I am working on getting a short list (3 - 5 names max) of girl names that we could use for our second child. We had major issues getting to agreement with our first and as we prepare to start trying for #2 I’d really prefer to have the name situation close to resolved so we aren’t debating without agreement right up to the due date like last time. Our son’s name is [name]Victor[/name] [name]David[/name] and our last name is short and sounds sort of like Sail-In. We have settled on a short list of boy names and I’d love to get to the same place with girl names and then let the subject rest!
We need a name that can be easily pronounced by both English and Spanish speakers, but we are ok with the pronunciations being different between the two languages. The middle name will be [name]Ruth[/name] in honor of my aunt and grandmother. Names we’ve considered:
We both love the sound of [name]Carmen[/name] but have bad personal associations with the name. Any names you know of that might sound similar to [name]Carmen[/name]?
We love [name]Rosetta[/name] but I worry it’s a little bit too much, if you know what I mean. But I love names that end in ette or etta.
[name]Thea[/name] is probably going on the short list. We also love [name]Luisa[/name] but not necessarily with our last name.
I like [name]Aurelia[/name] but my husband thinks it’s a little bit too much.
[name]Vivica[/name] is a potential but matching first initials aren’t ideal.
We’ve also discussed [name]Arcadia[/name], [name]Freya[/name], [name]Nancy[/name], [name]Perla[/name].
Thoughts on these names and any suggestions would be welcome. We are clearly all over the place! Thanks in advance.
I really love [name]Carmen[/name] for you. I understand personal associations can be kind of a hard hurdle to get over though. What about [name]Carina[/name]/[name]Karina[/name] or [name]Corinne[/name]?
[name]Aurelia[/name] is very pretty and a bit frilly but is there a nickname that you could use to shorten sometimes? [name]Lia[/name], [name]Ellie[/name], [name]Aurie[/name]?
[name]Vivica[/name] seems a bit much with [name]Victor[/name], but could be useable.
[name]Thea[/name] would be a nice option, and is a simple and short name.
[name]Rosetta[/name] is pretty and a little “frilly” as well, but [name]Rose[/name], [name]Rosie[/name], [name]Etta[/name] would make great nicknames.
I like [name]Libby[/name]'s suggestion of [name]Etta[/name]. [name]Etta[/name] [name]Ruth[/name].
[name]Carmen[/name] [name]Ruth[/name] is a bit silly… love both names, but [name]Carmen[/name] is so red, and [name]Ruth[/name] so sweet and dusty mauve.
[name]Henrietta[/name] is really strong and quirky, and it gives you the nn [name]Hennie[/name], which just melts my heart.
Along the same lines, I think [name]Simonetta[/name] is kind of amazing. [name]Simonetta[/name] ‘Sailin.’ Yes!
[name]Odetta[/name] [name]Ruth[/name] is cool and folksy. Strong enough to stand up to [name]Victor[/name].
Thanks, everyone for the thoughts and suggestions. I love [name]Odetta[/name] and wouldn’t have thought of it on my own, and [name]Thessaly[/name] is beautiful and new to me. [name]Corinne[/name] is beautiful too, I’ll run that one by my Spanish speaker husband to see if it would work for his family. I agree that [name]Carmen[/name] [name]Ruth[/name] has no flow - I’m certain we won’t go with [name]Carmen[/name] but do love the sound of it. Thanks, ladies!
What about [name]Carlotta[/name] or [name]Charlotta[/name]? It has that vintage flair, but you could use [name]Lottie[/name] or [name]Arlie[/name] or [name]Carly[/name] as a nn. Or [name]Charlie[/name] with [name]Charlotta[/name].
I love most of the names you are considering! I really love the name [name]Luisa[/name] as a sibling name with [name]Victor[/name], but since it does not sound good with your last name you could do the shortened version of [name]Luz[/name]. It sounds and looks cool, and I think it still fits with [name]Victor[/name]. Also I love [name]Carmen[/name], but you could change that to [name]Camilla[/name]/[name]Camille[/name] or [name]Carmela[/name].
Other suggestions based on your list are: [name]Celia[/name]
[name]Esperanza[/name]
[name]Esmeralda[/name]
[name]Delfina[/name]
[name]Emelina[/name]
[name]Estella[/name]
[name]Imelda[/name]
[name]Luisina[/name]
[name]Neva[/name]
[name]Ramona[/name]
[name]Reina[/name]
[name]Ria[/name]
[name]Rosalie[/name]
[name]Xenia[/name]
[name]Ximena[/name]
[name]Zenaida[/name]
Thanks again for the thoughtful suggestions and feedback. I’ve added [name]Delfina[/name], [name]Reina[/name] (love this!), [name]Xenia[/name], [name]Zenaida[/name] and [name]Esperanza[/name] to our list, and [name]Carlotta[/name] too - I like the idea of [name]Carlotta[/name] with the nickname [name]Carly[/name]. Great suggestions, thank you again!
I’m not sure how [name]Carys[/name] would be pronounced in Spanish, but I quite like the sound of [name]Carys[/name] [name]Ruth[/name] in English, it gives you that Car- sound that [name]Carmen[/name] has without the association.