Help... I have baby name overload.

Girl Names
1

Im well and truly stuck. I need help from all you name experts/enthusiasts out there. The names in my head are spinning around and around and this process isn’t fun anymore…

I am due to have my second daughter in [name]April[/name] and my husband has handed all naming rights over to me (yay :slight_smile: but that seems to have made things harder… It was so easy with my first baby for some reason.

Im searching for a name that will remain unusual (i know that is a silly criteria to have but I just really fear the name I choose becoming the [name]Ava[/name], [name]Lily[/name], [name]Ella[/name] of tomorrow)

I’m also looking for a short (two syllable) name that has no obvious nicknames, I’m not a fan of nicknames.

Other than that, I am open to suggestions.

So far I really love two names…

[name]Lilac[/name]
[name]Cleo[/name]

My issues with these names are that a) [name]Lilac[/name] will most likely get [name]Lily[/name] or [name]Lila[/name] and although they’re pretty names, I know SO many Lilys and [name]Lilas[/name], and I don’t like names being shortened.

The issue with my second choice [name]Cleo[/name], is popularity. I was set on this name - absolutely adore it - until I saw that it is predicted to be really familiar and common in a decade.

Am I making this impossible for myself? Or do you have any suggestions for me? Any advice is appreciated…

2

[name]Lilac[/name]–I don’t think she will be nicknamed, since the name is so short already. Generally, if someone calls her by an unwanted nickname, she will be able to tell them to stop and they will be good about it. I [name]LOVE[/name] the name [name]Lilac[/name]. :slight_smile:
[name]Cleo[/name]–I don’t think this name will get too popular at all! But if you are really worried, you might choose [name]Clea[/name] instead. I also love the Greek spelling, [name]Clio[/name].

Some 2-syllable suggestions (I tried to avoid any I think will be really trendy soon, and I’ve starred the very best ones.):
[name]Estelle[/name]
[name]Gemma[/name]*
[name]Tella[/name]/[name]Della[/name]
[name]Calla[/name]*
[name]Sylvie[/name]*
[name]Simone[/name]
[name]Frances[/name]
[name]Juno[/name]
[name]Cora[/name]/[name]Coral[/name]
[name]Jana[/name]
[name]Gia[/name]*
[name]Adair[/name]
[name]Mira[/name]/[name]Mila[/name]
[name]Marlo[/name]
[name]Mona[/name]
[name]Willa[/name]/[name]Milla[/name]
[name]Dasha[/name]*
[name]Lilla[/name] (means [name]Lilac[/name] in Italian)
[name]Luna[/name]
[name]Honor[/name]
[name]Vita[/name]
[name]Vera[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name]*
[name]Mabel[/name]
[name]Flora[/name]/[name]Florence[/name]
[name]Esme[/name]*
[name]Bridget[/name]
[name]Brenna[/name]
[name]Iris[/name]*
[name]Zora[/name]/[name]Zara[/name]
[name]Laurel[/name]
[name]Ciel[/name]
[name]Clara[/name]
[name]Freya[/name]*
[name]Jessa[/name]/[name]Tessa[/name]
[name]Lucia[/name]
[name]Tova[/name]
[name]Sunday[/name]
[name]Isla[/name]
[name]Nola[/name]/[name]Nora[/name]
[name]Binah[/name]
[name]Tansy[/name]
[name]Carys[/name]
[name]Riva[/name]
[name]Rhea[/name]/[name]Raisa[/name]
[name]Rory[/name]
[name]Georgia[/name]*
[name]Marta[/name]/[name]Greta[/name]
[name]Lena[/name]
[name]Emme[/name]
[name]Mina[/name]
[name]Katja[/name]
[name]Patience[/name]
[name]Maeva[/name]* (pro. Mev-ah)

I hope this helps!

Also: Are you looking for middle names, and if so, what do you want in them? What is your first child’s name, so we can get a sense of what names would go with hers?

3

Thank you heaps for those. I quite like [name]Ciel[/name] (not sure whether I am pronouncing it right) [name]Cora[/name] and [name]Luna[/name]… They are really pretty.

I was considering [name]Clea[/name] too. I went to school with a [name]Clea[/name]. My sister told me it sounded like I was saying ‘Clear’ when I mentioned that name. I thought [name]Cleo[/name] would remain fairly uncommon but that blog post implied it was going to get really popular.

