We are expecting a baby (#3) gender yet unknown. We were pregnant earlier this year and lost that baby at between 16 and 17 weeks, but became pregnant again two cycles later, very fortunately. We will learn this baby’s gender at the end of [name]November[/name].
We have two other children - [name]Luke[/name] [name]Edwin[/name] (6) and [name]Virginia[/name] [name]Noemi[/name] ([name]Ginny[/name]) (2). The baby we lost was a girl and we named her [name]Maura[/name].
I have an intuition this baby is also girl, but I could be wrong (although I’m 3 for 3).
The list we have so far is:
[name]Sadie[/name] (haven’t sold my husband yet)
[name]Magnolia[/name] ([name]Maggie[/name]) (haven’t sold my husband yet)
[name]Priscilla[/name] ([name]Cilla[/name]) (husband approved)
[name]Josephine[/name] (husband approved)
[name]Helena[/name] (He-[name]LAY[/name]-na)
My husband also proposed [name]Prudence[/name]. I can’t decide if it is adorable or horrible. It’s sort of straddling that ugly/cute line for me.
The other one he likes is [name]Gwendolyn[/name], but I dislike the nickname [name]Gwen[/name].
We used to have [name]Penelope[/name] on the list, but I took it off because I keep seeing it crop up everywhere and I’ve become a bit over saturated with it.
I love [name]Priscilla[/name] with the nn [name]Cilla[/name] (but keep in mind a more common nn is [name]Prissy[/name], so make sure you’re ok with that one if that’s what she prefers to be called). I also like [name]Josephine[/name] and [name]Sadie[/name]. I go back and forth on [name]Magnolia[/name]. I like [name]Maggie[/name], but I’m not sold on [name]Magnolia[/name].
I’m not a fan of [name]Prudence[/name], but do like [name]Gwendolyn[/name]. If you don’t like the nn [name]Gwen[/name], what about [name]Wendy[/name]?
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. Congratulations on your rainbow baby. You’ve got some great names so far.
[name]Sadie[/name]- spunky, old-fashioned. Doesn’t have quite the dignity of [name]Luke[/name] and [name]Virginia[/name], [name]IMO[/name]. [name]Isadora[/name] nn [name]Sadie[/name]?
[name]Magnolia[/name]- I like that it shares the Southern thing with [name]Virginia[/name]. [name]Maggie[/name] is adorable. I did hear a [name]Magnolia[/name] called by her bratty sister on the playground last week, and it almost killed the name for me. All the emphasis was on the “OOOLL!”
[name]Priscilla[/name]- I can’t get away from the prissy thing. If you like that, there IS an incredible krumper called Miss [name]Prissy[/name]- you can find her on YouTube.
[name]Josephine[/name]- Classic, beautiful, just one of the best names [name]IMO[/name]. But [name]Josie[/name] and [name]Ginny[/name]? Or would you call her [name]Fee[/name]?
[name]Helena[/name]- I only like this pronounced the other way.
[name]Prudence[/name]- Beatles song is great. This name seems mousy and virginal to me, though I think it’s cute. I know the meaning of [name]Prudence[/name] is more about care and discretion… but the “prude” thing is there still I think. What about [name]Constance[/name], or even [name]Tacita[/name]?
[name]Gwendolyn[/name]- lovely, romantic, Celtic… Could go by [name]Dolly[/name] or [name]Lyn[/name]
I like [name]Josephine[/name] and [name]Sadie[/name]. I too am considering [name]Josephine[/name] and [name]Sadie[/name] is my dog’s name. I like [name]Sadie[/name] as a child’s too, but it really does not go with the last name for our lo.
The only caution I would say about [name]Sadie[/name] is it is really popular for dogs- I did not realize this until I took her to the park and there were at least three other dogs with this name. I have also heard some people say it is not a person name it is a name for a dog- I actually know of some people who said this to a woman named [name]Sadie[/name].
