[name_u]Baby[/name_u] #3 is a girl! Brother 1 has a classic name with a stretch nickname so I won’t post it here but it’s in the style of [name_m]Abraham[/name_m] “[name_m]Bram[/name_m]”. Brother 2 is [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] “[name_u]Ollie[/name_u]”. After months of research I’ve gotten so far off the beaten path my favorite is now [name_f]Holiday[/name_f] “[name_f]Holly[/name_f]” but of course DH is not on board (plus we can’t use it because [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] and [name_f]Holly[/name_f] are too close). I used to have a million rules but now I can’t even find a name so I hope someone can steer me back to the right direction. My rules used to be: No nicknames for first name (e.g. [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] is a beautiful name but I’d have to use [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]), easy to pronounce/spell, not too popular (after meeting 10 other Olivers). They will have middles in a difference language. This is 99% our last baby so can’t save any favorites for the next one. Here are some favorites and reasons for not using them (you can see I like stretch nn).
Short list
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] “[name_f]Daisy[/name_f]” (Very neutral about [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], almost too little feeling; son says he’ll call her “[name_f]Daisy[/name_f] Duck”)
[name_f]Marianne[/name_f] “[name_f]Mae[/name_f]” (DH’s favorite nn but I sometimes pronounce it [name_u]Marion[/name_u] and maybe it’s too midcentury)
Older favorites (These are all lovely names and I realize the reasons extremely picky)
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] “[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]” (Still trying to convince DH but he thinks she’ll get teased)
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] “[name_u]Wren[/name_u]” (DH has a hard time pronouncing and [name_u]Wren[/name_u] is so beautiful but not as cheery as we’d like)
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] “[name_f]Ella[/name_f]” (Too popular but maybe if I like any of the other nn’s)
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u] “[name_f]Lulu[/name_f]” (Too popular and I have a hard time pronouncing)
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f] (Too popular and apparently you pronounce it ah-MEE-lia; I’ve always pronounced it ah-MILL-lia)
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] “[name_f]Mae[/name_f]” ([name_f]Lovely[/name_f] name but I can’t shake off [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_m]Thatcher[/name_m]'s image)
[name_f]Miriam[/name_f] “[name_f]Mae[/name_f]” (Still trying to make [name_f]Mae[/name_f] fit but not sticking)
[name_f]Teresa[/name_f] “[name_f]Tess[/name_f]” (DH knew someone)
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] “[name_u]Penny[/name_u]” (Our last name is another coin)
[name_f]Elowen[/name_f] “[name_f]Winnie[/name_f]” (DH vetoed)
[name_f]Amabel[/name_f] “[name_f]Mae[/name_f]” (DH vetoed)
[name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] “[name_f]Trudy[/name_f]” (DH vetoed)
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] (DH vetoed)
[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f]/[name_f]Violet[/name_f]/[name_f]Camellia[/name_f] (In theory I love floral names but they don’t seem to fit)
Unfortunately I have a hard time pronouncing -line names (so no [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]/[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f])
Not considering
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_u]Vivian[/name_u]/[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]
[name_f]Millicent[/name_f]
[name_u]June[/name_u] related names
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
Thoughts on your short list:
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] “[name_f]Daisy[/name_f]” - I love [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] - it’s fun, sweet and elegant and I think [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] is a lovely nickname, but you don’t sound enthusiastic about it at all
[name_f]Marianne[/name_f] “[name_f]Mae[/name_f]” -not my favourite, but [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is a lovely nickname and that makes me like it more
Some thoughts on some of your older favourites (some I’ve left out because I’m not sure they’re worth considering still)
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] “[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]” - I don’t think she’d get teased - [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] is gaining popularity (not rapidly, but it’s becoming more familiar nonetheless) and [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] is cute.
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] “[name_f]Ella[/name_f]” - I don’t know very many Eleanors, if that helps- some other nicknames could be Nore, [name_f]Lenore[/name_f], [name_f]Leni[/name_f], [name_f]Elora[/name_f], [name_f]Elle[/name_f], [name_f]Nell[/name_f], [name_f]Nellie[/name_f]
[name_f]Miriam[/name_f] - I really like this and I could see [name_f]Mae[/name_f] working if you could get it to stick.
