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.
NAMING A SISTER FOR GEORGE
Steph writes:
We have a two-year-old son named George, called Georgie almost all of the time. We love that his name is right out of a book of nursery rhymes, but he can grow up and be George. It’s cuddly and sweet now, but it’s a full-grown man’s name, too, someday.
His middle name is Parker. No reason, we just liked the way it sounded together.
The name came to us so easily.
Our second baby will be here in March. For a boy, we had talked about William/Billy, John/Johnny/Jack or maybe just Jack. I think we could have chosen pretty easily.
It’s a girl! I’m so excited. For girls, though, it feels like we have a much longer list, and can’t narrow it down. We keep circling around these dozen or so names. My favorite changes at least once a day.
- Lucy – Probably my longest favorite, but is it too much of a nickname? I thought about Lucille/Lucie, especially because I like the way Lucie looks a little bit better than Lucy, but I don’t really like Lucille. My husband prefers just Lucy.
- Alice – Love, but would we call her Allie?
- Cara – My husband’s favorite, but I don’t think I like it as much as he does.
- Callie – Same as Cara.
- Molly – Probably a name I liked more in the past, but I think it’s still closest to what I can imagine saying with Georgie. But our last name starts with M, so I think it’s out.
- Poppy – A newer addition, but is it too different?
- Rose/Rosie – Or a longer Rose name?
- Hattie/Haddie – My husband is worried everyone will mis-hear this as Addie, and I kind of think he’s right.
- Heidi – Love this, but not sure I’m brave enough!
- Elsie – Is this a cow’s name? We like it, but my mom thinks she’ll be teased.
- Clara – I like this name a lot, but good friends used this name for their toddler, and while we don’t seem them often, I think it might be considered name theft
- Edith – My husband says no, but I keep thinking I can talk him around. Because I love Edie!
Our last name sounds like Mat-plus-Son.
I keep imagining giving her one of those crazy long names, but we really do need to choose. Help!
Please read on for my response and share your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
STARTING WITH A STRONG LIST
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
When you’re naming a second child, it’s good to think about what you love about your firstborn’s name. Here’s what I hear:
- You love strong, traditional names
- Sweet, affectionate nicknames are a bonus
- It sounds like you’d prefer to avoid confusion over spelling, too
I wonder if the challenge is this: George called Georgie is a clear formal name/nickname. The names you’re drawn to for girls, like Lucy, Hattie, and Elsie, already end with the EE sound.
The EE sound doesn’t mean a name is a nickname, right? Think of Henry and Mary. Or Ivy and Wesley.
But it can feel that way, especially with a name like Lucy. (It turns out I’ve answered this question at least twice before, most recently in 2021.)
In general, I don’t think you should choose a formal name you aren’t crazy about.
EVALUATING YOUR CURRENT LIST
First, let’s talk about Lucy.
Lucy is the typical English form of the Latin Lucia, inspired by a fourth century saint popular in the Middle Ages. It has centuries of use as an independent given name. Strictly speaking, Lucille is a diminutive form of Lucy – not the other way around. I think Lucy is the perfect name for George’s sister, exactly as it is. And while I can see the appeal of Lucie, I think the -y spelling is the easier form of the name to wear.
It’s got a great spelling, a strong meaning, a current sound, and it’s familiar, without being Top Ten-level common. Lucy absolutely sounds like a sister for George, but not in an obvious way.
In other words? Lucy is the name to beat.
Let’s look at the rest of your list.
ALICE
Another perfect name for George’s sister. It avoids the EE ending that seems like a challenge. And you wouldn’t have to call her Allie. Another potential sweet nickname? Lissy.
HEIDI
A storybook name if ever there was one, Heidi feels brief and complete. Strictly speaking, it’s a nickname for Adelaide, but that’s fairly obscure. Heidi stands on its own.
