Help me separate the wheat from the chaff

Girl Names
1

NOT PREGNANT. Not pregnant. Not pregnant.

Now that that’s out of the way, once I return to the dungeons of the hospital in three weeks I’ll be scarce round these parts. And since I’m always thinking about names I’d like to whittle down my list for a future bladechka someday. I have two kids whose names are linked to each other by a ‘classical’ connection ([name_m]Antonius[/name_m] & [name_m]Cassius[/name_m] being old [name_m]Roman[/name_m] gens names stolen from the Greeks, and more importantly for my purposes, Orthodox saints’ names).

The main thing I am searching for is for the name to be relatable and realistic even if it’s unfamiliar. Namesakes and history are extremely important to me but sometimes I need a bit of grounding to know what’s truly usable.

I also don’t want the name to be too similar phonetically to either [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] or [name_f]Cassia[/name_f].

So, thoughts on the usability & fit of the following (suggestions welcome too):

[name_f]Alethea[/name_f]
[name_f]Aquila[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurea[/name_f] / [name_f]Auriel[/name_f] / [name_f]Aurielle[/name_f]
Chrysanthe
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f]
Everild
[name_f]Ione[/name_f]
[name_f]Jacinda[/name_f]
Lysandra
Marianthe
[name_f]Melisande[/name_f]
[name_f]Mireia[/name_f]
[name_f]Nereida[/name_f]
[name_f]Noemie[/name_f]
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosamond[/name_f]
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]
[name_f]Silvana[/name_f]
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]

2

You tend to like more exotic names that I do so the names from your list that I think would work well are:
[name_f]Alethea[/name_f]-I really like this one. It’s my favorite from your list.
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]-Also pretty and accessible.
Lysandra-Although this one does look a bit like Lysol, I think it’s pretty.
[name_f]Melisande[/name_f]-If it weren’t for Game of Thrones, this would seem much stranger to me. But of course, people will probably associate it with that.
[name_f]Noemie[/name_f]-People will be confused by it’s similarity to [name_f]Naomi[/name_f], but I think it’s very pretty.
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]-[name_f]Lovely[/name_f] name. Much less exotic sounding than your other names.
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]-A good name, but I don’t much like the sound of it for some reason. It also reminds me of [name_u]Sailor[/name_u] [name_f]Moon[/name_f] (although I doubt you’ll get that much)
[name_f]Silvana[/name_f]-I’m biased but I like it.
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]-I’m biased but I like it. Much simpler and more common.

[name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f] could work too, but it’s going to be confused for the male version all the time I think. I like [name_m]Emmanuel[/name_m], not sure what I think of the feminine version yet.

3

I think these are absolutely 100% usable:

[name_f]Alethea[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosamond[/name_f]
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]
[name_f]Silvana[/name_f]
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]

Usable but maybe not as easy for the average joe to “get:”

[name_f]Aquila[/name_f]
[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f]
Everild
[name_f]Jacinda[/name_f]
Lysandra
[name_f]Melisande[/name_f] – the GoT character is [name_f]Melisandre[/name_f], not [name_f]Melisande[/name_f], but that does make the name somewhat familiar
[name_f]Noemie[/name_f] – I feel like most people will just hear [name_f]Naomi[/name_f]

I feel like these will get blank looks:

[name_f]Aurea[/name_f] / [name_f]Auriel[/name_f] / [name_f]Aurielle[/name_f]
Chrysanthe
[name_f]Ione[/name_f]
Marianthe
[name_f]Mireia[/name_f]
[name_f]Nereida[/name_f]

