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! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.
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WHAT GOES WITH CLAUDIA?
Catherine writes:
Our daughter was almost Julia Rose, but after some pregnancy complications (every one is fine now!), we were inspired to name her Claudia Rose instead. It just felt like such a strong name and she absolutely has the personality to live up to it.
We’re expecting another daughter this summer and finding a name that goes with Claudia seems really hard.
We’re not crazy about Julia any more, and Juliette isn’t really for me. I like Scarlett, but I don’t think we want anything that popular/trendy. Georgia is a maybe, but it feels more common than Claudia, and also we don’t want to feel like our vibe is girl-forms-of-boy-names.
Our boy name has always been Frederick, called Freddie. I’m not sure if we’d still use it, but I think it’s a good way to explain what we like. Traditional, but more fun/different than Mary/Elizabeth/Jane.
Other things I’m spending too much time thinking about:
- Should we do another C name? I’m Catherine with a C because my mom is Carol Anne, and my sister is Courtney. I like it, but I’m not sure. My husband’s name starts with a D, so maybe we should have a D name this time?
- We don’t have a nickname for Claudia, so I almost don’t want to have a nickname for her sister, but I do like nicknames. (Like Freddie.)
- I’m really not sure if we’ll have a third baby in the future, but it’s possible.
- We will probably use the middle name Anne for my mom. Rose is from my husband’s side.
- Our last name sounds like Casella with a V, which sounds like it would be hard to match, but we’re usually okay with most names. We probably wouldn’t use a V name. Victoria and Veronica are definitely out. Names ending with ELLA are a hard no.
I really like the way people react to Claudia’s name, the way they recognize it but it’s still a surprise. I’d love for her sister to have the same experience.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
FINDING MORE STRONG GIRL NAMES LIKE CLAUDIA
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
As challenging as it can be to name our first, that blank slate quality can be helpful. That second child’s name is almost always weighed in relation to our firstborn, and it can feel like a real challenge.
When it comes to strong girl names like Claudia, there are plenty of options.
What I’m tempted to suggest: Frederica or Winifred. I really love Claudia and Frederica, especially. But … it sounds like a third child is still possibly in your future, and you might want to reserve Frederick for a future son. Maybe. So I’m going to hold off on those ideas … well, expect I’ve just said that Frederica would be amazing.
CAMILLE
Camila is a very popular name, but Camille is the less common French form. I love it with Claudia.
CONSTANCE
The first name that came to mind. I love that it’s strong, but feminine, and not really a masculine form of anything else. (There’s Constantine, but that’s more a case of two names with a shared origin.) I’m not sure about the S sounds with your surname, but I’m also not sure it would stop me.
CYNTHIA
Like Claudia, Cynthia is a name that was more popular in the past. I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone who was set on a nickname, because Cindy? Still a Brady. But Cynthia in full is an overlooked goddess name.
DAVINA
On to the D names, for your husband. I think the middle V sound in Davina pairs perfectly with a V surname.
DIANA
Another goddess name, Diana is traditional and nicely underused.
ELIZA
The most common name I’m suggesting, I like Eliza’s spirit and strength.
PERSEPHONE
A longer name that doesn’t easily shorten. (It can, of course – Persie and Sephie are obvious options.) I think Claudia and Persephone sound great together.
RAMONA
Another name with plenty of history and an undeniable strength.
Overall, I’m having a hard time picking a favorite. Camille Anne seems like it checks all of the boxes. Though I wonder if you’d consider Camille Carolanne? If not Camille, I’m drawn to Persephone Anne or even Frederica Anne.
Readers, over to you! Can you suggest some strong girl names like Claudia?
Claudia Rose & Susannah Anne (could be nicknamed “Susie”…underused classic name)
Claudia Rose & Jemimah Anne (Jemimah is used more in the UK & nn is “Jem,” most likely.)
