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.
NAMING A SISTER FOR GENEVIEVE
Leslie writes:
I love our 2 y.o.’s name: Genevieve Grant. We agreed on Genevieve pretty quickly. Grant is my mother’s maiden name, and would have been her first name if she was a boy.
We are now expecting our second daughter on Valentine’s Day. I have a definite favorite name: Clementine!!
I love it because I think it’s like Genevieve but doesn’t sound too much alike. Plus we agree on another family middle name, Clarke. So we’d have G.G. and C.C., and I really like that symmetry.
My husband thinks it’s a little weird that our daughter would be named after a citrus fruit. He doesn’t like the nickname Clemmie. I’m still hoping I can bring him around, and he hasn’t said no.
Other names that we have discussed are:
- Josephine, but it’s just too close to Genevieve. (We do mostly call our daughter by her full name, but we also call her Gigi, and I don’t like the idea of Gigi and Josie.)
- Elisabeth, but I only like it with the S spelling and I think it would be a lot
- Emmeline, except I think it would be misunderstood as Emily. Mostly on our list because my husband likes it. And yes, like Emmy/Emmie as a nickname, even though he doesn’t like Clemmie.
- Felicity, suggested by more than one person to me but I’m not sure about this
- Annabelle, another name I really liked for Genevieve, but don’t feel as strongly about it now
Are there names we should be thinking about? Or can you convince my husband that Clementine is as awesome as I know it is?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
THE RIGHT NAME FOR GENEVIEVE’S SISTER
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
It sounds like you’re after names that blend strength and history with plenty of vintage charm. And we’re looking for something on the longer side, probably with a nickname option, at least for occasional use at home.
I agree that Clementine is irresistible as a sister name for Genevieve. I’m really not sure I can top it!
I wonder if another nickname might help? Cece is the obvious one, for Clementine Clarke. But you might also call her Cleo, Minnie, or maybe Mimi?
Let’s look at some more options, because maybe there’s another name that will appeal to you both – or make Clementine feel like the obvious choice for Genevieve’s sister.
MORE NAMES FOR GENEVIEVE’S SISTER
ANNIKA
An Annie name that feels slightly more offbeat than Annabelle, but with that same vaguely European vibe.
BEATRICE
A classic name with plenty of presence.
ELODIE
A rising name that sounds exactly right as Genevieve’s sister.
FRANCESCA
More Italian and French, but still an elaborate classic.
MATILDA
Sparky and fun, with history to spare.
PHOEBE
The styles are different, but somehow Genevieve and Phoebe still belong in the same family.
TALLULAH
A sparky, long name on the rise in the last few years.
VIVIENNE
Maybe too close to Genevieve, but with many of the same appealing qualities of your older daughter’s name.
Overall, I don’t think I’ve topped Clementine. But I wonder if Elodie might be worth considering? It’s rising in use, shares the gently French vibe of Genevieve, and feels a little something like Elisabeth and Emmeline, too.
I love that Clementine Clarke and Genevieve Grant both have feminine first names and one-syllable surname-style family middle names starting with the same initial. So what about . . .
Camille Clarke and Genevieve Grant. Like Genevieve, Camille is French, and sounds feminine and familiar. Nicknames could be Cami, Millie, Mila, or Cam.
Cecily Clarke and Genevieve Grant. Cecily sounds elegant and delicate, a lot like Clementine. Cece is adorable with Gigi, and Cecily is surprisingly underused.
If you want something, more familiar, what about Cecilia? Cecilia Clarke and Genevieve Grant sound great together. Cece could still be a nickname, or Lia, or Celia.
My favorite for you is Celeste. It sounds a lot like Clementine, and I love Celeste Clarke and Genevieve Grant as sister names.
If you like Clementine, Josephine, and Emmeline, would Caroline appeal? It’s very traditional, but Caroline Clarke and Genevieve Grant sound perfect together.
Or Evangeline, instead of Emmeline? Evie and Gigi are super cute together. Or Adeline, or Madeline? Or Isabelle, instead of Annabelle?
I think Celeste is my favorite for you, although maybe your husband would like Clementine with the nickname Emmy? Best of luck, and sorry for any repeats!
Congrats on baby #2! Clementine is a gorgeous name and I tend to agree with others comments about maybe nickname of Em or Emmy/Emmie would appeal to your husband more?
I also love your options of Elisabeth and Emmeline – gorgeous classics with Genevieve. I have a crush on Elizabeth right now.
Other similar options:
Genevieve Grant and Meredith Clarke
Genevieve Grant and Eloise Clarke
Genevieve Grant and Abigail Clarke
Genevieve Grant and Celeste Clarke
Genevieve Grant and Frances Clarke
Genevieve Grant and Evelyn Clarke
Genevieve Grant and Isabel Clarke
Genevieve Grant and Penelope Clarke
Genevieve Grant and Rosalie Clarke
Good luck! Enjoy the pregnancy 🙂
1. Why can’t you call Clementine Emmie sometimes? If he’s just not sold on the nickname, use another nickname.
2. Josephine, again, sounds like it’d work with another nickname. I love Jo, Joss, Fee, etc. I can tell whether someone means Josephine or Genevieve if it’s shouted across the house, so to me it’s not too close–though it could be hard to choose a 3rd girl’s name.
3. C____ Clarke might be another good option. Cecilia is stunning with Genevieve, for instance, or Colette.