You guys have been so helpful that I hope you don’t mind my reaching out again. I’m having so much trouble falling in love with a name, and I think it’s because the name I DO love with all my heart ([name]Frances[/name]) is unusable for my husband for personal reasons, and although I am trying my hardest, I’m having a really hard time letting go of it.
We had agreed on [name]Hazel[/name] as a replacement, but it’s getting popular and I’m having trouble committing. I have some other ideas on my list and would love your thoughts. For now, middle names aren’t so important. Last name is exotic, sounds a bit like (but isn’t) “Benhadi”. We have a son named [name]Arlo[/name].
Love to hear your thoughts on this list, or other suggestions. Our style is vintage and kind of homespun American tho we like a good Euro twist for girls it turns out!
[name]Hazel[/name]
[name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Lucinda[/name] (we love the nn’s Lucie, Lula and Lu, but is this too much with [name]Arlo[/name] – like we are obsessed with folk rock? Neither would be named after the singers.)
[name]Lucienne[/name] (same nn’s as Lucinda)
[name]Bettina[/name] ([name]Betti[/name], [name]Etta[/name] – and I actually love the alliteration with our last name)
[name]Vivian[/name]
[name]Georgina[/name] ([name]Georgie[/name])
[name]Iris[/name]
[name]Edie[/name] (one of my fave names in the world; I can NOT get husband on board with [name]Edith[/name] so am considering the nn on its own)
[name]Althea[/name] (this is my husband’s fave… I do not love it at all but think [name]Thea[/name] and [name]Teddie[/name] are cute nn’s)
[name]Opal[/name] (husband hates, I love… and how darling is it with Arlo?)
[name]Dorothea/Henrietta[/name] (both have incredible nn options but the full names are a bit much)
[name]Juniper[/name] (husband thinks it’s too trendy… he could be right… but I love it)
[name]Hazel[/name] - very pretty name, I don’t think it’s too trendy.
[name]Pearl[/name] - like this too. Less trendy than [name]Hazel[/name], I’d say.
[name]Lucinda[/name] - I like folk rock and it took me a long minute to make the connection. I think it’s fine. But I think 3-3 rhythm with ln isn’t best.
[name]Lucienne[/name] - I’d take [name]Lucinda[/name] over this, I like [name]Lucinda[/name] better and it seems to suit your style better.
[name]Bettina[/name] - like it, but it’s very alliterative with your last name. B is a good letter for that though. Your call.
[name]Vivian[/name] - great name but if [name]Hazel[/name] feels trendy to you I’d say [name]Vivian[/name] is more.
[name]Georgina[/name] - great name although I like [name]Georgia[/name] more. Again mildly long with your ln.
[name]Iris[/name] - probably my top pick for you - combines the ending sound and vintage feel of [name]Frances[/name] with the nature of [name]Hazel[/name].
[name]Edie[/name] - [name]Edina[/name]? Since you don’t like other nn names I’d be inclined to recommend you consider your others more strongly.
[name]Althea[/name] - I like it but since you don’t love it and your son is already an A name, I might avoid it. [name]Iris[/name] [name]Althea[/name] is a beautiful combo.
[name]Dorothea[/name] - [name]Henrietta[/name] - I am inclined to agree with you about these names.
[name]Juniper[/name] - yeah, I’d say it’s pretty trendy, and also long.
suggestions
[name]India[/name] ([name]Indie[/name] close to [name]Edie[/name] for you?)
[name]Eden[/name]
[name]Edina[/name]
[name]Anthea[/name]
[name]Indigo[/name]
[name]Veda[/name]
[name]Vera[/name]
[name]Florence[/name] (feels a lot like [name]Frances[/name] to me)
[name]Agnes[/name] (feels a lot like [name]Frances[/name] to me)
[name]Alice[/name] (feels a lot like [name]Frances[/name] to me)
[name]Agatha[/name] (feels like [name]Althea[/name] and [name]Frances[/name] to me)
[name]Thea[/name]
[name]Harriet[/name]
[name]Opal[/name]
Jesba – THANK YOU. This is incredible advice. You’re on the same page as me but more clear-headed since you haven’t been over-thinking these names for 6 months! [name]Opal[/name] and [name]Florence[/name] are two of my absolute favorite that I can’t get husb. to sign on for. I agree that [name]Iris[/name] is a gem, but the lack of nn’s bugs me… though it shouldn’t, as my [name]Arlo[/name] has a trillion nicknames that are completely unrelated to his given name!