I really detest the name [name]Gwendolyn[/name] with a passion, but that is only because I went to grade school with one and could not stand her. So, I always picture Gwendolyns as spoiled vain screaming brats
Thank you for the feedback and suggestions on nicknames.
Sadly, [name]Wendy[/name] is no more appealing to me than [name]Gwen[/name]. I knew a crazy [name]Wendy[/name] who ruined the name for me. [name]Gwendolyn[/name] is most certainly to be shortened to [name]Gwen[/name]. My husband is arguing for [name]Gwen[/name] being cool due to [name]Gwen[/name] Stafani, but all I can picture is a portly middle aged woman with a bad perm.
If we did [name]Priscilla[/name], we’d be aiming for [name]Cilla[/name] as the nickname. Not [name]Prissy[/name], for sure. I agree, it may be inevitable. That said, we successfully warded off the few oddballs who wanted to call [name]Virginia[/name] “[name]Virgie[/name]”. Ugh.
[name]Josephine[/name] - I told him I’d only use it if we could call her [name]Fifi[/name]. [name]Jo[/name] is just okay, but I strongly dislike [name]Josie[/name].
[name]Prudence[/name] would be [name]Pru[/name], which I think is adorable beyond words.
gabriela - [name]Magnolia[/name] took about a week for me. I saw it as a way to get to [name]Maggie[/name] and I was like “meh?” but as I pictured it on a little girl, it grew and grew on me.
Any other names pop into your minds based on our list? I feel like the great name is out there waiting.
Good point about [name]Sadie[/name]. I’m trying to think if there are any Sadies at our dog park. Mind you, I keep seeing the name [name]Juno[/name] suggested on this board and that’s my Great [name]Dane[/name]'s name. I had a dream this summer that my friend gave birth to a baby girl and named her [name]Sadie[/name]. I tried to sell her on it, but she went with [name]Tess[/name]. I decided to put [name]Sadie[/name] on my list instead.
What is odd is that hardly any of the names that were on our list for [name]Virginia[/name] have carried over. Those names just feel used up to me now, I guess because we pored and agonized over them for so long trying to pick her name and now they’re all just “the runners up”.
I wish I could find some really hit-it-out-of-the-park awesome names. I really want to feel that “awwwww. Perfect” sensation when I hear the name, you know?
Thank you for your kind sentiments. It was a horrible time for us. We are moving to a new home and will be planting a garden for [name]Maura[/name] there.
And thank you for your suggestions.
I do like [name]Jackson[/name] very much.
I also really like [name]Caroline[/name]. My husband thinks [name]Georgia[/name] is too “themey” with [name]Virginia[/name]. I may be able to sell him on [name]Caroline[/name], if he doesn’t make the Carolinas connection.
I am very much drawn to the traditional names and southern names. Ironically, I live in Toronto, [name]Canada[/name]! But I’ve played a southerner in a few plays. That’s close enough, right? Ha.
[name]Sadie[/name]- [name]Love[/name] spunky but vintage and I think it goes well with your children’s names. While I love it as a standalone name [name]Seraphina[/name] could work with the nn [name]Sadie[/name].
[name]Magnolia[/name]- Maybe because I watched [name]Steel[/name] [name]Magnolia[/name]'s a couple nights ago but I’ve started to really like it! [name]Maggie[/name] is adorable! [name]Magdalene[/name]/[name]Magdalena[/name] could be cute alternatives.
[name]Priscilla[/name]- Again [name]Love[/name]! [name]Cilla[/name] is also a nice nn though I prefer it without one.
[name]Josephine[/name]- Really like but I like the other names on your list more.
[name]Helena[/name]- Ehh it’s okay but much better names on your list.
[name]Prudence[/name]- [name]Love[/name] especially with the nn [name]Pru[/name]/Ru(e)
[name]Gwendolyn[/name]- I feel like [name]Gwen[/name] may be inevitable, I do like the suggestion of [name]Dolly[/name] as a nickname.
