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Name Help: What if it’s another girl?

October 19, 2018 By appellationmountain 36 Comments

Name Help: Fifth DaughterName 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!

Renee writes:

We are pregnant with our fifth baby!

We don’t know the gender yet but already have four girls: Susan (Zuzu), June, Gwendolyn (Wendy), and Diana.

If we have a boy, we want to use the name Reuben, but we have NO IDEA what to do for a girls name! My husband likes Florence, but wants to use the nickname Floy and I am not a fan.

Help!

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

Dear Renee –

Congratulations on your new baby! It’s exciting that you have a boy name all picked out and ready to go. But wow, after naming four girls, I can imagine it’s tough to agree on a fifth name as wonderful as the ones you’ve already chosen!

My first question is this: is Florence out only with the nickname Floy? Would Florence called Flossie or Flora or Flick be an option? I don’t think it’s the most obvious style match for your older girls’ names, but that’s not necessarily a problem.

Because if your husband is willing to compromise to make Florence work for your family, I think maybe it belongs on your shortlist.

Moving on!

If we’re naming a sister for Zuzu, June, Wendy, and Diana, we’re looking for a name that is slightly mid-century, a name with some history, but not a Victoriana vintage choice. It should lean a little quirky, too, I think – especially with playful sister names like Zuzu and Wendy, it can’t be too buttoned-down.

Here are my suggestions:

Bettina – We all recognize Bettina as a name, but it’s far from common. It can shorten to Betty or maybe even Betsy, and all three names are cousins to the evergreen Elizabeth. I love the sound of Betty with Wendy and Zuzu and June, but I think Bettina might fit even better when Diana is considered.

Dorothy – Florence feels a little more vintage than your older girls’ names, and so I found myself thinking of Dorothy. Strictly speaking, Dorothy was most popular in the 1920s, a few decades more recently than Florence. But I think they both feel similarly antique. The benefit of Dorothy? All sorts of delicious nicknames, like Dolly, Dot, Dory, and Doe. Or maybe even Rory if you’d like something a little more boyish – which might be a bit like Floy.

Joy – Floy makes me think of Joy – but is it too close to June? It might be short for a longer name, like Jocelyn, but it typically stands alone.

Mamie – Because the novel, musical, and movie Auntie Mame came out in the 1950s, we sometimes think of this as an especially mid-century name. Factor in First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, and it feels right at home in the era. But in truth, Mamie’s been around for ages, a sometimes-nickname for Mary and Margaret. In our age of Maisie, though, I think it stands on its own.

Nancy – A 1940s favorite, Nancy brings to mind the whip-smart heroine of all those detective novels, Nancy Drew. She’d fit right in with Wendy and Zuzu and the rest of your girls’ names. Nancy started out as a nickname for Ann, but today it stands on its own.

Romy – Romy is relatively unknown in the US, but it’s traditional in German, a contracted form of Rosemarie. You can use it on its own, or as a short form of Rosemarie, Rosemary, or even Romilly, though that might be too out-there.

Sabrina – I feel like Gwendolyn and Sabrina are logical sister names, and Sabrina fits in well with Susan, June, and Diana, too.

Veronica – The first name that I thought of when I read your list! Maybe it’s because of the great short forms – Vee, Vera, Nica – or maybe because it’s one of those names that feels a little bit throwback, but isn’t quite antique just yet. I’d call it a quirky classic, just like your older girls’ names!

Overall, I’m drawn to something longer, like Veronica or Bettina, with a sparky nickname. But in the spirit of compromise, I think it might be worth thinking about whether there’s another Florence nickname that you could both love, or whether Joy might stand in for Floy.

But I know the readers will have even more great suggestions, so let’s turn it over to the community.

What would you name a sister for Susan (Zuzu), June, Gwendolyn (Wendy), and Diana?