[name]Veda[/name] is on our list as a middle name. I love it.
I agree with you about [name]Georgia[/name] – I do think it’s a better match for our style but it didn’t sound quite right with our last name so now I’m testing [name]Georgina[/name].
I love [name]Agatha[/name] (and [name]Agnes[/name]) but went to school at UT so the nickname “[name]Aggie[/name]” is just a nonstarter for me. Ditto anything with an “[name]Indi[/name]” nickname which to me sounds like naming the kid after indie rock (I may be alone in this but it just seems odd to me.) Otherwise these are FANTASTIC suggestions in exactly the right vein. And I [name]LOVE[/name] the combos – esp. [name]Hazel[/name] [name]June[/name] – so sweet!! Thanks!
Taz – thank you! Nice to see some love for [name]Bettina[/name]!
You are welcome! Aww man that is a shame about [name]Opal[/name] and [name]Florence[/name] (as well as original [name]Frances[/name]!), they are all lovely! But he does get his say and it does look like you have plenty of other options that are great : D. But yes, [name]Arlo[/name] and [name]Opal[/name] do feel made for each other!
Yes, I agree with [name]Iris[/name] she can have unrelated nn’s, although I can see Idee (maybe with a D middle especially?), maybe [name]Izzy[/name]/[name]Issy[/name] if you like it?
Fair enough on [name]Agnes[/name] and [name]Agatha[/name], while I like both of those things I don’t care for [name]Aggie[/name], actually separate from any UT concerns : D. And I did wonder that with “[name]Indie[/name]” but wasn’t sure how clear it would be given your circumstances…sounds like it would be pretty clear : D.
I feel like there are more suggestions to make that aren’t occurring…if they come to me I’ll suggest! Good luck as you consider! While I really love [name]Iris[/name] for you if [name]Hazel[/name] remains top contendor, it really is a great one too.
I love [name]Edith[/name] with the nn [name]Edie[/name]! [name]Edith[/name] [name]Piaf[/name] is one of my favorites…wanted to put it on my list but my husband won’t allow it because it’s an ex’s name. [name]Edie[/name] is very cute on its own, though.
I also love [name]Lucinda[/name] and it might be a better choice as far as a name that can age well. Good luck!
Everyone for the great advice! These are some great ideas – love [name]June[/name], [name]Loretta[/name] and [name]Eve[/name].
I especially love [name]Fern[/name] but prefer a longer name for versatility (it’s way possible she’d hate being a [name]Fern[/name]) and kind of adore [name]Fernanda[/name]. But we don’t have a Latin background and I worry we’d be mispronouncing it (“fur-nanda” rather than “fair-nanda”). Anyone have any thoughts on that? It’s a beautiful name and I love the additional options of [name]Nan[/name], [name]Nanda[/name], [name]Annie[/name] etc.
Some other names from my long list I’ll mention: [name]Ramona[/name] ([name]Romy[/name], [name]Nona[/name]), [name]Clementine[/name], [name]Clio[/name]/[name]Cleo[/name] and [name]Sylvie[/name].
Thanks in advance everyone!
I was coming back to post and two suggestions were [name]Eve[/name] nn [name]Evie[/name] and [name]Clementine[/name]! [name]Clementine[/name] nn [name]Cleo[/name] can work by the way - [name]Clementine[/name] [name]Opal[/name]?
I really like [name]Loretta[/name] - friends of mine have a little niece named this and it’s so unexpected!
[name]Fernanda[/name] I think would be problematic. [name]Even[/name] in a Spanish speaking context it’s kind of an old lady name.
You might like the [name]Indian[/name] (I forget which language) [name]Ananda[/name], which has a very positive meaning I’m forgetting. Downside is confusion with [name]Amanda[/name]!
I like [name]Ramona[/name] but think [name]Romy[/name] and [name]Mona[/name] will be so much more intuitive than [name]Romy[/name] and [name]Nona[/name] as nn’s for her. Not that you can’t pull off [name]Nona[/name], but now that I know you like [name]Annie[/name], I might also suggest the lovely [name]Anona[/name].
[name]Sylvie[/name] is also lovely!
