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Name Help: We’ve Used All the Names!

October 29, 2016 By appellationmountain 20 Comments

Name Help: A Sister for Audrey, Lena, Grace, and JackName Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every Saturday 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!

Michelle writes:

We’re expecting baby number five at the end of November. This will be our fourth girl, and last child. Our children are:

  • Audrey Michelle (I’m named after my dad, Michael, so I think of this one as for her grandpa, not for me)
  • Lena Elise (Kind of for my husband’s stepmom, Lisa – except she doesn’t like it!)
  • Grace Kimberly (Middle is for my husband’s sister)
  • Jack David (David for my husband and his dad)

We like easy names, and we don’t want anything too different. Our last name is M()rg@n.

If this baby was a boy, I liked Max, Owen, and Levi. Grace’s name was almost Adeline, but we worried about spelling/pronunciation, and don’t like Addie as a nickname. (We really don’t like nicknames, except Grace is usually Gracie.)

We’ve now decided we don’t want to repeat initials, so no names starting with A, L, G, or J, and probably not M or D, either. (I know, Max and Levi break those rules.)

Coming up with names was never really hard for us, except maybe for Grace. This time, it feels like we know kids with all of the names that we like, and there’s really nothing left. We like names that are names, not words (is it weird that I don’t think of Grace as a word?) or last names.

My mom’s name is Kathy – not Katherine or Kathleen – and we want the middle name to be after her, since she is the only grandparent we have not honored.

Please help!

Read on for my response, and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

Hi Michelle –

Congratulations on baby #5!

I think there are two challenges with naming younger children in big families, and you’re experiencing them both.

First, you do use up your go-to names.

But more importantly, you know so many kids! If each of your four children attends school/nursery school, that could easily be 100 classmates. Add in family and close friends, neighbors, friends you see at church, teammates from sports or kids your kids meet in dance class or swim lessons, and it quickly becomes a sea of names that are all used up.

My advice is to avoid only the names that would feel too repetitive. Nieces and nephews’ names are usually off the table, and probably close friends’ kids, too. But beyond that? It’s kind of crazy-making if you dismiss names because one of your kids once played on a soccer team with a girl called Madison.

Now, on to the names:

Ruby – Your children’s names seem vintage, but not too dusty – they’re mostly back in the current US Top 100. (Lena ranks in the Top 300 – much less common, but still in the same style category.) Ruby doesn’t repeat the vowel sounds from your older kids’ names, so I think it works well.

Evelyn – You liked Adeline, but hesitated over spelling and pronunciation. How about Evelyn instead? It’s similar in rhythm and sound, but has one dominant spelling and pronunciation.

Stella – Stella seems like an obvious sister name for Audrey, Lena, Grace, and Jack.

Hazel – If I’d suggested Hazel to you a few years back, it might have seemed too different. But now the name is in the Top 100 and rising. It’s definitely become a mainstream possibility. Plus, it sounds distinctively different from your older kids’ names while still fitting in, style-wise.

Maya – If you decide you’re willing to consider M names, what do you think of Maya? The style is slightly different, and yet I like the sound of Audrey, Lena, Grace, Jack, and Maya together.

Chloe – I’m sure you know a girl named Chloe. Maybe three. The name has been consistently popular for years, entering the US Top 100 in the late 1990s. But if none of them are too close to your family, I think Chloe could work nicely.

Clara – Clara seems like an obvious choice. Vintage, feminine, nickname-proof, but with a different initial and a distinctive sound.

Vivian – Evelyn always make me think of Vivian. It might shorten to Vivi or Viv, but I think I’d put that in the same category as Gracie. Yes, it’s a nickname, but it’s more of a casual/affectionate one, rather than a name that will replace her given name.

The more I look at this list, the more I have a favorite: Evelyn Kate. Evelyn has a different ending than your older kids’ names, and a different first initial, too. Kate honors your mom, but isn’t too obvious. (Since you used Elise for Lisa, I’m guessing you’re open to a little bit of re-invention.)

My second favorite would be Ruby Katherine. Ruby was the name that came to mind the second I read your list of names, and I think it works beautifully for your family.

Readers, what would you suggest for the family’s new daughter?

More names you might like:

  • Name Help: Katherine, Jonathan, and …Name Help: Katherine, Jonathan, and …
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  • Name Help: A Sister for Felicity, Bennett, and OscarName Help: A Sister for Felicity, Bennett, and Oscar
  • Name Help: Our Last Name is SO CommonName Help: Our Last Name is SO Common
  • Name Help: But Will She Hate It?Name Help: But Will She Hate It?

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Comments

  1. Nieke says

    November 12, 2016 at 7:27 PM

    Willa Kathy
    Elsa Kathy
    Tamsin Kathy
    Imogen Kathy
    Sasha Kathy
    Maya Kathy

    Reply
  2. FE says

    November 1, 2016 at 8:43 PM

    My daughter suggested Meg … I think it fits nicely.

