These are some that have been on my mind. Now that [name]Elizabeth[/name] MIGHT be out, these are possible contenders. I am pretty committed to using [name]Emerald[/name] somewhere in the combo.
[name]Claire[/name] - I never cared much for this until I just started watching the series Heroes and it’s such a great name on the spunky invincible cheerleader. It’s elegant but vital. But is it overdone?
[name]Amanda[/name] - I can’t explain why but I like this. I know it’s 80s but that means its kind of off the radar and unusual for babies being born now. Wdyt?
[name]Bridget[/name] - St. [name]Brighid[/name] is my patroness. And I love the nn [name]Jet[/name].
[name]Eve[/name] - dh doesn’t care for it but I could work on him
[name]January[/name] - I’m afraid it’s [name]OTT[/name] paired with [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Cassandra[/name] - any nn besides [name]Cass[/name], [name]Cassie[/name], [name]Sandra[/name]?
[name]Miranda[/name] - boring? Dated?
Any other suggestions as a first or middle with [name]Emerald[/name]?
I like [name]Claire[/name] and [name]Cassandra[/name]. I had a roommate in college named [name]Cassidy[/name] and I used to call her Cassafrass.
[name]How[/name] do you feel about [name]Beatrice[/name] nn [name]Betty[/name]?
or how about these saints names:
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Abigail[/name]
[name]Isadora[/name]
[name]Jane[/name]
[name]Lucy[/name]
[name]Mariana[/name]
[name]Camilla[/name]
[name]Helena[/name]
[name]Claire[/name] - I love [name]Claire[/name]. It’s girly but not frilly, feminine but tailored. It’s in the Top 100 but less popular than [name]Elizabeth[/name] so I think you could easily keep it on the table as an option.
[name]Amanda[/name] - I find it charmingly unexpected on a baby born now. And I vastly prefer it to more current A’s like [name]Ava[/name] or [name]Aria[/name]. [name]Amy[/name] and [name]Amanda[/name] are two '70s-'80s names I’m fond of. Only issue I can see is the “Am- [name]Em[/name]-” with “[name]Amanda[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]” is a bit repetitive.
[name]Bridget[/name] - Cute! A bit consonant-heavy so it’s not on trend for right now. That is not all bad though, by any means. It stands out without sounding TOO alien, and will probably be at daycares full of Briellas anyway.
[name]Eve[/name] - I’m pretty neutral on [name]Eve[/name]. I do like it better than [name]Eva[/name] or [name]Evelyn[/name].
[name]January[/name] - Not a favourite, sorry, particularly with [name]Emerald[/name].
[name]Cassandra[/name] - I know I came to the defense of [name]Amanda[/name], but [name]Cassandra[/name] is too '80s for me.
[name]Miranda[/name] - I like the [name]Shakespeare[/name] reference and it’s got a pretty sound.
Other suggestions:
[name]Claire[/name] - [name]Catherine[/name] is as classic and less popular. Same could go for [name]Celeste[/name].
[name]January[/name] - [name]Jessamy[/name]? A bit less dramatic and a bit more vintage, but similar flow?
[name]Cassandra[/name] - [name]Calanthe[/name], [name]Caroline[/name], [name]Calandra[/name]… NN [name]Callie[/name] for all three. Or [name]Cassia[/name], NN [name]Cassie[/name].
[name]Miranda[/name] - [name]Meredith[/name].
I vastly prefer [name]Emerald[/name] to any of those choices above my favourite of which would be definately [name]Eve[/name]… [name]Love[/name] [name]Eve[/name] nn[name]Evie[/name] and [name]Emerald[/name] [name]Eve[/name] or [name]Emerald[/name] [name]Eva[/name] are pretty choices!For [name]Cassandra[/name] i would use nn cassia, However i prefer just [name]Cassia[/name] by itself! Also how about [name]Clara[/name] instead if [name]Claire[/name]? [name]Mirabelle[/name] instead if [name]Miranda[/name]? [name]June[/name]/[name]Juno[/name] instead if [name]January[/name]? [name]Araminta[/name], [name]Amara[/name], [name]Amelie[/name] or [name]Amity[/name] instead if [name]Amanda[/name] (really dislike [name]Amanda[/name] it sounds dated [name]IMO[/name]!) to be honest I’m not a huge fan of most if the names on your list… I don’t wish to offend but they seem a bit dull and dated with the exception of [name]Eve[/name]… Which to me is as versatile and classic as [name]Elizabeth[/name]! I think emerald is gorgeous, glamorous and unusual… [name]Love[/name] it so much more than your other choices and if you’re worried about it being ott nn emmie or [name]Emma[/name] grounds it! Also have you thought about [name]Emmeline[/name]? Classic like [name]Elizabeth[/name] but with a dash if whimsy like [name]Emerald[/name]?!
