Fed up with the name game

Girl Names
1

Hello all,

As the title suggests, my husband and I are extremely frustrated with the name game and desperately need your intervention before we succumb to going with ASDF in pure exasperation!

It seems every time we find a name we love, it’s scooped up by relatives or neighbors. In [name]June[/name], I posted here regarding the names [name]Emilia[/name] [name]Cate[/name], [name]Iris[/name] [name]June[/name] and [name]Grace[/name] [name]Adelaide[/name]. After receiving many great responses about [name]Emilia[/name] [name]Cate[/name], we decided that was the one. Unfortunately, we were forced to nix it a short time later when two different neighbors on our street brought home a baby “[name]Amelia[/name]” within the span of a month. Considering we plan to stay in this house and neighborhood for the long haul and that these girls will likely be in the same class, it had to go for obvious reasons.

It was back to the drawing board. We had gone off of [name]Grace[/name] due to its popularity and neither of us could get over the elderly factor of [name]Iris[/name]. Our next choice was [name]Scarlett[/name] [name]Grace[/name]. We love that it’s feminine but still manages to pack a touch of spunk to it. I quite like the idea of using the fun, spunky [name]Etta[/name] for a nickname (though my husband does not).

Two weeks ago, my second cousin used [name]Scarlett[/name] for her daughter. This is the second time a relative of mine has used a name we had in mind.My husband is reluctant to scrap it, as I barely know this woman at all. It’s been roughly fourteen years since I last saw her and I don’t anticipate ever seeing her again. The only catch though is that my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are all very in-tune with what is happening in the (very) extended family (while my parents and I are not). Needless to say, I’m rather wary of being accused of being unoriginal or of “grand theft name use”.

In the meanwhile, we’ve come up with [name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Cate[/name] as an alternative. [name]Eleanor[/name] has such a strong, classy, intelligent feel to it and it goes well with the surname Higgins. This baby is a British and American collaboration, so it feels like a nod to both. DH loves the nickname [name]Ella[/name] and while I like it very much, I worry about it’s raging popularity. I’m starting to think [name]Nora[/name] but my husband isn’t all that keen on it.

So now that you’ve reached the pinnacle of my epic rambling, what do you all think?

[name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Cate[/name] Higgins
or
[name]Scarlett[/name] [name]Grace[/name] Higgins

Thank you all so much for your time. [name]Feel[/name] free to add your own suggestions!

2

[name]Man[/name], you’ve been pulled in ever direction with this haven’t you!? Well, to put it simply, I vote [name]Eleanor[/name].

To be more specific, while I do love [name]Scarlett[/name], I think that [name]Eleanor[/name] is a name that will always be well known without being overly popular. You have multiple options if you want to call her something shorter: [name]Elle[/name], [name]Ella[/name], [name]Ellie[/name], [name]Lea[/name], [name]Nora[/name]. I adore [name]Nora[/name] and am thinking of using it myself should I have another girl. [name]Scarlett[/name] just feels like a trend to me.

Overall, go with the name you love most. Write the names out. Use them in sentences. Try them out on strangers. You’ll figure out which one is for you! Good luck!

3

[name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Cate[/name] gets my vote! It’s beautiful! Sorry about your bad luck on the journey but you’ve come to a really great name :slight_smile:

4

I’m sorry you’ve had such a hard time, but [name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Cate[/name] is a wonderful name. [name]Ella[/name], [name]Elle[/name], [name]Ellie[/name], [name]Leona[/name], [name]Leonora[/name], [name]Leonor[/name], [name]Norah[/name], [name]Nell[/name], [name]Nellie[/name], [name]Lee[/name], the possibilities are endless.

5

[name]Eleanor[/name] seems classier to me and has more nn potential should someone else decide to name their kid that first. Sorry you’ve lost so many names already : (

6

I vote for [name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Cate[/name] gets my vote although both are wonderful and I think you could use both.

I guess using [name]Eleanor[/name] would reduce the chance of the “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a d—”. jokes a [name]Scarlett[/name] might get.

7

Of your 2 choices, I would go with [name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Cate[/name] (or [name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Grace[/name]). I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Scarlett[/name], but if you think it would cause drama, that is why I’d choose [name]Eleanor[/name]. I love the nn [name]Nora[/name].

On another note… sad to see you see [name]Iris[/name] as old still (I still see [name]Eleanor[/name] as old, lol). [name]Iris[/name] was my name choice if baby was a girl, but it’s a boy- and am so sad I don’t get to use [name]Iris[/name]. I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]LOVE[/name] [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Iris[/name] [name]June[/name]!

8

[name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Cate[/name] is gorgeous and classic. That would be my pick. Personally, I love [name]Nell[/name] as a nn. but the full [name]Eleanor[/name] is even better!

For what it’s worth, I prefer [name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Cate[/name] to [name]Emilia[/name], [name]Scarlett[/name] and [name]Grace[/name]. I think it is such a classic and will date less. I am very fond of [name]Iris[/name] and don’t think of it as old fashioned. It is not unpopular here in the UK so I’m sure it will rise in the US too.

9

Thank you all so much for your replies!

You’ve all convinced us to officially drop [name]Scarlett[/name].

All of the nickname suggestions for [name]Eleanor[/name] were wonderful. So much potential my exhausted mind didn’t even think to explore. Thank you greatly! :slight_smile:

For the record, I couldn’t get [name]Iris[/name] [name]June[/name] out of my head when we initially came up with it. My husband liked it but worried that most of our family would perceive it to be too old fashioned for a little girl. My family especially can be quite vocal with their opinions.

Lizzyq–how correct you are! [name]Eleanor[/name] is every bit as old-fashioned as [name]Iris[/name] and I’m sure our families will have the same reaction to [name]Eleanor[/name] as they would to [name]Iris[/name]. Now you’ve got me thinking…(Congratulations on your little boy!)

Hmm…[name]Iris[/name] [name]June[/name]. [name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Cate[/name]…
Why is this naming deal so difficult!?
Thanks again, guys! :slight_smile:

10

All your names are beautiful! I’m sorry about [name]Emilia[/name] and [name]Scarlet[/name], but I’m sure [name]Eleanor[/name] will be worth it!

11

First of all, I would DIE if people kept stealing my names. I got upset when the Beckhams used [name]Harper[/name]. I scratched it right away. Popular names are not my thing.

Of the two names left, I prefer [name]Eleanor[/name]. I love the middle name [name]Cate[/name]. I think [name]Kate[/name] and [name]Katie[/name] are way too popular but love [name]Cate[/name] with a -c. Have you ever thought about [name]Eloise[/name]? It’s one of my favorite names right now! It is getting a bit popular though.

12

[name]Ella[/name] Janora
[name]Ella[/name] Janora [name]Cate[/name]
[name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Jane[/name]
[name]Ellen[/name] Janora
[name]Eleanora[/name] [name]Case[/name]
[name]Eleanora[/name] [name]Cade[/name]
[name]Elena[/name] [name]Cate[/name]
[name]Helena[/name] [name]Cate[/name]
[name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Lake[/name]

13

I love the [name]Elinor[/name] and [name]Eleanor[/name] spellings aswell,also [name]Eliana[/name] and Emilina is on my favourite list. Sad for you your [name]Emilia[/name]. That is such a gorgeous name. [name]How[/name] about [name]Emilie[/name]? the french version of [name]Emily[/name]?