4

I love Orthodox Saints names too!
[name_f]Alethea[/name_f]- I like this one, but prefer the more simple and easily pronounceable [name_f]Althea[/name_f].
[name_f]Aquila[/name_f]- I think this goes well with your taste, but I’m not a fan, and I think you’d get some funny looks for it.
[name_f]Aurea[/name_f] / [name_f]Auriel[/name_f] / [name_f]Aurielle[/name_f]- I think this fits in with the -elle and Au- trends, so I think it doesn’t match stylistically with your son’s name (but I think [name_f]Aurielle[/name_f] sounds alright with [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]).
Chrysanthe- I love Chrysanthe. But good luck getting a normal person to pronounce it right.
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]- I think [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] fits well with both names. I like it, but since it gets talked about a lot on here I’m kind of over it.
[name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f]- I think this is a perfect fit with your names. It is underused, traditional without being tired, and easily pronounceable. Perfect.
[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f]- I think [name_f]Evanthe[/name_f] also goes great with your names. I really like [name_f]Evanthe[/name_f]. But same as Chrysanthe, good luck with pronunciation.
Everild- I’ve never seen this one before. I’m not sure how to pronounce it. The [name_u]Ever[/name_u] part fits in with the trend, but it is old like your other names. I like some of your other names better, I’m not sure how usable this is.
[name_f]Ione[/name_f]- I loved [name_f]Ione[/name_f], but good luck with pronunciation.
[name_f]Jacinda[/name_f]- I prefer [name_f]Jacinta[/name_f], but [name_f]Jacinda[/name_f] is alright. I like your other kids’ names more.
Lysandra- Lysandra fits well with your kids’ names, but is a little more out there. I like it, but I’m not sure everyone else will.
Marianthe- I love all the -anthe names, but I hate mispronunciations. I think pronunciation would be hard with all the -anthe names.
[name_f]Melisande[/name_f]- I like [name_f]Melisande[/name_f]. I think it goes well with your other kids’ names. But I think this one is hard for people to pronounce.
[name_f]Mireia[/name_f]- I love this one. I think it goes great with your other kids’s names. I think pronunciation would be a bit hard, but I think most would get it.
[name_f]Nereida[/name_f]- I don’t think this one is usable. I’m not sure how to pronounce it, and I think it doesn’t fit with your other kids’ names.
[name_f]Noemie[/name_f]- I think this spelling would confuse people, but [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] would work. Unless you are pronouncing it No-ay-mee. Then I’d stick with the spelling you have (but I’d add the accent). I don’t think you’d ever get that pronunciation which is why I caution.
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]- [name_f]Petra[/name_f] is awesome with your sibset. And pronounceable and rare.
[name_f]Rosamond[/name_f]- Ditto with [name_f]Petra[/name_f].
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]- I feel like this is more common and doesn’t go with your other kids’ names. [name_f]Selene[/name_f] would fit better.
[name_f]Silvana[/name_f]- I think [name_f]Silvana[/name_f] goes well with your sibset. I like it. Have you considered [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] or [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f], I think they’d go well too.
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]- I love [name_f]Thea[/name_f]. I think it goes great with your sibset.

I want to suggest: [name_f]Ariadne[/name_f], [name_f]Isadora[/name_f]/[name_f]Isidora[/name_f], [name_f]Magdalena[/name_f], [name_f]Mariana[/name_f], [name_f]Sibyl[/name_f], [name_f]Cleo[/name_f], [name_f]Thalia[/name_f], [name_f]Cecily[/name_f], [name_f]Jordana[/name_f], Belphoebe, Briseis, [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], [name_f]Odelia[/name_f]/[name_f]Odilia[/name_f], [name_f]Persephone[/name_f], [name_f]Philomena[/name_f], [name_f]Raziela[/name_f], and [name_f]Thisbe[/name_f]. I basically suggested all my GPs and all of my out of the box saint names I thought you’d like. I love both your kids’ names. I recently re-fell in love with [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]. I hope this helped!

5

Thanks very much for your thoughts. What you said makes a lot of sense. I actually thought [name_f]Alethea[/name_f] was one of the more abstruse names so I’m surprised to hear you both thought it was accessible.