Claudia Rose & Clarissa Anne
Claudia Rose & Seraphina Anne
Claudia Rose & Sasha Anne
Claudia Rose & Priscilla Anne
Claudia Rose & Ottilia Anne (probably will be nicknamed “Tilly,” but I love this uncommon name)
Claudia Rose & Evelina Anne
Claudia Rose & Philomena Anne
Claudia Rose & Leonora Anne
I was coming for Susannah! Though I think it has enough “Anne” and would go with Susannah Caroline – also gives her a C name in there. Our Susannah (aged 12) is firmly no nickname, but there are lots of fun options if you find you want them. We get a similar reaction to her name that you describe loving with Claudia’s.
The other name that comes to mind is Bridget. I think Bridget has similar strength to Claudia.
All the best!
I love the description of how people respond to Claudia’s name. I think Ramona is a great choice! Other names that may elicit similar reactions:
-Minerva
-Beatrix
-Tabitha
-Bridget
-Ingrid
-Sybil
-Agatha
-Agnes
I love the name Claudia! It feels so perfect: strong, elegant and feminine, but still a little underused. My first thought was Margot, which gives me the same strong and creative vibes, but maybe it’s too popular? Some other thoughts:
-Aurelia
-Caroline (Possibly a cute nod to your mom)
-Dorothy/Dorothea
-Daphne
-Frances/Francesca
-Isabelle
-Miranda
-Gwen
-Phoebe
-Sybil
If you want a D name, I think both Dorothy and Daphne are adorable. But if you’re open to another letter, Aurelia and Sybil have similarly ancient roman vibes to me: Aurelia Anne or Sybil Caroline, maybe? I love Gwen, too. Gwen Caroline (V)asella, Gwen Scarlett (V)asella, Claudia and Gwen.
Congrats! I get so excited when I see underused gems IRL. Claudia Rose is lovely.
If another C, I love the suggestion of Constance. I also like Caroline. With that said, my first born shares my initial because we loved the name. My other children do not.
If a D, I loved the suggestion of Dolores.
Julia is pretty with Claudia— very Roman but if you choose to use a name like Francesca (or Fredrica or Winifred), and you have a future son, then Claudia and Julian pair well. (Or Dominic for a D).
My fresh suggestions… Claudia and Helena (Helen-a), Sylvia, Miriam, Lucille, Priscilla, Lucinda, Leona. Love them all.
I love the idea of a D for your family set! My vote is Dolores. I would expect the same surprise from that name as Claudia. I’d tweak Diana to Diane as Diana is forever linked to Princess Di to me. If Ann is right in there I’d choose another flower middle – Diane Lily!
Otherwise pretty strong, less used (trying to stay away from feminized as I get that, I did the same for baby sister):
Enid
Sabine
Heidi
Nina
Marie
Leona
Joan
Irene
Elaine
Rita
Simone
Good luck.
Marie is a great suggestion! I recently met a 2 year old Marie and I was surprised in the best way when I learned her name. Marie is so often used as a middle name that I found it positively refreshing to hear it used as a first name, especially on a little one!
Miranda! Although maybe not with the middle name Anne
Sabrina
Aurora
Simone
Sonia
Paloma
Nadine
Cordelia
Marisol
Hi-
I realize I left off “D” names. Here are a few more to consider:
Delphine
Dagny
Delilah (too popular now?)
Dido
To match Claudia’s strenght, I would pick:
Petra
Harriet
Magda
Daphne
Deborah
Or Natasha nn Sasha (like the Obamas did)
Here are a few others:
Calla (too similar to Claudia? I don’t think so.)
Cosima
Celine
Carmen
Corinna
Helena
Tatiana
Miranda
Adrienne
Mireille
Juliet
Natalia
Ines
Best wishes!!
Love Romona and Diana.
Romona Anne
I would add Lorraine also the name Beth
I love Beth Anne.
Maybe Colette or Cosette? Daphne or Deborah?