[name_f]Baby[/name_f] girl will be our second. Both my husband and I are teachers, so we know a TON of kids and their parents. We love names that are not common but also don’t feel super out there. Our son has family names from our grandfathers - unfortunately, family names for girls just aren’t there (we don’t like any family names for girls).
Also - everyone in our family so far (me, my husband, and our son) have “a” as the second letter in the first name.
We need a name that:
Isn’t very common, but also doesn’t sound “weird”
Not overly nature-inspired (not [name_m]River[/name_m] or Daisy)
Not a virtue name
“a” as second letter (or after first sound - like Charlotte)
does NOT end in “-el” or an “L” sound
feminine, but would sound strong enough to fit after a title like “Doctor” or “President” or “Director” (Gigi is a cute baby name, but “President Gigi” doesn’t sit right with me)
Doesn’t sound like a “made up name” - more traditional sounding, but uncommon is the vibe.
Names we love but don’t feel like we can use (too many students with these names) or don’t quite fit:
[name_f]Hadley[/name_f]
[name_f]Harper[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
Names I liked that hubby didn’t love and didn’t have the second letter “a”:
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] (I know it doesn’t have the “a”)
[name_f]Leighton[/name_f]
[name_f]Camilla[/name_f]
[name_f]Vienna[/name_f]
[name_f]Frances[/name_f]
Right now, [name_f]Hallie[/name_f] is the top of the list (with middle name “Anne” for my mom), but my husband hasn’t felt ready to commit. With our son, we first considered a name and then instantly knew that was the one - but we haven’t had that with a girl name.
My criteria is very similar to yours. We haven’t picked a name for our #4 daughter yet but here’s some names we’re considering, plus a few more. My girls names are Lacy, Hallie and Eden.
Rosie
Willa
Nina
Evelyn “Evy”
Leona
Vana
Kendall
Emberly
Selah
Cedar
June
Lainey
Livie
Caroline
Oaklyn
Gwendolyn
Lilah
Lilia
Lillian
Iris
Elowen
Ellavere
Here are some ideas. I’m not sure about popularity - are you in the US? I am in England and would say most of these aren’t super common (apart from Scarlett and Margot, maybe.)
I’m also a teacher who recently named a child so I feel your pain! I hope you find something you love.
Caroline
Cara
Scarlett
Lara
Clara
Bailey
Haley
Martha
Margot
Hannah
Talia
Maya
Lacey
[name_f]Hallie[/name_f] is absolutely darling and a great choice!
I will say, I don’t think almost anyone would notice the second letter being “a” except you, so if I were you I wouldn’t let that criterion hold me back from using a name I loved! But if you really want to commit to the pattern, maybe…
[name_f]Gianna[/name_f] nn [name_f]Gia[/name_f] or “Annie/Anna/Ann” to honor your mom
[name_f]Maren[/name_f]
[name_f]Kassidy[/name_f] nn [name_f]Kass[/name_f], Siddy
[name_f]Sasha[/name_f]
[name_f]Calliope[/name_f] nn [name_f]Calli[/name_f], [name_m]Opie[/name_m]
[name_f]Thalia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Talli[/name_f], [name_f]Lia[/name_f]
Ooh I saw the suggestion of [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] and love that!
[name_f]My[/name_f] choice given your parameters would be [name_f]Clara[/name_f]!
Names similar to [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Hadley[/name_f], and [name_f]Harper[/name_f] no -Al -el sounds at the end and somewhat traditional yet uncommon. Seconding any that repeat a previous suggestions:)
[name_f]Hallie[/name_f] is nice as well just not my style.
Like [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]:
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f]
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f]
[name_f]Valentina[/name_f]
Like Hadley/Harper:
[name_f]Sloane[/name_f]
[name_f]Arden[/name_f]
[name_f]Sutton[/name_f]
[name_f]Lainey[/name_f]
[name_m]Campbell[/name_m]
[name_m]Carter[/name_m]
[name_f]Collins[/name_f]
Naming is really hard especially when you have a specific criteria. For me I decided to follow Jewish customs when I named my daughter I found having to find a name with specific letters in specific order challenging! So I completely understand your difficulties
I think [name_f]Hallie[/name_f] is lovely especially [name_f]Hallie[/name_f] [name_f]Anne[/name_f] such a sweet name with a country southern [name_f]Belle[/name_f] flair absolutely love
You’ve had lots of lovely suggestions so count any repeats as me being in agreement with the berries
I’m not sure what you’ve already been suggested, so please count any repeats as agreements.
Sarah
Maeve
Hailey
Diana
Magdalene or Madeline
Amaya
Amara
Viviana
Susannah
Janet
Catherine/Katherine
Caitlyn
Samantha
Alana
Caroline or Carolina or Carolyne
Brianna
Layla
Lauren or Lara
Lana
Elaine
Hannah
May (as a first name I feel like it’s more unusual, but still very much recognizable)
Clara or Clarice
Marina or Marissa
Paige (I feel like it’s not very popular nowadays but it’s got a classic feel to it)
Arianna or Adriana
Eva or Evalyn
Isadora
Isabelle or Isabella
Dorathea or Dorothea
Edit: I second Vanessa and Tabitha!
[name_f]Nadia[/name_f] was my first idea - Slavic like [name_f]Vera[/name_f], but has the A! Also thought of [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] or [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] as an alternative to [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f].
