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.
FROM A WISH LIST TO A REAL DAUGHTER
Hannah writes:
I’m Hannah Nicole, born in 1999. I always felt like one in a crowd and longed for a different name.
Now that I’m naming a daughter, I can see that the names I wanted for myself are too much for a real person and none of them feel right. But our last name is a very common last name: starts with a Jack, ends with -son.
The name list from the back of my middle school notebook (really my mom saved it!) consists of Araminta, Audriana, Abriella, Euphemia, Cosette, Gianella, Miette, Pearlescence (!), Rihanna (!), Sophronia, Wilhelmina, Zusanna. I was going to rename myself Savannah.
My husband keeps suggesting nice enough names, like Elizabeth (his grandma), Casey and Tori (cute, but probably too cute), and Vanessa (really not sure where he got that one, but he likes it a lot!) but they’re not really names I would consider.
I know I don’t want anything too common, especially with our last name, but I’m not sure where to find the middle ground between my imaginary daughter and this real life baby who will be here soon!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
FROM RARE TO UNCOMMON: TURNING THE DIAL
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your daughter!
I get some version of this question occasionally, and it’s almost always for a daughter. (“My favorite name is Spirit, but I’m afraid she’ll sound like a stripper/horse/discount airline.” Or “I can’t really name her Alexandriana, right?”)
The truth is that you could use some of the names on your list. Your husband’s list, too!
But what you probably want to do is turn the dial down a little bit. Keep the style and structure of your favorite names (and his, too) while inching towards something just slightly more familiar.
What do your lists have in common?
- Your favorite names strike me as feminine, elaborate, and very, very rare. They’re also vaguely European, with a healthy streak of American invention.
- Your husband’s list feels far more mainstream, but Vanessa seems like a potential midpoint – feminine and elaborate, but on the right side of mainstream, if slightly dated.
The ideal name, I think, would be:
- Three syllables(ish), like Araminta, Vanessa, and Zusanna.
- Probably have a sparky nickname, like Tori or Casey.
- Rank beyond the current US Top 100, but within the Top 1000. (Again, ish. There’s a big difference between Euphemia and Elizabeth, Pearlescence and Vanessa.)
UNCOMMON FEMININE NAMES WITH NICKNAMES
ARABELLA
Elaborate and dramatic, Arabella ranks in the 200s. It’s like a toned-down take on Araminta. Nicknames include Ari, Bella and Belle, but also Abby and Ellie.
EMERALD
Pearlescence made me think of other gemstone and color names. Vivid Emerald ranks in the 700s in the US, which is still pretty uncommon. But natural nickname Emmie (or Emme or Emmy) is the ultimate fits-in nickname, from Emily to Emma to Emerson.
GIOVANNA
While Giovanna ranks in the 900s, it’s undeniably familiar. Better yet, it blends the sounds of Gianella and Savannah. And the nicknames are delightful, like Gia and Gigi.
LORETTA
There’s plenty of -ette on your list, which brings to mind sparky, retro Loretta. Currently in the 700s, it shortens to Lettie, Lottie, and Etta, which might all be style stars in their own right.
OPHELIA
With Olivia at the top of the charts, no surprise dramatic, romantic Ophelia has made it o the 200s. The downside here? Probably a lack of obvious nicknames, though Lia works.
PERSEPHONE
Somewhere between chart-topping Penelope and wait-is-that-even-a-name Pearlescence sits Persephone. It’s long and elaborate, but with short forms like Percy and Sephie, could be very easy to wear.
SERAPHINA
While Seraphina has only recently entered the US Top 1000, it feels like the name we’ve been waiting for. It’s a little bit like Sophronia, but slightly more mainstream. Shorten it to Sera, Fee, Finn, or Fina and it’s every bit as great a choice.
TERESA
Everyone knows Teresa, so it’s surprising to see it only charts in the 800s. Nickname Tessa is more popular, actually – but Teresa feels like the longer name that might work well for your family.
When it comes to transforming a wish list, I think the trick is to avoid sacrificing the qualities that you love most. And because there’s value in choosing something different, I’m going to suggest the rarer options: Seraphina, Giovanna, Emerald, Persephone.
I wonder if your husband would appreciate an Elizabeth name to honor his grandmother?
Seraphina Elise, Persephone Elise, Giovanna Lisette, Emerald Elizabeth, maybe?
I love your middle school list lol. Some of them can definitely be de-frilled into a name that feels less like a fairy queen and more school girl while maintaining some of those lilting, feminine qualities.
