it’s the right name this time, if that makes sense.
We could really use some advice, and hopefully some new name ideas, too!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your third – how exciting!
Many parents tell me that names belong to a pregnancy. So Georgia Grace might’ve been your favorite name for your second child … but it can feel like it’s somehow taken by that moment in time, even if you used a name that’s only broadly similar for your son.
But yes, of course, plenty of parents would agree with your husband, too!
Let’s look at your options first:
OPTION #1: Name your daughter Georgia Grace.
Sure, it’s lots of the letter G. But all those Gs won’t be obvious to an outsider. You’d have Ella, Grayson, and Georgia. Except for your most immediate family, I doubt anyone would ever notice that two kids shared the same initials. It’s just that you recognize that Grayson Garrett was inspired by Georgia Grace, which makes the names seem closer than they actually sound.
OPTION #2. Name your daughter Georgia, but choose a different middle.
What if you simply changed Georgia’s middle name? After all, the greatest overlap is with Grayson and Grace. Georgia Jane, Georgia Juniper, Georgia Annabelle, Georgia Elise, Georgia Marlowe … the list of possibilities is endless. And, most importantly, it opens some space between your two children’s names.
OPTION #3: Start fresh and choose an entirely new name.
This solves the problem of too many Gs, and it gives each kid a distinct name. The only issue, of course, is that right now you don’t have another name that you love.
My suggestion: a mix of #2 and #3.
Let’s try to find a new name you can love, but know that Georgia – particularly with a fresh middle – remains a viable option. I’d call it the name to beat.
So does anything beat it?
A SISTER FOR ELLA and GRAYSON
ADA
As simple and straightforward as Ella, with every bit as much vintage charm.
BLAIR
On paper, Blair is a very different style from Ella. But it seems like a good sister name for Ella and Grayson, a breezy, tailored choice.
JULIETTE
It’s a J, not a G, but Georgia and Juliette start with the same sound. Would that appeal?
LUCY
As complete as Ella, with the same old-fashioned charm.
MARGOT
That O ending makes this vintage Margaret nickname feel even more vibrant.
PHOEBE
There’s something about this Greek name that sounds interesting, and just slightly different, even though names like Zoe, Chloe, and Penelope have dominated the US Top 100 in recent years.
SIENNA
The Italian city is spelled with a single N – Siena – but American parents tend to favor this spelling. It’s a light, flowing name with a lovely sound.
VIVIAN
Classic, vivacious, and just plain fun to say.
Overall, I think I’m still team Georgia NewMiddleName. It feels like a solid compromise that preserves the name you love, but also avoids duplicating your son’s initials exactly.
If not that, then I’m drawn to Phoebe. Ella, Grayson, and Phoebe. Maybe even Phoebe Georgette?
How about “F” names since it’s between E and G? Freya Finn, Frankie Faye , etc
I like Georgia Genevieve!
Other ideas
Clara Celeste
Frances Felicity
Margot Mae
Virginia Vivian
Aww I was going to suggest Georgia Gwen, but Iris beat me to it 🙂
If you want same initials & same sound -Georgia Gem or Georgia Gemma
I also like the suggestion of using a middle name that starts with E.
Georgia Eden is beautiful.
Congratulations on your new addition!
Congratulations on your new baby! Ella Esther and Grayson Garrett are just perfect alliterations, I’m swooning! If you’d like another alliteration name, here are some of my ideas, with ‘Georgia Grace’ in mind:
Ruby Rose
Margot Marie
Lily Louise
Audrey Anna
Clara Catherine
Sadie Sloane
Maisie Martha
Freya Faith
Iris Isabel
Flora Frances
Mila Maeve
Josephine Jane
Poppy Paige
Daisy Dot/ Daisy Dorothy
I especially think Ruby, Lily, Margot, Freya, Maisie, or Daisy would pair lovely with Ella and Grayson. Congratulations again and best of luck finding a name you love 🙂 x
I think you should stick with Georgia.
For a GG combo, Georgia Gail is sweet and snappy.
Someone suggested using an E for the middle name — Georgia Eden is lovely.
Best wishes to you!
Sounds like you know a lot of kids so if Georgia isn’t already taken, I’d keep it and echo the comments of giving her a different middle, whether it’s another G (Georgia Greer!) or an E to tie into a nice full circle with sister (Georgia Eve.)
I do love good alliteration so I’ll throw out some of my fave suggested names with middles;
Lucy Lena
Audrey Adele
Simone Sadie
Flora Faye
Holly Hazel
Penny Paige
Mabel Maxine
June Josephine
Ruby Rae
Also LOVE the idea of honouring your name and since Ella got part of it, maybe something like Scarlett Sheridan?
Good luck!
I love the alliteration with your other two kids names and I think Georgia is a beautiful and spunky name that sounds great as a sibling for Ella and Grayson. As others have pointed out Georgia does not have the same beginning sound as Grayson and Grace though. So if I were in your shoes I might choose a J name for the middle for the sound like
Georgia June
Georgia Jean
Georgia Jane
Congratulations!!
I don’t think Georgia feels like too much G along with Grayson, especially because Georgia sounds like a J instead of a hard G. Hardly anybody will know your kids’ middle initials either so if you truly still want to use Georgia Grace I say go for it. If Georgia Grace doesn’t feel quite right anymore then I really like the idea of continuing with all the kids having alliterative names; such a fun, subtle link amongst siblings!
Some ideas (Georgia feels sparky, sweet, strong, and slightly vintage to me so I tried to pick some names that share the same vibe or have similar sounds):
Lorelei Lucille or Leona Lucille (long O sound like Georgia)
Fiona Felicity or vice versa (Fiona has that long O sound like Georgia, Felicity just has that same sparky vibe to me as Georgia. Plus your kids are E, F, G!)
Audrey Alice (Audrey just sounds like a sister to Ella and Grayson and feels strong and vintage like Georgia)
Margo/t Meredith (another long O sound like Georgia, Meredith shares that nice soft sound like sister Ella’s middle name of Esther)
Aurora Anne (Aurora feels sparky and bold like Georgia and matches in sound, Anne helps anchor Aurora)
Josephine June “Josie” (sparky and shares that long O)
Violet Vivica (sparky, bold, a bit sassy, just plain fun to say, shares that long O sound)
Sadie Sophia (Sadie just *feels* right with Ella and Grayson)
Delilah Danielle (Delilah feels sweet and vintage like Georgia, Danielle honors you of course!)
No reason not to use Georgia Grace if you still like it.
Looking at your name choices, it seems like you want the alliteration (same first and middle initials).
And you love Georgia, so it would be a shame to lose it.
I suggest Georgia Gwen.
(Maybe Georgia Giselle or Georgia Gabrielle for a cute nod to mom Danielle.)
If you want a different middle initial, I would choose another E name. That way, both siblings would have something of their names reflected onto the baby sister’s name, which would be cute and balance things.
Georgia Elise or Georgia Elaine