6

[name_f]Alethea[/name_f] - familiar, but easily confused with [name_f]Anthea[/name_f] or [name_f]Althea[/name_f]. Not my favourite of the names you have up here.
[name_f]Aquila[/name_f] - I’ve always struggled with the pronunciation of this; uh-quill-uh or uh-quile-uh? It seems very saintly.
[name_f]Aurea[/name_f] / [name_f]Auriel[/name_f] / [name_f]Aurielle[/name_f] - I like [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] better than this selection. [name_f]Auriel[/name_f] reminds me of LOTR character Tauriel.
Chrysanthe - lovely, though I prefer [name_f]Chrysanthemum[/name_f]. This one seems like one of the more accessible ones.
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f] - a great choice with siblings and sound.
[name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f] - ditto.
[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f] - ditto.
Everild - a bit too out there for a first name.
[name_f]Ione[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f]. [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f]‘s gorgeous with [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] and [name_u]Antoine[/name_u].
[name_f]Jacinda[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Hyacinth[/name_f].
Lysandra - I dislike [name_f]Sandra[/name_f]. [name_m]Lysander[/name_m] isn’t bad for a boys’ name, but I’m not a fan of the feminized version.
Marianthe - bit too much going on here.
[name_f]Melisande[/name_f] - somehow both cutesy and substantial.
[name_f]Mireia[/name_f] - a lovely sound, very ethereal, but difficult to spell and say for the average [name_m]Joe[/name_m].
[name_f]Nereida[/name_f] - see [name_f]Mireia[/name_f].
[name_f]Noemie[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Natalie[/name_f], but maybe that’s not exotic enough for your taste.
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] - pretty, but too stern for [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]'s sister.
[name_f]Rosamond[/name_f] - just doesn’t fit with the others for some reason, I don’t know.
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] - dated.
[name_f]Silvana[/name_f] - not a fan.
[name_f]Thea[/name_f] - love!

Standouts:
Chrysanthe
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f]
[name_f]Melisande[/name_f]
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]

7

Thank you both so much. I think you’re right that Everild is too weird and [name_f]Noemie[/name_f] will be perpetually misunderstood. I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the Greek E names and was hoping that [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] would have blazed a path for them (esp [name_f]Ione[/name_f]) but they might be too much trouble.

HTB thank you for the suggestions! I like many of them.

8

Some of these are really beautiful names, but I think for usability and fitting in with the style you already have going, [name_f]Ione[/name_f] and [name_f]Petra[/name_f] are your best bets.

9

Our name style is totally different but with [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] & [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] [name_f]Viviane[/name_f] [name_f]Noor[/name_f] I think my faves are:

[name_f]Silvana[/name_f] - [name_f]My[/name_f] very favourite for you. [name_f]Lovely[/name_f]. It sits beside [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] & [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] really well & holds the same old, intricate, delicate feeling that those names give me. [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] & [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] make me think of artisan things like beautiful metalwork or renaissance oil paintings. I kind of think of that feeling when you walk into an old european museum or art gallery or something, the age and weight of the things in there humming with life & excitement & history.

[name_f]Aurielle[/name_f] - I love [name_f]Aurielle[/name_f] with [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], they feel like a perfect match. I’m up in the air with it beside [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] though. I know of a couple little Aurielles so I’m not sure if its seeing a bit of a popularity hike or what.
Chrysanthe - This is much more uncommon than [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] & [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] but so, so lovely. Not sure if it would bother you to have two children with the same first initial. Some people on NB are pretty intense about that.
[name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f] - I feel you could have spelling & pronunciation issues here but I think it would be a good fit. It vibes really well with the saintly feel of your other choices. It wouldn’t be my first choice but I don’t mind it.
[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f] & [name_f]Jacinda[/name_f] - [name_m]Both[/name_m] of these feel more upbeat than your other names but they are also more unusual, most people will need to hear them repeated a few times & nobody will know how to spell them. I really like them though! I think [name_f]Evanthe[/name_f] would fit slightly better in your sibset but I adore [name_f]Jacinda[/name_f].
[name_f]Melisande[/name_f] - I strongly associate this with Game of Thrones, unfortunately. So that for me would rule it out. Its really a beautiful name though.
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] - This is all wits & strength to me. It’s having a bit of a popularity boost right now cause of Ender’s Game. I think it fits well with your style but it feels maybe a bit too stern beside your other picks.
[name_f]Rosamond[/name_f] - I think the [name_f]Rose[/name_f] names are all being overused right now so I’m not keen on [name_f]Rosamond[/name_f] - but I see why you would like it. And all the nickname options are fabulous of course.

