[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone, [name_f][/name_f]I’m looking for some help and fresh eyes as we try to name our new little girl.
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Our baby is already a week old and still nameless! We had a homebirth, so there hasn’t been the same immediate pressure as there would’ve been in the hospital—but I still really want to settle on her name soon.
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I originally had a long list of over 150 names. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband and I narrowed it down to three finalists: [name_f]Idony[/name_f][name_f][/name_f], [name_f]Thessaly[/name_f][name_f][/name_f], and Castalia[name_f][/name_f]. I told my dad, and he said he liked all of them (very sweet, but not extremely helpful!). Then I told my mom… and she didn’t like any of them. She said [name_f]Thessaly[/name_f][name_f][/name_f] would always be misheard as [name_f]Cecily[/name_f][name_f][/name_f], [name_f]Idony[/name_f][name_f][/name_f] as [name_f]Ebony[/name_f][name_f][/name_f], and she just flat-out disliked Castalia[name_f][/name_f] without being able to explain why. While I can acknowledge that some of her points have a little merit, hearing all those negatives was honestly really disheartening and made me second-guess everything.
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So my husband and I went back to the drawing board last night. We took the giant list and narrowed it down again, this time to these names:
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[name_f]Athenais[/name_f]
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[name_f]Delphine[/name_f]
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[name_f]Romilly[/name_f]
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[name_f]Sibry[/name_f]
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[name_f]Tierney[/name_f]
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[name_f]Ianthe[/name_f]
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[name_f]Solene[/name_f]
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[name_f]Celestine[/name_f]
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For context, her big sister is [name_f]Evadne[/name_f] [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f][name_f][/name_f], which probably gives you a good sense of our style.
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I’d love any thoughts, impressions, or rankings. At this point my brain feels like alphabet soup, and a nudge in any direction would be so appreciated!
I like [name_f]Romilly[/name_f], [name_f]Delphine[/name_f], [name_f]Idony[/name_f], [name_f]Thessaly[/name_f] and [name_f]Cecily[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f]Best of luck
I think the best sibset sound would be between [name_f]Solene[/name_f] and [name_f]Celestine[/name_f], but I also love the name [name_f]Tierney[/name_f]
I think your three original finalist names [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Idony[/name_f], [name_f]Thessaly[/name_f], and Castalia [name_f][/name_f]- are all beautiful! Yes, some of them could[name_f][/name_f] get misheard, but honestly, most names can, and at the end of the day it’s your decision, not anyone else’s.
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Looking at your other list:
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[name_f]Athenais[/name_f][name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Gorgeous[/name_f], though maybe a little “extra” for everyday use; I might personally lean toward [name_f]Athena[/name_f] or [name_f]Althea[/name_f], but it’s still very nice.
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[name_f]Delphine[/name_f][name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Love[/name_f] this one, and nicknames like [name_m]Dell[/name_m] or [name_f]Della[/name_f] are adorable.
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[name_f]Romilly[/name_f][name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- Also cute, though it has a slightly different feel from [name_f]Evadne[/name_f].
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[name_f]Sibry[/name_f][name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- Very unique! [name_f]My[/name_f] only hesitation is it sounds a bit like the word “sibling,” which I’m not sure about [name_f][/name_f]- maybe something like Sabry could work?
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[name_f]Tierney[/name_f][name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- Cute! I’ve heard it used with the nickname [name_f]Tia[/name_f], which is lovely. [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Ianthe[/name_f][name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- Very cute and ethereal! It’s maybe a tiny bit similar in sound to [name_f]Evadne[/name_f], but I think it’s distinct enough to work beautifully as a sister name.
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[name_f]Solene[/name_f][name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- Sweet, though it could easily be mistaken for [name_f]Selene[/name_f].
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[name_f]Celestine[/name_f][name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- Very pretty! I personally slightly prefer [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] or [name_f]Estelle[/name_f], but [name_f]Celestine[/name_f] works beautifully.
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You really can’t go wrong with whichever you pick. As an alternative to Castalia, names like [name_f]Calista[/name_f] or [name_f]Calliope[/name_f] might feel a little more approachable while keeping a similar vibe.
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All of the names on your list pair well with [name_f]Evadne[/name_f], and I personally like when sibling names share a similar feel[name_f][/name_f] rather than similar sounds. I notice many of your options have an “ee” ending [name_f][/name_f]- if that doesn’t bother you, that’s totally fine!
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Overall, there are so many beautiful options here, and I think whichever you choose will be perfect.
Urgh, I LOVE[name_f][/name_f] your style… how STUNNING!! [name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]
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I’m sorry that some of the feedback you’ve received has put you off. That’s frustrating. It’s okay to use names you love, even if they’re not to other people’s tastes.
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I love [name_f]Thessaly[/name_f] from your original list. From your new short list, I love [name_f]Delphine[/name_f], [name_f]Romilly[/name_f], and [name_f]Solene[/name_f].