    Reply
  3. Kelsey D says

    November 1, 2016 at 7:27 PM

    All of my favorites have been mentioned already…

    I really LOVE Evelyn, Stella, and Vivian for you guys.

    What about Juliet or Rose? These are both our daughters’ names and we absolutely love them.

    What about Margot?

    I love Esme. That will be our next girl name if we have another.

    I also really like Vera.

    Good Luck!!

    Reply
  4. C in DC says

    October 31, 2016 at 4:54 PM

    All your girls have an A and an E in their names, plus a long vowel sound. I want to suggest Eva pronounce ay-va, but I don’t think that will work for you. Stella fits the first pattern. Ruby works for the second. Naomi and Fiona get you there in a different way. Ruth would also work. Elsa, Sela, Rosa/Rosalie/Rosemary, Camille, Aimee/Amy, Maya, Margot, Riley, Nadia, Pearl, Mary, Meridith. I wonder if you might work Kathy into the first name instead: Katie, Cadence/Cady, Kerith.

    Reply
  5. Ashleigh says

    October 30, 2016 at 5:27 PM

    The first thing I noticed about your other girls’ names is that they all brought to mind glamorous Old Hollywood actresses (Audrey Hepburn, Lena Horne, Grace Kelly). So in keeping with that vibe, how about…
    Ava — Audrey, Lena, Grace, Jack, and Ava
    Bette — Audrey, Lena, Grace, Jack, and Bette
    Clara — Audrey, Lena, Grace, Jack, and Clara
    Lauren — Audrey, Lena, Grace, Jack, and Lauren
    Lillian — Audrey, Lena, Grace, Jack, and Lillian
    Mae — Audrey, Lena, Grace, Jack, and Mae
    Rita — Audrey, Lena, Grace, Jack, and Rita
    Vivien — Audrey, Lena, Grace, Jack, and Vivien

    I know some of these repeat initials, but I think they all sound fabulous with your last name and the potential middle name Kate!

    Reply
  6. Mowse says

    October 30, 2016 at 12:35 PM

    I love the suggestions of Claire, and while I am normally not one for alliteration in names something about Claire Katherine is stately and gorgeous. Plus Claire is a great fit with your other names.

    Reply
  7. Christina Fonseca says

    October 30, 2016 at 3:56 AM

    Claire, Clara and Stella are my faves with Audrey, Lena, Grace, and Jack.

    Reply
  8. FE says

    October 30, 2016 at 12:11 AM

    Love the suggestions of Clara and Evelyn. ..and love middle name Kate as a nod to Kathy.

    Also think Harriet is a great name that fits this style.

    Reply
  9. The Mrs. says

    October 29, 2016 at 11:35 PM

    Just thought of Cora! Cora Kathy is rather adorable, and the ‘or’ sound repeats nicely with your surname.

    Reply
  10. Jaime says

    October 29, 2016 at 10:08 PM

    I think Stella, Ruby, Evelyn or Vivian all work great with your sibset. And I think all but Ruby could be paired with Kathy as the mn. Kathleen or Katherine are great alternatives. Or possibly use Kathy’s middle name?

    Reply
  11. Liza says

    October 29, 2016 at 9:28 PM

    I love Nora for you!

    Nora Kathy or Nora Katherine

    Or maybe Zoey?

    Reply
  12. RB says

    October 29, 2016 at 8:53 PM

    I was going to vote for Kate as a cute and simple middle name choice to honor Kathy, so I’m glad Abby suggested it!

    I like Evelyn Kate. Another slightly more different choice would be Emery Kate. I like the way the “m” in the first name blends into your last name.

    Good luck and let us know what you choose!

    Reply
  13. Adk says

    October 29, 2016 at 8:00 PM

    Stella Katherine
    Caroline
    Emma
    Emily
    Vivian
    Emilia
    Thea

    Reply
  14. The Mrs. says

    October 29, 2016 at 6:43 PM

    Esme Katherine
    Claire Kathy
    Bella Kate
    Daisy Katarina
    Rose Katie
    Eve Kathryn

    Best wishes!

    Reply
  15. Mint says

    October 29, 2016 at 5:02 PM

    Ruby is out for me because when saying them in birth order sequence, you come to say “Jack Ruby”.

    Reply
  16. Emily says

    October 29, 2016 at 2:41 PM

    Gemma is another idea

    Reply
  17. Erin says

    October 29, 2016 at 2:28 PM

    I like Clara Kathleen. I might also suggest Tess Katherine or Tessa Kate. I think Evelyn is kind of close to Lena Elise.

    Reply
  18. Emily says

    October 29, 2016 at 12:47 PM

    Here are a few ideas (though a couple repeat first initials)…
    Alice
    Eva
    Hannah
    Ada
    Caroline

    Reply
  19. Dot White says

    October 29, 2016 at 12:27 PM

    I really like Ruby and Hazel with your set 🙂

    Reply
  20. Sargjo says

    October 29, 2016 at 11:37 AM

    Naomi! I think Naomi Katherine sounds divine.

    Reply

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