I’m hoping you all can give me some ideas!
My grandfather and I are very close, so I’d love to honor him when naming my child. If it’s a boy I’ve decided to use his surname ([name_m]Nelson[/name_m]) as a middle name. However, if it is a girl, I’m stuck!
I’ve considered [name_f]Carly[/name_f], but it’s not really my style.
I’m open to any and all suggestions!
[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Carys[/name_f]? It’s a beautiful name if you feel it is close enough to be an honour name for [name_m]Carl[/name_m].
I think [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], [name_f]Carol[/name_f], or [name_f]Cara[/name_f] would honor [name_m]Carl[/name_m] 
[name_f]Rachel[/name_f], [name_f]Rochelle[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], [name_f]Carol[/name_f]
I was going to say [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], but [name_f]Carla[/name_f] or [name_f]Clara[/name_f] or [name_u]Clare[/name_u] might work too. You could always use a name that has similar meaning too. [name_m]Richard[/name_m] means “dominant ruler” and while there are no names that fit that exactly [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] and [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f] mean “estate ruler” and [name_f]Frieda[/name_f] means “peaceful ruler.” [name_m]Carl[/name_m] is also the [name_m]German[/name_m] form of [name_m]Charles[/name_m] so [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] or [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] would work. If those are too subtle for you, you could always use the same initials. I find it kind of interesting that [name_m]Richard[/name_m] is like the only classic boy name without a female variation. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps
[name_f]Carla[/name_f]
[name_m]Richie[/name_m]
[name_f]Ricarda[/name_f]
[name_f]Richelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Carlene[/name_f]
[name_u]Carlisle[/name_u]
[name_u]Charlie[/name_u]
[name_f]Charla[/name_f]
[name_f]Carol[/name_f]
[name_f]Carrie[/name_f]
[name_m]Carlow[/name_m]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f]
[name_f]Carissa[/name_f]
[name_u]Carlin[/name_u]
[name_f]Carlotta[/name_f]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f]
[name_f]Carolina[/name_f]
[name_m]Richard[/name_m] means “powerful leader”…
[name_u]Fallon[/name_u] - “leader”
[name_f]Raidah[/name_f] - “leader”
[name_f]Irie[/name_f] - “positive and powerful”
[name_m]Carl[/name_m] means “free man”…
[name_u]Amadi[/name_u] - “free man”
[name_f]Frances[/name_f], [name_f]Fancy[/name_f], [name_f]Fannia[/name_f], [name_u]Frankie[/name_u], [name_f]Francine[/name_f], [name_f]Francesca[/name_f] - “free man”
[name_f]Malaya[/name_f] - “free”
Forms of [name_m]Carl[/name_m]:
[name_f]Carly[/name_f]
[name_f]Carla[/name_f]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_f]Carlotta[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlene[/name_f]
[name_f]Carol[/name_f]
Forms of [name_m]Richard[/name_m]:
[name_f]Rachel[/name_f]
[name_f]Richelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Ricarda[/name_f]
[name_u]Rickie[/name_u] (maybe a nn for [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] or [name_f]Erica[/name_f] or something?)
Or you could use [name_u]Nelly[/name_u], as a nn for [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Natalie[/name_f], [name_f]Lenora[/name_f], [name_f]Janelle[/name_f], [name_f]Helen[/name_f], [name_f]Ellen[/name_f]…
I kind of like [name_f]Chanelle[/name_f], as it seems a feminine mix between [name_m]Carl[/name_m] and [name_m]Nelson[/name_m].
[name_m]Carl[/name_m]:-
Meaning (free / free man): [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], [name_f]Frances[/name_f], [name_f]Francesca[/name_f], [name_u]Charlie[/name_u], [name_f]Franny[/name_f], [name_f]Franca[/name_f], [name_f]Carlotta[/name_f], [name_u]Amadi[/name_u], [name_f]Carolina[/name_f], [name_u]Caro[/name_u], Carolie, [name_f]Lolo[/name_f], [name_f]Lottie[/name_f].