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Comments

  1. Genevieve Apple says

    October 30, 2018 at 11:17 AM

    What a great set of names! How about:
    Bryony
    Verity
    Lorna
    Francine
    Gillian
    Thelma
    Delphine
    Monica
    Saskia
    Nigella
    Marion
    Lucille
    Maureen
    Edith
    Janine
    Iris
    Petra
    Pauline
    Mabel
    Marilyn
    Daphne

    Reply
  2. thisquiethour says

    October 23, 2018 at 2:15 PM

    Thank you so much for all your suggestions! It has been fun seeing what other people came up with. Right now our short list is
    Loretta (nn Retta)
    Leonie
    Elaine (nn Laney)
    Audrey
    Felicity
    Irene
    Helena
    Rosalind
    Veronica

    So the list isn’t too short yet! But we aren’t finding out the gender til the baby is born, so we have a while to think on it.

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      October 23, 2018 at 9:21 PM

      Irene Adler would be quite the namesake.

      Reply
  3. Edie says

    October 22, 2018 at 7:46 PM

    Loads of great suggestions. Jumping in to suggest Josephine, called Jo, Sephy, or Posy. You already have four names that evoke great characters from literature / myth, and that have strong N sounds near the ending – Josephine fits the bill.

    Or – breaking that mould – Felicity? Fee, Flick, Flixie, Lissa…

    Reply
    • Renee says

      October 23, 2018 at 11:49 AM

      You totally get what we were going for 🙂 all our girl names are from children’s books / literature and have “n” sounds — however , felicity nn flick is intriguing…

      Reply
  4. Honorific says

    October 22, 2018 at 3:20 AM

    My first thought was Constance nn Connie.

    Other suggestions –

    Odessa nn Odie
    Margery nn Margie
    Alberta nn Albie
    Regina nn Reggie
    Cordelia nn Delia
    Kathleen nn Kat
    Georgina nn Gigi
    Millicent nn Millie
    Theodora nn Dora
    Winifred nn Winnie
    Minerva nn Minnie
    Antonella nn Ella/Anne
    Keziah nn Kez

    Reply
  5. Andrea says

    October 22, 2018 at 1:39 AM

    Also Pamela or Camilla or Angela? I get a 1950s children’s storybook or book about an English boarding school feel, though maybe that’s not how the parents want them to meant to sound.

    Reply
    • Renee says

      October 23, 2018 at 11:50 AM

      It’s exactly what we were going for lol!

      Reply
  6. Jaime says

    October 21, 2018 at 10:19 PM

    One more popped into my mind for you – Bonnie

    Reply
  7. RL says

    October 21, 2018 at 7:51 PM

    Annette! I think it sounds lovely with your names. Or:
    Maude
    Therese/Theresa nn Terri

    Reply
  8. Andrea says

    October 21, 2018 at 11:43 AM

    Actually, Penelope (Penny) would sound right as well, though it has become more popular.

    Or Tamara (Tammy), Virginia (Gigi, Ginny, Ginger), Hilary, Letitia (Letty, Tisha), Melanie, Rosalind or Rosalyn, Deirdre (Didi), Philippa (Pippa, Flip), Myra, Dulcie.

    I get a 50s vibe from these names too, though they’re all still in use for kids. I know of a child Gwendolyn whose nickname is Wendy.

    Reply
  9. Maree says

    October 21, 2018 at 7:30 AM

    What about Valerie?
    Christine (Chrissie)
    Deborah
    Lisa (or Annaliese

    Yvonne or Yvette?
    Victoria (Vicky)

    I agree with the previous poster that your names sound very much like the Australian top 100 from the 1950s, I suggest you google the full list for inspiration!

    Reply
  10. Kim says

    October 20, 2018 at 11:47 PM

    Laughing here because I have a Gwendolyn, and as I was in labor with my second, I looked at my husband and said, maybe we should call her Sabrina. And he said there was no way he was going to go home and tell G that her Baby J was now a different name.

    I have a soft spot for Dorothy, nn, Doro, and Caroline, nn Caro.