Some suggestions
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f]/[name_f]Willemina[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Willa[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Willow[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Winnie[/name_f]’
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Joni[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Posy[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Effie[/name_f]’
[name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Mae[/name_f]’
[name_f]Maria[/name_f]/[name_f]Mariah[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Mae[/name_f]’
[name_f]Florence[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Flora[/name_f]’ ‘[name_u]Wren[/name_u]’
[name_f]Martha[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Mae[/name_f]’
[name_f]Marianna[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Mae[/name_f]’ (does it modernise [name_f]Marianne[/name_f] a little?)
[name_f]Arabella[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Ella[/name_f]’
[name_f]Luella[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Lulu[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Ella[/name_f]’
[name_f]Margot[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Mae[/name_f]’ (I know [name_f]Margot[/name_f] is a nickname kind of but it has long usage as a full name)
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Fae[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Fifi[/name_f]’
[name_f]Phillipa[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Lily[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Pippa[/name_f]’
[name_f]Estella[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Essie[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Stella[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Ella[/name_f]’
[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Lilia[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Lily[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Cece[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Celia[/name_f]’
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Mae[/name_f]’ ‘[name_f]Rosa[/name_f]’ ‘[name_u]Romy[/name_u]’
I like [name_f]Holiday[/name_f] alot! Nn for [name_f]Holiday[/name_f] could be [name_f]Hallie[/name_f] (slightly different sound than [name_u]Ollie[/name_u]) or [name_f]Daisy[/name_f].
From your short list I really like [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] and [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] as a nn is lovely.
[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]? And if you’re not 100% on [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], what about [name_f]Adaline[/name_f] or [name_f]Abigail[/name_f]?
From your list I like:
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] nn [name_f]Daisy[/name_f]
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] nn [name_f]Millie[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f] (nn Vio?)
I really like [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] nn [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] and [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] nn [name_f]Millie[/name_f] for you. These names are so sweet and huggable.
“[name_m]Bram[/name_m]”, [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] & [name_f]Daisy[/name_f]
“[name_m]Bram[/name_m]” [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] & [name_f]Millie[/name_f]
I also think a little baby [name_f]Violet[/name_f] with two older brothers sounds so sweet. I love the sibling set of “[name_m]Abraham[/name_m]”, [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] & [name_f]Violet[/name_f].
“[name_m]Bram[/name_m]” [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] & Vio sound especially cute together
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]: If you are this lukewarm on it, I wouldn’t use it. I couldn’t tell, but was son calling her daisy duck a turn off?
[name_f]Marianne[/name_f]: Not too mid-century. I think it would fit in well today and is sweet.
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f]: What I could see being teasable is the nickname [name_f]Minnie[/name_f]. [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] Mouse is one, and then the connection to the word ‘mini’ which could be used in a lot of ways by teasers. These really aren’t that bad, though.
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f]: If you could shake off that image, I think this would be the name for you as you seem to love the long and the short versions. Maybe [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] [name_m]Smith[/name_m] would be a good replacement? [name_f]Lovely[/name_f] woman and actress. Here’s a link to other famous [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]'s with their faces so you can maybe associate better: Famous People Named Margaret
Some other names you might consider:
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]: this has the classic feeling, cute nicknames of [name_f]Vi[/name_f], [name_f]Lottie[/name_f], [name_f]Lettie[/name_f]. Straightforward pronunciation and seems to bypass any of the pronunciation difficulties you and your husband seem to have on the listed names. Though now I see you have it on your list under the flower names that don’t quite fit.
[name_f]Martha[/name_f]: Is this a hard pronunciation for either of you? You could use [name_f]Mae[/name_f] here.
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]: Straight shot to [name_f]Mae[/name_f], pretty straight forward pronunciation.
[name_f]Tabitha[/name_f]: Definitely less popular, nicknames of [name_f]Tibby[/name_f], [name_f]Tabby[/name_f].
I agree with the above posters—[name_f]Clementine[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] all seem like great options! (Personally I love [name_f]Nell[/name_f]/[name_f]Nellie[/name_f] for [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f].) [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Holiday[/name_f] is creative and seems right up your alley too.
Also I love [name_f]Marianne[/name_f]—it’s whimsical and romantic, and you seem drawn to the nickname [name_f]Mae[/name_f].