Most of the other names on your list I think are too “out there” sounding beside [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] & [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], which are uncommon but known, at least. For most of them either the spelling needs to be simplified, or the pronounciation.
Although I like [name_f]Thea[/name_f] I think it is too short for you. Lysandra to me is Feminine of [name_m]Lysander[/name_m], and all I associate that with is A Midsummer Nights [name_u]Dream[/name_u]. And [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] I just hate generally for no reason.

10

[name_f]Katie[/name_f] thank you for those spectacular descriptions and the beautiful way you described my existing kids’ names. Goosebumps. I really loved what you said about [name_f]Silvana[/name_f].

And I get it about [name_f]Elodie[/name_f]- I feel like I should like it much more than I do, maybe because it’s mentioned around here so frequently.

11

With [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], I especially like [name_f]Mireia[/name_f], [name_f]Noemie[/name_f], [name_f]Thea[/name_f], and Evanthe.

I like [name_f]Alethea[/name_f], but I would prefer [name_f]Althea[/name_f] with [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]. Somehow [name_u]CASS[/name_u]-ee-ah and ah-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-thee-ah are more similar than [name_u]CASS[/name_u]-ee-ah and al-THEE-ah.

12

Hmm. Finding a name that will hold its own/fit next to [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] is definitely challenging.

[name_f]Alethea[/name_f] - I like it, but I agree with the pp who said it’s a little confusing because of [name_f]Anthea[/name_f]/[name_f]Althea[/name_f].
[name_f]Aquila[/name_f] - Reeeeally like this one. The repeating first initial bothers me a little, but that aside, I think [name_f]Aquila[/name_f] is closest to the sort of almost-exotic, ancient, quiet wisdom that [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] have going on.
[name_f]Aurea[/name_f] / [name_f]Auriel[/name_f] / [name_f]Aurielle[/name_f] - When I look at [name_f]Aurea[/name_f], all I can see is areola. I don’t have that problem with [name_f]Auriel[/name_f]/[name_f]Aurielle[/name_f], but I’m still just lukewarm about all three names.
Chrysanthe - I like it, but it’s a little weirder than [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]. And kind of aggressively Greek.
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f] - This one feels too normal next to [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], plus you don’t sound as though you love it.
[name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f] - Eh. I feel like I should really like this one for you, but I’ve never liked the combination of sounds. It makes me think of sheep bleating for some reason (religious connections, maybe? I don’t know.)
[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f] - Has the right vibe, but looks like a feminization of [name_u]Evan[/name_u] that’s trying too hard, even though I’m aware of its history.
Everild - Feels overly straightlaced and frumpy next to A & C.
[name_f]Ione[/name_f] - I think the vibe fits, but I have the same concerns as with Chrysanthe. Plus pronunciation issues.
[name_f]Jacinda[/name_f] - Feels fluffy and almost vapid beside [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]. I don’t think it’s grounded enough to hold its own against them at all. I like the sound, though.
Lysandra - Ditto what [name_f]Katie[/name_f] said. Also, the -sandra part adds an element of dated-ness.
Marianthe - Intriguing and pretty, but once again significantly weirder than siblings’ names.
[name_f]Melisande[/name_f] - Pretty much word for word what [name_f]Katie[/name_f] said.
[name_f]Mireia[/name_f] - I love this name. Soooo fantastic. I can’t tell whether it actually fits or I’m just biased, though. I’d like to think it actually fits.
[name_f]Nereida[/name_f] - Differing weirdness level again. I like it, though.
[name_f]Noemie[/name_f] - Yeah, I agree with pps. It’d be a lifetime of “[name_f]Naomi[/name_f]?”
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] - Fits the ancient sagacity thing, and I adore it, but I think [name_f]Katie[/name_f]'s right that it’s a little severe.
[name_f]Rosamond[/name_f] - Should fit, but it’s much stuffier than the other two, and feels more Western European. Ends up clashing.
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] - I would love this for you if it wasn’t the name of a Gossip Girl character/cheesy Pirates of the Caribbean mermaid/every fanfiction [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Sue[/name_f] ever.
[name_f]Silvana[/name_f] - Is great. A little wilder than [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], but I like that about it. It complements rather than clashes.
[name_f]Thea[/name_f] - I almost like it, but I agree that it’s maybe too short, and it also doesn’t have much of a spark. It’s always felt like a wet blanket kind of name to me.