Some names you might like: [name]Dahlia[/name], [name]Margot[/name]/[name]Margaret[/name], [name]Elinor[/name], [name]Eden[/name], [name]Nadia[/name], [name]Clarissa[/name], [name]Rosalind[/name], [name]Flora[/name], or [name]Miriam[/name]. I hope any of these help! Congrats!
Dayken - [name]Steel[/name] Magnolias is one of my favourite movies and I’ve probably seen it about 100 times. Did you watch the original version or the new one that was TV only? (I skipped that one because I could not imagine the sacrilege of recreating that perfect movie).
I love the name [name]Maggie[/name] for it’s tie in to [name]Maggie[/name] the [name]Cat[/name] in [name]Cat[/name] on a Hot [name]Tin[/name] Roof. It’s a name that can be adorable on a little girl and also full of guts and appeal on a grown woman.
Thanks for your feedback. I’m growing more confident in some of these options.
[name]Dahlia[/name] is lovely. I think the [name]Black[/name] [name]Dahlia[/name] movie/legend is a bit too prominent in my mind to use it.
[name]Margaret[/name] too, and it’s another way to get to [name]Maggie[/name] which we’ve established I have a real affinity to!
[name]Elinor[/name], yes! My husband actually suggested [name]Eleanor[/name] earlier this evening. What would an [name]Eleanor[/name]/[name]Elinor[/name] go by nickname wise? [name]Ellie[/name] is becoming a bit over-represented in our circle.
I am laughing at [name]Nadia[/name] because the running joke for all of my babies has been that I name her [name]Nadia[/name]. In my last role at work, I managed a department of three women whose names were ALL [name]Nadia[/name]. No word of a lie. [name]Nadia[/name], [name]Nadia[/name] and [name]Nadia[/name] - we sounded like a law firm. So, while it’s a beautiful name, I’m afraid I can’t handle another [name]Nadia[/name] in my life.
[name]Flora[/name] - the name of the adorable little girl of one of my closest friends.
[name]Miriam[/name] - very similar to my paternal grandmother’s name, [name]Marian[/name], which I think is lovely, but would give my mother a heart attack. (She wasn’t exactly the nicest lady).
The suggestions are so helpful. Thank you all for taking the time to put them down. I’m getting some amazing ideas.
Sadie - I love Sadie, but it is a tad nickname-y next to Virginia imo. You could go for Sarah/Sara and use Sadie as a nickname? That said, Sarah/Sara could be a little plain next to Virginia.
Magnolia (Maggie) - I love Maggie!!! Magnolia is great name for a Southern Belle. I hear it and I think of cotton farms and big dresses. Virginia also has a southern connection and they share of level of formality, with a sweet nn option as well. Both names also end in IA, which gives them an aural link. So I think this one could work for you.
Priscilla (Cilla) - This one works in many of the same ways as Magnolia. Tho as a name, I rather Maggie to Cilla.
Josephine - This is a classic name and ties well with Virginia on that level. Plus it has the formal long version, cute nn option.
Helena (He-LAY-na) - I like this one. It shares a strong NA sound with Virginia, but isn’t matchy-matchy. I think this could also be a good option.
I’ve noticed in your signature Viven and Estella are also favourites of yours? Viven is possibly too much with Virginia - although I do love it! But Estella could be perfect! Estella would actually be my pick for you. It has a great sound, great imagery. It isn’t over used. It is has a strong sense of formality in the long version, but allows cute nns Stella and Ella.
Thank you Alexp.
[name]Estella[/name] is the name I picked for my first baby, had he been a she! He is my child from a former marriage and, aware of the fact [name]Estella[/name] was our chosen name for a daughter, my second husband is (understandably) not excited about using it. And I wish I could smack him every time he bellows “[name]STELLA[/name]!” a la [name]Marlon[/name] [name]Brando[/name] in A Streetcar Named Desire when I bring up [name]Stella[/name] as a possibility. I love him, but man is he annoying with that.
