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.
A SISTER FOR PRISCILLA
Victoria writes:
My husband and I are expecting baby girl number two. Big sister’s name is Priscilla Wren. We absolutely love her name and are having the hardest time finding anything we like that has the same style/feel as Priscilla’s name. We are Christians and the inspiration for our daughter’s name came from the Bible, but we haven’t found any other Biblical names we like.
Names I like are Millicent, Prudence, and Evangeline. I feel like we like names that are more antique and vintage rather than popular and trendy. My husband shoots down everything, though. He says there just isn’t anything he really likes. Please help!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
FINDING AN ELEGANT, STRONG & BIBLICAL NAME
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
I think there are two issues to address.
The first? Priscilla is a strong, distinctive name that checks every box for you. It also limits your choices going forward – and that’s not a bad thing! It’s just that when I think of Christian-inspired, feminine names, the list isn’t infinite. And some, like Selah, are ruled out because the sound is too similar to -cilla. So we do need to take Priscilla as a starting point.
The second issue is more complicated. Practically speaking, your daughter will need a name. And it feels like you have a pretty good sense of the type of name you would like. Maybe you’ll have to use logic and reason to work your way through a list … but that’s okay.
Really! Chances are that’s the process that helped name our firstborns, too. But That Name is so tied to the child that we know and love that we forget there was a moment when we chose.
I’ve found a handful of names that would make a great sister for Priscilla, and I’m sure readers will add some more suggestions.
My thought? Come up with your own shortlist and ask your husband to choose among them. Sometimes “pick a name” is too broad, and “pick from these three names that meet our agreed-upon criteria” can kickstart a conversation.
NEW IDEAS FOR NAMING PRISCILLA’S SISTER
BETHANY
Not every girl’s name from the New Testament started out as a given name. Bethany is the town where Lazarus lives with his sisters, Mary and Martha. It’s often translated as “house of figs,” but the resemblance to Elizabeth is doubtless what makes us hear it as name-like. It briefly charted in the US Top 100 during the 1980s, peak popularity for similar names like Tiffany and Courtney. But Bethany never really caught on, so I think it works beautifully today.
DAMARIS
Likely from an Greek name meaning calf, and suggesting a gentle image, Damarais is a woman converted to Christianity by Paul. That feels like a perfect match for Priscilla.
JUNIA
Paul mentions a woman named Junia in his epistle to the Romans. It comes from the goddess Juno, the origin of the month of June. It also brings to mind evergreen juniper trees, making this a name for all seasons.
LYDIA
The most popular suggestion on this list, Lydia is a place name like Bethany. But by the time Paul is preaching, it’s a given name. Lydia is another of his converts.
MAGDALENA
The romance language take on Magdalene, it’s borrowed from Mary Magdalene in the New Testament. There’s plenty of story there, and a compelling sound, too.
MARTHA
From an Aramaic name meaning lady, Martha is an impeccable New Testament choice – she lives with her sister, Mary, and brother, Lazarus, in Bethany. Martha reminds me a little more of some of your favorites – Millicent and Prudence, especially. It’s a strong choice that remains distinctive.
SUSANNA
A lovely name meaning lily, Susanna appears in both the Old Testament and New Testament. Susan was a go-to midcentury choice in America, but Susanna is delightfully uncommon.
TALITHA
Talitha comes from an Aramaic phrase spoken by Jesus: arise, little girl. It’s been used as a given name for centuries, and it sounds very much like a sister for Priscilla.
I’ll admit I’m kind of stuck on Talitha. It’s rarer than Priscilla, but it’s perfectly name-like and immediately familiar to those familiar with the New Testament.
For a middle name, I wonder if you’d consider Skye or Sage? Romance language names like Cielo and Ciel mean both heaven and sky; that makes me see Skye as more than just a nature name. As for Sage, the associations with wisdom are appealing, too.
Overall, I’d suggest Talitha Skye. I’d put Bethany in the second spot. I wonder if Bethany Pearl or Bethany Psalm would appeal?
my favorite:
Priscilla & Rosemary
other ideas:
Priscilla & Tabitha
Priscilla & Marietta
Priscilla & Felicity
Priscilla & Johanna
Priscilla & Josephine
Oh Johanna is really lovely – I never think of it, but it’s great …
First, I know an eighteen-year-old Priscilla, and she is the essence of cool. You have great taste!
I came to second Abby’s suggestion of Junia.
Zipporah (wife of Moses) is also lovely. I met a little girl with that moniker once and have been charmed by it since then. Sephora is her Greek form.
Kezziah (a daughter of Job) with the nickname of Kitty is pretty cute. Her meaning is ‘cinnamon’ and is more commonly known as Cassia (pronounced CASS-ee-ah). She balances well with Priscilla.