Other ideas:
[name_f]Geneva[/name_f] nn. [name_f]Evie[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] nn. [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] nn. [name_f]Lettie[/name_f], [name_f]Etta[/name_f], [name_f]Lulu[/name_f]
[name_f]Susanna[/name_f] nn. [name_u]Sunny[/name_u], [name_f]Annie[/name_f], [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f]
Thoughts on your shortlist: [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] “[name_f]Daisy[/name_f]”: This is beautiful, and I do adore the nickname [name_f]Daisy[/name_f]! So elegant and classic, yet mysteriously underused. Definitely my preference between the two. [name_f]Marianne[/name_f] “[name_f]Mae[/name_f]”: This sounds quite dated to me, sorry. [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is lovely and lively, but the pronunciation issues with [name_f]Marianne[/name_f] are a concern, too.
Names I love from your old list:
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f]
[name_f]Teresa[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]
The rest I find too popular.
Other ideas:
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Cece[/name_f], [name_f]Celia[/name_f].
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lia[/name_f], [name_f]Via[/name_f], [name_f]Liv[/name_f]
[name_f]Ethel[/name_f]/[name_f]Edith[/name_f] nn [name_f]Edie[/name_f]
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]/[name_f]Delphine[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lia[/name_f], [name_u]Dell[/name_u], [name_f]Della[/name_f]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f] nn [name_u]Dani[/name_u]
[name_f]Nadia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Hope[/name_f], [name_f]Addie[/name_f]
[name_f]Alma[/name_f] nn [name_f]Mim[/name_f]
[name_f]Francesca[/name_f] nn [name_u]Frankie[/name_u]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] nn [name_f]Elsa[/name_f], [name_f]Lena[/name_f]
[name_f]Cynthia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Tia[/name_f], [name_f]Cindy[/name_f], [name_f]Thea[/name_f]
[name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] nn [name_f]Dot[/name_f], [name_f]Dottie[/name_f]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] nn [name_f]Evie[/name_f], [name_f]Vi[/name_f], [name_f]Vivi[/name_f], [name_f]Gigi[/name_f]
[name_f]Antonia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Nia[/name_f], [name_f]Annie[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lottie[/name_f]
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Cora[/name_f], [name_f]Delia[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] nn [name_f]Nora[/name_f], [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] nn [name_u]Penny[/name_u], [name_f]Poppy[/name_f], [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] is a pretty popular, (not as much as [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] but enough thay it is familiar.) It’s a common name now, so I definitely don’t think it would cause teasing (and as someone who works with kids, teasing over names is a seldom occurence from other children anyway.)
As for Marrianne, have you considered [name_u]Marion[/name_u] since you tend to pronounce Marrianne that way? [name_u]Marion[/name_u] seems to fit your style, gets you to [name_f]Mae[/name_f], and definitely feels cheery.
If [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] is difficult for you to say but you like [name_f]Lulu[/name_f], maybe [name_f]Lucinda[/name_f], [name_f]Lucienne[/name_f], [name_f]Eluned[/name_f], or [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] (not sure if [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] would present problems like [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] does?)
Floral names that might fit:
[name_f]Azalea[/name_f] (has some of the appeal of [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] while being a full name, lots of nickname options ([name_f]Zoe[/name_f], Zazie, [name_f]Ally[/name_f]/[name_u]Allie[/name_u], [name_f]Lea[/name_f], [name_f]Ayla[/name_f], etc.)
[name_f]Bryony[/name_f] ([name_f]Bree[/name_f], [name_f]Brynn[/name_f], [name_f]Brenna[/name_f], [name_f]Oona[/name_f], etc.)
[name_f]Cynthia[/name_f] ([name_f]Cindy[/name_f], [name_f]Cinda[/name_f]/[name_f]Cynda[/name_f], [name_f]Thea[/name_f])
[name_f]Jessamine[/name_f] ([name_f]Minnie[/name_f])
[name_f]Marigold[/name_f] ([name_f]Mae[/name_f])
From your list I like [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] the best, but since you seem to really favor the [name_f]Mae[/name_f] nickname I’d be inclined to look towards other M names. Some ideas which I don’t think have been mentioned: [name_u]Meredith[/name_u], [name_f]Mariel[/name_f], [name_f]Maribel[/name_f] and [name_f]Merida[/name_f].
I keep thinking of [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] for you–as a spin on [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], which is on your list, and as an alternative for [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] to get you to [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] ([name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] being the [name_m]French[/name_m] word for daisy). You could even get [name_f]Mae[/name_f] out of [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] (since you’re open to “stretch” nn’s), or maybe [name_f]Margo[/name_f] as a nickname? I would suggest [name_f]Margo[/name_f] as a first name, but it seems almost nickname proof to me, and it seems you would like to have both.
