Desperate for a name!

Girl Names
1

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] all!

First off, this is my first time on the boards, and I’m so excited to be here. This is my first baby, a little girl.

I just have one itsy bitsy problem; I CAN’T pick a name and stick with it!

When I was a teenager, spending many hours on my laptop playing The [name_m]Sims[/name_m], and having tens of kids, naming was a snap. But now that I’m having an actual human baby that will be with me for at least the next 18 years, I just can’t.

It all started with my all time, absolutely in love with name, [name_f]Greta[/name_f]. I stuck with it for probably 12 years and always planned on naming my little girl that. However, I seem to be marrying into the one family who has actually used that name. My soon to be sister in law named her daughter [name_f]Greta[/name_f] last year. She also used my runner-up, [name_f]Ellie[/name_f].

So boom, there are two names right off the bat that I always wanted. If it were any other person except my DH’s nieces, I’d honestly probably use them.

But I tried. I picked up [name_f]Maia[/name_f], [name_f]Kaia[/name_f], [name_f]Gretchen[/name_f] (I still love, but am so iffy about the “retchen” part of it), [name_u]Paisley[/name_u], [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], and [name_f]Izabella[/name_f]. Loved them all, and very very quickly fell out of love.

Naming is such a huge thing, all I can think about is scarring my kid for life. There are so many factors I think of like;

  • Can’t be spelled oddly
  • Has to be at least semi easy to pronounce
  • I need to be able to imagine it being used in a professional environment
  • Has to have the least amount of awful nicknames
  • It can’t start with an L or end in an -en sound
  • Not in the top 10 names

Now, I do have slight anxiety (okay, it’s high anxiety), and have decided I’m slightly neurotic over this. So PLEASE, help! I’m open to ANY name suggestions. I really like old fashioned names, anything [name_m]French[/name_m], or Irish, bohemian types, and even some of the more popular names.

2

I love the name [name_f]Greta[/name_f] too! It’s beautiful. Sadly a good friend has used the name so it’s off my list now too! I also like [name_f]Gretchen[/name_f], but someone here pointed out the ‘retch’ factor and now I have that in mind. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]? My daughter’s name is [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], which I still love!

Some of my other favourites at the moment are:

[name_f]Vera[/name_f]
[name_f]Jemima[/name_f]
[name_f]Cora[/name_f]
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ottoline[/name_f]
[name_f]Ottilie[/name_f]
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_u]Jean[/name_u]
[name_u]Joan[/name_u]
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Esme[/name_f]
[name_f]Edwina[/name_f]
[name_f]Elowen[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]

3

Yeah, it’d be weird for cousins to have the same name. I do love [name_f]Greta[/name_f] though!

[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Camille[/name_f] (nn [name_u]Cam[/name_u], [name_f]Cami[/name_f], or [name_f]Millie[/name_f])
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f]
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f]
[name_f]Bridget[/name_f]
[name_f]Melina[/name_f]

4

What about:

[name_f]Tilda[/name_f]
[name_u]Harper[/name_u]
[name_f]Sonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Mila[/name_f]
[name_f]Kira[/name_f]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
[name_u]Piper[/name_u]
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]
[name_f]Keira[/name_f]
[name_f]Molly[/name_f]
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Melia[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]
[name_f]Elissa[/name_f]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Althea[/name_f]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]
[name_f]Elsa[/name_f]
[name_f]Zoe[/name_f]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]
[name_f]Naomi[/name_f]
[name_f]Julia[/name_f]
[name_f]Delilah[/name_f]
[name_f]Tabitha[/name_f]
[name_f]Cora[/name_f]
[name_f]Athena[/name_f]
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]

5

[name_f]Greta[/name_f] makes me think of [name_f]Freya[/name_f]. I also know a [name_f]Greta[/name_f] whose sister is bridget

6

First of all, congratulations on having a baby girl! :slight_smile:

After reading your story, the first name that came to mind was [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]. I think it’s a lovely vintage gem that evokes the image of a strong, charismatic, elegant, smart and beautiful young woman. Also, [name_f]Gertie[/name_f] is such an adorable nn.

Other suggestions:
[name_f]Adela[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Anna[/name_f]
[name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Celia[/name_f]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_f]Etta[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Fleur[/name_f]
[name_f]Gerda[/name_f]
[name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Greer[/name_f]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Luna[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
[name_f]Pearl[/name_f]
[name_f]Posey[/name_f]
[name_u]Quinn[/name_u]
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f]
[name_u]Vivian[/name_u]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Winnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Zelda[/name_f]

Good luck! :slight_smile:

7

I had tons of the same feelings when choosing names for my kids. I would personally seek out other 2 syllable options Tons of great names have already been mentioned, but my first thought was [name_f]Freya[/name_f], as mentioned above. I think it has such a similar feel and style and is as beautiful as [name_f]Greta[/name_f]. :slight_smile:

8

Oh, I love [name_f]Greta[/name_f]! Is the family member named [name_f]Greta[/name_f] a close one? If not, I would still use it. If they are close, here are a few that give me the same feeling:

[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Heidi[/name_f]
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]

