I’m currently liking the name [name]Ellis[/name] for our baby girl. I could possibly even settle on [name]Elle[/name]. The problem is our last name is [name]Heller[/name]. Is that combination pretty bad??? If not, what are your thoughts on middle names that could go nicely?
I wouldn’t. There feels like a bit of a redundant -ell sound and obviously spelling. It seems kind of monotone. I also wouldn’t go with a first name that ended with -er sound if the surname [name]Parker[/name] like [name]Taylor[/name] [name]Parker[/name].
Yeah, it’s a tad redundant. [name]Ellis[/name] is an awesome name, though.
[name]Elle[/name] [name]Heller[/name] is not good, as the entire first name is right smack dab in the middle of the last name. [name]Ellis[/name] [name]Heller[/name] / [name]Ellie[/name] [name]Heller[/name] are better, but the repeated ‘ell’ is still prominent. [name]Even[/name] one L as opposed to 2 would soften the impact, as in [name]Eloise[/name] [name]Heller[/name]. Of course that’s a much more feminine name. Are you looking for other unisex/non-frilly names?
I am looking for a non-frilly name. Unfortunately, I haven’t found anything else we seem to like or agree on, with the exception of [name]Ellis[/name]. …And I agree of the redundancy. Was just hoping to hear otherwise. 
Take a quick looksy through this
[name]Non[/name] frilly… hmmm… My lists are composed mostly of ‘frilly’ names, but I can try.
[name]Wren[/name]
[name]Deryn[/name]
[name]Lyra[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name]
[name]Olive[/name]
[name]Sierra[/name]
[name]Maeve[/name]
[name]Macie[/name]
[name]Roma[/name]
[name]Alice[/name]
[name]Francis[/name]
[name]Penny[/name]
[name]Rowan[/name]
[name]Ruby[/name]
[name]Eileen[/name]
[name]Blythe[/name]
[name]Sloane[/name]
[name]Alice[/name] [name]Heller[/name] works better to my ear than [name]Ellis[/name] [name]Heller[/name].
I don’t know if this is an option for you, if you really like [name]Ellis[/name], an hyphenated last name ("[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Johnson[/name]-[name]Heller[/name]") would be a good way to make it work.
[name]Annis[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Alix[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Agnes[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
Ames [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Astrid[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Avis[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
Aylett [name]Heller[/name] (“noble battle”)
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Bennet[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Blithe[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Clio[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Charis[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Claris[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Eliette[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Eris[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Eve[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
Elpis [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Ines[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Iris[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Isis[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Honor[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Lux[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Maris[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Pax[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Olive[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Sage[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
[name]Skye[/name] [name]Heller[/name]
I love [name]Ellis[/name], but yeah … I don’t think it works. I definitely wouldn’t use it. It has a similar sound to ‘[name]Helen[/name] [name]Keller[/name]’. [name]Elliott[/name] is similar and sounds better with your last name (in my opinion). [name]Even[/name] [name]Elsa[/name] sounds a tad better (still probably wouldn’t use it, but I don’t think it’s AS bad as [name]Ellis[/name]). Here are a few other no-frills options:
[name]Tess[/name]
[name]Greer[/name]
[name]Mara[/name]
[name]Quinn[/name]
[name]Edie[/name]
[name]Tamsin[/name]
[name]Destry[/name]
[name]Tegan[/name]
[name]Emerson[/name]
[name]Bronwen[/name]
What about [name]Elise[/name] / [name]Elyse[/name]?