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.
A SISTER FOR MAEVE AND LIANE
Rachel writes:
My husband and I found out we’re having a third daughter later this summer and could not be more excited! However, it does make the naming process a bit trickier.
Our two older daughters are Maeve and Liane, with family names for middle names. I would love to find a third name that coordinates with the first two, but also don’t mind if it doesn’t exactly fit the pattern we’ve established so far. I also would prefer not to repeat a first initial (M or L). Here are some names we like.
My list:
- Heidi
- Vivian
- Sylvie
- Alice
- Colette
- Eloise
- Cecilia
- Imogen
His list:
- Cora
- Jocelyn
- Blair
We each like the other’s list and haven’t vetoed any of the ones above. Names we are considering for a middle are: Adeline, Rose, Joan, Margaret, and Louise.
Our last name sounds like bee-gee.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on our current names and/or new names for us to consider.
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
BRIGHT, STRONG and TRIM
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter! Sisters are the best.
The challenge, of course, is finding a name that sounds like Maeve and Liane’s sister without sounding too much like either of your older daughters’ names.
I think we’re looking for a name that:
- Shares the bright, strong sounds of Maeve and Liane. The long A and long E sounds have a certain energy.
- Seems as trim and compact as Maeve and Liane. When I see their names together, this is the quality that leaps out at me – especially because more elaborate names like Eliana are trending, and because you could easily have spelled your second daughter’s name Leeanne or something will a little more frill. But the 5-letter Liane feels very different – an independent name, not a Leigh-Anne smoosh.
- Possibly ends with a different sound than Maeve and Liane, or varies the syllable count, though this is probably more of a nice-to-have.
- Maybe comes in at five letters. It’s not a pattern that you need to continue at all, of course, but it’s tempting.
Let’s look at your current lists first.
EVALUATING CURRENT FAVORITES
CECILIA
A gorgeous name, to be sure. But I think Cecilia is a little more elaborate than Maeve and Liane in a way that makes it less of a match.
CORA and ELOISE
On paper, they both work well. But I think they’re not as strong as some of your other options – possibly because they’re as popular as Maeve, which makes Liane feel like a bit of an outsider.
VIVIAN, IMOGEN, JOCELYN
I think they’re all good options, but I’m not sure I hear a three-syllable name with Maeve and Liane.
SYLVIE and ALICE
I can argue for and against both of these names. In the end, I think repeating the strong V sound in Maeve might feel just as repetitive as repeating another M or L name. And I think that might be my objection to Alice (and Eloise) as well. They’re not really L names, but that strong L sound feels very similar.
BLAIR, COLETTE, HEIDI
That leaves three names standing. Actually, Blair and Colette immediately leapt off the list as the most likely choices, with Heidi joining them pretty quickly, too.
- There’s a modern spirit to Blair, but because it reminds us of classic Claire, it seems quite established. I also appreciate that it has a different vowel sound, different first initial, and different ending sound, while still coming in at five letters.
- In terms of a checklist, Heidi is similar to Blair. It’s a little more playful, associated with the storybook character – but also kind of glam thanks to supermodel Heidi Klum. (For what it’s worth, I doubt either will be super-familiar to your daughter’s generation, though there’s always the possibility of another adaptation of the book.)
- Colette sounds most to me like Maeve and Liane’s sister. I like the different ending sound, and I appreciate the balance between feminine and tailored, traditional and modern.
FRESH SUGGESTIONS
CECILE
An alternative to Cecilia.
FREYA
An -A ending name with a bit of a bite.
IRIS
Elegant flower name that shares something with Alice, but feels distinct, too.
SARAI
An older form of Sarah with a very current vowel ending.
SUTTON
An option in the key of Blair, but with the N ending of Imogen, Jocelyn, and Vivian.
TALIA
Another A ending name that owes a little something to Cecilia, but feels a bit more restrained.
Overall, I’m not sure I can top Heidi, Colette, and Blair. I think Blair Adeline is my favorite. I like Colette Joan quite a bit, too, as well as Heidi Louise.
From my list, I think Freya leaps out at me. Freya Margaret feels like an obvious combination, but lots of these middle names work, too.
I think any of your favorite names work nicely. I wouldn’t pay much attention to trying to match them. Just pick the name you like best. Personally, I like Alice, Colette, Cora, Eloise, Imogen, Sylvie, and Vivian. I might pick Colette Louise in your shoes, but every one of them is very nice.
I don’t mind three syllables. I find sib-sets with different syllables interesting.
I do really like Blair, Collette & Imogen. I also really like Freya
I am going to suggest Romona.
Blair Adeline – love
Collette Joan – love
Freya Louise
Romona Rose
I know you want to avoid another M name, but I wouldn’t rule it out if you find another M or L name you like. Actually, combining an M name with an L middle or vice versa would tie the name to her sisters’ names. I’d also suggest Meredith since it seems similar in style. I also find Maribel or Mirabel very pretty. Both have been used in English as well as Spanish. There’s also the French Mireille (Mee-ray).
I vote Cecile or Colette…although you have so many good options here. I saw someone else mention Elise, which I think would work pretty perfectly as well.