If you are looking for something more classic like [name]Elizabeth[/name] (elizabeth is so gorgeous and versatile!!) I think [name]Katherine[/name] nn kitty could work or [name]Sarah[/name], [name]Rebecca[/name] ([name]Becky[/name] is similar to [name]Betty[/name]) [name]Amelia[/name], [name]Olivia[/name], [name]Georgia[/name], [name]Isabel[/name], [name]Lucia[/name]?
[name]Claire[/name] - I think [name]Claire[/name] is spunky, feminine, and cute.
[name]Amanda[/name] - Makes me think of elementary school. Lots of Amandas in the 90s.
[name]Bridget[/name] - I like [name]Bridget[/name]. It is appealing and the nn [name]Jet[/name] would be cool for a tomboy.
[name]Eve[/name] - I like [name]Eve[/name], but I see it more as a mn.
[name]January[/name] - [name]January[/name] [name]Emerald[/name] is a bit much.
[name]Cassandra[/name] - [name]Andie[/name], [name]Andra[/name], [name]Cassia[/name] even.
[name]Miranda[/name] - I love [name]Miranda[/name]! I think is’ classy, feminine, and fun. Plus nns [name]Mira[/name], [name]Miri[/name], and [name]Andie[/name] are cute.
Other names you may like:
[name]Danica[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Tabitha[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Seraphina[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Isla[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Willa[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Bianca[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Linnea[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Hannah[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Amalia[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Zara[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
I think it is clever using 80’s and 90’s names as they are off the radar. My name is [name]Amanda[/name] but my family calls me [name]Manda[/name]. I do occasionally cop the “a-man-to” jokes but other than that it is a good name. I also get called [name]Amanda[/name] Panda and [name]Mindy[/name]. I hate the nick name [name]Mandy[/name] so that is banned. The worst part of being called [name]Amanda[/name] is that in the year I was born (1979) it was insanely popular. There is always another [name]Amanda[/name] hanging around!! Your [name]Amanda[/name] would not have a name popularity problem
I really like [name]Amanda[/name]! It’s such a warm, cosy and beautiful name, I know a little one (she’s three!) and everyone thinks it’s a great name and fuss over her. I also love [name]Miranda[/name], [name]Claire[/name] and [name]Eve[/name]. In my opinion [name]Bridget[/name], [name]January[/name] and [name]Cassandra[/name] don’t fit with [name]Emerald[/name], but that’s my thing.
I think [name]Rosey[/name]'s [name]Mariana[/name] suggestion is great. [name]Mariana[/name] Pineda was a brave lady, great namesake.
[name]LOVE[/name]
[name]Claire[/name] - I think [name]Claire[/name] is a classic name, yes it’s popular but I don’t think it’s overdone.
[name]Amanda[/name] - Refreshing!
[name]Bridget[/name] - I like this and could use nn [name]Bridie[/name]
UNDECIDED
[name]Eve[/name] - prefer as middle name or [name]Evelyn[/name] nn [name]Evie[/name]
[name]Miranda[/name] - I’m warming to this
NO
[name]January[/name] - nms, nn [name]Miri[/name]
[name]Cassandra[/name] - I don’t like this at all
[name]Amanda[/name], [name]Miranda[/name] and [name]Cassandra[/name] have a similar sound. [name]Do[/name] you like:
[name]Melita[/name]
[name]Melinda[/name]
[name]Katrina[/name]
[name]Monica[/name]
[name]Jessica[/name]
[name]Theresa[/name]
[name]Selina[/name]
[name]Erica[/name]
[name]Cordelia[/name]
Of all the names you listed, [name]Miranda[/name] is the least dated. Because it’s [name]Shakespeare[/name], it will never be considered dated in my opinion. It also allows for the nicknames [name]Mira[/name], [name]Andi[/name], [name]Mandy[/name], or [name]Randa[/name].
[name]LOVE[/name] [name]Amanda[/name] and I don’t care that it’s too 80s. I’d love to see it used now that all the Amandas are grown.
[name]Bridget[/name] is also lovely, though I’m not crazy about the nn [name]Jet[/name].
[name]Eve[/name] and [name]Cassandra[/name] are nice. I think of [name]Eve[/name] as a middle name, but it can work as a first name too, though I’d probably give her a longer name with the nn [name]Eve[/name]. [name]Cassandra[/name] nicknames include the ones you mentioned and also [name]Casey[/name], [name]Sandi[/name], and [name]Andi[/name]. A friend of mine has a niece named [name]Cassandra[/name] and they called her [name]Adria[/name]. A bit of a stretch, but it could work I guess.
