I really love the name [name_u]Joan/name_u for my second daughter.
But sometimes I feel it is either too plain or too dusty and she’ll hate it.
What do you guys think?
Big sister is named [name_f]Elodie[/name_f].
My issue with [name_u]Joan[/name_u] or [name_f]Joanie[/name_f] is not actually with the names themselves, but how I would feel as a [name_f]Joanie[/name_f] next to big sister [name_f]Elodie[/name_f].
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f] is so lyrical and modern and sophisticated by comparison that [name_u]Joan[/name_u] does sound far too dusty and plain.
Perhaps choosing [name_f]Joanie[/name_f] as a nickname could avoid the issue entirely.
I could see [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] being called [name_f]Joanie[/name_f]. [name_m]Even[/name_m] [name_f]Julienne[/name_f] or [name_f]Jeremine[/name_f] or [name_u]Juniper[/name_u]. Those would sound much less disparate from [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] and would share the limelight rather than [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] eclipsing [name_u]Joan[/name_u].
I really like [name_u]Joan[/name_u]! Totally ready for revival. Personally, I’d rather be a [name_u]Joan[/name_u] than an [name_f]Elodie[/name_f].
I would name her [name_f]Joanie[/name_f] as her formal name. It is [name_u]Joan[/name_u] with a facelift.
I agree with @medfordkung. [name_u]Joan[/name_u] is nice and classic with history, but I think next to [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] a little girl would find it not pretty enough.
I really like it. It makes me think of [name_u]Joan[/name_u] [name_u]Baez[/name_u] and [name_f]Joni[/name_f] [name_m]Mitchell[/name_m], which are cool associations. I actually think it sounds fresh nowadays, not dusty. Its most popular decade was the 1930s so it fits in with all the “old lady” names coming back in style.
As far as her hating it, I think you should just go with what you love. You can’t predict how she’ll feel about it. You could not use [name_u]Joan[/name_u] and decide to go with something “prettier” and she could hate that too. Personally, I would rather have a simpler name like [name_u]Joan[/name_u], and others may prefer something more elaborate, but either way you won’t find out her personal preference until she’s older and already named.
I think [name_u]Joan[/name_u] is awesome!
It’s not my cup of tea. I think [name_u]Joan[/name_u] as a middle name would be cute.
Makes me think of [name_f]Joni[/name_f] [name_m]Mitchell[/name_m] too. I think it’s great. I have a friend named [name_f]Joanie[/name_f] who just competed in the [name_u]Rio[/name_u] Olympics - these two associations make it really badass for me 
I really like [name_u]Joan[/name_u]/[name_f]Joanie[/name_f], but I do think it looks lonely beside [name_f]Elodie[/name_f]. Could you use [name_f]Johanna[/name_f] with [name_u]Joan[/name_u]/[name_f]Joanie[/name_f] as a nickname? That would help even things out.
I think [name_u]Joan[/name_u] is beautiful and timeless, and it makes a pretty sibset with [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], as the two share that O sound in the middle. [name_f]Joanie[/name_f] and [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] might be too matchy for me, but [name_f]IMO[/name_f] [name_u]Joan[/name_u] doesn’t call for a nickname. Plus you have an awesome strong female namesake in [name_u]Joan[/name_u] of [name_m]Arc[/name_m].
I do not think it is a bad option. I personally feel neutral about [name_u]Joan[/name_u] but there is absolutely nothing wrong with the name. [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] and [name_f]Joanie[/name_f] make a fun, spunky sibling set.
I also agree completely with @medfordkung, [name_u]Joan[/name_u] is too opposite of [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], which is very chic at the time. I think you could definitely find a short J name to go with [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], and my first thought was actually [name_f]Jane[/name_f]. It has the same old world feel as [name_u]Joan[/name_u], but it’s considerably more on the upswing, and already has been “dusted off” so to speak. [name_u]June[/name_u] would also make a fabulous sister to [name_f]Elodie[/name_f].
I love [name_u]Joan[/name_u]. It is underused nowadays and refreshing. [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] and [name_f]Joanie[/name_f] sound awesome together. People said that [name_f]Jane[/name_f] was “too plain”. It’s coming back, and I welcome it.
I’ve been thinking about [name_u]Joan[/name_u] a bit, lately. I really like it - it’s smooth and round. [name_f]Lovely[/name_f].
If you’re worried about its lack of ‘frilliness’ next to [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], I second the suggestion of [name_f]Johanna[/name_f]/[name_f]Joanna[/name_f] , with [name_u]Joan[/name_u] or [name_f]Joanie[/name_f] as a nickname. If she wants something less sleek when she’s older, she could go by [name_f]Hanna[/name_f], [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], etc (and [name_u]Jo[/name_u] or [name_m]Jonny[/name_m] if she wants something more androgynous). [name_f]Joanna[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Anna[/name_f]’ and [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Ella[/name_f]’ feel quite similar to me.
Perhaps a more flowery middle might give options too? Anything you like that you feel matches [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] or gives an equally ‘pretty’ or popular nickname.
Some ideas:
[name_f]Joanna[/name_f] [name_f]Isobel[/name_f] (gives [name_f]Annabel[/name_f], [name_f]Belle[/name_f], [name_f]Bella[/name_f], [name_f]Joanie[/name_f]-[name_f]Belle[/name_f] etc), Joahanna [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] (or [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f], [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f], [name_f]Rosaline[/name_f] etc), [name_f]Joanna[/name_f] [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Johanna[/name_f] [name_f]Lily[/name_f]/[name_f]Lilian[/name_f], [name_f]Joanna[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], [name_f]Joanna[/name_f] [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f], Joahanna [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Joanna[/name_f] [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f], [name_f]Joanna[/name_f] [name_f]Ophelie[/name_f], [name_f]Johanna[/name_f] [name_f]Celeste[/name_f].
Alternatively, you could use [name_u]Joan[/name_u] as a middle - something like [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_u]Joan[/name_u] or [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]/[name_f]Adelia[/name_f] [name_u]Joan[/name_u] (or something slightly less frilly but still pretty - maybe [name_f]Adeline[/name_f] [name_u]Joan[/name_u] or [name_f]Celia[/name_f] [name_u]Joan[/name_u] or something) - and call her by her middle.
Good luck, and congratulations!
I agree with PPs that [name_u]Joan[/name_u] is a strong, wonderful name, but that it’s a bit too different from [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] for them to work as a sibset. [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] is on-trend and has fashionable sounds, light and flowy and spunky and feminine, with equally current nicknames [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] and [name_f]Elle[/name_f]. [name_u]Joan[/name_u] is vintage and still feels old-fashioned to a lot of people, with heavier and more solid sounds, and nicknames like [name_f]Joanie[/name_f] and [name_u]Jo[/name_u] that are associated with older generations. I like the suggestions of [name_f]Jane[/name_f] or [name_u]June[/name_u] instead, or using [name_u]Joan[/name_u] as a middle name.
It’s funny; [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] does nothing for me and I love love love [name_u]Joan[/name_u]!
[name_u]Joan[/name_u] is to me such a simple, clear, reasonable name. It is a mature name and by mature I don’t mean old. I can picture any age of [name_u]Joan[/name_u], and Joannie is cute.
I say go for it!
[name_u]Leslie[/name_u]