Sound: [name_u]Carey[/name_u], [name_f]Carys[/name_f], [name_u]Carmel[/name_u], [name_f]Caroun[/name_f], [name_f]Carmela[/name_f], [name_u]Carmen[/name_u], [name_f]Cara[/name_f], [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Callie[/name_f], [name_f]Calla[/name_f], [name_f]Cassiane[/name_f], [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], [name_f]Cataline[/name_f], [name_f]Catalina[/name_f], [name_u]Cairo[/name_u], [name_f]Calista[/name_f], [name_f]Camellia[/name_f], [name_f]Camille[/name_f], [name_f]Camilla[/name_f], [name_f]Camila[/name_f], [name_f]Cappie[/name_f] / [name_f]Cappi[/name_f], [name_f]Capria[/name_f], [name_f]Caralie[/name_f], [name_f]Carina[/name_f], [name_u]Carlisle[/name_u], [name_f]Carlita[/name_f], [name_f]Carmelita[/name_f]/
[name_m]Richard[/name_m]:-
Meaning (ruler): [name_u]Aubrey[/name_u], [name_u]Avery[/name_u], [name_f]Erica[/name_f], [name_f]Ricarda[/name_f], [name_f]Richarda[/name_f], Richardine, [name_f]Etta[/name_f], [name_f]Federica[/name_f], [name_f]Frederica[/name_f], [name_f]Frederique[/name_f], Federique, [name_f]Frieda[/name_f], [name_u]Fritzi[/name_u], [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f], [name_f]Hatsy[/name_f], [name_f]Hattie[/name_f], [name_f]Harriet[/name_f], [name_f]Henriette[/name_f], [name_f]Hetty[/name_f], [name_f]Hennie[/name_f], [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f], [name_f]Isolde[/name_f], [name_u]Landry[/name_u], [name_u]Meredith[/name_u],
Sound: [name_f]Ria[/name_f] / [name_f]Rhea[/name_f], [name_f]Riona[/name_f], [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f], [name_f]Rita[/name_f], [name_f]Rica[/name_f], [name_f]Riba[/name_f], [name_f]Ricca[/name_f], [name_u]Ridley[/name_u], [name_f]Rikku[/name_f], [name_f]Rina[/name_f], [name_f]Rinoa[/name_f], [name_u]Rishi[/name_u].
[name_m]Carl[/name_m]:-
Meaning (free / free man): [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], [name_f]Frances[/name_f], [name_f]Francesca[/name_f], [name_u]Charlie[/name_u], [name_f]Franny[/name_f], [name_f]Franca[/name_f], [name_f]Carlotta[/name_f], [name_u]Amadi[/name_u], [name_f]Carolina[/name_f], [name_u]Caro[/name_u], Carolie, [name_f]Lolo[/name_f], [name_f]Lottie[/name_f].
Sound: [name_u]Carey[/name_u], [name_f]Carys[/name_f], [name_u]Carmel[/name_u], [name_f]Caroun[/name_f], [name_f]Carmela[/name_f], [name_u]Carmen[/name_u], [name_f]Cara[/name_f], [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Callie[/name_f], [name_f]Calla[/name_f], [name_f]Cassiane[/name_f], [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], [name_f]Cataline[/name_f], [name_f]Catalina[/name_f], [name_u]Cairo[/name_u], [name_f]Calista[/name_f], [name_f]Camellia[/name_f], [name_f]Camille[/name_f], [name_f]Camilla[/name_f], [name_f]Camila[/name_f], [name_f]Cappie[/name_f] / [name_f]Cappi[/name_f], [name_f]Capria[/name_f], [name_f]Caralie[/name_f], [name_f]Carina[/name_f], [name_u]Carlisle[/name_u], [name_f]Carlita[/name_f], [name_f]Carmelita[/name_f]/
[name_m]Richard[/name_m]:-
Meaning (ruler): [name_u]Aubrey[/name_u], [name_u]Avery[/name_u], [name_f]Erica[/name_f], [name_f]Ricarda[/name_f], [name_f]Richarda[/name_f], Richardine, [name_f]Etta[/name_f], [name_f]Federica[/name_f], [name_f]Frederica[/name_f], [name_f]Frederique[/name_f], Federique, [name_f]Frieda[/name_f], [name_u]Fritzi[/name_u], [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f], [name_f]Hatsy[/name_f], [name_f]Hattie[/name_f], [name_f]Harriet[/name_f], [name_f]Henriette[/name_f], [name_f]Hetty[/name_f], [name_f]Hennie[/name_f], [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f], [name_f]Isolde[/name_f], [name_u]Landry[/name_u], [name_u]Meredith[/name_u].
