My husband and I love two names sets for baby girl: “Ava Brave” and “Jovie June”.
I prefer Jovie because it’s more unique and fashion-forward (we’re also major Elf Movie fans – haha), but I specifically love it with “June” as a middle name. The problem: a very close friend recently named their baby “Josie June” (we did not discuss our preferred names in the past, and just happened to pick almost identical names). I feel like I can’t use “Jovie June” now. Jovie is my favorite name and I’m struggling to find another middle name that I love with it…
On the other hand: Ava is classic, simple, and strong – just a little TOO popular for my preference. We’ve had several acquaintances name their babies Ava in the last year… but we don’t know any "Ava Brave"s. I love the simplicity of this name with the more unique middle name.
Any thoughts? Honest opinions on both names? I’m so torn!
I also love “Audrey”, and my husband loves “Evie”.
Second, [name_f]Josie[/name_f] [name_f]June[/name_f] is crazy! Have you spoken to this friend? [name_m]Even[/name_m] [name_f]June[/name_f] aside, [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] and [name_f]Josie[/name_f] are quite similar. Ideally they could find the situation fun and like the idea of the matching names and tastes, but they could also be very upset by it, in which case, would you choose the name over the friendship?
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m] is such a cool combo, but unfortunately I agree [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is… not spunky or fresh like [name_f]Jovie[/name_f]. Would she go by [name_f]Ava[/name_f] or [name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m]?
Honestly I know nothing about [name_f]Elf[/name_f] other than the poster, so [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] to me was Bon [name_f]Jovi[/name_f], if that at all matters.
If you’re up for ideas,
[name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Junia[/name_f]
[name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Ave[/name_f]
[name_f]Avia[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m]
[name_f]Evie[/name_f] [name_m]Courage[/name_m]
I’d go for [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] with a different middle! While I agree with you that [name_m]Brave[/name_m] is a fun middle, middle names aren’t really relevant to most people’s everyday lives. I’d make my decision based on which first name you like best which seems to be [name_f]Jovie[/name_f]! I personally like [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] more too - cute, fun, energetic, unique without being strange. Ava’s popularity is something that makes me dislike the name. I feel like it had such a sudden rise in popularity that in 10 or 20 years’ time it could feel really dated to this time period.
By title alone, I would choose [name_f]Jovie[/name_f]. I love [name_f]Jovie[/name_f]! After reading your explanation, I still lean towards [name_f]Jovie[/name_f]. I adore [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]June[/name_f], but if you’re hesitant I agree with exploring other middle names that share the fun, no frills vibe
I personally don’t really like Jovie…it makes me think of jovial…which although a nice meaning doesn’t feel very name-like to me, it almost feels like a bit of a condescending jokey way of calling someone jovial. It also reminds me of [name_m]Jove[/name_m] - the [name_m]Roman[/name_m] [name_m]God[/name_m] of thunder and the saying “by jove”
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] I love. It’s beautiful, aesthetically pleasing and I love the meaning ‘life.’ In the UK I’ve only ever met 2 people named [name_f]Ava[/name_f] and they’re both over the age of 10. [name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m] - particularly with [name_f]Ava[/name_f] meaning life, i find really beautiful. I also love the nickname [name_f]Avie[/name_f]. I also adore [name_f]Avie[/name_f] as a standalone name.
[name_f]Evie[/name_f] is also super cute but I know quite a few little girls called Evie…it feels way more popular to me than [name_f]Ava[/name_f].
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f] I also dislike - i’m not usually a fan of names with the au sound in - [name_f]Audrey[/name_f], Maud…because all I hear is the words ‘bored’ and ‘laundry.’ But I know I’m in the minority on this one.
[name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]June[/name_f] - You have to decide if the similarity to the name chosen by your close friend is a deal breaker for you. I think if it was me, I would probably look for alternatives but neither decision is right or wrong.
I’ve noticed [name_f]June[/name_f] being frequently used as a middle name for babies. It fits current naming styles, and the sweet bell tone sounds great with so many names. I wonder even if you found another name that replicates the sing-songy rhythm of [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]June[/name_f], it may still feel similar to [name_f]Josie[/name_f] [name_f]June[/name_f].
