Epic Challenge - Naming an 8th Daughter

Your Help Wanted
This site is famed for its big family name games. Can you help an actual big family name an eighth child?

For the full details, read on. To jump ahead (tl:dr), skip down to “Can You [name_f]Solve[/name_f] the Puzzle?”.

Our [name_u]Story[/name_u]
We’ve got seven daughters. If we have an eighth in the near future (probable) we have no names for her. [name_m]Zero[/name_m], zilch, nothing. We’re plumb out of girl names.

This is totally new territory for me. I’m a name buff and like to be prepared. My wife will tell you that she would not let me discuss baby names until we were engaged. Within fifteen minutes of being engaged, we’d settled on as many boy and girl names as we thought we’d need. (We both knew we wanted to have a big family: my wife used to tell people she wanted ten sons. Note, we have no sons. Note also, we love having girls.)

Our Naming Pattern
I’ll try to keep this as simple as I can. Each of our daughters has two family names and one virtue name. Each of our daughters also has a shortened nickname. Both first and nickname get use.

So far:
[ol][/ol]

Our virtue names are fairly obvious.

For the family names, we’ve divided our family heritage into four sides: my mum’s side, her mum’s side, her dad’s side, my dad’s side. We always pick a name from two different sides (e.g. one from her mum + one from my dad’s side). We also try not to go too far back in history - we want the people to actually be meaningful to us, so we can share their stories with our girls.

For our nicknames, neither of us like adding a “y” or “ie” to a nickname. We like the more adult sound of a firm consonant, or the more Spanish sound of an open a. That’s why we chose [name_f]Eve[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Evie[/name_f]. BUT BUT BUT - there is an exception to this rule. Namely, where the ‘ie’ is traditional and essential to the nickname (e.g. [name_u]Connie[/name_u]).

For an example of the process in all its glory, you can read the details of our latest daughter’s name in her Nameberry birth announcement:

The Dilemma
We’re hitting a brick wall, unable to find any more combinations we love. For some of the names, only one of us likes the name (e.g. [name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]). Some of the names sound excellent to us in the native language, but not in English (e.g. [name_f]Lucrecia[/name_f]). Some of the names don’t feel appropriate on a baby (e.g. [name_f]Irma[/name_f]). And some of the names don’t form easy nicknames (e.g. [name_f]Irma[/name_f]).

But it’s entirely possible that we’re just not thinking about a combination the right way. That’s where your help is so appreciated!

Can You [name_f]Solve[/name_f] the Puzzle?
Can you help us build names that fit our rules?

[ul]

[/ul]

The full name you suggest could very well be a name we use for our daughter.

The Puzzle Pieces
Now you need the puzzle pieces: four lists of family names.

You’ll see, I’m including some key male names amongst the female. So far we’ve only transformed one male name into a female name ([name_f]Dorothea[/name_f]), but we’d be open to doing it again. Warning though - my wife doesn’t like thin male-to-female conversions, where you just stick an ‘a’ on a male name (e.g. [name_f]Roberta[/name_f]). She also doesn’t like most female versions of [name_m]John[/name_m]. But (BONUS CHALLENGE) I’d love your help to find one she does like!

List A
[ul]

[/ul]

List B
[ul]

[/ul]

List C
[ul]

[/ul]

List D
[ul]

[/ul]

Thank you - 1,000,000x over for any suggestions.

Oh boy, such lovely names. I might come back and suggest more later but to start:
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_f]Lucrecia[/name_f] [name_f]Blythe[/name_f] ([name_f]Gwen[/name_f])
[name_f]Antonia[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_f]Amity[/name_f] ([name_f]Nia[/name_f])
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_f]Patience[/name_f] ([name_u]Jo[/name_u])

Another thought: you both like [name_f]Lucrecia[/name_f] in it’s native language. If you use it and use the Spanish pronunciation it won’t be they problematic if 90% of the time she uses her nickname… I’m not sure how often you girls use their nicknames. [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] though ending in y is a perfectly adult nickname.
Anyway:
[name_f]Lucrecia[/name_f] [name_f]Alwilda[/name_f] Brave
[name_f]Lucrecia[/name_f] [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] Courage