Romola means ‘Roman woman’. She might be excellent with Priscilla.
Galilee might be too much… but maybe not! Priscilla and Galilee.
Doveva means ‘grateful’ in Hebrew. Dovie makes an adorable nickname.
Congratulations on your new daughter and best wishes to your family!
Talitha was my first thought too and I think it’s perfect with Priscilla. I think Tallie is such a sweet nickname if you are a nickname family.
I also love Phoebe with Priscilla so I would suggest that. I really love Priscilla and Millicent or Evangeline, so I secretly hope your husband ends up changing his mind. 😉
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who started thinking Talitha immediately!
Without looking at the other suggestions:
Talitha, as in Jairus’ daughter, whom Jesus told “Talitha Cumi” or “Little girl, get up”
The obvious Biblical girl names: Abigail, Deborah, Elizabeth, Esther, Hannah, Leah, Madeline/Magdalena/Magdalene, Mary, Miriam, Naomi, Rachel, Rebecca, Ruth, Sarah, Susannah, Tabitha
You could draw from Biblical passages: Ruby, as in “a virtuous woman is valued far above rubies” or Pearl, as in “the pearl of great price” or Lily, as in the “lilies of the field.”
Virtues: Amity, Charity, Clemency/Clementine, Faith, Hope, Joy, Mercy, Verity
Christianity itself: Christiana, Christina, Christine, Kirsten, Kristen
Also Candace. Chloe, Damaris, Eve, Felicity, Jemima, Jerusha, Junia (though I’d probably use June instead), Keziah, Lydia, Mahalia (probably derived from the Biblical Mahalath; it’s been used in America since the 1700s), Marta or Martha, Phoebe, Salome (one of the women of Jesus’s family), Rhoda, Tamar.
Delilah is a very pretty name despite the Biblical character.
So much yes to Talitha! And oh good thought re: Ruby/Pearl/Lily and the virtues, too.
I love the suggestion of Clementine! What a stunning sunset that would be. All the religious meaning but also the energy of both name’s musical legacy too. Plus Clementine just makes me think of sunshine. It is really hard to say this name and feel grumpy.
Priscilla Wren and Clementine Joy maybe?
Clementine can get hard for nicknames, but CJ or other initial based nn would work. Or I think Tina or Mini are adorable and are in there somewhere.
Great idea Andrea!
Clementine is such a good thought, and I’m really loving the idea of Clementine Joy!
Perpetua was the first name that came to mind!
I just finished reading about Saint Perpetua, the Early Christian martyr: a woman of strong conviction and independence.
I think Priscilla and Perpetua sound great together!
Maybe Perpetua Lark to continue the avian theme for middle names?
Oh that is kind of perfect, isn’t it?!
Congratulations on your baby girl and sister for Priscilla
Charis
Chloe
Lois
Eunice
Keturah
Jerusha
Rhoda
Magdalene
Berea
Liberty
Trinity
Gethsemane
Petra
Renee
Talitha
Saffron
Solace
Melody
Psalm
Selah
Anna
Hope
Mercy
Charity
Joy
Jubilee
Hosanna
Faith
Hephzibah
Beulah
Peace
Praise
Rhema
Aliyah ( Hebrew)
Sapphire
Pearl
Providence
Seraphina
Haven
Grace
Lillie
Shoshanna
Arabella
Tehillah
Abigail
Serenity
Esther
Celeste
Miriam
Dorcas
Joanna
Phoebe
Keziah
Naomi
All the best
Gorgeous list, thank you!!
I really like Evangeline with Priscilla. Would your hubby warm up to it if he chose a cute nickname to work with it?
Instead of Evangeline, what about Emmanuelle/Emanuella?
My first thoughts were Lydia or Susanna, but I love the suggestion of Talitha.
Otherwise, how about Tabitha? I love her story.
I also like Eliana. Although not in the Bible, it has Hebrew roots and means “God answered”.
Another route to go might be choosing a feminine form of a Biblical male name: Paula/Paulette, Gabriella, Stephanie, Petra, Andrea etc.
or one that has the same meaning as a Biblical name: Stella/Estelle, meaning ‘star’, just like Esther,
Or a name that means something of significance in a Biblical story: Margaret/Margot/Maggies = Pearl (of great price), Sparrow, Lily/Lillian, Lucy = light (of the world)
Or, combining two Biblical names to get Annabeth.
Or, using a virtue name: Hope, Joy, Faith… since Priscilla has a short middle, maybe you could flip the pattern for this baby: Hope Evangeline?
Congratulations on baby number 2! I hope you can have fun with the naming process instead of it being stressful!
Emmannuelle is such a good suggestion – thank you!