My 6th post…. God help me lol.
We are STRUGGLING to get baby sisters name right! It came so easy with my first.
Our daughter is Leni Bloom. Baby sister is due in 4 weeks. We have a few on our list we know we like but there seems to be nothing perfect.
We love Lou. It’s been a longtime fav, but feel hesitant to have a Leni and Lou. It gives really matching sister vibes and imposes a very cute persona on baby #2. We also don’t want people asking her whole life if it’s short for something.
We came up with Ada James and were super into it. We love that we can call her AJ. However it still feels just a bit vintagey and not right. When we say Ada, it doesn’t feel natural and I can tell it kinda catches me off guard every time.
We both love Frances. Earlier in my pregnancy we chose this as our name, and then after a few months I nixed it because it was popping up a lot and seeming to become popular and I convinced myself that made it not special. BUT we do love it and I think it really fits our family/vibe. Now we are also toying with Francine. We LOVE Frankie/Franny/Fran, all of which work as nn’s for either Frances or Francine. What are your thoughts on Francine? Leni and Francine? I don’t usually like old school names (Edith, Margaret, Esther), but I adore Penelope, Margot, Penny. Can’t tell if Francine is the former or the latter in terms of style/era.
Some middle names we don’t mind are
Francine Lee (Frankie Lee )
Francine Rue
But also don’t have a ton at the moment.
Other names we like are James, June, Livia, Mila, Ezer, Goldie, Teddy, August, Rue.
[name_f]Frances[/name_f] for sure.
For more [name_u]Fran[/name_u]- nicknames there’s [name_f]Francesca[/name_f]. Instead of [name_f]Ada[/name_f] there’s [name_f]Ida[/name_f].
[name_f]My[/name_f] husband likes [name_f]Francesca[/name_f]. I guess I always feel a bit self conscious as it’s such a strong Italian name and we are not. But it is so beautiful.
Yes I’ve seen [name_f]Ida[/name_f]! It is supposedly a bit more modern. I need to try that one out for a bit.
Congrats on baby #2! Take it easy! She’ll have a name!!
I’ll try my best to offer suggestions:
[name_u]Rue[/name_u] [name_u]Fern[/name_u] (subtle floral relation to sis but not so in-your-face as [name_f]Leni[/name_f] and Lou)
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Francine[/name_f] / [name_f]Francine[/name_f] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] (Leni & [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] are cute together IMO)! Nickname [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] [name_u]Rue[/name_u]
[name_f]Ila[/name_f] [name_f]Francine[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f] [name_u]Rue[/name_u]
[name_u]Fern[/name_u] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]
I like your original choice of [name_f]Frances[/name_f]. [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_u]Rue[/name_u] or [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_u]Lou[/name_u] go great with [name_f]Leni[/name_f].
I really like [name_f]Leni[/name_f] & [name_u]Lou[/name_u] together! I wonder whether you could name her something longer, and use [name_u]Lou[/name_u] as the nickname? That way, you could avoid the “cute” factor that isn’t quite sitting well with you, and it would also give her more options when she’s older.
I’m sure you’ve already thought of [name_u]Louise[/name_u] / [name_f]Louisa[/name_f], so here are some other options that could lead to the nickname [name_u]Lou[/name_u] →
Also, since you mentioned liking [name_f]Mila[/name_f], the name [name_f]Milou[/name_f] (nn Lou) could be a nice option…
I do like [name_f]Francine[/name_f] too, and [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] is such a cute nickname! It sounds like [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] [name_u]Lee[/name_u] is an option you could both feel happy with as well.
In terms of matchiness, I think it’s equal between the opening initials of [name_f]Leni[/name_f] & [name_u]Lou[/name_u], and the similar endings of [name_f]Leni[/name_f] & [name_u]Frankie[/name_u]. Neither pair seems overly matchy to me - just nicely complementary!
[name_f]My[/name_f] niece is Lula!! Heheheh. I actually for some reason really dislike Lula/Loula, but love [name_u]Lou[/name_u]. But these were all really good suggestions!
You’re totally right and so interesting about [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] + [name_f]Leni[/name_f] and [name_f]Leni[/name_f] + [name_u]Lou[/name_u] and how both are kind of equal matches. Hmmmmmm
I like them both a lot. [name_f]Francine[/name_f] is definitely the more unexpected of the two since it doesn’t seem to be catching on. I like the shortness of [name_f]Frances[/name_f] with [name_f]Leni[/name_f] but something about “Leni and Francine” just sounds right to my ear. You could also occasionally call a [name_f]Francine[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] as a nickname and get to use both. I think I’m leaning slightly more towards [name_f]Francine[/name_f] here but both are great.
I prefer [name_f]Francine[/name_f] to [name_f]Frances[/name_f]. If I had to pick a combo, I would go with [name_f]Goldie[/name_f] [name_f]Francine[/name_f].
I like [name_f]Ada[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u], I think the vintageness is what I like. I do like the idea of [name_f]Margot[/name_f] [name_u]Rue[/name_u] or [name_f]Margot[/name_f] [name_f]Francine[/name_f]. I am love [name_f]Leni[/name_f] and [name_u]June[/name_u] like oh my gosh heaven! [name_u]June[/name_u] [name_f]Francine[/name_f] is pretty too. Don’t worry about it, she will have a name!