[name]Claire[/name] always reminds me of cheerleaders and sorority girls. It’s okay, but I grew up with dozens of Claires so, to me, it sounds dated, despite the fact that it’s considered a classic.
[name]Miranda[/name], [name]Cassandra[/name] and [name]Amanda[/name] are lovely names. [name]Regal[/name], feminine, deeply-rooted. They sound great with your surname, but not with [name]Emerald[/name].
I love [name]Eve[/name]-- slinky and serious in one short syllable-- but think its choppy with [name]Emerald[/name]. [name]Eva[/name] works very well though.
[name]January[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]?!
[name]Bridget[/name] would be amazing but [name]Bridget[/name] [name]Emerald[/name] sounds like a character in an [name]IRA[/name] pageant.
[name]Claire[/name] is crisp, pretty and unobjectionable.
All your name suggestions seem 80’s/dated to me. I like [name]January[/name] but not with [name]Emerald[/name]. [name]How[/name] about:
[name]Alice[/name]
[name]Aubrey[/name]
[name]Isla[/name]
I agree with [name]Blade[/name]. Have you considered other E- names that could replace [name]Elizabeth[/name]? Some of these might be a bit out there:
[name]Early[/name]
[name]Elva[/name]
[name]Elin[/name] (too [name]Tiger[/name] Woods?)
[name]Elysia[/name]
[name]Enora[/name]
[name]Evelina[/name] (close to [name]Eve[/name] but your hubby might prefer it)
I like [name]Emerald[/name] the most of all of those names. But I would like [name]Miranda[/name] [name]Emerald[/name] or [name]Cassandra[/name] [name]Emerald[/name].
I really like claire. [name]Amanda[/name] and cassandra are both nice too. [name]Miranda[/name] and eve are bleh to me, and I would definitely not do bridget or january!
[name]Claire[/name]- I think it’s fun, spunky, and youthful. I don’t like [name]Claire[/name] [name]Emerald[/name], though.
[name]Amanda[/name]- I actually really like this on a modern day baby. It’s unexpected and, dare I say fresh again? I like the double vowel of [name]Amanda[/name] [name]Emerald[/name].
[name]Bridget[/name]- My favorite of your list. Strong, dignified, substantial, yet feminine. [name]Bridget[/name] [name]Emerald[/name] has a nice flow.
[name]Eve[/name]- [name]Love[/name] this name, substantial but soft. I don’t like [name]Eve[/name] [name]Emerald[/name] though.
[name]January[/name]- I agree, it’s a bit over the top with [name]Emerald[/name].
[name]Cassandra[/name]- Not my favorite, but I knew a [name]Cassandra[/name] that went by Cici, [name]Didi[/name], and [name]Cassidy[/name] throughout her lifetime.
[name]Miranda[/name]- I feel like its missing the “wow” factor. And I really dislike [name]Mindy[/name].
[name]How[/name] about…
[name]Daphne[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Ophelia[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Penelope[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
[name]Genevieve[/name] [name]Emerald[/name] (you could nickname her [name]Eve[/name])
[name]Leonie[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]
Thanks so much for all of your thoughtful and honest opinions and your lovely suggestions.
Last night I fell in love with [name]Beatrice[/name].
I have always kind of dismissed the name as yupster-and-celeb-trendy old-lady-cool. I was actually sort of sick of seeing it.
Then last night I couldn’t sleep. All the inactivity from surgery probably. (my husband is trying to convince me to take half of one of my FIL’s Ambiens tonight. I’m wary because I’ve never taken a real sleeping pill and I’m afraid I’ll end up sleep-stabbing somebody. Or something.)
Anyway last night my sleeping pill was [name]Dante[/name]'s Paradiso. When I FINALLY crashed I dreamt [name]Beatrice[/name] was showing me around [name]Heaven[/name], except it was an awful lot like a Sandals resort, and [name]Beatrice[/name] looked an awful lot like a young pre-plastic surgery [name]Nicole[/name] Kidman.
But she was so beautiful and calm, wearing emerald green silk and with all this honey-coppery hair, and she seemed so wise and lovely, and I woke up going, “[name]Beatrice[/name]!” I’ve been saying it all day.
I’ll probably change my mind a hundred times, lets face it. But right now I’m head over heels for [name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Emerald[/name].
Thoughts?
PS. [name]Blade[/name], I literally laughed aloud at the [name]IRA[/name] pageant contestant, [name]Bridget[/name] [name]Emerald[/name].
