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!
Also…
Juno (similar, but slightly different from June, which I also love for you)
Skye
Vale
Sage
Snow
Swan
This list may be a little less traditional, but I think “Swan” is similar to “Wren” and the others might balance out the sibset nicely.
Best wishes again!
Your children’s names are lovely, classic/vintage but also current…
the first two that came to my mind before reading any suggestions were
Gwen or June
Lucy, Cora, Will & Gwen
Lucy, Cora, Will & June
Would love to hear what you chose in the end!
Lucy, Cora, Will, and
I like the idea of a different ending sound to spice things up. Lucy and Zoey, for example, or Cora and Emma, or Will and Elle, are too close. I really love Hope and Rose for you, and I had the thought of Iris before I read Abby’s suggestions!
A little bit less traditional is Eden. It reminds me a little of Emma, and it has a unique -n ending. Edie is a little bit close to Lucy, but super cute. Gwen also has the -n ending but feels a little bit more traditional.
For something more modern/trendy, what about Bryn? Brynn is more popular, but Bryn is seen, too. I also thought of Ruby, but it’s very close to Lucy, so what about Jade? It’s sparkly and bright, with the hard -d ending. Somebody else suggested Opal, which is adorable.
Aria, like Leah and Cora, ends with an -a, but because it has three syllables, it has a different sound. In the same vein as Aria, is Anya too close to Anna?
Other -a enders that might work incude Vera, Alma, Etta, and Nina. From the comments, I love Tess and June, as well as Faye and Esme.
Overall, my favorite for you is Eden/Edie, but I’m surprisingly drawn to Gwen! Good luck!
I agree with Abby that Thea should be on the table! If this is your last child, I’d lean on that preference to Theodore to find a girl name. She can be pronounced Thee-uh or Tay-uh, take your pick.
Otherwise, I do love Jane and Tess (and Iris is nice!) I think a strong A or E sound would balance out the foursome nicely. I like Esme, Neve, Nell, Shea and I’ll throw in Edie!
You could do another longer formal name with four-letter nickname like Edith / Edie (ooh… or Meredith to match dad’s initial then call her Edie), Helen / Nell, Genevieve / Neve, Anthea / Thea, Miriam / Mimi, Vivian / Vivi. I actually think I love that pattern the most cause it gives you more options!
Good luck!
I was going to suggest Iris! Also love Jane. Eden/Edie- or Enid, Opal, Tess, and Faye are some other ideas. Congratulations!
Congratulations!
I love Abby’s suggestions of Ella, Iris, Rose and Ruth (I’d have a hard time picking between those!)
Other suggestions:
Lucy, Cora, Will & Isla
Lucy, Cora, Will & Esme
Lucy, Cora, Will & Fern
Lucy, Cora, Will & Zoey
Lucy, Cora, Will & June
Lucy, Cora, Will & Faye
Good Luck!
Lucy, Cora, Will, and…
Esme
Orla (too close to Cora?)
Ruby
Fern
Gina
Aria
Evie
Alma
Jill
Jada
Wren
Nova
Zoey
Rhea
Romy
Jean
Bess
Love the suggestion of Opal (but imagine it might feel too adventurous for you).
And Abby’s ideas of Rose and Thea are brilliant!
Congratulations and best wishes!
And just a few more…
Isla
Shay/Shea
Dove
Esmé
Inès
Neve
Love the idea of sticking with 4 letters! So fun. Rose is my favorite from Abby’s list. Edith nn Edie and Gwen are my favorite suggestions.
What about Sara? The spelling may get annoying, but you probably have some Nora/Cora issues already. It definitely hits the traditional requirement but without the h feels more edgy. Of course Tara, Zara, Mara, if not Vera all fit too.
If Jane isn’t your thing, what about Joan? It fits more into the revived traditional category like Cora and Theo, more so than Lucy and Will. I feel like Joan is woefully underused and Mad Men did a lot to refresh Joan as elegant, confident and capable.
Beth either on its own or short for Elizabeth fits too. It avoids the y/ie or a ending repeat nicely. It feels like a gentle soul name, more like Anna or Lena. Tess is really similar to me.
Best of luck.
Mila
Ione
Nell
Vera
Opal
Aria
Faye
Best wishes!!
Jane seems like the logical choice. New consonant + different vowel than the others. That said, I also like Nina and Tess for them.