Girls, girls, girls

I seem to always have trouble with picking a girl name. With my son we never ended up choosing one because we found out he was a boy and never looked back. We are currently TTC and I am using this time to plan ahead. I think we’ve settled on a boy name which wasn’t difficult but girls are another story.

My DH and I are both having trouble loving a name. We’re pretty lukewarm about our entire list. [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] is the name we both adore but [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] throws us off. It is a family name so if we were to use [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] we wouldn’t go with any other full name and I can’t get on board with using a nn as a first name.

The rest of our list is pretty simple and nothing on it excites us but they are nice names and as far as we’re concerned a little girl would be lucky to have one of them.

[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]: We like the nn [name_u]Josie[/name_u] okay, so we’d probably use it here and there

[name_f]Sarah[/name_f] nn [name_f]Sally[/name_f]: I would say is probably my second favorite after [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], but [name_u]Sam[/name_u] and [name_f]Sally[/name_f] is kind of overboard cutesy I think

[name_f]Anneliese[/name_f]: This honors two family members ([name_f]Anne[/name_f] and [name_f]Elise[/name_f]) and I like the nn [name_f]Annie[/name_f]

[name_f]Aurelie[/name_f]: This is only on the list as an honor name but very unlikely we’d ever use it. We do like the nn [name_u]Ari[/name_u] okay

Thoughts on these names? Any suggestions with the same vibe? I’m open to just about anything at this point.

[name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] nn [name_u]Josie[/name_u]. I also adore the possible sibset of [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] & [name_m]Samuel[/name_m]. An idea for [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] is perhaps [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] could be used as a middle name and that way there will always be the opportunity to call her [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]. Personally for me [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] is too plain and overused for me. I like [name_f]Sally[/name_f] on it’s own though.

As for suggestions I felt [name_f]Mallory[/name_f] may be a good fit for you.

Some other ideas:
Vivenne
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
[name_f]Diana[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]

Hmm - I understand if [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is a family name you don’t want to go and use something tottally different, like “[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f]” for example, but what about a well-known variant like [name_f]Margot[/name_f] or [name_f]Marjorie[/name_f]?

Would you consider using [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] in the MN spot and then having your daughter go by [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]? Perhaps (but not necessary if it doesn’t appeal to you) with a FN that also lends itself to the [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] NN as well, such as [name_f]Agatha[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], or [name_f]Maya[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]?

If you love the NN [name_f]Sally[/name_f] but don’t like being match-matchy with [name_u]Sam[/name_u], how about one of these other NNs? We can work from there to find a full FN you like… [name_f]Ally[/name_f], [name_f]Callie[/name_f]/[name_f]Kallie[/name_f], [name_f]Hallie[/name_f], [name_f]Hattie[/name_f], [name_f]Lottie[/name_f], [name_f]Lettie[/name_f], [name_u]Lonnie[/name_u], [name_u]Tally[/name_u], [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], [name_f]Jilly[/name_f], [name_f]Dolly[/name_f], [name_f]Lillie[/name_f], [name_f]Millie[/name_f], [name_f]Mollie[/name_f], [name_u]Nelly[/name_u], [name_f]Tillie[/name_f]…