9

[name_f]Adrienne[/name_f]
[name_f]Alicia[/name_f]
[name_f]Brigitte[/name_f]
[name_f]Ciel[/name_f]
[name_u]Darcy[/name_u]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Marielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Odette[/name_f]
[name_f]Renee[/name_f]
[name_u]Simone[/name_u]
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
[name_u]Valentine[/name_u]
[name_f]Valerie[/name_f]

10

Congratulations! I too had my daughters name picked out years in advance! It was in my journal as my top choice since I was 11 and 14 years later I was able to use it. It’s actually kind of heartbreaking for you in a name nerd, dreaming of future daughter way, so I completely understand how difficult you are finding it to settle on a new name. I’d like to suggest the following:

[name_f]Adele[/name_f]
[name_f]Alexa[/name_f]
[name_f]Brigid[/name_f]
[name_f]Calliope[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Elowen[/name_f] (I know it’s an -en ending, but it’s cute!)
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]*
[name_f]Giselle[/name_f]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Idonie[/name_f]
[name_f]Liesl[/name_f]
[name_f]Leia[/name_f]
[name_f]Layla[/name_f]
[name_f]Muriel[/name_f]
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Rhea[/name_f]
[name_f]Talia[/name_f]
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]

11

what about these?

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_u]Delaney[/name_u]
[name_f]Marissa[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Chloe[/name_f]
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f]/[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
[name_f]Paige[/name_f]
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f]
[name_f]Kinsley[/name_f]
[name_u]Hadley[/name_u]

12

Have you considered [name_f]Gretel[/name_f]? It seems like a happy medium between [name_f]Greta[/name_f] and [name_f]Gretchen[/name_f], plus it’s recognizable yet not popular. You might get some “where’s [name_m]Hansel[/name_m]” jokes, but that’s not a huge deal.

your taste seems to lean slightly towards [name_m]German[/name_m] names, so have you also thought about:
[name_f]Karin[/name_f] (maybe the “en” sound at the end rules this out)
[name_f]Monika[/name_f]
[name_f]Krista[/name_f]
[name_f]Gerda[/name_f]
[name_f]Kristal[/name_f]
[name_f]Ilse[/name_f]
[name_f]Elke[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Regina[/name_f]
[name_f]Sybil[/name_f]
[name_f]Johanna[/name_f]
[name_f]Edith[/name_f]

13

A [name_f]Greta[/name_f] alternative that first comes to my mind is [name_f]Heidi[/name_f].

Here are some other suggestions as well:

[name_f]Margo[/name_f]/[name_f]Margot[/name_f]/Margeaux
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]/[name_f]Norah[/name_f]
[name_f]Greer[/name_f]/[name_f]Grier[/name_f]
[name_f]Gemma[/name_f]
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Rayna[/name_f]
[name_u]Adley[/name_u]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Mila[/name_f]
[name_f]Sadie[/name_f]
[name_f]Brenna[/name_f]
[name_f]Elyse[/name_f]

14

Ironically, I also thought of [name_f]Freya[/name_f] when I first saw this post (as did two other posters). Some other suggestions include:

[name_f]Greer[/name_f]
[name_f]Pearl[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeva[/name_f]
[name_f]Gemma[/name_f]
[name_u]June[/name_u]
[name_f]Margo[/name_f]
[name_f]Dinah[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Regina[/name_f]
[name_f]Edie[/name_f]
[name_u]Penny[/name_u]
[name_f]Giselle[/name_f]
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]

Good luck!

15

Has [name_f]Minerva[/name_f] been suggested yet? Has a similar ‘vibe’ to me.

16

[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Natalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Zoe[/name_f]
[name_u]Harper[/name_u]
[name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u]
[name_f]April[/name_f]
[name_f]Autumn[/name_f]
[name_u]Aubrey[/name_u]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Gemma[/name_f]
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f]
[name_f]Francesca[/name_f]
[name_f]Sienna[/name_f]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Brielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Giselle[/name_f]
[name_f]Hannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Poppy[/name_f]
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u]
[name_f]Camille[/name_f]
[name_f]Camilla[/name_f]
[name_f]Primrose[/name_f]
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f]
[name_f]Arabella[/name_f]
[name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_f]Ebony[/name_f]
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u]
[name_f]Julia[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleanora[/name_f]
[name_f]Bridget[/name_f]
[name_f]Bronte[/name_f]
[name_f]Carly[/name_f]
[name_f]Carla[/name_f]
[name_f]Kara[/name_f]
[name_f]Janessa[/name_f]
[name_u]Courtney[/name_u]
[name_f]Joy[/name_f]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Michaela[/name_f]
[name_f]Mia[/name_f]
[name_f]Zoe[/name_f]
[name_f]Sana[/name_f]
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Rachel[/name_f]
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]
[name_f]Kyah[/name_f]
[name_u]Hadley[/name_u]
[name_f]Hope[/name_f]
[name_f]Amelie[/name_f]

17

[name_f]Cynthia[/name_f]
[name_u]Waverly[/name_u]
[name_f]Maris[/name_f]
[name_f]Nova[/name_f]
[name_u]Andrea[/name_u]
[name_f]Marianne[/name_f]