In terms of MNs I would like a longer name. And it doesn’t need to be all that unusual, just fit with [name]Cleo[/name] or [name]Lilac[/name], or the name I go with.

The combos I was considering were

[name]Clea[/name] [name]Aurora[/name]
[name]Lilac[/name] [name]Isabel[/name]
[name]Cleo[/name] [name]Rose[/name]
[name]Cleo[/name] [name]Bella[/name]
[name]Clea[/name] [name]Grace[/name]
[name]Lilac[/name] [name]April[/name] (she is due in [name]April[/name] but might come in [name]May[/name])
[name]Lilac[/name] [name]Autumn[/name]

I still [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Cleo[/name], I just can’t shake the idea that it will explode one day… I’m being stupid about it I know :frowning:

4

[name]Clea[/name] [name]Aurora[/name]: I love [name]Clea[/name] [name]Aurora[/name]! [name]Clea[/name] does sound a bit like “Clear”, but what really matters is that you love the name…do you? I think [name]Cleo[/name]/[name]Clio[/name] [name]Aurora[/name] would be particularly nice since they do not both end in “a”.
[name]Lilac[/name] [name]Isabel[/name]: I love it! [name]Lilac[/name] [name]Isobel[/name] or [name]Lilac[/name] [name]Isabella[/name] is also an option. :slight_smile:
[name]Cleo[/name] [name]Rose[/name]: [name]Rose[/name] seems to be a bit of a filler middle name, and I don’t like the matching “o” sounds in [name]Cleo[/name] and [name]Rose[/name] much. What about [name]Cleo[/name] [name]Iris[/name], [name]Cleo[/name] [name]Ivy[/name], or [name]Cleo[/name] [name]Rosalind[/name]?
[name]Cleo[/name] [name]Bella[/name]: I like [name]Cleo[/name] [name]Isabella[/name] better, but all in all it’s a nice name.
[name]Clea[/name] [name]Grace[/name]: [name]Grace[/name] is getting REALLY common as a mn these days…what about [name]Clea[/name] [name]Patience[/name], [name]Clea[/name] [name]Faye[/name], or [name]Clea[/name] [name]Amity[/name]?
[name]Lilac[/name] [name]April[/name]: this sounds like a phrase to me since both of the names are words.
[name]Lilac[/name] [name]Autumn[/name]: see [name]Lilac[/name] [name]April[/name]

I’m glad you like [name]Cora[/name], [name]Luna[/name], and [name]Ciel[/name]. :slight_smile: [name]Ciel[/name] is a French name meaning “sky”…I’ve never met one, but NB says it is pronounced see-[name]EL[/name]. For mns you might like:
[name]Ciel[/name] [name]Antonia[/name]
[name]Ciel[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name]
[name]Ciel[/name] [name]Niamh[/name] (pro. [name]Neve[/name])
[name]Ciel[/name] [name]Amelia[/name]
[name]Ciel[/name] [name]Jemima[/name]
[name]Cora[/name] [name]Evangeline[/name]
[name]Cora[/name] [name]Annabel[/name]
[name]Cora[/name] [name]Juliet[/name]
[name]Cora[/name] [name]Lydia[/name]
[name]Cora[/name] [name]Emmeline[/name]
[name]Luna[/name] [name]Jessamine[/name]
[name]Luna[/name] [name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Luna[/name] [name]Sophia[/name]
[name]Luna[/name] [name]Clementine[/name]
[name]Luna[/name] [name]Alice[/name]
[name]Luna[/name] [name]Gabrielle[/name]
[name]Luna[/name] [name]Cosima[/name]

I think [name]Ciel[/name] could also make a great mn–[name]Tova[/name] [name]Ciel[/name], [name]Nora[/name] [name]Ciel[/name], and [name]Georgia[/name] [name]Ciel[/name] spring to mind.

You might also like the name [name]Camille[/name], if you like [name]Ciel[/name].

Also: I went back through my other post and starred the names I think you might like the most, so you might want to check it again. Good luck, [name]Nina[/name]! I love your taste in names, and I’m really enjoying this forum. :slight_smile:

6

I think [name]Cleo[/name] and [name]Lilac[/name] are great, and I personally can’t see them becoming the next [name]Ella[/name], but anything is possible. (But how would you feel if you didn’t use one of them, only to discover that neither became too popular in the future?) I don’t think that any name is truly safe, because all it takes is one celebrity to choose a name, and then—BAM! Massive popularity.