Here were some of the other ones I thought of:
[name]Ada[/name]
[name]Celia[/name]
[name]Cora[/name]
[name]Coral[/name]
[name]Delia[/name]
[name]Dinah[/name]
[name]Flora[/name]
[name]Francina[/name]
[name]Ida[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name]
[name]Mary[/name]
[name]Nina[/name]
[name]Odette[/name]
[name]Ruby[/name]
[name]Willa[/name]
And seeing some names you like today makes me think of
[name]Annora[/name]
[name]Antonia[/name]
[name]Coretta[/name]
[name]Dorinda[/name]
[name]Francesca[/name]
[name]Honora[/name]
[name]Ines[/name]/[name]Inez[/name]
[name]Lucia[/name]
[name]Olivetta[/name]
[name]Violetta[/name]
My favorites are [name]Opal[/name], [name]Lucinda[/name] and [name]Pearl[/name]. [name]Opal[/name] has such a vintage appeal, but fresh and original at the same time!
Some other suggestions with your spin might be:
[name]Bonita[/name]
[name]Opaline[/name]
[name]Georgette[/name]
[name]Francine[/name]
[name]Alethea[/name]
[name]Hattie[/name]
[name]Aria[/name]
Fernette
your names are so cute. Some that I’ve seen here that i like are
[name]Luciana[/name]
[name]Georgina[/name] (i knew a girl named [name]Georgina[/name] once… nn [name]Georgie[/name]… she was too sweet.)
[name]Bettina[/name] (though i prefer [name]Bette[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] (your husband won’t compromise on this one?)
[name]Theodora[/name] (definitely like better than [name]Dorothea[/name] and you can still get a cute [name]Tia[/name] or [name]Thea[/name] nn out of it)
My suggestion for you is actually a combination of two of your names that i love… You could mesh [name]Luciana[/name] and [name]Georgina[/name] to get [name]Georgiana[/name] which is long but, in my honest opinion, GORGEOUS!! you also could reuse nn [name]Georgie[/name] or you could use [name]Gia[/name] or [name]Giana[/name] which are also pretty.
Thank you everyone!! I love the suggestion of [name]Georgiana[/name], but I don’t like when there can be pronunciation confusion…it’s not a dealbreaker but not ideal. I do like how it has kind of a “[name]Georgie[/name]-[name]Jane[/name]” quality to it which makes it more homespun.
I really love the suggestions of [name]Flora[/name], [name]Coral[/name], [name]Ivy[/name] and [name]Francina[/name] ([name]Francine[/name] is on our list but husband may still have an issue). Also considering [name]Sybil[/name], nn [name]Billie[/name]… We will get there!
Congratulations! I really like [name]Opal[/name] and [name]Bettina[/name] as a match for [name]Arlo[/name], “Benhadi,” and your professed homespun style. I think anything longer and lacier like [name]Georgiana[/name] (while lovely) would really be a poor match for the sleek, trim, folksy feel of [name]Arlo[/name].
My favorites from your list are
[name]Bettina[/name] ([name]Love[/name] the alliteration with “Benhadi”, the bright, glassy, staccato sound of this name, and especially the adorable, good-natured yet glamorous nn [name]Bette[/name]/[name]Betti[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] (Simple, round, elegant. Vintage but fresh. Brilliant with [name]Arlo[/name]. Not as much nn potential though.)
I think [name]Althea[/name] is a very graceful name too. My only issue with it is that it’s so… noble and sincere. Almost like [name]Eleanor[/name]. Does that make sense at all? I feel like [name]Bettina[/name], [name]Opal[/name], [name]Hazel[/name], [name]Beata[/name] (love this idea), [name]Veda[/name], [name]Cleo[/name], even [name]Florence[/name]… are all elegant, strong names, but also could be the names of funny, sassy girls. [name]Althea[/name] doesn’t have the same fun-factor imo. I like a name with versatility. [name]Arlo[/name] could be a chess master or a surfer dude. Which is great.
[name]Bettina[/name] + [name]Lucinda[/name] = [name]Belinda[/name]?
I love how sweet and vintage [name]Hazel[/name], [name]Pearl[/name], [name]Dorothea[/name] and [name]Henrietta[/name] are. [name]Lucinda[/name], [name]Lucienne[/name] and [name]Bettina[/name] have a charming European vibe. [name]Juniper[/name] is very spunky and sweet. [name]Georgina[/name] is a beautiful old-fashioned classic. [name]Iris[/name], [name]Edie[/name], [name]Opal[/name], [name]Althea[/name] and [name]Vivian[/name] are too stuffy and fusty for my taste.