I like all the names on your list, but none of them grab me. I did like [name]Magnolia[/name] but I think I’ve gone off it…
What about [name]Prunella[/name]? Possibly a compromise between [name]Penelope[/name], [name]Priscilla[/name] and [name]Prudence[/name]? The NN options of [name]Pru[/name], [name]Nell[/name] and [name]Ella[/name] (which is lovely but too popular for my tastes) make it a great name.
I would suggest [name]Nell[/name] as a NN to [name]Eleanor[/name].
After looking at the first 5 minutes of the new version I turned it off and watched the original haha, I absolutely love the movie and was having one of those “the original is better” moments :). I’m happy you liked, or had a nice chuckle, my suggestions.
[name]Eleanor[/name]/[name]Elinor[/name] could go by [name]Elle[/name], [name]Nora[/name], [name]Elea[/name], [name]Lea[/name], [name]Leni[/name], or [name]Nell[/name]. It’s a shame about [name]Miriam[/name], I think it goes perfectly with [name]Luke[/name] & [name]Virginia[/name]!
I really like all of your names, but I want to cast my vote for [name]Prudence[/name]. Mostly because I love the Beatles song “Dear [name]Prudence[/name].” Also, how cute is [name]Pru[/name]?
Traditional and southern, love it.
I do really like [name]Josephine[/name] (not big on [name]Fifi[/name] though), [name]Magnolia[/name], and suggestions of [name]Cecilia[/name] (prefer [name]Cecily[/name] by a bit) and [name]Caroline[/name].
Other thoughts:
[name]Blythe[/name]
[name]Susannah[/name]
[name]Alma[/name]
[name]Margaret[/name]
[name]Gloria[/name]
[name]Adelaide[/name]
[name]Rebecca[/name]
[name]Martha[/name]
[name]Blythe[/name] - I like it written but it rolls off my tongue oddly. I think I’d like it in the middle name spot. Speaking of middle names: I should have shared that the middle name will likely be [name]Antoinette[/name] or [name]Anne[/name] or some version of it, in reverence to my father-in-law who passed away last year. It may also be a double middle name with [name]Ruth[/name] worked in, for my aunt.
[name]Susannah[/name] - very pretty. I grew up with a lovely girl named [name]Suzanne[/name] and have always liked that name.
[name]Alma[/name] - Not sure. It’s not translating from “old lady” to little girl to me the way some of the other older names do.
[name]Margaret[/name] - yes! Totally love. Anything to get to [name]Maggie[/name], really.
[name]Gloria[/name] - bad association for me.
[name]Adelaide[/name] - so funny. my husband is Portuguese. We’ve talked about this name before. I pronounce it [name]Ad[/name]-el-ade. He wants to pronounce it the horrible Portuguese way, which comes out sounding like “[name]AD[/name]-Lide” but with a mouth full of marbles and a lisp. I love his family and the culture but it is one guttural, ugly sounding language. So, this name is not on the list because I would cringe and throw up every time someone in his family said it for the next thirty years.
[name]Rebecca[/name] - [name]Love[/name] [name]Rebecca[/name]. Strongly dislike “[name]Becky[/name]” and “[name]Becca[/name]”.
I am so sorry for your loss of your baby [name]Maura[/name] (who is so beautifully names).
From your original list, [name]Josephine[/name] and [name]Helena[/name] work perfectly with [name]Luke[/name] and [name]Virginia[/name]. Really no need to look any further.
As previously suggested, [name]Eleanor[/name] nn [name]Nell[/name] would be beautiful, but I do fear the almost unavoidable [name]Ellie[/name] nn (which is perfectly pretty, just popular). Perhaps [name]Leonora[/name] nn [name]Nell[/name] could work?
I would personally pick [name]Josephine[/name] with your sibset. Best of luck!
[name]Jo[/name] is just okay, but I strongly dislike [name]Josie[/name].
I had a dream this summer that my friend gave birth to a baby girl and named her [name]Sadie[/name]. I tried to sell her on it, but she went with [name]Tess[/name]. I decided to put [name]Sadie[/name] on my list instead.
So, while it’s a beautiful name, I’m afraid I can’t handle another [name]Nadia[/name] in my life.