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m] - I like [name_f]Ava[/name_f] too. I find names that you hear often for children and babies being born today tend to lose their shine, so I understand your hesitation. The repetition of of the ‘ayv’ sound must be part of the appeal for you, l but in this case it doesn’t work for me. Ultimately, I get the feeling that a name being uncommon is too important for you to use this name, despite the bold middle.
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f] - A great alternative to [name_f]Ava[/name_f]. Stylish and graceful but not nearly as common. Would the right middle name make it an option?
[name_f]Evie[/name_f] - All the Evelyn’s I know go by [name_f]Evie[/name_f] so I think this will be more common than you’re comfortable with as well.
I would continue searching for alternatives in your position. Some suggestions based on your list:
Thank you so much for this insight! Those are excellent suggestions, and some of them are actually already on my list. You read me well! I really appreciate the feedback
I’d go with [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] and a different middle [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m]? [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]? [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_m]Lane[/name_m]? [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Sage[/name_f]? [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Louanne[/name_f] ‘Jovie Lou’? [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]?
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m] is distinctive and cool but if you don’t want a popular name, I’d pick something else? Maybe [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m]? ‘Evie’
I’d stick with [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] and switch up the middle name. Either adding [name_f]Ava[/name_f] or [name_m]Brave[/name_m] in to the mix as a middle name or picking a new name for the middle spot altogether.
I love [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]June[/name_f] and I do love [name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m] too but I hear of so many Ava’s but I haven’t heard of any Jovie’s and I really root for the more unique name!
It might be worth while talking to your friend about it with the name because she honestly might not mind. If she’s a very close friend of yours, it’s likely your daughters will be close too since they’ll be around each other. I think it’s kind of sweet if you happen to use [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] for their names to be similar while also having completely different feels to them
At the end of the day go with what you love! I know that’s easier said than done but you should love the make you choose!
I personally love [name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m] - what a cool combo together. I also think while [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is classic and fairly popular she is still quite spunky and fashionable.
I like [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] - if she’s your favourite go for it! I liked the suggestion of [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Juniper[/name_f] - I actually prefer it to [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]June[/name_f]. Another suggestion is [name_f]Novie[/name_f] and I quite like [name_f]Novie[/name_f] [name_f]June[/name_f] together.
Personally, I’d pick [name_f]Jovie[/name_f], I think it’s cute and a little bit quirky without being too “out there.” [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is pretty, but very standard to me, maybe because I grew up in the early 2000s when it was pretty common. [name_f]Love[/name_f] [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]June[/name_f], though I can see exploring other options due to the friend thing, and I think [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m] would be pretty cool too.
[name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Juniper[/name_f] was also my first thought. If you guys like [name_f]Evie[/name_f] and [name_f]Ava[/name_f], maybe [name_f]Eva[/name_f]? less popular than [name_f]Ava[/name_f] and still sounds good with [name_m]Brave[/name_m] as it keeps that “v” sound. [name_m]Or[/name_m] maybe you’d like [name_f]Joy[/name_f] or [name_f]Juno[/name_f] as a first?
I like the suggestions of
[name_f]Avie[/name_f] (feels like a mix of the 2 and less trendy but still gorgeous) which would work with [name_m]Brave[/name_m] or [name_f]June[/name_f] … I love [name_f]Avie[/name_f] [name_f]June[/name_f] the most
[name_m]Or[/name_m]
[name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m]
If [name_f]Josie[/name_f] [name_f]June[/name_f] is a close friend then I think [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]June[/name_f] has to be out unfortunately
I think it also might be too close. While [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] is pretty, it will probably remind a lot of people of Bon [name_f]Jovi[/name_f].
If you’re really concerned about Ava’s popularity, maybe try it as a nickname for [name_f]Avalyn[/name_f], [name_f]Aviana[/name_f], or [name_f]Avalon[/name_f].
If you’re sticking with [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] but want a new middle, here are some that came to mind:
[name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Marian[/name_f]
[name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_m]Sky[/name_m]
[name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Greer[/name_f]
[name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f]
[name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Eleanora[/name_f]
[name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_m]Brave[/name_m]? [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]? [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_m]Lane[/name_m]? [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Sage[/name_f]? [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Louanne[/name_f] ‘Jovie Lou’? [name_f]Jovie[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]?