    Reply
  11. Sadie says

    October 20, 2018 at 12:19 PM

    I think Dorothy, Nancy, and Rosemary go really well. I also like the suggestions of Faye, Rosalind, Marjorie, Meredith, Sally, Helena, and Kathleen (Kit!). I’ll add:

    Constance nn Connie
    Marcella nn Marci
    Maxine nn Max
    Virginia nn Ginny

    Reply
  12. Erin Beth says

    October 20, 2018 at 9:27 AM

    Back one more time because I can’t resist suggesting Audrey.

    Reply
    • thisquiethour says

      October 23, 2018 at 2:13 PM

      Audrey! I haven’t thought of that one but it is lovely!

      Reply
  13. onomastodon says

    October 20, 2018 at 7:46 AM

    Nancy is such a great fit! And Helen!

    I’ll try to limit myself to names that haven’t been suggested yet. Your girls have names I mostly hear on baby boomers where I live, so I’m thinking of the other common names here in that age group. I live in Australia, so some of these might not quite fit. I’m leaving Jennifer and Kylie off, for instance, because I think they peaked later in the US than here. There may be others like that on this list.

    Deborah/ Debra
    Catherine (Cathy)
    Carol (or Caroline nn Carole/Carrie?)
    Sharon
    Marie
    Beverley
    Yvonne
    Sandra
    Marilyn
    Janet
    Cheryl
    Linda (Belinda? Melinda? Rosalind?)
    Pamela

    Names I don’t hear much here but seem like they might fit in the US:
    Donna
    Brenda
    Shirley
    Marcia

    Reply
  14. Andrea says

    October 20, 2018 at 12:22 AM

    Ellen (Nell, Nellie, Ellie), Patricia (Patty, Patsy, Trisha), Judith (Jude, Judy), Margaret (Peggy, Greta, Maisie, etc.), Kathleen (Kitty, Kathy), Mary Ellen, Teresa (Tracy, Tess, Reesie), Francine, Frances (Francie or Frankie or Frannie), Mavis (Mave), Irene, Barbara (Bobbie, Bar, Basha, etc.)

    Reply
  15. Lee says

    October 19, 2018 at 11:07 PM

    Picking up on the “oo” sounds from Susan and June:
    Gertrude (nn Trudy, Tru)
    Luna
    Drusilla
    Ruth

    Picking up on the “oh” sound of Gwendolyn and Florence:
    Viola
    Heloise / Isadora (nn Izzy)
    Jolene
    Sidonie

    Others that sound like a sister to my ear:
    Rhiannon
    Roxanne
    Evangeline
    Linnea
    Cynthia
    Zady
    Meredith

    Reply
  16. Jaime says

    October 19, 2018 at 10:22 PM

    I think Nancy is pretty perfect with your sibset. Or even Nanette, nn Nan. I also like Betty and Betsy.

    Personally, I wouldn’t repeat an initial (including W and Z).

    A few others I like for you:
    Theresa, nn Tess
    Colette
    Frances, nn Frannie/Francie
    Helen (nn Nell?)
    Ruby
    Millie
    Katherine, nn Kit
    Edie
    Faye

    Reply
  17. Katinka says

    October 19, 2018 at 7:39 PM

    Colette was my first thought too! Coco or Etta for short — adorable. I also like the suggestions of Nancy, Gloria, Beatrice, Blythe, Edith and Veronica for you.

    Or how about:

    Constance
    Sylvia
    Maxine
    Irene
    Lucille
    Tess
    Francine
    Marion
    Vivian
    Valerie
    Celia
    Jocelyn
    Margo(t)
    Rowena
    Patricia (Pip?)
    Opal
    Elaine
    Esther/Hester
    Ruth
    Tamsin
    Nanette

    Reply
    • Katinka says

      October 19, 2018 at 7:49 PM

      Oops, one more: Louise!