[name_f]Delphine[/name_f] → sleek, pretty and floral, grounded yet stand out
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[name_f]Celestine[/name_f] → magical and elegant, celestial and pretty
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[name_f]Romilly[/name_f] → melodic and stylish, with such lovely nicknames (Ro, [name_f]Romy[/name_f], [name_f]Milly[/name_f], [name_m]Rome[/name_m], Mimi)
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[name_f]Tierney[/name_f] → unexpected and rugged but with a touch of magic and intrigue
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I like [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] (but [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] / [name_f]Evadne[/name_f] are a bit rhymey for me). [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Celestine[/name_f] [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] or [name_f]Delphine[/name_f] [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] would be nice though!
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I do want to also short out [name_f]Thessaly[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- if it helps, at all, I used the name in a story I submitted for a class at uni and people guessed and read it correctly? I also think it’s a stunning choice
With Evadne I really love Delphine, it has a similar vibe without being too matchy. My 2nd favorite would be Ianthe, though I worry that it may be too matchy (and make it more difficult to name a 3rd if that’s something you plan on, but if not then I actually dont mind the matchy)
Tierney would be my 3rd favorite, it would take your naming in a totally different but equally lovely direction.
That’s a huge list to work through so you’ve done really well to narrow it down. That must’ve been hard.
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[name_f]My[/name_f] first choice from your list would be [name_f]Celestine[/name_f], followed [name_f]Solene[/name_f] and [name_f]Delphine[/name_f]. These all strike me as distinctive, beautiful choices and sound the most compatible with [name_f]Evadne[/name_f] from a style perspective as well as familiarity (unusual but not completely unheard of). They all have different ending sounds to Evande which is a nice bonus and none are particularly challenging to spell or pronounce.
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You can only do your best for the circumstances you’re in. If your intuition is pulling you or your husband in any direction – follow it. You could also try ranking your short list individually, and seeing which names rank the highest between you both.
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There’s always more than one right choice, and all of these names would make great name for your daughter. All the best with your decision!
Ha! I might have to book her a hearing test! But honestly She has not had positive things to say about my naming choices in the past [name_f][/name_f], not sure why I thought this time might be different. I was/am just so desperate to solidify a name that I was willing to take advice anywhere I could get it
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_f]Solene[/name_f] is becoming more mainstream or popular? [name_f]My[/name_f] older sister has a very rare name that has stayed uncommon, while mine was rare when I received it but has become popular over time, which I don’t love. I’m hoping the name I choose for this little one will remain unique, just as I expect Evadne’s name will.
(Idony is too close to Evadne for me. Would Bryony work better? I also agree that Callista - or Cressida - might be a more approachable name than Castalia. I really like Tierney but it’s stylistically very different to Evadne to me.)
I’m so sorry your mom made you question your names! [name_f][/name_f] For what it’s worth, I think they’re all lovely! [name_f][/name_f] I especially love [name_f]Thessaly[/name_f] though [name_f][/name_f]- she’s so sweet and has so many nn options! [name_f][/name_f] While it does rhyme with [name_f]Cecily[/name_f], there are many rhyming names (Ben, [name_f]Wren[/name_f], [name_m]Len[/name_m], [name_m]Ken[/name_m], Jen/Lily, [name_f]Tilly[/name_f], [name_f]Millie[/name_f], etc.!). [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Thessaly[/name_f] isn’t popular but she does show up on these forums regularly enough that I don’t think it would be too much of a problem (plus, [name_f]Cecily[/name_f] isn’t that popular yet?). [name_f][/name_f] But if she’s been soured for you, from your current options I really love [name_f]Delphine[/name_f] and [name_f]Romilly[/name_f], especially with [name_f]Evadne[/name_f]! [name_f][/name_f] Same with [name_f]Celestine[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f] I think [name_f]Celestine[/name_f] is my personal favorite, followed by [name_f]Delphine[/name_f] and then [name_f]Romilly[/name_f], but I love nn options for all 3 (Cece/Tess for [name_f]Celestine[/name_f], Della/Delphi for [name_f]Delphine[/name_f], Romy/Milly/Rory for Romilly). [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Evadne[/name_f] and [name_f]Solene[/name_f] is also a great pair! [name_f][/name_f] I really like [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] but [name_f]Evadne[/name_f] and [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] feel a little too samey for me? [name_f][/name_f] They’re not really that similar, but somehow (maybe the repeated “e” endings?) feel a bit matchy. [name_f][/name_f] [name_m]Or[/name_m] maybe it’s just because I always associate [name_f]Evadne[/name_f] and [name_f]Evanthe[/name_f] together, and [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] and [name_f]Evanthe[/name_f] are definitely too similar haha.
So I think [name_f]Delphine[/name_f] is out of the running. I was having [name_f]Evadne[/name_f] say all the names because they all sound different or sweeter in her little voice and we got to the name [name_f]Delphine[/name_f]. Then instead of saying [name_f]Delphine[/name_f] by itself she says “ [name_f]Delphine[/name_f] Donkey from [name_f]Peppa[/name_f] Pig!” And starts making donkey sounds [name_f][/name_f]. I was like “ okay that crosses one name off [name_f][/name_f], haha!”
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