Traditional Name for Baby Four With Just Four Letters

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.

WE HAVE A THEME AND WE’RE STICKING WITH IT!

Leah writes:

We have three children, daughters Lucy and Cora, and son William, exclusively called (at least by us) Will.

Our family will be complete with a fourth child in early May. If it’s a boy, we had settled on either Theodore called Theo, or possibly Jude or Jack.

We’re feeling kind of stuck for a girl. I think it’s that we used both of our favorite names already, but also that lots of names are taken by family/close friends.

In a perfect world, we won’t repeat an initial, so no more L, C, or W names, plus my husband is Matt, so probably no more M names, either.

We cannot use:

• Anna – our niece
• Kate/Katherine-called-Kate – another niece
• Emma – my oldest friend’s daughter
• Lena – too close to my name plus another L

Because we are all four-letter names, not just the kids but me and my husband, too, we’d really like to stick with the theme.

But we’re not adventurous types, so the idea of naming our daughter Blue is just a no.

Can you and your readers help?

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

FINDING TRADITIONAL NAMES WITH FOUR LETTERS

Abby replies:

Congratulations on baby four!

There’s a case to be made for breaking a pattern, especially one as subtle as yours, even more so when finding a name feels impossible.

But I can see that you wouldn’t want to, especially because this child completes your family. It wouldn’t be fair to be the youngest and the odd one out with the mismatched name, right? You’re not the first family to think this way.

Let’s dive right in with some new ideas. Because it feels like your request is straightforward and I suspect that if you feel like there’s a name that checks all the boxes, you’re ready to put it at the top of your short list.

We’re looking for traditional names with four letters, avoiding the initials C, L, and W (definitely) and possibly M, too.

I also suspect the spelling needs to be obvious. Ava spelled Avah isn’t quite right.

And, of course, we’re avoiding too-close names. If Anna is out, then Anya probably wouldn’t work. Nora might be perfect, but not as a sister for Cora.

FRESH SUGGESTIONS

ELLA

It’s popular and traditional, too.

HOPE

A word name from a moment before everyone had word names, Hope is richly meaningful.

IRIS

Gorgeous floral favorite with a vintage sensibility.

JANE

Put Kate, Jude, and Jack into a blender and Jane is the inevitable result. It’s strong and enduring, a name with a lot of presence.

MILA

I’m breaking the rules by suggesting an M name, but … there are several traditional names with four letters, like Mary and even Maya that might work. Mila feels like a distinctive sound that I really like with Lucy, Cora, and Will. As a bonus, your youngest child would share a first initial with your husband, just like your oldest child shares an initial with you.

ROSE

Another strong, elegant floral option.

RUTH

When it comes to traditional names with four letters, Ruth comes to mind immediately.

THEA

If Theo was a leading option for a son, would Thea work for a daughter? Either as a nickname for Theodora or on its own?

Overall, I’m really drawn to Jane. I love the energetic sound and classic status. I think it’s one of the best traditional names with four letters, and perfect for your family. Lucy, Cora, Jane, and Will. I can’t top it!

Readers, what would you name a sibling for Lucy, Cora, and William-called-Will with four letters, without repeating initials?