I also like some pp’s suggestion of [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] as a way to get to [name_f]Mae[/name_f] (or [name_f]Mabel[/name_f]).
[name_f]Marianne[/name_f] is definitely midcentury, but I like it. [name_f]Anne[/name_f]-[name_f]Marie[/name_f] or [name_f]Mariana[/name_f] might also appeal? I also like [name_u]Marion[/name_u] as an alternative and I think that feels a little glamorous thanks to [name_u]Marion[/name_u] Cotillard. I also wonder whether you might like another “anne” ending name like Lucianne or [name_u]Julianne[/name_u] (which have obvious nickname potential).
I also thought of [name_f]Amalia[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Molly[/name_f]?) or [name_f]Camila[/name_f] (nn. [name_f]Milly[/name_f]?) as alternatives to [name_f]Amelia[/name_f].
It sounds like the pronunciation of [name_u]Wren[/name_u] is a deal-breaker, but I love the idea of [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] nn. [name_u]Wren[/name_u]! Have you thought about [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] nn. [name_f]Kitty[/name_f], [name_u]Kit[/name_u], or [name_f]Cat[/name_f]? [name_f]Kitty[/name_f] reminds me of [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] and [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] in style, and [name_u]Kit[/name_u] and [name_f]Cat[/name_f] remind me of [name_f]Mae[/name_f] and [name_u]Wren[/name_u].
You have lots of great names on your list already–I hope you are able to find “the one”!
Thanks ladies! This was so helpful! Follow up question…do you think [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] will age well? For example, would it work for a female boss with male subordinates? Also, do you think [name_f]Emme[/name_f] will work as a nn?
I think [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] ages well, and it’s also a name that provides alot of nn, incase she ever wants to shorten it for work purposes, etc. [name_f]Emme[/name_f] as a nn is lovely btw!
I am loving [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] nn [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] from your list!
[name_f]Luciana[/name_f]
[name_f]Anastasia[/name_f]
[name_f]Marina[/name_f] - similar to [name_f]Marianne[/name_f] but steer clear from [name_u]Marion[/name_u].
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]
[name_f]Sabrina[/name_f]
[name_f]Celia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]
[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f]
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]
[name_u]Meredith[/name_u] nn [name_f]Edie[/name_f] / [name_f]Merry[/name_f]
[name_f]Arabella[/name_f] nn [name_f]Belle[/name_f] / [name_f]Ella[/name_f]
[name_f]Claudia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Clio[/name_f]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] nn [name_f]Effie[/name_f] / [name_f]Essie[/name_f]
[name_f]Esther[/name_f] nn [name_f]Essie[/name_f] / [name_f]Ettie[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucinda[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] / [name_f]Lulu[/name_f] / [name_f]Cindy[/name_f] / [name_f]Indi[/name_f]
[name_f]Valentina[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lena[/name_f]
DH is not sold on [name_f]Clementine[/name_f]. He thinks the song is morbid. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] “[name_f]Luna[/name_f]” is too much of a stretch?
Eleanor “Luna” is too much of a stretch for me personally. I like Nell or Nora. Adelaide nn Daisy would be my pick from your list.
Most of these have been mentioned, but I like for you …
Claudia nn Coco, Clio, or Audie
Helena nn Lainy
Lucille nn Lulu
Lorelei nn Lulu or Lola
Magnolia nn Maggie or Nola
Marguerite nn Mae or Daisy
Miriam nn Mimi
Penelope nn Poppy
Susannah nn Sukie or Zuzu
Theodora nn Thea, Teddy, or Dot
Another vote for [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] nn [name_f]Daisy[/name_f]. [name_u]Love[/name_u] that!
Suggestions that I don’t think have been mentioned (but sorry for repeats):
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] nn [name_f]Ginny[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] nn [name_f]Greta[/name_f]
[name_f]Marigold[/name_f] nn [name_f]Goldie[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] nn [name_f]Hallie[/name_f]
[name_f]Marianne[/name_f] nn [name_f]Maya[/name_f] (I’ve known a little girl who did this - cute! And FWIW, I like the pronunciation or even the use of [name_u]Marion[/name_u])
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] or [name_f]Helena[/name_f] nn [name_f]Nela[/name_f]
[name_f]Katherine[/name_f] nn [name_f]Katka[/name_f]
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] nn Leisel
[name_f]Bridget[/name_f] nn [name_f]Birdie[/name_f]
Any of the M names with [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] or [name_f]Maya[/name_f], actually.
