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 think Tina is another obvious nickname for Clementine. Not so fashionable now, but I think it’s fun in this case. (I personally tend to kind of bounce back and forth between elaborating and simplifying nicknames, so I imagine if I had a Clementine she would sometimes be Clementina, sometimes Tina, and perhaps occasionally Lemon Thyme. Of course that’s more for play than for regular use, but the point is: you have options.) Is he worried about people using “Clemmie” whether or not you choose to encourage it, or is it that you want to use that nickname and he his balking? Because it seems to me to be the kind of playful shortening that will pop up occasionally, but not like something that would be super likely to stick without parental buy in.
I love Genevieve/Gigi and Clementine/Cece as sisters! But if your husband doesn’t like it, what about Cecily Clark?
Clementine is perfect but if your husband really doesn’t get on board maybe Calliope Clark or Cassandra Clark?
I adore Clementine but struggle with Clemmie too. Emmie seems like the perfect middle ground.
For Options, my first thought before elreaing Abby’s was Matilda! Great spunky strong name. Tilda or Tillie as nns.
Or Veronica. Genevieve and Veronica feel well matched. Both exotic, strong, elaborate names. Veronica Clark.
Cressida has a lot of swag too, if you want to stay with c names. Greek root and French usage, it means golden. Cressida Clark.
Best of luck.
Cosima!
Cosima Clarke, nn Coco, Cosy …
I think Clementine sounds perfect. Same style. If he doesn’t like Clemmie, you could also use Emmie or Emmie for Clementine. CeCe would be another nickname option, especially if you used a C middle name.
Anastasia!!! (had relatives named Anastasia and Genevieve, it’s the perfect sibset)
Congratulations on your second daughter! I really like Clementine with Genevieve. You could still use Emmy/ie as a nn if hubby doesn’t like Clemmie.
I also really like Abby’s suggestion of Elodie. It’s so pretty and works so nicely with Genevieve.
Congratulations on your daughter
The suggestions are all lovely so I will add just two more,
Gwendoline or Ophelia
All the best
Xxx
Two other “C” names to consider:
Genevieve & Calla
Genevieve & Celia