POPPY
Bright and energetic, Poppy is relatively new in the US as a given name. But it is rising in use, currently ranked in the US Top 300 and gaining steadily. I don’t think anyone would feel this was too different. In England, Poppy has ranked in the Top 20 for a dozen years and counting.
A few new suggestions:
EDIE
If Edith is a no for your husband, how about just Edie? We love Sadie and Eden. Edie doesn’t rank in the current US Top 1000, but it’s plenty familiar.
ROSALIE
If you’re drawn to Rosie but not sure about Rose, may I suggest Rosalie? It’s longer than George, of course, but has that same appeal. We know Rosalie can grow up, and Rosie for a child is darling.
SOPHIE
I sometimes hesitate to suggest a really popular name, and Sophia has been a chart-topper for ages. But I wonder if you’d like Sophia called Sophie, or even just Sophie? Again, Sophie isn’t a nickname. It’s the French form of Sophia, complete on its own. Love the way it sounds as a sister for George, especially.
If I can’t talk you into Lucy, I’d say Alice is a strong alternative from your list. And I’d love to hear what you think about just Edie, but I’d probably put Rosalie near the top of my suggestions.
I wonder if brainstorming with middle names might help? Lucy Edith; Alice Evelyn; Rosalie Claire.
What about Emily “Emmy”? George and Emily. Georgie and Emmy
I love the option of Lucy or Alice. I don’t think either need a nickname as both have a degree of whimsy the works well for a little girl and yet the gravity to be a woman’s name. Both have the timeless vintage quality of George. Nicknames for Alice could be Allie or Lissy as suggested. For Lucy you could use Lulu as a nickname.
Congratulations a sister for George Parker M
I think that Elizabeth and
the many lovely varients from this ALL would work perfectly.
Also Rose and the so many options this name brings work well too.
Rosa
Rosamund
Rosemary
Rosemarie
Rosalind
Rosalie
Otherwise something off script like
Violet
Victoria
Anne Anna Annie
Katherine Kate Katy also many nick names like Kit or Kitty.
Best wishes to you.
I’m not going to look at the column or any of the comments, so if any of my suggestions are repeats, maybe that says something about how well they would work:
Caroline: This will get you to the nickname Cara and give you other possibilities as well. Cara Reece was a muckraking 19th century American journalist whose real name was Caroline. You could also get Callie, Caro, Carrie, Lina, etc. from Caroline.
Elizabeth: This would get you the Elsie nickname and an endless number of other nicknames like Beth, Betsy, Betty, Ella, Ellie, Lily, Lizzie, etc.
Margaret: All sorts of cute nicknames like Greta, Maggie, Maisie, Peggy, even Molly.
Polly instead of Molly. It can be a nickname for Mary or Paulina
I adore Alice for you! I think it’s absolutely perfect. Other thoughts:
Adelaide/Adelyn/Adeline, nn Addie
Audrey
Beatrice/Beatrix, nn Bea, Trixie
Caroline, nn Cara or Callie
Charlotte, nn Lottie
Eleanor, nn Ellie, Nora, Nell
Eliza, nn Ellie, Elsie
Eloise, nn Ellie, Elsie
Evelyn, nn Evie
Felicity
Frances, nn Frannie, Frankie, Francie
Harriett, nn Hattie
Josephine, nn Josie, Posie
Juliet/Juliette
Louisa, nn Lucy
Rosemary, nn Rosie/Rosie
Ruby
I agree that Lucy is perfection. As is Alice (I had a friend in grade school who was Alice nn Ali (Al-ee). George and Rose do look gorgeous together— Georgie & Rosie. I have an alliterative name and I love it (and get lots of compliments) so do not dismiss Molly but Molly came about as a nickname for Mary so that’s an option as well! George & Mary nn Molly or Mary nn May— Georgie & May. I know two babies named Elsie— it’s trending but perhaps Eliza n Liza. I love Heidi and actually grew up with siblings named George & Heidi! But, an alternative to Hattie or Heidi, could be Hazel. Instead of Cara, I would suggest Cora! George & Cora is also great. Take your top 2 or 3 names to meet her and update us when you choose :). Congrats to you!