Granted, the popularity of some names can be predicted, but [name]Lilac[/name] and [name]Cleo[/name] don’t strike me as names that appeal to people who like [name]Ava[/name]. I know that [name]Cleo[/name] is mentioned a lot on Nameberry, but we’re mostly name nerds. :slight_smile:

Some more names you may like (sorry for repeats):

[name]Adele[/name]
[name]Alma[/name]
[name]Calla[/name] (reminds me of [name]Clea[/name])
[name]Celeste[/name]
[name]Cecile[/name] (reminds me of [name]Ciel[/name], which I saw you like)
[name]Clover[/name]
[name]Cosette[/name]
[name]Delphine[/name]
[name]Flora[/name]
[name]Greta[/name]
[name]Iris[/name]
[name]Lenore[/name]
[name]Maris[/name]
[name]Margot[/name]/[name]Margo[/name]
[name]Nola[/name]
[name]Opal[/name]
[name]Olive[/name]
[name]Odette[/name]
[name]Sabine[/name]
[name]Tamsin[/name]
[name]Thea[/name]
[name]Vera[/name]
[name]Willa[/name]
[name]Zelda[/name]

I really love the name [name]Clea[/name], and have heard it pronounced as both [name]Clay[/name]-uh and Clee-uh, so if you’re concerned about [name]Clea[/name] sounding like “clear,” you could always go with the clay-uh pronunciation. :slight_smile:

Best wishes to you, and [name]Happy[/name] New Year! :slight_smile:

7

Thankyou all so much for those suggestions and feedback on my names.

Actually, just in the past hour, through researching this site, I have come across a name that could be ‘the one’ for this baby… (well technically I have discovered two names)

[name]Just[/name] fyi my first child’s name is [name]Heidi[/name] [name]Scarlet[/name]. I chose [name]Heidi[/name] because it was 2-syllable, can’t really be shortened and is just so sweet and spunky. I wish it was a bit more unusual but I got over that…

So the name(s) I have just come across are

[name]Elke[/name] and [name]Elka[/name]

[name]Elke[/name] is pronounced [name]El[/name]-kee and [name]Elka[/name] is obvious.

I [name]LOVE[/name] them both. As much as I love [name]Cleo[/name] and [name]Lilac[/name]… but the thing that stands out for me is that [name]Elke[/name]/[name]Elka[/name] and [name]Heidi[/name] are all diminutives of the same original name… Adelheide ([name]Adelaide[/name] in English) which I think ties them together nicely for siblings…

Although if we ever visited Europe people might think I was weird for naming my children the same name?!

Soooooooo can I ask for your valuable opinions on [name]Elke[/name] and [name]Elka[/name]? Which do you prefer? Why?

And, any suggestions for MNs? I would like something perhaps uber feminine and longer than 2-syllables. Also, seeing as my first bub is [name]Heidi[/name] [name]Scarlet[/name], maybe a colour/flower name would be nice?

Thanks so much again and please be honest about the names - I don’t want to curse my daughter… :slight_smile:

[name]Nina[/name]

8

[name]Hi[/name]! Between [name]Elka[/name] and [name]Elke[/name], I think I’d personally go with [name]Elka[/name], because [name]Elke[/name] and [name]Heidi[/name] have the same “ee” ending sound, and with [name]Elka[/name], you could always nickname her [name]Elke[/name]. ([name]Elke[/name] sounds like a term of endearment to me…)

My honest first reaction was seeing the world “elk,” but that didn’t last long, and I was able to appreciate the name. I think it’s very pretty…

I do think that [name]Elka[/name] and [name]Heidi[/name] sound sweet together, but like you said, they’re variations of the same name, so to me, it’s like naming daughters [name]Betsy[/name] and [name]Lisa[/name] (two nicknames for [name]Elizabeth[/name]), [name]Elizabeth[/name] and [name]Isabella[/name] ([name]Isabella[/name] is the Italian form of [name]Elizabeth[/name]), [name]Caroline[/name] and [name]Charlotte[/name] (two forms of [name]Charles[/name]), etc.

Then again, while most people know that [name]Betsy[/name] and [name]Lisa[/name] are nicknames for [name]Elizabeth[/name], I doubt many people will be aware that [name]Heidi[/name] and [name]Elka[/name] are derived from the same name. (Had you not mentioned the connection, I never would have known. Plus, it’s not like you’re using [name]Heidi[/name] and [name]Adelheid[/name] or [name]Adelaide[/name].) :slight_smile:

Another issue that comes to mind, is the possibility that you may have another daughter, and I’m doubting she’ll be given another [name]Adelheid[/name] variation.

