Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. 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.
FIRST NAME/LAST NAME MISMATCH
Brooke writes:
We are due with our first child, a girl, in early September. I always loved the name Eleanor with the nickname Ellie. But our last name sounds like Hen-en-ger, and Eleanor Hen-en-ger is a mouthful. (Note: it’s a hard G sound, like girl or get.)
My husband wants to name her just Ellie, but that doesn’t feel like enough name to me.
For different reasons, we have ruled out Katherine, Margaret, and Elizabeth. I know Eleanor is another very traditional name, but nothing else on the lists of traditional names really works for me.
I never liked how my name didn’t have a nickname, so I’d like my daughter to have more flexibility, but it feels like I’m drawn to short names like my own, like Sage, Jade, Blair, Lou, and Mae, but I don’t want to use those names. The names that I think of as serious and formal all seem like a little much.
What am I missing?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
NAMES LIKE ELEANOR: TRADITIONAL WITH A SPARKY NICKNAME
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your daughter!
I think you’re on the right track. After all, if your married surname were Smith, this baby would be Eleanor “Ellie” Smith, right?
You’re faced with giving up a long-time favorite because of a first-last mismatch, and that’s always hard. But I don’t think you should abandon your goal of finding a longer first with a fun nickname. If that speaks to you – and it sounds like it does, for lots of reasons – let’s find one that works with Hen-en-ger.
Lists of traditional names might be a good place to start, but I’d like to expand the circle just a tiny bit wider. After all, if Katherine-called-Kate spoke to you, then this would be straightforward, right?
AMELIA
Eleanor is a popular name, so I’m going to suggest other names that rank in the US Top 100. In Amelia’s case, that’s actually the Top Ten. It shares some of Eleanor’s vintage style, could also shorten to Ellie or Mia or Lia or a few other options. I really like Amelia called Mimi, for a great classic/unexpected combination.
CECILIA
Like Amelia, Cecilia is vintage. Both names are flowing, with lots of soft, liquid sounds. Cecilia nickname Ceci/Cece seems like it might appeal.
ELOISE
Or maybe the real challenge is finding another Ellie name? I love the sound of Eloise with your surname, and Ellie is just right there. Other possibilities: Eliza, Elowyn, Elodie, and so many more.
JOSEPHINE
Like Eleanor, Josephine is traditional and gently French. Both names are quite popular name. And again, both come with so many nickname options.
LOUISE
If you love Lou, would Louise or Louisa work? Or even Lucia, Lucille, or another longer Lu/Lou name? Tallulah feels quite bold, while Louise is more understated and timeless.
MARIEL
Mary makes every list of classic choices. Marie and Maria, too. But I wonder if the slightly elaborated Mariel might be the best choice? It shares the EL of Eleanor and shortens to Ellie nicely.
ROSALIE
Would you consider Rosie? If so, plenty of formal names work nicely, but I think Rosalie could be the sweet spot for your family.
SOPHIA
Like Amelia, Sophia is very popular. But Sophie and even Sosie are sweet short forms, and it’s a traditional name with a great meaning – wisdom – and a soft-meets-strong sound.
Overall, I’m most drawn to Eloise. Eloise “Ellie” Blair Hen-en-ger. Bonus: Eloise also shortens to Lou, so another of your favorite names could be worked in.
Or maybe Mariel “Ellie” or “Mimi” Sage Hen-en-ger, particularly if finding a slightly less popular first matters.
There have been so many great suggestions already, but the first thing that came to mind was Elena (E-lay-na).
Elena Hen-en-ger, nn Ellie.
Elle or Ellen nn Ellie would work. I wonder though if losing Eleanor means they want to move on to something different.
Margot, Claire, Georgia, Caroline, Mercedes, Maria, Juliet, Delia, Sophie, Audrey
Elise comes to mind.
My vote is Eloise or Elodie called Ellie or Louise/Louisa called Lou … so adorable. Another idea might be Evelyn called Evie.
Like several others, I think that Eleanor works just fine with your last name! Would using the “Elinor” spelling make it feel a bit more streamlined?
I second the idea of Elle called Ellie, but there’s also Ella, too, which I think works even better! It looks short, but the two syllables make it sound longer.