Here are some more ideas based on your list…

[name_f]Ada[/name_f], [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]/[name_f]Amelie[/name_f], [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f], [name_f]Alma[/name_f], [name_f]Audra[/name_f], [name_f]Ava[/name_f]
[name_f]Bea[/name_f], [name_f]Bethany[/name_f], [name_f]Beverly[/name_f]
[name_f]Carlotta[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Cora[/name_f]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f], [name_f]Delphine[/name_f], [name_f]Dina[/name_f], [name_f]Dora[/name_f], [name_f]Eda[/name_f]/[name_f]Edie[/name_f], [name_f]Edna[/name_f], [name_f]Edith[/name_f], [name_f]Eileen[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]/[name_f]Liza[/name_f], [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], [name_u]Eloise[/name_u], [name_f]Elsa[/name_f]/[name_f]Elsie[/name_f], [name_f]Esther[/name_f], [name_f]Etta[/name_f], [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f], [name_f]Fern[/name_f], [name_f]FIona[/name_f], [name_f]Frances[/name_f]/[name_f]Francine[/name_f]/[name_f]Francesca[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgina[/name_f], [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f], [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f], [name_f]Greta[/name_f], [name_f]Gretchen[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f], [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f], [name_f]Heidi[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f], [name_f]Iris[/name_f], [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_u]Jean[/name_u], [name_u]Joan[/name_u]/[name_f]Joanie[/name_f], [name_f]Joanna[/name_f], [name_f]Joelle[/name_f], [name_f]Jolene[/name_f], [name_f]Jolie[/name_f], [name_u]June[/name_u], [name_f]Julia[/name_f], [name_f]Juliet[/name_f]
[name_f]Lana[/name_f], [name_u]Lane[/name_u], [name_f]Laurel[/name_f], [name_f]Leona[/name_f], [name_f]Lilith[/name_f], [name_f]Lillian[/name_f], [name_f]Lorna[/name_f], [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]/[name_f]Louise[/name_f], [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], [name_f]Lydia[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f], [name_f]Maple[/name_f], [name_f]Marigold[/name_f], Marcelline, [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f], [name_f]Marlena[/name_f], [name_u]Meredith[/name_u], [name_f]Miriam[/name_f], [name_f]Muriel[/name_f], [name_f]Myrna[/name_f], [name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]
[name_f]Nadine[/name_f], [name_f]Natalia[/name_f]/[name_f]Natalie[/name_f], [name_f]Nora[/name_f]/[name_f]Norah[/name_f]
[name_f]Odette[/name_f], [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Pearl[/name_f], [name_f]Petra[/name_f]
[name_f]Regina[/name_f], [name_f]Renee[/name_f], [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f], [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f], [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f], [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f], [name_f]Roslyn[/name_f], [name_f]Rowena[/name_f], [name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
[name_f]Sabrina[/name_f], [name_f]Sadie[/name_f], [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f] (combines [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]!), [name_f]Sonya[/name_f], [name_f]Susannah[/name_f], [name_f]Sybil[/name_f]
[name_f]Tawny[/name_f], [name_f]Theadora[/name_f], [name_f]Tessa[/name_f], [name_f]Twyla[/name_f]
[name_f]Velma[/name_f], [name_f]Vera[/name_f], [name_f]Vesta[/name_f], [name_f]Viola[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Virginia[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Zara[/name_f], [name_f]Zilla[/name_f]

I love [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] esp for u. Also love the nn [name_f]Annie[/name_f]. Very sweet.

If you like [name_u]Ari[/name_u] what about [name_f]Ariella[/name_f]? I second [name_f]Heidi[/name_f]. Is [name_u]Sam[/name_u] [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] or [name_m]Samson[/name_m]?

I think [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] nn [name_f]Annie[/name_f] is quite lovely and my favourite from your list.

Would a [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] variation such as [name_f]Megan[/name_f], [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f], or [name_f]Margarita[/name_f] be an option with nn [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]? They would still honor [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. The lovely [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] would also honor [name_f]Margaret[/name_f].

[name_m]Just[/name_m] use [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] as the full name. I’ve known of a couple people that did that. I love [name_f]Maggie[/name_f].

I know a [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] whose middle name is [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. I also like the suggestion of [name_f]Margot[/name_f] nn [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]. But I think [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is a classic and you should consider just using that. Maybe if you find the right middle name? Actually I like all of the names on your list. I think I would say second choice is [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f].

[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] suggestions…
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Annelise[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Joy[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]

Other suggestions…
[name_f]Adeline[/name_f] nn [name_f]Addie[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f] nn [name_f]Annie[/name_f]
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u]
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] nn [name_f]Hattie[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f]
[name_f]Madeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Mary[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]

Thanks for all of the feedback! I’m hoping next baby is a boy, haha!