If you’re okay using two names derived from the same name, I don’t think it will do any harm, especially because I can’t imagine too many people knowing the origins of [name]Elka[/name]. (Some may, but if that doesn’t bother you, that’s all that matters.)

[name]Elka[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name]
[name]Elka[/name] [name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Elka[/name] [name]Jessamine[/name]
[name]Elka[/name] [name]Madeleine[/name]
[name]Elka[/name] [name]Rosalie[/name]
[name]Elka[/name] [name]Vivienne[/name]
[name]Elka[/name] [name]Violette[/name] (I’m pronouncing it Vee-oh-lette)

[name]Elke[/name] [name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Elke[/name] [name]Rosalind[/name]
[name]Elke[/name] [name]Rosaline[/name]
[name]Elke[/name] [name]Sophia[/name]

Good luck! :slight_smile:

9

[name]Cleo[/name]/[name]Clio[/name] is a beautiful name the only problem I can think of with the spelling [name]Clio[/name] is the association with the car.I am sorry if that came across as rude.You could try being adventerous and go for Clyo, Clieo,Cleyo.

10

I think both [name]Elka[/name] and [name]Elke[/name] are lovely and unusual-- and they go well with [name]Heidi[/name]!

I definitely would not worry about the fact that they are both derived from the same name. No one will know that and even if they do-- like I do now that you told me-- I doubt that they will think it’s strange! they may even think it’s kind of cool.

[name]Betty[/name] and [name]Beth[/name] or [name]Lisa[/name] and [name]Liz[/name] would be too close of same-name derivations but [name]Elka[/name]/[name]Elke[/name] and [name]Heidi[/name] sound nothing alike.
I say go for it! :slight_smile:

11

[name]Lilac[/name] is an okay name. Okay. Not awful, not great.

[name]Cleo[/name]…I’m torn. I like it because it’s like [name]Cleopatra[/name], who was a strong woman and who doesn’t want their daughter to be named after a strong woman, but [name]Cleo[/name] is like a nn of [name]Cleopatra[/name], and it sounds like a dog’s name. So…no.

WDYT of:

[name]Chelsea[/name] (the only nn I can think of it [name]Chelse[/name], and who would call her that other than a close friend?)
[name]Paula[/name]
[name]Kara[/name]/[name]Cara[/name]
[name]Carrie[/name]
[name]Lilith[/name] (nn could be [name]Lili[/name], but I love the strength behind this name too much not to mention it)
[name]Hannah[/name]
[name]Sarah[/name]
[name]Suri[/name]
[name]Leah[/name]/[name]Lea[/name]
[name]Alicia[/name]

Help me please Nameberry - Welcome to the Nameberry Forums

12

I’d try researching [name]Elke[/name] a little more if you plan to use it. I know what it says on here but I have some friends who are familiar with the name and they really say it like [name]El[/name]-kuh. Basically like [name]Elka[/name]. [name]El[/name]-kee seems like an American pronunciation of the name.

13

Wow I love this site - people here actually really think about names, not just whether a name sounds like someone they know and liked/disliked…

Writeratheart415 - I do really like some of those suggestions but I am looking for a name that does not end in ‘a’. It’s a bit too female in my opinion. That’s why I liked [name]Elke[/name] but as the previous post mentioned, it could be pronounced as el-KUH… ultimately sounding like [name]Elka[/name].

I am worried I am starting to find a problem with every single name I think of.

My list as of this morning (it changes by the hour)

[name]Lilac[/name] (love it, but don’t like the nn lil & lila)
[name]Cleo[/name] (love it but possibly destined to become too common)
[name]Pascoe[/name] (like it but maybe too unisex?)
[name]Marlo[/name] (see above)
[name]Elke[/name]/a (very cute but pronunciation issues)
[name]Ariel[/name] (too common where I come from)
[name]Clea[/name] (like it for an ‘a’ ending name, but not in love with it)
Cailet (love it but not sure anyone would say it like I imagine, [name]KAY[/name]-lit)

My taste in names is all over the place. Maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones. With [name]Heidi[/name], I just knew her name was right from the moment I mentioned it…

Thanks for all your help nameberry crew

14

Ohhhhh I almost forgot one…

[name]Garnet[/name]

Hubby hates it but I love it - and I love the ‘et’ ending!