      Reply
  18. Erin Beth says

    October 19, 2018 at 7:23 PM

    I love the suggestion of Nancy! Sally and Rosemary are nice too. I would add Virginia nn Ginny, Valerie, Teresa, Elaine, and Barbara.

    Reply
    • Erin Beth says

      October 19, 2018 at 7:27 PM

      Or Margaret nn Margot, Greta, or Peggy!

      Reply
  19. Kate Lehman says

    October 19, 2018 at 7:19 PM

    I like Dorothy with Doro as a nickname

    Reply
  20. Renée says

    October 19, 2018 at 12:50 PM

    You’re girls names are lovely!! I love Dorothy called Dolly or Dottie! That’s my favorite from Abby’s list and I love with your other girls names.
    Some other suggestions with possible nicknames-
    Millicent nn Millie
    Minerva nn Minnie
    Beatrice nn Bea
    Adelaide or Adelheid nn Heidi
    Rosalie or Rosalind nn Rosie
    Edith nn Edie
    Alice no nickname but just like with this set

    Good luck and Congrats on baby 5!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Renee says

      October 19, 2018 at 1:16 PM

      Thank you for the suggestions! Dorothy is one we had not considered before the post. I love Millicent but my husband thinks it sounds evil lol! Rosalind made it to our shortlist yesterday— considering the nickname “Roz”.

      Reply
  21. L. says

    October 19, 2018 at 11:28 AM

    I second Colette and Harriet. What about Colleen or Marjorie? I know an adorable toddler named Pauline, which I think hits the sweet spot of totally familiar but never actually used. I think I would go for a name that doesn’t repeat anyone else’s first initial.

    Reply
  22. Jean C. says

    October 19, 2018 at 11:03 AM

    I love your daughters names—and I personally love the name Florence, but am also uncertain about Floy.
    It’s not very often that I find questions on here where my daughters name might be a good fit, but this might work for your family: Gloria. We call her Glo sometimes. It’s a fun name on a toddler and I think it’ll wear well her whole life.
    I also like Ramona as a way to get to Romy. I think Matilda might be a good fit as well, or maybe Helen/Helena (I am just swooning over Helena lately and I’m not entirely sure where it’s coming from other than maybe Abby’s name of the day recently haha).
    Another name that Abby mentioned that is on my own baby name list is Dorothy. I just love this name too. And while maybe a year or two ago I might have chuckled at the suggestion of Nancy, the character from the program Stranger Things makes it feel very wearable again actually.

    Reply
    • Renee says

      October 19, 2018 at 1:33 PM

      Helena is going on the list! Nickname ideas?

      Reply
      • FE says

        October 19, 2018 at 6:14 PM

        I was going to suggest Helen nn Nell, not sure if Nell is as plausible for Helena though – possibly depends on your choice of pronunciation.

        Reply
      • Audra says

        October 20, 2018 at 7:51 AM

        Lena or Ellie?

        Reply
  23. Megan says

    October 19, 2018 at 9:09 AM

    I like Abby’s suggestion of Veronica…with the nickname of Ronnie. Cute!

    Reply
    • Rene says

      October 19, 2018 at 1:19 PM

      That name has actually been on our list before ! My husband doesn’t like nn Ronnie or vera , but I do

      Reply
  24. Laura Powell says

    October 19, 2018 at 8:33 AM

    If your husband likes Florence how about a compromise – Flora? If not how about :
    Althea
    Alma
    Blythe
    Bernadette
    Colette
    Dorothy
    Emerald
    Francia
    Georgina
    Harriet
    Ida
    Julia
    Karen
    Kathleen
    Louise
    Molly
    Nicola
    Odette
    Pauline

    Rosemary
    Sally
    Tara
    Una
    Viveca
    Winona

    Yvette
    Zosia
    Enjoy!!

    Good luck

    Reply
    • Renae says

      October 19, 2018 at 6:49 PM

      Xanthe!!

      Reply

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