I really like George & Alice together. I think they are both so classic. I don’t think you would have to use a nn for Alice unless something came up naturally.
Would you consider Eloise instead of Elsie? Maybe it would work better because it is a little more classic. (I think the older generation would only think of the cow though – not her peers – for Elsie.)
I love Edie too. Would you possibly use Eden? George & Eden-Georgie & Edie?
I also really like George & Lucy together…very classic combination.
This one might be a little out there…but would you consider Rosalind? George & Rosalind (Georgie & Rosie)
Or…George & Genevieve…called Evie? Georgie & Evie?
Or George & Margaret (Georgie & Maggie)
Sending you all best wishes!
I love Lucy 😉 I have never considered Lucy too nickname. In fact, my niece (now an adult) is Lucy and her sister has a nickname-name that stood out to me right away, whereas I never gave Lucy a thought. I think it’s perfection with George. Georgia & Lu or Lulu?? Swoon. But, if you’re looking for something more buttoned up, I like the idea someone posted of Louisa nn Lucy. Or Lucinda or Luciana or Lucia (loo-SEE-uh in this case) – those would get you Lucie intuitively. I do know a child Lucille and it wears well though she goes by Lu 90% of the time.
I have never heard of an Alice going by Allie, the only ones I know (not many) are Al or just Alice.
I love Meredith to get to Edie, brilliant and sounds great with the surname. Alliteration can be wonderful. Although it does sound like you’re against an M, so I won’t suggest Margot (Georgie & Go though!!)
I wonder if his preference for Ca- names might make Cassidy might appeal to you both, she could be Cass / Cassie / Sid? Maybe you flip the traditional + surname name pattern for your son into Cassidy Louise? Ooh Cassie Lou!
You said ‘second baby’ so I’m going to assume a third isn’t out of the question, and maybe you want to save your boy ideas… but Willa is sweet and she could be Billie for short. Or Joan nn Jojo. If I met a baby Joan I think I’d gasp.
My last thought is a more buttoned up El- name and you can try out Elsie to see how it goes for you. I don’t think cow. Ellen, Elisabeth, Elise. Elsie would stand out more than Ellie, which is quite hot right now. Or hey, name her Lucy Clara and you’ve got your little LC right there 😉
Good luck!
I thought of Molly even before reading your list, and was also going to push to re-consider because I think Molly M. is great.
Lucy, Rosie/Rosalie, Sophie, Alice called Allie or just Alice, are all wonderful choices too.
A few other ideas-
Eliza instead of Elsie
Chloe
Meredith called Edie
Hadley instead of Hattie
Anna or Annie
Alice is my favorite from your list! Allie is sweet but she could also be just Alice. Rose “Rosie” is my second favorite
Other ideas:
George and Caroline. Georgie and Callie, Cara, or Ro. Lots of similarities to Clara
George and Josephine. Georgie and Josie or Rosie
George and Margaret. Georgie and Maisie or Greta or Etta or Daisy or Pearl or Mae. Margaret Mat-son is amazing!
George and Violet. Georgie and Lettie
George and Harriet. Georgie and Hattie, Haddie, or Hallie.
George and Louise or Louisa. Georgie and Lucy
George and Katherine. Georgie and Kate, Katie, Wren, or Birdie
George and Amelia. Georgie and Millie
George and Anna or Annabel. Georgie and Annie
George and Susannah. Georgie and Sunny or Zuzu or Annie
Josephine called Josie or Posey* not Rosie. Autocorrect!
Also, wanted to add George and Penelope. Georgie and Penny
Please don’t dismiss Molly because of your last name! Molly Mat-plus-son is so great. Molly and George are a wonderful pair. I’d just avoid another 2 syllable name in the middle. Molly June, maybe, or something longer? Molly Anneliese, Molly Eleanor.