We are struggling with naming baby girl #2. Our first daughter is Marilena, named after her two grandmothers ([name]MaryEllen[/name] and [name]Eleni[/name]). We want something that is not too popular, but easy to pronounce (and a real name) for our 2nd daughter as well. Ideally I’d love it to be easy to say in Greek, or have a greek origin and go well with Marilena’s name.
Curently debating (my choices) [name]Vivian[/name], [name]Juliana[/name]/[name]Julia[/name], [name]Louisa[/name], [name]Susannah[/name], [name]Claire[/name], [name]Daphne[/name], [name]Simone[/name] and (husband’s choices) [name]Beatrix[/name], [name]Agnes[/name], [name]Fiona[/name], [name]Oona[/name], [name]Bette[/name].
I generally don’t love names that folks use nicknames for automatically (my fear of this child being called [name]Suzie[/name], if we go with [name]Susannah[/name]). Middle name is my last name (starts with a Z, is greek and is 10 letters long), last name starts with a C and is 9 letters long. Daughter #1 also has the same middle and last names.
Any suggestions or thoughts to help us sort this out would be appreciated. Naming #2 is MUCh harder than #1!
I love [name]Vivian[/name] but some others are
[name]Samara[/name]
[name]Junia[/name]
[name]Celeste[/name]
[name]Gracia[/name] ([name]Gray[/name]-sha)
[name]Margo[/name]
[name]Valentina[/name]
[name]Vincenza[/name]
[name]Delphine[/name]
[name]Milena[/name]
[name]Sybella[/name]
Rowana nn [name]Rowan[/name]
[name]Taliah[/name]
From your list, I think [name]Claire[/name] is your best bet for a no-nickname name, BUT - as someone with a long name, if you call her by her full name, introduce her by her full name, most people will call her by what you wish. By the time she is in school, she may decide to go by a nickname, but by then, kids give nicknames anyway. My brother is TJ, literally two letters long and his friends STILL called him by a nickname.
Your daughter has a very exotic feel, so ideally, this baby could have her own special name. While I love your options, I don’t think they “go”. [name]How[/name] about:
To go with your other daughter’s beautiful name I would use from your list: [name]Daphne[/name]. I think it’s beautiful and will go well with Marilena.
First of all, nicknames you won’t really be able to control. If you name her [name]Susannah[/name] and insist everyone call her that, it isn’t gonna necessarily stop your daughter HERSELF wanting to be called [name]Susie[/name]. Or [name]Suse[/name]…or any other nickname. So keep that in mind.
Anyway, I do like [name]Vivian[/name]. I think it’s cute and vintage sounding. I prefer the “[name]Vivien[/name]” spelling myself. [name]Juliana[/name]/[name]Julia[/name] is also pretty. [name]Louisa[/name] is not my style. [name]Susannah[/name] I do like. [name]Claire[/name] is very pretty and I can’t think of any possible nicknames for that. [name]Daphne[/name] is nice, but not really my style. [name]Beatrix[/name] I don’t really care for. I like the “[name]Beatrice[/name]” spelling. [name]Agnes[/name] is too old ladyish for me. [name]Fiona[/name] is super cute. [name]Oona[/name] is horrible, sorry. [name]Bette[/name] is too old ladyish for me.
[name]Hi[/name] - I’m Greek as well! [name]Love[/name] Marilena, btw! Of your list I really like [name]Juliana[/name] (popular saint name) - the name has such a great history yet remains fresh/modern in [name]America[/name]'s society. I also think [name]Daphne[/name] would go wonderfully with Marilena - it was on our list too but hubby wasn’t feeling it so it’s no longer on our list. I also like [name]Tess[/name] ([name]Tessa[/name], or Contessa) with Marilena. You could also go with the traditional [name]Irene[/name] or popular [name]Alexis[/name].
Thanks for all the suggestions. I think we have narrowed the names down to [name]Calista[/name]/ [name]Calixta[/name], [name]Alexa[/name]/[name]Alexandra[/name] or [name]Vivien[/name]. Any more thoughts or suggestions? My husband would love to have an ‘x’ in this girls name… but I prefer the [name]Calista[/name] spelling to [name]Calixta[/name].
Thanks again, [name]Katrina[/name]
I love Marilena and I love the family connection. I agree with pp and don’t think any of your current names are near as special.
I think it would be great for you to consider names that have equal tie to your family as Marilena’s name does! (I know if I were the little sister I’d feel left out).
From your current list I like: [name]Calista[/name], and [name]Alexandra[/name].