Feeling unsure.

Girl Names
1

I know I’ve been here off and on quite a bit and I want to thank you for being patient.
I love names and always have, so it’s very important to me to pick the right one. Yet I feel like I’ve seen them all…

I like soft names without nicknames, or if they do have nicknames, I like them to be fresh and not common. But in general I would just like a name where my child is called what I chose.

DH and I both liked [name_f]Isla[/name_f] but it did not work in the end for a multitude of reasons, among them that the pronunciation was not intuitive enough and we got a lot of iz-lah and ee-sla for what we wanted as eye-la.

We have agreed to use [name_f]Belle[/name_f] as a middle name to honor his grandmother.

Right now we have [name_f]Lilah[/name_f] (I only like it with the h) as a first choice and no real list or further discussion because it was stressing me out. I don’t dislike [name_f]Lilah[/name_f] for her, but it doesn’t always feel settled.

I love [name_f]Adeline[/name_f] but hate the idea of [name_f]Addie[/name_f]. I love [name_f]Liva[/name_f] (lee-vah) but it sounds like “leave a,” like a demand. DH does not like most of the other names I like, such as [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f], [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] (mad-a-line), [name_f]Gianna[/name_f] (it seems too culturally enmeshed for a pale white non-Italian girl) etc. He likes [name_f]Jacquelyn[/name_f], which I hate, and [name_u]Vivian[/name_u], which sounds terrible with our last name (sounds like the letters C.V.)- it strikes me as rather harsh and mean without a soft last name to counter it.

We both like [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] but don’t want it shortened to [name_f]Jen[/name_f] names (very bad associations), I like [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], and the “eve” names but “E.V. C.V.” is a horrible nickname risk.

I like the idea of [name_f]Margot[/name_f], [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] (the meal sound seems so strong in it that I turn away), [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] but I’m not feeling like any of them are right.

We both liked [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] in the middle spot in the past but not enough for the first.

We both like [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] but hesitate to use it for multiple reasons.

I like soft names that are poetic and feminine. He seems to like sophisticated, borderline aristocratic names.

I keep hoping I’ll get a suggestion that just suddenly seems right.

2

I love [name_f]Belle[/name_f] as a middle and [name_f]Lilah[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f] sound super cute, feminine and soft to me.
All the names you have mentioned are beautiful and would sound great with [name_f]Belle[/name_f] as a middle. I think my favourite is your front runner atm, [name_f]Lilah[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f] which I find gorgeous. I also really like [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] and [name_f]Margot[/name_f].

Some suggestions:
[name_f]Emilia[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Norah[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Vienna[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Alisia[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Aveline[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliana[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Giada[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Lavinia[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Melora[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Romola[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Ottilie[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Julia[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Luella[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Selah[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonie[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_u]Everly[/name_u] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Evelina[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]

Good luck!

3

Maybe instead of [name_f]Isla[/name_f] you would like [name_f]Ayla[/name_f]? It can be pronounced like [name_f]Isla[/name_f], but has a more obvious pronunciation. [name_f]Ayla[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f] is lovely.

4

We actually both love [name_f]Ayla[/name_f] (which we pronounce A like the letter and then la) but we live in [name_f]Maine[/name_f] and there is a very high profile missing person case where a toddler with that name is presumed to be murdered. Unfortunately the connection is too strong, there are not many major crimes around here and especially where it is currently unsolved, it is still very much talked about.

5

Thank you for all of the wonderful suggestions. So many of them are completely my style. I have a [name_m]Julian[/name_m] or else I think I’d lean toward the [name_f]Julia[/name_f]/[name_f]Juliet[/name_f]/[name_f]Juliana[/name_f]- just love the sound (but don’t like [name_f]Jewel[/name_f], isn’t that unusual?)

I had also mentioned [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] to DH, but his mother’s middle name was [name_f]Louise[/name_f] and people teased her by calling her “weezy” so he despises the [name_f]Louise[/name_f] sound in names.

I’m glad to hear you like [name_f]Lilah[/name_f], and [name_f]Lilah[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]. It’s looking like that will probably be her name.

6

[name_f]Gianna[/name_f] doesnt have to be Italian
Despite being a diminutive of an Italian name it is also a nickname of the Greek name [name_f]Ioanna[/name_f], and many Greek people are pale
[name_m]Just[/name_m] felt that you should know in case you want to reconsider it :slight_smile:

7

I can totally understand how difficult finding ‘the name’ is after looking at names your whole life. I started naming my pencils when I was 7 and I haven’t looked back! Now I’ve got 6 weeks to feel confident in my girls choice but I keep second guessing myself too. I also understand the difficulty of finding a name that won’t be shortened into something you don’t want. I think [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] will get [name_f]Maddie[/name_f] as they all seem to these days.

I also really like [name_f]Lilah[/name_f]. It goes perfectly with [name_f]Belle[/name_f]. There seems to be a few ‘L’ names for girls at the moment. My friend recently had a [name_f]Lula[/name_f], which is a little different. I’ve always like loved [name_f]Isla[/name_f] for its meaning of sea and I don’t think it will be mispronounced as often as you think. It’s becoming more popular in my neighbourhood and it’s seen as an incredibly beautiful choice.

I also like [name_f]Olive[/name_f], [name_f]Eadie[/name_f], [name_f]Amelie[/name_f], Ottelie & [name_f]Willa[/name_f].

8

Hello! Sorry you experiencing such frustration with the process.

A few things… Have you considered “[name_u]Del[/name_u]” as a nickname for [name_f]Adeline[/name_f]? [name_m]Just[/name_m] curious if [name_f]Adeline[/name_f] is off the table. Another question would be if you all had considered using a name that meets your criteria of soft names would be a name with [name_f]Belle[/name_f] in it such as [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f].