You’ve made me want to go look at saints’ names. Maybe I will! The only suggestions I can think of, off the top of my head, are [name_f]Odette[/name_f], [name_f]Roxana[/name_f], [name_f]Sibylla[/name_f]/[name_f]Sybilla[/name_f]/[name_f]Sybella[/name_f], and [name_f]Thais[/name_f]/Thaisa, but I don’t think the first three have any saint connections.

13

From your list the ones I think are the most useable are
[name_f]Alethea[/name_f] (I know of one), [name_f]Serena[/name_f], [name_f]Thea[/name_f], [name_f]Petra[/name_f], and [name_f]Ione[/name_f] (I think if the actress [name_f]Ione[/name_f] [name_u]Skye[/name_u]). [name_f]My[/name_f] favorite is [name_f]Ione[/name_f] and then [name_f]Serena[/name_f].

14

[name_f]Alethea[/name_f] - I’m kind of “eh” about this name, but I do like it more than just [name_f]Thea[/name_f], and I love the meaning.
[name_f]Aquila[/name_f] - Pretty, but maybe a bit too unusual for a first name.
[name_f]Aurea[/name_f] / [name_f]Auriel[/name_f] / [name_f]Aurielle[/name_f] - None of these are as pretty as [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f], unfortunately, and I think they would be confused with all the Arias and Ariels out there.
Chrysanthe - [name_u]Love[/name_u] it, but it’s definitely a bold choice. Also, a tad similar in sound to [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] with the hard “c” and “s” sounds.
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f] - Goes wonderfully with the sibset!
[name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u], love, love! But didn’t you mention once that you didn’t want to use it because your husband once dated an [name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f]?
[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f] - Out of the -the names on your list, I think this is probably the most familiar and usable, and I think it goes well with [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f].
Everild - Although I know it’s a legitimate name of a saint, it seems more like the kind of name you’d find in a fantasy novel, rather than real life. (Also, I it looks so masculine to me for some reason, even though it know it’s a girl’s name.)
[name_f]Ione[/name_f] - If you pronounce it with an “Ee” sound at the beginning, it’s kind of pretty, but I tend to dislike the “Eye” sound in general.
[name_f]Jacinda[/name_f] - It’s not a personal favorite of mine, but I do like how [name_f]Jacinda[/name_f] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] both have a bit of a botanical connection (hyacinth and cinnamon) without being obvious.
Lysandra - Liss-sandra is pretty. I’m not fond of Lye-sandra.
Marianthe - Oo, this is a new one! I like it, but I don’t think it’s very usable in real life. It’s bit too unusual. [name_m]Just[/name_m] [name_u]Marian[/name_u] would be lovely, though!
[name_f]Melisande[/name_f] - Another one of my personal favorites! I think it goes well with the sibset, but I go back and forth on whether it works as a first name in real life. (It’s more middle name material for me, personally.)
[name_f]Mireia[/name_f] - Gorgeous, but tough to pronounce. Also, though it sounds different, visually it shares an -ia ending with [name_f]Cassia[/name_f].
[name_f]Nereida[/name_f] - I’m not a fan. It’s a bit much for RL.
[name_f]Noemie[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] this with the sibset!
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] - Also goes well with the sibset, although perhaps a bit plain.
[name_f]Rosamond[/name_f] - Although the meaning of [name_f]Rosamond[/name_f] has nothing to do with roses, it still feels a bit botanical due to the beginning, so I like that pseudo-connection with [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]. Goes really well with the sibling names.
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] this name! It’s a bit more popular than your other choices, yet I can see it working with the sibset.
[name_f]Silvana[/name_f] - I totally agree with truenature’s description. [name_f]Silvana[/name_f] would be my favorite choice for you as well. It’s familiar, but with an exotic twist, like [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f].
[name_f]Thea[/name_f] - Would make a sweet nickname for [name_f]Alethea[/name_f] or any of the -the names, but I’m not a huge fan of it on it’s own.