First, you’ve done an amazing job at naming your daughters! They all have such fantastic names

Now, onto some suggestions:

[name_f]Virginia[/name_f] [name_f]Helen[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] ([name_f]Vera[/name_f])
[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_f]Amity[/name_f] ([name_f]Celia[/name_f])
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_u]Peace[/name_u] ([name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] - I’ve met many adult Sylvies?)
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_f]Lucrecia[/name_f] [name_f]Blithe[/name_f] ([name_f]Anna[/name_f])
[name_f]Helen[/name_f] [name_f]Antonia[/name_f] [name_f]Clemency[/name_f] ([name_f]Nell[/name_f])
[name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Cornelia[/name_f] [name_f]Patience[/name_f] (I nearly didn’t suggest this because while in really like it, I cannot for the life of me think of a nickname that works. [name_m]Ace[/name_m], [name_u]Allie[/name_u] and [name_f]Ana[/name_f] (by mixing the sounds of [name_f]Alice[/name_f] and [name_m]Cor[/name_m]nelia) came to mind but I’m not sure they’re quite cutting it)

1 Like

[name_m]Just[/name_m] some wild ideas:

[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Helen[/name_f] [name_f]Ines[/name_f] ([name_u]Jo[/name_u], Phine, [name_f]Posey[/name_f])
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f] ([name_f]Suzie[/name_f])
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f] [name_f]Cornelia[/name_f] [name_f]Edith[/name_f] ([name_f]Pippa[/name_f])
[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] ([name_f]Cece[/name_f])
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] [name_f]Alma[/name_f] [name_f]Lucrecia[/name_f] ([name_f]Margie[/name_f], [name_u]Jorie[/name_u])
[name_f]Ana[/name_f] [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f] ([name_f]Lina[/name_f])
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] (Syl or [name_f]Gwen[/name_f])

[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Alma[/name_f] [name_u]Peace[/name_u] - [name_u]Jo[/name_u]
[name_f]Virginia[/name_f] [name_f]Anne[/name_f] [name_f]Patience[/name_f] - [name_f]Ginny[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_f]Praise[/name_f] - [name_f]Via[/name_f]
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f] [name_u]Joan/name_u [name_f]Verity[/name_f] - [name_f]Millie[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f] [name_f]Antonia[/name_f] [name_m]Light[/name_m] - [name_m]Earl[/name_m]
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] [name_f]Karma[/name_f] - [name_u]Phil[/name_u]

[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_u]Love[/name_u] nn Ann
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f] [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] [name_f]Constance[/name_f] nn [name_f]Mila[/name_f] or [name_f]Millie[/name_f]
[name_f]Virginia[/name_f] [name_f]Helen[/name_f] [name_f]Patience[/name_f] nn [name_f]Ginna[/name_f] or [name_f]Ginny[/name_f]
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f] [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_f]Patience[/name_f] nn [name_f]Kay[/name_f] or Kate or Lina
[name_f]Helen[/name_f] [name_f]Virginia[/name_f] [name_u]Love[/name_u] nn [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f] [name_f]Edith[/name_f] [name_f]Carys[/name_f] nn [name_f]Pippa[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] [name_f]Ines[/name_f] [name_f]Honor[/name_f] nn [name_f]Celia[/name_f]
[name_f]Julia[/name_f] Cassander Heart nn [name_f]Jill[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_u]Love[/name_u] nn [name_f]Vivi[/name_f] or [name_f]Viv[/name_f] or [name_f]Liv[/name_f]
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] [name_f]Constance[/name_f] nn [name_f]Edie[/name_f]
Catalina Cecelia Paz nn Cece

