Thinking about our next baby and hoping for some help to continue whittling down my crazy name list…
Must haves:
Meaningful - positive meaning or Biblical connection. I love names meaning life, friendship, wisdom, peace, etc. or whose Biblical stories are redemptive or inspiring
Doesn’t end in X (our last name does)
Preferred:
Surname style to complement our daughter, Ell0ry Elizab3th - but I’m open to expanding to other styles that still complement her name
Goes with honor names Mariette or Lee for middle, or somehow has a nod to Mary- origin names (e.g. Marion is on my list)
Would be nice but not essential:
Different ending sound than Ell0ry
Goes well with intended boy name Luke - which is tricky, since it’s a different style than Ell0ry to begin with
My husband has three names he likes basically lol. Ada, Adelaide, and Juneau. Not a huge fan of any of the three, but figured I’d mention.
My current list where most of these meet the criteria above in some way:
Hollis
Ames
Marion/Merryn/Maren
Alden
Joanna - would be an honor name for my husband’s dad, so a bonus point here
Eden - close friends plan to use for their next girl, so not ideal choice
Susanna
Junia - my husband likes Juneau for a girl but I’m not a fan because we have no connection to the place, so maybe this gets close enough?
Vale
Verity
Tamsin - Connection to Thomas story
Cleo - glory meaning
Wynn
Any favorites? combinations you’d recommend, especially with Mariette or Lee?
[name_m]Hollis[/name_m] [name_f]Mariette[/name_f] - stylish and charming
[name_m]Alden[/name_m] [name_f]Mariette[/name_f] - I like the surname-y vibe and the lovely meaning. Plus, it’s similar to your husband’s faves (such as [name_f]Ada[/name_f] and Adelaide)
[name_f]Merryn[/name_f] [name_f]Junia[/name_f] - a nod to [name_f]Mary[/name_f] but with a surname-y feel.
[name_f]Tamsin[/name_f] [name_m]Lee[/name_m] - stylish and sleek but no frills - namey like [name_m]Luke[/name_m], but similar vibes to Ell0ry
[name_f]Cleo[/name_f] [name_f]Mariette[/name_f] - such a lovely and vibrant name!
[name_f]Wynn[/name_f] [name_f]Mariette[/name_f] - unexpected and lovely
[name_f]Tamsin[/name_f] is the perfect bridge between [name_m]Luke[/name_m] and [name_f]Ellory[/name_f] imo. Also love this name! I prefer [name_f]Juno[/name_f] spelling, that would be my favorite of you husband’s list.
[name_f]Mara[/name_f] is my favorite [name_f]Mary[/name_f] honor name.
[name_f]Tamsin[/name_f] [name_f]Mara[/name_f] or [name_f]Juno[/name_f] [name_f]Mara[/name_f] are lovely.
[name_f]Tamsin[/name_f] [name_f]Mariette[/name_f], [name_f]Cleo[/name_f] [name_f]Mariette[/name_f], [name_f]Wynn[/name_f] [name_f]Mariette[/name_f], and [name_f]Verity[/name_f] [name_m]Lee[/name_m] would be so sweet with her big sister’s name, and I really like how they all sound!
[name_f]Junia[/name_f] has a bit of a different vibe for me, but if you like the sound of [name_f]Juneau[/name_f] but feel unsure about the connection to the city, what about [name_f]Juno[/name_f]? In ancient [name_m]Rome[/name_m], the goddess [name_f]Juno[/name_f] was the protector of marriage and women, which I think is a positive association!
Some ideas:
[name_f]Maren[/name_f] (as a nod to Mary!)
[name_f]Acacia[/name_f] (apparently acacia wood related to [name_m]Moses[/name_m] in the Bible, but I’m no expert!)
[name_f]Ariana[/name_f] (means ‘most holy’)
[name_f]Arabella[/name_f] (means ‘yielding to prayer’)
[name_f]Bryony[/name_f] (like most plants, there are various interpretations to the symbolism of bryony, but from my research all the possible symbolism is positive!)
