Hello! I am pregnant with my second child, due at the end of december. We just found out it’s another girl, and we are over the moon! I had my partner look at my highly curated name list, and we have narrowed it down to 2 fantastic contenders.
Maple Marie
or
Lyra Elizabeth
My partner really likes Lyra. He is a book worm and loves the strong female character name for this little babe to grow into.
My vote is Maple. I love the uniqueness yet familiarity. We talked about her nickname being Mae. This would go so well with my first born, who we named Trillium, nn Tilly. Siblings with hippy nature names and short ganny nicknames, it feels perfect to me!!
But…
The name Maeve is very popular, especially where we live. It sounds so similar to Mae. And the name Mable is on the rise, especially in our state. I don’t want my kiddo to have to clarify her name to these sound alikes often. Also what if there are several girls in her class with a similar name?
I would love your thoughts and advice on this! Am I over thinking it? Does it matter? Do you know people in similar naming delimas, or who have sound alike names? Should I settle for Lyra, or keep trying the name I most want?
Maple is our top choice for a future baby as well, so we’ve had this exact conversation.
We love Maple enough to use it anyways. And it kind of strikes that balance between popular and unique. So if she grows up to be one of those kids who likes sharing a name she has a lot of friends with the same/similar name/nickname on the other hand if she grows up to be one of those kids who likes having a unique name she can say her name is Maple!
I also really love Lyra, though I think Maple Marie is super sweet!
This is a tricky one, because [name_f]Maple[/name_f] does remind me of [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] (popular where I am) and [name_f]Mae[/name_f] does sound similar to [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] (though I wouldn’t hear [name_f]Mae[/name_f] and assume she was called Maeve). However, [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] is also popular where I am and sounds similar to popular Lyla/Lila and [name_f]Isla[/name_f]
I do love [name_f]Maple[/name_f] [name_u]Marie[/name_u] with Trillium ‘Tilly’. [name_f]Maple[/name_f] sounds distinct enough and feels more in line with Trillium to me - the zippiness of the repeated initials appeals and makes it feel more magical.
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] is nice and I love the bright, starry [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] with the Northern Lights/Golden Compass associations, however, if I’m honest, it doesn’t quite shine so much. Maybe that’s because I’ve met multiple Lyras - and that might not be an issue where you are? It is still a lovely option.
If you’re having these doubts about [name_f]Maple[/name_f] and aren’t set on [name_f]Lyra[/name_f], I’d say keep both on the list and explore a few other options too, to see if there’s something else that clicks?
maple “mae” and lyra are both great names! this is a hard decision for sure. maple & trillium definitely go better together, though i don’t believe that should be a deciding factor. i think maple is distinct enough from maeve, so if she has class with kids named maeve or mae, she could go by her full name no problem. personally, i’d go off of the popularity of maple - what’s its ranking? do you know any little maple’s? could you ask around and see if any of your friends know of any?
are the middles set in stone? maple marie is very pretty but maple lyra could be a nice way to include your husband’s choice of lyra! or lyra maple would be great as well, so that you can include maple without worrying about the popularity.
I love both names, but I actually feel that [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] and Trillium are more similar. But I think siblings don’t have to have matching names at all. I think that you should go for the name you personally prefer, the popularity doesn’t matter at all.
Summary
Trillium is so very unique name! [name_f]My[/name_f] grandmother’s nickname was Trillu when she was a little girl. ‘Trillerdama’ is a verb in my language and it means ‘laughing, singing because of happiness’. So sweet!
I really love both [name_f]Maple[/name_f] and [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]! While [name_f]Maple[/name_f] shares a rarer standing with Trillium, I think [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] has a more similar vibe, if that makes sense. As for the rising popularity of [name_f]Mae[/name_f] names, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. While they are getting more recognition, I think [name_f]Maple[/name_f] is unique enough to stand well enough on her own as an individual. Also, even the most popular names aren’t being used nearly as much as they used to, as more people are using more uncommon names. Sorry this is so ramble-y, but I hope it helps! And congratulations to you and your husband!
P.S. I just have to say that [name_f]Maple[/name_f] [name_u]Marie[/name_u] is so freaking adorable
And I think you’re overthinking it! I wouldn’t mishear [name_f]Mae[/name_f] as [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] or [name_f]Maple[/name_f] as [name_f]Mabel[/name_f].