Zusanna can be Susanna (I have an 8 year old one myself and she loves her name)
Audriana can be Audrey
Abriella can be Brielle
Wilhelmina can be Willa
Pearlescence can be Pearl
Cosette can be Colette
Some other names that might bridge the gap: Fiona, Celeste, Juliet, Camilla, Lydia, Marina, Felicity, Clara, Elise, Eliza, Melody.
Elizabeth is a lovely classic and an honor name that pairs well with so many firsts. Willa Elizabeth? Or perhaps an Elizabeth spin-off for a first… Elise Pearl? Eliza Brielle?
I love the way you de-frilled these! Colette, Willa, Pearl, Susanna – they’d be perfect!
I once read about a Susanna nicknamed Zanna. I loved that, and it could be a way to enjoy the z and the unusualness of Zusanna while keeping the formal name more familiar (and still lovely).
Nice suggestions here!
Georgiana Elise J@cks0N would be my choice. You could use the nickname Gigi, Georgie or Gia.
Love Georgiana & the cute nicknames!
I came to suggest Georgina.
Andromeda Zazie!
Ooh, Adelaide is a great suggestion! And seconding Eliza and Tallulah. Here are so 3-syllable names I’ve heard IRL that you and you hubby may like?
Evadne
Bellamy
Delilah
Leonie
Josephine
Coraline
Lucia
Geneva
Plus, Wilhelmina strikes me as totally useable today. I know 2. One goes by Mina (MEE-na) though I love Willa or Minnie too as nicknames.
Good luck! I agree if you can find name you love, a nickname your hubby loves may be right there.
Congratulations on your baby girl.
I think Abby’s list is hard to better as those choices with the Elizabeth variants for middle names are just beautiful.
Another variant of Elizabeth is Isabella and this might be a name you’d both like.
Miranda! Long and femme, not too common but not odd, and cute nicknames to choose from if you want to go that route. Plus it has a great meaning “wonderful, admirable”
Miranda Jack- son
Mira
Miri
Mandy
Mindy
Randy
Andy
Mimi
Mina
Miranda Cosette from your list or Miranda Elizabeth from his list are both gorgeous!
Oh wow – Miranda Cosette is brilliant!
Eliza
Winnifred
Philippa
Magnolia
Juliet
Eliette
Camilla
Genevieve
Evangelina
Mirabelle
Tallulah
Luella
Marigold
Astrid
Gwendolyn
Rosamund
Fiona
Cecilia
Matilda
Juniper
Hazel
Felicity
Ariana
Aurora
Gabriella
I think your husband prefers names he is familiar with, so, from this list, he might like Camilla, Juliet, Matilda or Fiona.
I don’t think some of your original favorites are all that out there. One of my high school classmates has an Audriana and Araminta and Cosette would also be fairly mainstream, if more uncommon.
I’d suggest: Anastasia, Annette, Antoinette, Antonia, Carolina, Cassandra, Colette, Diana, Elisabetta, Evelina, Francesca, Lilia, Liliana, Nicolette, Veronica, Yvette.
Your husband could get the Toni nickname from any of the Antonia names or Casey from Cassandra. Colette is rising in popularity and is similar to Cosette. Nicolette is the original long form of Colette and a variant of your middle name.
What about Antonia-nn Toni?
Or Aria (similar style, becoming popular) or Cosima – I love this one, but I know it is uncommon.
Oh wow! There are so many amazing options given your style of names. Your husband’s style seems to be “names he’s familiar with”. Is that true? Does he want to name his daughter after his Grandma? There are so many beautiful Elizabeth spin-offs that could be great as a first or middle name to honour her.
My first thought was Adelaide -known, 3-syllable, lots of nickname options, not as common as Elizabeth.
Adelaide Elise Jacks0n
Adelaide Beth Jacks0n
Would you use Susanna instead of Zusanna?
Willa instead of Wilhelmina (or as a nickname)
Colette instead of Cosette/Miette (as a nod to mommy, too)
Genevieve/Guinevere/Ginevra instead of Gianella
Pearl or Opal rather than Pearlescence
Victoria instead of Tori (other nicknames abound)
I actually like Audriana & think it’s very wearable for a little girl today.
I actually know of an Araminta who goes by Minty & an Aibrielle (similar to your Abriella) who is now the mother of 3 little ones. If you start hanging out with a preschooler/kindergarten crowd, you might find that your name choices from middle school aren’t as “out-there” as you think, especially if there are easy nicknames.
Congratulations for your daughter!