[name_f]Clover[/name_f] (associated with good luck)
[name_f]Callie[/name_f] (means ‘beautiful’)
[name_m]Caraway[/name_m] (the plant is associated with faithfulness)
[name_f]Dove[/name_f] (associated with peace, as well as the dove from Noah’s ark)
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] (means ‘happiness’)
[name_f]Hadley[/name_f] (I think the meaning of “heather field” is rather pretty!)
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] (means ‘rainbow’ which I believe has positive symbolism in the bible, as well as the iris flower having positive symbolism as well)
[name_f]Jovie[/name_f] (means ‘jovial’)
[name_f]Juniper[/name_f] (there seems to be a story in the bible where a juniper tree shelters the prophet Elijah)
[name_f]Kaia[/name_f] (means ‘to rejoice’)
[name_f]Mercy[/name_f]
[name_f]Nell[/name_f] (means ‘bright’ or ‘shining light’)
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] (means ‘radiant, shining one’)
[name_f]Shiloh[/name_f] (a place name in the bible)
[name_f]Selah[/name_f] (also from the bible, means ‘to praise’)
[name_f]Sadie[/name_f] (means ‘princess’, also originates as a nickname from the biblical Sarah)
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] (means ‘tranquil, serene’)
[name_f]Thalia[/name_f] (means ‘to flourish’)
[name_m]Valentine[/name_m] (means ‘strength, health’, also the name of a saint)
[name_f]Zara[/name_f] (means ‘God remembers’)
From your list I like [name_f]Merryn[/name_f], [name_f]Eden[/name_f], [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f] & [name_f]Wynn[/name_f].
I’d suggest…
[name_f]Afton[/name_f]- river
[name_f]Amaris[/name_f]- said of god
[name_f]Belen[/name_f]- house of bread (version of Bethlehem)
[name_f]Carys[/name_f]- love
I agree with other commenters that Juno is a better spelling. Juno Lee is quite pretty.
Other ideas:
Lisbeth Mariette
Amarie Mariette
Angelina Mariette
Abra Mariette
Bernice Mariette
Hannah Mariette
Raya Lee
Yara Lee
Josephine Lee
Gabrielle Lee
Miriam Lee
Maureen Lee
Maybe for for dad (I love Adelaide) maybe Adelaine nn lainey, lane, ada, lady
Or a combo of Adelaide + Lee and addelee/ adaleigh, adley, addlynn — different variations in spelling
I love the alliteration of Ellory Elizabeth
So I’m drawn to Marion, Mahryn, Maren, Merryn with the middle name Mariette
Some other M names
Meredith/ Meredelle
Margot
Maeve
Millicent/ Melesend
Melynda
Matilda
I think if you’re committed to Luke, you might think about not using a surname style name for a girl (though you may not ever have a boy etc etc). I think a name to link Ellory and Luke would be better - and possibly change Luke to Lucas.
Ellory, Tamsin & Luke/ Lucas would work very well, maybe Tamsin Marigold so there’s some frill and length but also nod to Mary.
Otherwise I like Cleo Mariette! It’s a very happy-making name!
Or Adelaide Mariette - very chic to me! You can use Ada, Daisy or Laidy as a nn.
I like the name Hollis but wonder if too close to Ellory? Ellie and Hollie/Lolli? There are others I like but seem too far from Luke.
If open to other suggestions, how about a Mary name in first:
Marabel Joanna
Maren Josephine
Mariette Lee (or Lily? Or Josephine?)
Or else:
Josephine Mara or Josephine Mariette and nn Posey or Phina - so you get the nod to father in law plus biblical plus the feminisation of a boys’ name so some link to Ellory - plus also tailored. Think it would be a good connector to Luke if you don’t want to use Lucas (which goes with something less conventional).
I also think Shiloh - but again with Lucas or Lucien - would be a good option. Shiloh Marion/Mariette is pretty.
committed to Luke, you might think about not using a surname style name for a girl (though you may not ever have a boy etc etc). I think a name to link Ellory and Luke would be better - and possibly change Luke to Lucas.