Sound: [name_f]Ria[/name_f] / [name_f]Rhea[/name_f], [name_f]Riona[/name_f], [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f], [name_f]Rita[/name_f], [name_f]Rica[/name_f], [name_f]Riba[/name_f], [name_f]Ricca[/name_f], [name_u]Ridley[/name_u], [name_f]Rikku[/name_f], [name_f]Rina[/name_f], [name_f]Rinoa[/name_f], [name_u]Rishi[/name_u].
[name_f]Carla[/name_f], [name_f]Carolina[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Charlene[/name_f]. I even think even [name_f]Clara[/name_f] or [name_f]Claire[/name_f] may work!
[name_m]Richard[/name_m] [name_m]Carl[/name_m] =
[name_f]Raquel[/name_f]
[name_u]Reece[/name_u]
[name_u]Rickie[/name_u]
[name_u]Charlie[/name_u]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_u]Ridley[/name_u]
[name_u]Carlisle[/name_u]
[name_u]Arley[/name_u]
[name_m]Richard[/name_m] [name_m]Carl[/name_m]
richARD - [name_f]Ardene[/name_f]?
carl - [name_f]Carol[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], [name_f]Carly[/name_f], [name_f]Carla[/name_f], [name_u]Carson[/name_u] (I prefer on a boy but it would work as a MN), [name_f]Cara[/name_f], [name_f]Carolyn[/name_f], [name_f]Callie[/name_f], [name_f]Calliope[/name_f]. Any Car- or [name_u]Cal[/name_u]- names work [name_f]IMO[/name_f].
[name_m]RIchard[/name_m] - [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f], [name_f]Romilly[/name_f] “Ri”.
R.C. - You could give a daughter his initials. ie. [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f], [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f] [name_u]Cassidy[/name_u], [name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Calliope[/name_f] etc.
[name_m]Nelson[/name_m] - [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] nn: [name_f]Nell[/name_f]/[name_f]Nellie[/name_f]/[name_f]Nella[/name_f].
I really like the idea of [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]!
For [name_m]Richard[/name_m] [name_m]Carl[/name_m]:
Orchard (might seem odd, but it struck me as similar and the meaning is so lovely)
[name_f]Dixie[/name_f] (I’m getting this from [name_m]Richard[/name_m]'s nn [name_m]Dick[/name_m] or [name_m]Dickie[/name_m])
Others:
[name_f]Rica[/name_f] (I think this is stylish. What about [name_f]Rica[/name_f] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]?)
[name_u]Ricky[/name_u]/[name_f]Ricki[/name_f]/[name_u]Rikki[/name_u]
[name_f]Char[/name_f]
[name_f]Charmaine[/name_f]
[name_f]Charmion[/name_f]
[name_f]Carlotta[/name_f] (this name is so sweet, and has nn [name_f]Carly[/name_f] or [name_f]Carla[/name_f])
[name_u]Carlyle[/name_u]
[name_f]Carlene[/name_f] (I’ve always liked this name, belonging to the beautiful singer [name_f]Carlene[/name_f] [name_u]Carter[/name_u])
These seems to honour both names:
[name_f]Charlene[/name_f] (a little odd and dated, but I knew a couple women with this name and they are great)
[name_f]Charlena[/name_f] (this is pretty I know a [name_f]Charlena[/name_f] who pronounces it shar-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh and it strikes me as very pretty).
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] (a little past the tipping point on the popularity scale, though, as a fn)
[name_f]Carla[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], or [name_u]Caro[/name_u]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] shares its first four letters with [name_m]Richard[/name_m].
I have heard [name_f]Richelle[/name_f] but that might be a bit much for you. I like [name_f]Carla[/name_f], [name_f]Carlie[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] & [name_f]Carol[/name_f]. Carrine or [name_f]Cara[/name_f] might work.