Other thoughts:
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
[name_f]Lianna[/name_f]
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f]
[name_f]Alandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Mariah[/name_f]
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]/[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f]

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps! Good luck!

9

I’m sorry the name search has been so stressful! I too love [name_f]Lilah[/name_f], and [name_f]Lilah[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]—perhaps when you get some distance from all these names, this choice will feel more settled. I hope so; it’s a beautiful name.

I’ll add a few suggestions though:

[name_f]Isla[/name_f], [name_f]Lilah[/name_f], [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] and [name_f]Ayla[/name_f] remind me of [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] and [name_f]Leila[/name_f]/[name_f]Layla[/name_f].

[name_f]Adeline[/name_f], [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] and [name_f]Jacquelyn[/name_f] remind me of [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]—I think it walks the line between soft and aristocratic. So does [name_f]Helena[/name_f].

Others that come to mind are [name_f]Fiona[/name_f], [name_f]Lucia[/name_f], [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], [name_f]Miranda[/name_f], [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] and [name_f]Junia[/name_f] (too close to [name_m]Julian[/name_m]?).

10

[name_f]Lilah[/name_f] is beautiful, especially that spelling. You might just need a bit more time to feel settled.

One name I thought of that fits both you and your husband’s tastes is [name_f]Celeste[/name_f]-- I think it would be lovely! The only thing is you might need to rethink your middle. Maybe [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] [name_f]Annabel[/name_f]?

11

I love [name_f]Lilah[/name_f] with an “h”. [name_f]Lilah[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f] is lovely. My guilty pleasure name that I will probably not name baby #2 but still love, is Lulabelle, which also has that lovely musical quality.

12

When you said you like soft poetic names, and he likes sophisticated, I thought of [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f]. I even feel [name_f]Lilah[/name_f] could be a nickname from it.
I am biased - we called our daughter [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f], golden, feminine, and a bit classy.

[name_f]Araminta[/name_f]
[name_f]Cressida[/name_f]
[name_f]Olympia[/name_f]
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]

13

I think that [name_f]Belle[/name_f] is quite versatile and will work with a lot of names like [name_f]Rose[/name_f] or [name_f]Grace[/name_f] which is great.

I really like [name_f]Isla[/name_f] and would pronounce it eye-la. I also like [name_f]Lilah[/name_f] and I think with [name_f]Belle[/name_f] as the middle name the h is a good idea.

For another nickname for [name_f]Adeline[/name_f] (because I also hate the nickname [name_f]Addie[/name_f]) how about [name_u]Del[/name_u] or [name_f]Della[/name_f]?

For another nickname for [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] how about [name_f]Gigi[/name_f] or [name_f]Ginny[/name_f]?

I do personally love [name_f]Margot[/name_f], [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] but if it’s not for you fair enough.

Honestly I don’t love [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] and don’t think [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f] looks, sounds or flows well.

[name_m]How[/name_m] about…
[name_f]Lilia[/name_f]
[name_f]Liana[/name_f]
[name_f]Rebecca[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Sienna[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]
[name_f]Autumn[/name_f]
[name_f]Edeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f]
[name_f]Soraya[/name_f]
[name_f]Octavia[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilliana[/name_f]
[name_u]Kelsey[/name_u]
[name_f]Natalia[/name_f]
[name_f]Natalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Michaela[/name_f]
[name_f]Mia[/name_f]
[name_u]Ember[/name_u]
[name_f]Avalon[/name_f]
[name_f]Tess[/name_f]/a
[name_f]Francesca[/name_f]
[name_f]Faye[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f]Lacey[/name_f]
[name_f]Flavia[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ebony[/name_f]
[name_f]Katia[/name_f]
[name_f]Samara[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeva[/name_f]
[name_u]Everly[/name_u]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
[name_f]Verity[/name_f]
[name_f]Aubriella[/name_f]
[name_f]Elenora[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Viviana[/name_f]
[name_u]Aubrey[/name_u]
[name_f]Adela[/name_f]
[name_f]Evelina[/name_f]
[name_f]Alessandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Larissa[/name_f]
[name_f]Lara[/name_f]
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f]
[name_f]Imogene[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]

14

Why isn’t [name_f]Belle[/name_f] being considered as a fn? It’s a gorgeous name that mostly gets thrown in the middle & goes unused. [name_f]Belle[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is beautiful

Have you considered [name_f]Delilah[/name_f]?

15

You have many beautiful names on your list. I thing [name_f]Lilah[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f] or [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f] would be a great choice.

16

[name_f]Lilah[/name_f] was on our shortlist, so I am a big fan. I really do like it with [name_f]Belle[/name_f], and I also like the suggestion of doing [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] (or even [name_f]Josephina[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]). I wonder if you would like…

[name_f]Elodie[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Lola[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Noemi[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Leta[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_u]Josie[/name_u] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]

17

oh you’re over-thinking this way too much. I don’t think [name_f]Addie[/name_f] is an immediate nickname for [name_f]Adeline[/name_f], nor [name_f]Jen[/name_f] a nn for [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]. I knew a [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] and she never went by any nickname. I don’t get why people think this is so inevitable. Nicknames only happen when your parents impose them on you from a young age, or maybe when your school friends prefer to call you [name_m]Zack[/name_m] over [name_m]Zachary[/name_m], and even something as obvious as that doesn’t always happen. All the kid needs to do is a say “it’s just [name_m]Zachary[/name_m]” and they’ll stop.