Favorites that are usable: [name_f]Silvana[/name_f], [name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f], [name_f]Noemie[/name_f], [name_f]Serena[/name_f], [name_f]Rosamond[/name_f], [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], [name_f]Evanthe[/name_f]

[name_u]Love[/name_u], but maybe not so usable: [name_f]Melisande[/name_f], Chrysanthe, [name_f]Aquila[/name_f], Lysandra (Liss-version), Marianthe, [name_f]Mireia[/name_f]

Usable, but a bit underwhelming: [name_f]Petra[/name_f], [name_f]Jacinda[/name_f], [name_f]Alethea[/name_f]/[name_f]Thea[/name_f], [name_f]Aurea[/name_f] / [name_f]Auriel[/name_f] / [name_f]Aurielle[/name_f]

Not a personal fan: [name_f]Nereida[/name_f], Everild, [name_f]Ione[/name_f]

15

Thank you all so much. [name_m]Just[/name_m] curious, is [name_f]Mireya[/name_f] more usable than [name_f]Mireia[/name_f]? I think the Catalan version looks sleeker but the pronunciation for [name_f]Mireya[/name_f] is more obvious (and avoids the -ia ending with [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]).

16

[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f] is my favorite from your list, to go with [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]. I like its lightness and, to me, it is uncommon. [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] may also work.

17

I can’t help but notice you already favour names that contain “an” (eg. [name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Viviane[/name_f]). Your list features many name that share that same sound as well. I’m guessing that you may be drawn to that sound for some mysterious reason. :slight_smile:

These names pair well with the [name_m]French[/name_m] [name_u]Antoine[/name_u].

[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]/[name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f]/[name_f]Rosamond[/name_f]/[name_f]Melisande[/name_f]/[name_f]Noemie[/name_f]

These names would be lovely with [name_f]Cassia[/name_f].

[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f]
[name_f]Ione[/name_f]
[name_f]Jacinda[/name_f]
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]
[name_f]Silvana[/name_f]

Names That Are Different But Could Work…

Everild
Marianthe

Names That Lack A Certain Something…

Lysandra - why is [name_m]Lysander[/name_m] for a boy so much more appealing than the girls version?
[name_f]Mireia[/name_f]
[name_f]Nereida[/name_f]

Name With Issues - Same Initials/Similar Sounds

[name_f]Alethea[/name_f] - same ending as [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]
[name_f]Aquila[/name_f] - I like it more for a boy. Maybe [name_f]Aquilina[/name_f] would be a better option for a girl.
[name_f]Aurea[/name_f] / [name_f]Auriel[/name_f] / [name_f]Aurielle[/name_f] - the first has the same ending as [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]; the other two are similar to [name_f]Oriole[/name_f]
Chrysanthe - I like this name but it shares an initial with your daughter and Ant with your son.
[name_f]Thea[/name_f] - see [name_f]Alethea[/name_f]