[name_f]Cassandra[/name_f] [name_f]Ines[/name_f] [name_f]Amity[/name_f] “[name_f]Cassia[/name_f]”
[name_f]Elvira[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f] [name_f]Clemency[/name_f] “[name_f]Elle[/name_f]/[name_f]Ella[/name_f]”
[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Verity[/name_f] “[name_f]Cece[/name_f]/[name_f]Celia[/name_f]”
[name_f]Virginia[/name_f] [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] [name_f]Prudence[/name_f] “[name_f]Ginny[/name_f]”
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_u]Love[/name_u] “[name_f]Cate[/name_f]/[name_f]Lina[/name_f]”
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] [name_f]Alwilda[/name_f] [name_f]Patience[/name_f] “[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]”
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f] Gracieuse [name_f]Charity[/name_f] “[name_f]Pippa[/name_f]”
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_f]Anne[/name_f] [name_u]Harmony[/name_u] “[name_f]Gwen[/name_f]”
[name_f]Julia[/name_f] [name_f]Eugenie[/name_f] [name_f]Honor[/name_f] “[name_u]Julie[/name_u]/[name_u]Jules[/name_u]”
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_f]Ione[/name_f] [name_u]Peace[/name_u] “[name_f]Susan[/name_f]”
[name_f]Antonia[/name_f] [name_f]Helen[/name_f] [name_f]Liberty[/name_f] “[name_f]Ana[/name_f]”
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] “[name_f]Amie[/name_f]”

[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] [name_f]Hope[/name_f]
[name_f]Antonia[/name_f] [name_f]Jeannette[/name_f] [name_f]Honora[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_f]Clarity[/name_f]
[name_f]Phillipa[/name_f] [name_f]Ione[/name_f] [name_u]Bliss[/name_u] (from [name_m]Phillipe[/name_m])
[name_f]Philomena[/name_f] [name_u]Leslie[/name_u] [name_f]Temperance[/name_f] (from [name_m]Phillipe[/name_m])
[name_f]Jeannette[/name_f] [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] [name_u]Sage[/name_u] (from [name_u]Jean[/name_u])

This was fun! [name_f]Hope[/name_f] it helps

[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] Brave with the nickname [name_u]Jo[/name_u] would be precious.

[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] ([name_f]Margot[/name_f]) [name_u]Jean[/name_u] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f]
Phillippa ([name_f]Pippa[/name_f]) [name_f]Edith[/name_f] [name_u]Love[/name_u]
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] ([name_f]Anna[/name_f]) [name_f]Vena[/name_f] [name_u]Love[/name_u]
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f] ([name_f]Mia[/name_f]) [name_f]Belle[/name_f] [name_f]Blythe[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] ([name_f]Gwen[/name_f]) [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_f]Honor[/name_f]

**I really like [name_u]James[/name_u] as a middle name for a girl so I didn’t make it more “feminine”

[name_f]Marcela[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Cece[/name_f])
[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Cece[/name_f])
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] [name_f]Helen[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Margo[/name_f]?)
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Antonia[/name_f] (nn [name_u]Josie[/name_u])
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] [name_f]Anne[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Mary[/name_f]-ann)
[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] (nn [name_f]Cece[/name_f])
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Gwen[/name_f])

This is so helpful already…

I should say, with [name_f]Catalina[/name_f], we thought of [name_f]Catalina[/name_f], nn [name_u]Kit[/name_u], but a cousin has taken a very similar name. The name [name_u]Kit[/name_u] is very appealing to us though.

Quick question, whichvlist correspond to which sides of the family? Trying to make sure that I don’t double down on one side in my suggestions.

[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f] Peaceful nn [name_f]Gwen[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] [name_f]Patience[/name_f] nn [name_f]Gwen[/name_f]
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] Brave nn [name_u]Josie[/name_u]
[name_f]Angelica[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_f]Blythe[/name_f] nn [name_f]Alice[/name_f]/ [name_f]Anne[/name_f]/ [name_f]Nell[/name_f]

@brittanyanitarose

Thanks for being so thoughtful! B+C group together and A+D group together. But we’re happy to choose a name from B and another from C, or a name from A and another from D, especially at this point. Indeed, we already have done.

In terms of use already, we’ve used A and C names slightly more than B and D names.

We love many of the B names, but we live in an area of the world were Spanish is very rare and people butcher Spanish names. We even had to put out a pronunciation guide for Mariana!

Great job naming your girls. I love how much thought that you put into tying the names together.

I think we need to know which lists are from mom’s side of the family and which are from yours.