Gosh naming is really hard you will get there but definitely not the joyous fun time I envisioned when it came to naming my daughter so I understand your pain!
Firstly I think [name_u]Lou[/name_u] is sweet but a little matchy with [name_f]Leni[/name_f]. I think because they are both short names beginning with L that have a nickname feel it feels emphasises that matchiness. However if you love [name_u]Lou[/name_u] I would go for it. It’s a privilege to name a child and I would just embrace your favourite name. Still my preference is [name_f]Ada[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u] from the two names I’ve seen you discuss. I think [name_f]Ada[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u] is gorgeous and very fashionable just like [name_f]Leni[/name_f] [name_f]Bloom[/name_f].
Moving onto Frances/Francine both are lovely however I find [name_f]Francine[/name_f] a little more clunky she has a mid century vibe and I wouldn’t be surprised if Francine’s sister was [name_f]Patricia[/name_f]. Both lovely names but not your style. Francine’s peak popularity was 1950s so she hasn’t had her 100 year revival cycle yet. Whereas [name_f]Frances[/name_f] peaked popularity in 1910s to 1920s so she’s having her revival cycle currently which makes [name_f]Frances[/name_f] feel fashionable and more stylistically in keeping with your overall vibe. I would be more inclined to use [name_f]Frances[/name_f]. Have you thought of just [name_u]Frankie[/name_u]? I think [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] would be so fab with [name_f]Leni[/name_f] such a wonderful sibling set.
Looking at your other options I love for little sister to [name_f]Leni[/name_f] Bloom…
[name_u]June[/name_u]
[name_f]Goldie[/name_f]
[name_u]Rue[/name_u] ~ what puts me off is the meaning ‘regret’ but if meaning isn’t a massive concern then I think [name_u]Rue[/name_u] is adorable.
[name_u]June[/name_u] is gorgeous she’s a vintage name that has so much nostalgia to her she’s summery and happy. I think [name_f]Leni[/name_f] & [name_u]June[/name_u] are lovely together. I think [name_u]June[/name_u] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] would be very special.
[name_f]Goldie[/name_f] is a fab name she’s ever so sparkly very charming and works wonders with [name_f]Leni[/name_f].
[name_u]Rue[/name_u] has that youthful sweetness of [name_f]Leni[/name_f] & [name_u]Lou[/name_u] she’s bright. [name_f]Leni[/name_f] & [name_u]Rue[/name_u] are very cohesive.
One of my daughter’s middles is Frances. I still adore the name - it’s tailored and self-assured - and I think Leni & Frances sounds lovely.
I also really like Francine, it’s so frenchy and beautiful, especially for a first if you want to give a bit more to Frances. Leni & Francine are cool names! They will age well too.
I would probably pick Frances if had to choose as it sings to me. I do love an “ine” ending name - but maybe the “ine” takes away from Leni a little.
FWIW, I really don’t like the name/nickname Frankie. I know three (two aged 6 and one 15 years) and I find the name harsh and unpleasant to hear (sounds like you’re whining when you’re not). It also makes the person seem really young/babyish/boyish. It’s cute for a year or two max. Anyway, you get the idea, I don’t like it! So if I were using either as a first, I would use Francie or possibly Franny or Fancie as the main nickname.
I prefer Frances/Francine to Ada but either works with Leni. I still also like Lou - and I can see it being a very cool name, but once your daughter’s a teen or older - that’s when it would really come to its own.
Of your others, I like Mila, Livia and June the best. I like Goldie and Teddy but only as nicknames (they’re a little too kid like for me). Love August but don’t like any of the nicknames. Rue too negative and not quite pretty enough for me. Prefer James as a middle. I like Ezer just not familiar with it.
Take or leave but if not Frances or Francine, or maybe Mila, Livia or June, and trying to keep it fresh and cool, I would go: Inès/Inez (unless too close to Leni letters!); Kirra; Asher; Rose; Esther; Asta; Piper; Zara; Orla; Harlow; Shiloh; Faline (a fave of mine - but maybe too close to Leni with Line!); Sabine; Sistine; Starling; Romy or Astrid.
Hope that helps! Don’t be hard on yourself, maybe you’ll need to take a top three to the delivery rather than aiming for a clear one before you meet her, I’m sure you’ll choose a gorgeous name and combination!
So true in how [name_f]Francine[/name_f] really hasn’t/isn’t catching on! It kind of surprises me! [name_m]Just[/name_m] with all the names having comebacks- [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], [name_f]Ada[/name_f], [name_f]Edith[/name_f], [name_f]Goldie[/name_f]. And [name_f]Frances[/name_f]! But you really don’t see or hear of [name_f]Francine[/name_f] ever
I seem to love international names lol. I wasn’t really aware of that until you continued to point out all the names that are deemed international. I love your use of “clunky.” You have such a way with describing names!
Thank you for your always offering input and insight on my search for baby sister’s name 🩷
[name_f]Frances[/name_f]!!! Oh, it’s so utterly gorgeous. It’s perfectly fresh thanks to its plethora of fun nicknames, but it’s dainty and balletic and clunky-funky at the same time. It’s beyond charming.
[name_f]Margot[/name_f] is so pretty! And I’m also having a moment to appreciate [name_f]Leni[/name_f] and [name_u]June[/name_u]. Such sunny, sweethearts together! I’m really into it right now
)
mama is stressing!