And if anyone could think of a way to throw [name]Peggy[/name] in as an MN for my grandmother you would be a total hero - I know it’s super clunky

15

[name]Garnet[/name] [name]Peggy[/name]? doesn’t sound good.

[name]Peggy[/name] is a nn for [name]Margaret[/name]. I would go with [name]Margaret[/name] rather than [name]Peggy[/name]. I know you love names that end in “et”. But I wouldn’t put [name]Garnet[/name] and [name]Margaret[/name] together.

[name]Cleo[/name] [name]Margaret[/name] is pretty. So is [name]Chloe[/name] [name]Margaret[/name].
I don’t like [name]Lilac[/name] [name]Margaret[/name]. Well, now that I see it, it isn’t bad.

16

My grandmother was [name]Marjorie[/name] (nn [name]Peggy[/name]) but nobody called her the full name

I’m sort of ok with [name]Margaret[/name]. I think I prefer [name]Margo[/name]

17

I went to high school with an [name]Elke[/name] and it was pronounced [name]Elka[/name].

18

I really love [name]Margo[/name], which honors your grandma and gives you the O sound you love. Is [name]Margo[/name] an option for a first name?

I also really love her given name, [name]Marjorie[/name].

From your list of names, I love:

[name]Cleo[/name] [name]Marjorie[/name]
[name]Clea[/name] [name]Marjorie[/name]
[name]Marjorie[/name] [name]Lilac[/name]

On another thread, I saw that your last name is [name]Kane[/name], and as much as I do love [name]Elka[/name], I think that [name]Elka[/name] [name]Kane[/name] is hard to say because it’s so K heavy, and now that I think about it, [name]Lilac[/name] [name]Kane[/name] doesn’t have the best flow, because the K sounds run together.

(These issues may not bother you, but I know you’re trying to narrow down your list, so I thought I’d mention them just in case.) :slight_smile:

Good luck!

19

I love your daughter’s name! I also love [name]Lilac[/name]. I’m not particularly fond of [name]Cleo[/name] but there’s nothing wrong with it.

[name]Both[/name] [name]Elke[/name] and [name]Elka[/name] remind me of [name]Elsa[/name] which is my favorite (but uncommon) pick for a girl. I think [name]Elka[/name] would be a bit easier to say/spell in the US but I do like the sound of [name]El[/name]-kee also.

[name]Elsa[/name] is the Swedish form of [name]Elizabeth[/name] so although it is very similar to [name]Elke[/name]/[name]Elka[/name] it originates from a different name than your daughter’s.

Of the previous suggestions, I find [name]Cora[/name] particularly charming with a timeless feel.

A few ideas for you,
[name]Alla[/name]
[name]Aster[/name]
[name]Beryl[/name]
[name]Calla[/name]
[name]Cassia[/name]
[name]Coral[/name]
[name]Darcy[/name]
[name]Dara[/name]
[name]Hera[/name]
[name]Ida[/name]
[name]Ilsa[/name]
[name]Ina[/name]
[name]Jaffa[/name] (JAFF ah) or [name]Yaffa[/name] (YAH fah)
[name]July[/name]
[name]Margot[/name]
[name]Maris[/name]
[name]Marit[/name]
[name]Myra[/name]
[name]Peony[/name] (MN?)
[name]Rilla[/name]
[name]Sela[/name]
[name]Sidra[/name]
[name]Vera[/name]
[name]Zela[/name]
[name]Zelda[/name]
[name]Zara[/name]
[name]Zora[/name]

20

I didn’t see that you dislike names ending in -a so here are some revised combos incorporating your family names:

[name]Aster[/name] [name]Peggy[/name]
[name]Beryl[/name] [name]Margot[/name]
[name]Coral[/name] [name]Margot[/name]
[name]Cleo[/name] [name]Darcy[/name]
[name]Margot[/name] [name]July[/name]
[name]Margot[/name] [name]Lilac[/name]
[name]Lilac[/name] [name]Maris[/name]
[name]Marit[/name] [name]Cleo[/name]
[name]Myra[/name] [name]Peggy[/name]
[name]Margot[/name] [name]Peony[/name]

Good luck!

21

I think [name]Elka[/name] sounds great with your daughters name. [name]Lilac[/name] and [name]Cleo[/name] do NOT go as well with your daughters name.