[name_f]Honor[/name_f] Names:
[name_m]Noble[/name_m]
[name_f]Honor[/name_f]
[name_f]Honora[/name_f]
[name_f]Verity[/name_f]
[name_u]Peace[/name_u]
[name_f]Amity[/name_f]
[name_u]Love[/name_u]
[name_u]Justice[/name_u]
[name_f]Prudence[/name_f]

Would you consider names that have virtue meanings? [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u] = peace; [name_f]Carys[/name_f] = love.

Suggested Combinations:

[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_m]Noble[/name_m]
[name_f]Cecile[/name_f] [name_f]Veda[/name_f] [name_f]Verity[/name_f]
[name_f]Eugenie[/name_f] [name_f]Veda[/name_f] [name_f]Honor[/name_f]
[name_f]Naomi[/name_f] [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] [name_f]Prudence[/name_f]
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] [name_u]Love[/name_u], [name_f]Mary[/name_f]-[name_f]Cate[/name_f]
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_f]Eugenie[/name_f] [name_f]Amity[/name_f]
[name_f]Virginia[/name_f] [name_f]Inez[/name_f] [name_f]Honora[/name_f]
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_u]Love[/name_u]
[name_f]Lucrecia[/name_f] [name_f]Alwilda[/name_f] [name_m]Noble[/name_m]
[name_f]Palmira[/name_f] [name_u]Dessie[/name_u] [name_f]Honor[/name_f]
Cassander [name_f]Belle[/name_f] [name_m]Noble[/name_m]

Nicknames:

[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f]: [name_f]Lia[/name_f], [name_f]Celia[/name_f], [name_f]CeCe[/name_f], [name_u]Elia[/name_u], [name_f]Cele[/name_f], Cil, [name_f]Cia[/name_f], [name_f]Cilla[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecile[/name_f]: [name_f]Ila[/name_f] / Iyla, [name_f]Celia[/name_f], [name_f]CeCe[/name_f], [name_f]Cele[/name_f], Cil, [name_f]Cilla[/name_f], Cese
[name_f]Eugenie[/name_f]: [name_f]Genie[/name_f], [name_f]Gena[/name_f], [name_f]Gen[/name_f], [name_f]Genny[/name_f], [name_f]Nia[/name_f], [name_f]Eula[/name_f], [name_f]Gia[/name_f]

[name_f]Naomi[/name_f]: [name_f]Mia[/name_f], [name_f]Nomi[/name_f], [name_f]Noma[/name_f], Omi, [name_f]Oma[/name_f], Nao, [name_f]Nayo[/name_f], Nay
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f]: [name_f]Meg[/name_f], [name_f]Marge[/name_f], [name_f]Margot[/name_f], [name_u]Rory[/name_u], [name_f]Ora[/name_f], [name_u]Jorie[/name_u], [name_f]Mare[/name_f], [name_f]Maren[/name_f], [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Mara[/name_f]

[name_f]Susannah[/name_f]: [name_f]Suze[/name_f], [name_f]Suzy[/name_f], [name_f]Susan[/name_f], [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Ana[/name_f], [name_f]Hanna[/name_f], Susa, [name_f]Annie[/name_f], [name_u]Sandy[/name_u], [name_f]Sanna[/name_f], Naha

[name_f]Virginia[/name_f]: [name_f]Ginny[/name_f], [name_f]Vira[/name_f]/ [name_f]Vera[/name_f], [name_f]ViVi[/name_f], [name_f]Via[/name_f], Vy, [name_f]Ina[/name_f], Inia, [name_f]Nia[/name_f], [name_f]Nina[/name_f], Vee, [name_f]Via[/name_f]

[name_f]Catalina[/name_f]: [name_f]Cat[/name_f], [name_f]Alina[/name_f], [name_f]Lina[/name_f], [name_f]Line[/name_f], [name_u]Ali[/name_u], [name_f]Ina[/name_f], [name_f]Attie[/name_f], [name_u]Cai[/name_u], [name_f]Cate[/name_f], Catia, [name_f]Nina[/name_f]

