What Name Goes Best With Annabelle Called Annie?

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.

MATCHING BIG SISTER’S NAME

Julie writes:

Our daughter is Annabelle Mae. We call her Annie. Our boy name has always been Jackson Edward, with the nickname Jack. I am a little worried about how many Jacks we meet, but there isn’t any name we like better.

Girls names are harder. I like so many of them! My husband is pretty much on board with (almost) everything on my list. But I can’t really pick a favorite!

My list right now:

Eloise/Ellie – We also discussed Eleanor but I like Eloise better. My husband isn’t sure about the “weeze” sound in Eloise. (He says it reminds him of the penguin in Toy Story.) I do know there are a lot of Ellies.

Charlotte – I’m not crazy about Charlie for a girl, and I’m not sure if we could avoid it. I want to like Lottie, but in lots of accents it sounds like Loddie, almost like la-di-da, and I really don’t like that.

Penelope – I think Penny is so sweet! But our last name is very common and also starts with a P: P@rker. I just think Penny P@rker sounds like an animated character. I think I have to let this one go.

Aurora – A new name on my list. (I binged Daisy Jones & the Six when I was nursing Annie, and it definitely added some names to my list.) Love the idea of Rory, but not sure if this is in Charlie territory for me or not.

Daisy – Probably my new favorite, and could be my top name. (See the whole binge-watching thing.) I love the idea of sisters called Annie and Daisy! But I don’t really get the whole Margaret/Daisy connection, and I feel like it wouldn’t work for us.

Other things: we’re not due until September (Labor Day, ha!) so we have some time. Except that we knew our favorite names from the beginning with Annie, and I’m feeling a lot of pressure to decide again.

I’m not sure if I’m being too picky or if I just haven’t thought of the right name yet. We also don’t have a definite sense if this is our last baby or if we’ll have one more. Or two more? I mention it because I don’t want a J name for a girl because with my name already being a J, I feel like it would be too much if we eventually have our Jack. My mom keeps bringing up Josephine, which is a family name and I really love it, but Julie with kids called Annie, Josie, and Jack? I don’t know.

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

LOTS OF ALMOST RIGHT CHOICES

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new baby!

I know what you mean about wanting to choose, even though you have time. There’s a peace that comes from a decision well made.

Since your name for a son is determined, we’re going to focus on a sister for Annabelle Also, since you’ve indicated that you might have a third child in the future, there’s a certain need to keep your options open.

The right name for Annie’s sister will (probably) be:

• A longer name with an easy short form
• Something reasonably mainstream and familiar
• Traditional(ish)

We’re avoiding the initial P because of your surname, P@rker. And we’re probably avoiding J, too.

Let’s evaluate your current list with those considerations in mind.

PENELOPE

I think you have to let this one go. Penny P@rkar is unforgettable … but it’s a little like Lois Lane or Minnie Mouse. If that’s not your style, then it’s best to move on.

CHARLOTTE

You have a strong preference for a longer name with nicknames. Which Charlotte is! But neither of the obvious nicknames appeal to you, so I think it’s best to strike this one off your list.

AURORA

After an entire generation grew up with Rory Gilmore, I think Aurora-called-Rory is perfect. Except if I heard Annie, Rory, and Jack, I would find Rory slightly ambiguous. If I’m giving Charlotte and Penelope the red light, let’s call Aurora a cautious yellow.

DAISY

Daisy doesn’t need a formal name, of course. And I agree – Annie and Daisy are amazing together! But the only really logical formal name for Daisy is Margaret. Or maybe the French Marguerite. If that is a dealbreaker? Then Daisy doesn’t quite work.

ELOISE called ELLIE

I think Annabelle and Eloise are perfect as sister names. And I really like Annie and Ellie together, too. Could Eloise be called Wheezy, little the Toy Story penguin? I guess … but it wouldn’t happen. This is a Top 100 solid name for a daughter, and while Eloise could be Lola, too, I’m guessing girls who shorten their name are Ellie 99% of the time. It works beautifully!

Let’s make Eloise the name to beat.

A SISTER FOR ANNABELLE

CASSANDRA called CASSIE

Cassandra ranked in the US Top 100 during the 1980s and 90s, but it was never all that common. Like Penelope, it’s a long name from the ancient world. But it feels more contemporary. Annie and Cassie are great together, and it leaves plenty of room to use Jack in the future, too.

ELIZA called ELLIE

Maybe a different El- name work work? Elodie, Eliana, and Elena are options, too, but I think Eliza might be the strongest option.

EVANGELINE called EVIE

There are plenty of Ev- names, too, like Evelyn and Everly. But I wonder if Evangeline called Evie might appeal?

GENEVIEVE called VIVI

There’s more than one possible nickname for Genevieve, but I think Annie and Vivi seem quite appealing.

HELENA called NELL or NELLIE

The downside to Helena is that it comes with multiple pronunciations. The upside? It shortens beautifully to Nell, which is close to Ellie, but with a little extra sound.

LILLIAN called LILY

I rarely suggest Lily, because I think we all tend to know it, and yet … it’s not on your list and it could be great with Annie.

MAGNOLIA called MAGGIE

Magnolia-called-Maggie was inspired by Daisy. Magnolia ranks in the current US Top 150 and is steadily rising in use. It’s the next Violet, maybe. Maggie and Annie are sweet together.

ROSALIE called ROSIE

Another flower theme option, and a name I suggest a lot – probably because it’s one of those sweet spot choices, a mix of vintage style and familiar sound. Like Annie from Annabelle, Rosie is the obvious nickname, which makes it very easy to wear.

I love the idea of Cassandra as a sister for Annabelle. I’ll add Magnolia, too, particularly because it reminds me of both Aurora and Daisy, in different ways.

That said, I’m not sure if anything tops Eloise.

Also: I’m tempted to suggest Charlotte as a middle name. I love Eloise “Ellie” Charlotte. Or if you’d like something with just one-syllable, maybe Magnolia Lou or Cassandra Ruth?

Readers, over to you! What would you name a sister for Annabelle Mae, called Annie?