Other Suggestions - Saintly and Otherwise

[name_f]Eulalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Fabiola[/name_f]
[name_f]Amata[/name_f]
Gaudentia
Ascelin
[name_f]Asteria[/name_f]
Basilissa
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
Humbeline
[name_f]Bertille[/name_f]
[name_f]Ines[/name_f]
[name_f]Isidora[/name_f]
[name_f]Brigitte[/name_f]
[name_f]Eirene[/name_f]/[name_f]Irene[/name_f]/[name_f]Irina[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliana[/name_f]
Lioba
[name_f]Marciana[/name_f]
[name_f]Delphine[/name_f]
Macrina
[name_f]Diana[/name_f]
Devota
Emerita/Emerentiana
[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f]/[name_f]Magdalen[/name_f]
[name_f]Marcella[/name_f]
[name_f]Dymphna[/name_f]
[name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]
[name_f]Prisca[/name_f]/[name_f]Priscilla[/name_f]
Quiterie
[name_f]Regina[/name_f]
Praxedes
Rhipsime
[name_f]Pilar[/name_f]
[name_f]Marina[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
Bartolomea
[name_f]Salome[/name_f]
[name_f]Severine[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]/[name_f]Mathilde[/name_f]
[name_f]Maxima[/name_f]
[name_f]Theresa[/name_f]/[name_f]Teresa[/name_f]
[name_f]Maura[/name_f]
[name_f]Thekla[/name_f]/[name_f]Thecla[/name_f]
Messalina
[name_f]Theodora[/name_f]/[name_f]Theodosia[/name_f]
Modwenna
Tryphena
[name_f]Monica[/name_f]
[name_f]Ursula[/name_f]
[name_f]Viridiana[/name_f]
Olympias
[name_f]Odette[/name_f]
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f]
Vitalina
Pelagie
Osyth
[name_f]Philomena[/name_f]
[name_f]Petronilla[/name_f]
Photina
[name_f]Zita[/name_f]

18

It could be because I’m reasonably fluent in Spanish, but I think the pronunciation of [name_f]Mireia[/name_f] is fairly easy/intuitive. Certainly more so than that of [name_f]Mireille[/name_f]. I definitely like [name_f]Mireia[/name_f] better than [name_f]Mireya[/name_f], which I agree is more cumbersome. Also, the matching endings don’t bother me at all (since the sounds are completely different) and I’m usually a huge stickler for that sort of thing.

19

[name_f]Alethea[/name_f] - not loving the shared ending with [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] (in sound and only if you pronounce [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], [name_f]Ca[/name_f]-see-a).
[name_f]Aquila[/name_f] - pronounced A-kee-la? I find it a bit odd. *
Chrysanthe - I’m not a big fan. Chrysanthe too complicated for me to like it.
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f] - sound beautiful woth both children’s names. Shares [name_u]Antoine[/name_u]'s [name_m]French[/name_m] origin but doesn’t create a [name_m]French[/name_m] theme where [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] would be left out.
[name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f] - it wouldn’t be clear enough for me if the baby with this name is a boy or a girl (based on the pronuciation)
[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f] - very fitting, especially with [name_f]Cassia[/name_f].
[name_f]Melisande[/name_f] - sounds so right with both your children’s names, it’s magical like [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], unusal but not too out there, [name_m]French[/name_m] but perfectly pronouncable in English

These would be beautiful too. I’m not a big fan of but don’t have any negative things to say about them, so I just won’t comment.
[name_f]Noemie[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosamond[/name_f]
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]
[name_f]Silvana[/name_f]

*[name_u]Antoine[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] are both familiar names. Some choices just seem to out there compared with them.

20

I like/think fit:

[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Evanthe[/name_f]
[name_f]Ione[/name_f]
Lysandra
Marianthe
[name_f]Nereida[/name_f]
[name_f]Noemie[/name_f]
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosamond[/name_f]
[name_f]Silvana[/name_f]
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]