[name_f]Lucrecia[/name_f]: [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], Crey, [name_f]Cia[/name_f], [name_f]Ria[/name_f], [name_f]Lucia[/name_f], [name_u]Luca[/name_u], [name_f]LuLu[/name_f], [name_f]Lula[/name_f],
Cassander: [name_u]Cass[/name_u], [name_f]Cassie[/name_f], [name_m]Casen[/name_m], Cascia, [name_u]Sandy[/name_u], [name_m]Ander[/name_m], [name_m]Sanders[/name_m], [name_u]Sander[/name_u], Andia

[name_f]Palmira[/name_f]: [name_f]Myra[/name_f], [name_f]Alma[/name_f], Palm, [name_m]Palmer[/name_m], [name_f]Mira[/name_f], Palo, [name_f]Paola[/name_f], [name_u]Ira[/name_u], Almia, [name_f]Mia[/name_f]

[name_m]Just[/name_m] a quick suggestion having seen that you love the nickname [name_u]Kit[/name_u]: While traditionally it’s a nickname for [name_f]Katherine[/name_f], my daughter is a [name_f]Kiersten[/name_f] ([name_m]KEER[/name_m]-stin) who chose [name_u]Kit[/name_u] for herself as a nickname when she was 7 & her soccer coach kept calling her [name_f]Kristen[/name_f]. I need to go back & look at your name suggestions/lists in more detail, but perhaps a variant of [name_f]Christine[/name_f]/[name_f]Kristine[/name_f] might get you to [name_u]Kit[/name_u].

[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] [name_f]Marvel[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Sue[/name_f] or [name_f]Susie[/name_f])
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] [name_f]Edith[/name_f] [name_m]Powers[/name_m] (nn [name_f]Margie[/name_f])
[name_f]Marcella[/name_f] [name_f]Anne[/name_f] [name_m]Bravery[/name_m] (nn [name_u]Mars[/name_u])

  1. I did stick to combining A & D w/B & C, & B & C w/A & D respectively.
  2. [name_f]Jehanne[/name_f] is a medieval feminine form of [name_m]John[/name_m], & [name_f]Jacquette[/name_f] is a rare [name_m]French[/name_m] feminine form of [name_u]James[/name_u] via [name_m]Jacob[/name_m].
  3. I came up w/a list of virtue names that you could try w/any combination listed below.
  4. In some cases I slightly modified the name (e.g., [name_f]Frances[/name_f] became [name_f]Francesca[/name_f]) to make it fit better [name_f]IMO[/name_f] w/your daughters’ names.
  5. In some cases I suggested multiple middle names, each of which I thought went well w/the first name.

Hopefully this helps!

[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_f]Antonia[/name_f]/[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]/[name_f]Eugenie[/name_f] (Gwen, Gwennie)
[name_f]Virginia[/name_f] [name_f]Ines[/name_f]/[name_f]Ione[/name_f] (Nia, Ginny)
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_f]Eugenie[/name_f]/[name_f]Ione[/name_f] (Sanna)
[name_f]Angelica[/name_f] [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]/[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] (Angel)
[name_f]Silvana[/name_f] Noémie (Silvie)
[name_f]Francesca[/name_f] [name_f]Suzanne[/name_f]/[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f]/[name_f]Antonia[/name_f] (Chessie, Cesca)
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Alma[/name_f]/[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] (Jo, Josey)
[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] [name_f]Ione[/name_f]/[name_f]Jacquetta[/name_f]/[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] (Ceci, Sissy, Lia)
[name_f]Juliana[/name_f] [name_f]Ione[/name_f]/[name_f]Frances[/name_f] (Julie, Jules, Lia, Ana)
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f] [name_f]Jehanne[/name_f]/[name_f]Jacquette[/name_f]/[name_f]Ione[/name_f] (Pippa)

[name_f]Virtue[/name_f] names:
[name_f]Trinity[/name_f]
[name_f]Charity[/name_f]
[name_f]Verity[/name_f]
[name_f]Amity[/name_f]
[name_f]Honor[/name_f]
[name_f]Constance[/name_f]
[name_f]Clarity[/name_f]
[name_f]Blythe[/name_f]
[name_f]Serenity[/name_f]