We have a beautiful [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], and are expecting our second little girl this spring. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband and I have been at an impasse for names with a similar vintage and feminine vibe. After much debate, we have two favorites:
[name_f]Nora[/name_f] - we love the vintage sweet feel
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f] - it’s feminine and classic
However, I worry about the popularity of both names.
Other names we’ve loved have included: [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], [name_u]Willow[/name_u], and [name_f]Adeline[/name_f].
Names he doesn’t prefer for one reason or another but I love are: [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], and [name_f]Rosie[/name_f]. He typically doesn’t love names that are also a noun (Ivy, [name_f]Violet[/name_f], ect) even though I love them!
We are so stuck, and I would love input on using a popular name and also some additional options that don’t feel as used. Thank you for your help, this baby is coming and mama is super stressed about giving her a name we love as much as her sister’s!
Here are a few vintage vibe suggestions I think go well with big sis’s name but aren’t maybe quite so popular (I will stay out of the top 200 in the USA). Also, both of your top picks have the same ending sound as big sis so I’ll suggest a few more of those first:
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Marta[/name_f]
[name_u]Sasha[/name_u] (I personally think this is darling in the pairing)
[name_f]Donna[/name_f] (feels a bit more dated than the others IMO but figured I’d add it)
[name_f]Jenna[/name_f]
[name_f]Priscilla[/name_f]
[name_f]Prisca[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgianna[/name_f]
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Flora[/name_f] (love this one with big sis too)
[name_f]Claudia[/name_f]
[name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is sweet, simple, and classic but still youthful and modern. I agree that [name_f]Nora[/name_f] and [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] both fit this vibe as well. However, they are both quite popular. Not only just these names themselves, but when you factor similar names like [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] / [name_f]Norah[/name_f] and [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] / [name_f]Millie[/name_f] then they do seem to be quite ubiquitous lately! I will say that the “percentage” of top names isn’t as high as it used to be. For example, the top 10 names accounted for 9.95% of all births, while in 2022 it was 6.7%. Basically, the diversity of names is more broad so if you were a [name_f]Jessica[/name_f] born in 1995 you might have 3-4 Jessicas in your class, but an [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] in 2022 wouldn’t likely to have so much of a problem, if that helps.
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f], [name_u]Willow[/name_u], and [name_f]Adeline[/name_f] all seem to fit with [name_f]Clara[/name_f] as well although they are slightly more “eloquent”, for lack of a better word? I like all of these names, but I think [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] fits best with [name_f]Clara[/name_f] for y’all.
Some other suggestions, a little bit less popular but still with the same vibe:
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Amy[/name_f]
[name_f]Anna[/name_f]
[name_f]Annie[/name_f]
[name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Diana[/name_f]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_u]Esme[/name_u]
[name_f]Eva[/name_f] / [name_f]Eve[/name_f]
[name_f]Frances[/name_f]
[name_f]Hattie[/name_f]
[name_f]Hope[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Joy[/name_f]
[name_f]Julia[/name_f]
[name_u]June[/name_u]
[name_f]Laura[/name_f]
[name_f]Lena[/name_f]
[name_f]Lydia[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyla[/name_f] / [name_f]Lila[/name_f] / [name_f]Lilah[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Margot[/name_f] / [name_f]Margo[/name_f]
[name_f]Mary[/name_f]
[name_f]Molly[/name_f]
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f] / [name_f]Tess[/name_f]
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
I like [name_f]Nora[/name_f] - it doesn’t feel too overused where I am either. [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] and [name_f]Adeline[/name_f] are lovely too - I think they have the balance between popular but not too overly used.
In terms of using a popular name, it does come with some benefits:
likely to be spelled and pronounced correctly
they’ll be things with your name on them in gift shops
they’re versatile, well-loved and generally age well/suit all different kinds of people
it can help you avoid the 'you chose that? questions
But then there may well be multiple Amelias in one class, you might regret not using something with more flair, if you use one of the most popular names when you have another kid with a less popular name, there might be some jealousy? - I guess, ultimately, it depends on how much you love the name!
Both of your favorites are wonderful, alone and with [name_f]Clara[/name_f], so you can’t go wrong. And I really think popularity is not the thing that should stand in the way of using names you love, especially when it ends up being so regionally/randomly subjective (I know no Avas, but 2 Junipers, that kind of thing).
BUT, if you’re still looking for inspiration, I will provide a list, because lists are fun (not because I think you need it–you don’t):
I’m the mum of an [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], and her name has shot up in use since she was born (she’s nearly 10). I’ve said it here before, but she loves her name and loves meeting other Eleanors. She had another [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] in her kindergarten class, and each girl went by “Eleanor Middle Name”, which was actually lovely.
So I honestly think, if you love the name, the popularity doesn’t really matter. Most kids would prefer having a more common name than an unusual one (I have an unusual name and always wished I was [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f] or [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] growing up). [name_f]Nora[/name_f] and [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] are beautiful, classic names that will grow up well. [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] might be the better option as its sounds are more distinct from [name_f]Clara[/name_f], and it also gives you many nickname options if popularity is a concern.
[name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is so pretty! Out of the two options, I love [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] for your second girl.
Alternatives:
[name_f]Annora[/name_f]
[name_f]Amelie[/name_f] - rather popular too but less than Amelia?!
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_f]Aveline[/name_f]
[name_f]Evelina[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
Sylvie/Sylvia
[name_f]Carina[/name_f]
Noelle/Noella