Trillium “Tilly” and [name_f]Maple[/name_f] “Mae” are an absolutely perfect little match!
I don’t think a [name_f]Maple[/name_f] nn [name_f]Mae[/name_f] would be lost among potential classmates or acquaintances [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] or [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. They feel distinct and each delightful to me, and what a gorgeous name and nickname you’ve got in [name_f]Maple[/name_f] and [name_f]Mae[/name_f]. It’s just too darling!
I love Trillium “Tilly” and [name_f]Maple[/name_f] “Mae” together! They go so perfectly. I wouldn’t worry too much about Maple’s similarity to [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] and [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], although they sound similar, [name_f]Maple[/name_f] is unique and stands out.
[name_u]Welcome[/name_u] back! I remember you announcing your first daughter’s name here - it’s so beautiful.
I think it’s sweet that [name_f]Maple[/name_f] is also a botanical name, and the bouncy alliterativeness of [name_f]Maple[/name_f] [name_u]Marie[/name_u] is lovely! It sounds cheerful and lively. [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] feels more somber and serious to me, although also beautiful - the constellation and the literary name sake make it a really cool name.
There is a chance that [name_f]Maple[/name_f] will be confused with [name_f]Mable[/name_f], though (I’m not a native [name_f]English[/name_f] speaker and could easily mishear one as the other, I think, or accidentally say the wrong one but not necessarily a big problem where you are). But it’s still a fresh, unique nature name, and I don’t think it would get lost in a sea of Maeves/Maes/Mables (and like @LibelluleClaire said, it’s similarity to some more popular names could be the best of both worlds!)
I also like @venezio’s idea of using [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] as a middle for [name_f]Maple[/name_f] so your husband gets that strong main character name in there too - maybe even two middles like [name_f]Maple[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] or [name_f]Maple[/name_f] [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_u]Marie[/name_u] (if [name_u]Marie[/name_u] & [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] are important honour names/otherwise meaningful, it’d be sweet to still have one of them included too).
For another literature reference, there’s [name_u]Robert[/name_u] Frost’s poem [name_f]Maple[/name_f] (although it has rather sad undertones - a mother calls her daughter [name_f]Maple[/name_f] in the poem before passing away and no one understands why she wanted to use [name_f]Maple[/name_f], and the poem is about the daughter trying to understand its significance and how the name shapes her life. I just looked it up again and forgot that people actually keep mixing it up with [name_f]Mable[/name_f] in the poem. But could give that literary feel to it, if you’re into Frost’s poetry at all!)
Honestly I think both names could be mistaken for other names or fall into similar categories of popular names. [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] is beautiful very starry but could fall into a similar camp of [name_f]Lila[/name_f], [name_f]Lyla[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Liliana[/name_f], [name_f]Leila[/name_f], [name_f]Layla[/name_f] and [name_f]Lola[/name_f]. L is a very popular letter and lots of names have that sound. Similar with the ‘yra’ sound she could be mistaken for [name_f]Kyra[/name_f] or even [name_f]Keira[/name_f] if the name is completely misheard. Similarly [name_f]Maple[/name_f] is absolutely gorgeous but again could be mistaken for [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] or [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. I think both names share similar characteristics and could be mistaken for other more popular names so if it was me I would focus on which name you love the most rather than potential errors. You can correct people it’s easily done! I wouldn’t overthink this and just focus on which name you love. You’ve got a hard decision on your hands both are lovely.
Between [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] and [name_f]Maple[/name_f], I honestly don’t think you can go wrong. I hear your concerns and they are certainly valid. I think it is very much location based too. I see the popularity of both [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] and [name_f]Maple[/name_f] on Nameberry, but have never met one in really life or even heard of one I would actually know in my area. Same is true of [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] and some others.
Again, either will be beautiful and pair well with sweet big sister [name_f]Tilly[/name_f], but my vote will be for [name_f]Maple[/name_f] [name_u]Marie[/name_u] !
but not necessarily a big problem where you are). But it’s still a fresh, unique nature name, and I don’t think it would get lost in a sea of Maeves/Maes/Mables (and like 
But could give that literary feel to it, if you’re into Frost’s poetry at all!)