Middle name for Lily?

Girl Names
1

Hey berries!

I am SO annoyed about [name_f]Lily[/name_f]'s popularity. I’ve loved it since I first read [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] when I was 8-ish, and its magical, sweet feel - I love the sibset [name_f]Luna[/name_f] and [name_f]Lily[/name_f]. I couldn’t bear to name my daughter [name_f]Lily[/name_f] as of this moment, but considering I won’t be having kids for ten-ish years, hopefully the popularity dies down… I just feel like the more popular it gets, the more it loses its sparkle.

Still, I want to keep it on my list. I want a more balanced name, like [name_f]Luna[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f] (Luna is getting popular now too ugh, but it has a lot of meaning to me and is a nod to both my sisters through Harry Potter and the moon). [name_f]Florence[/name_f] is an indirect honour name, but I really like the short sweetness of the whimsical [name_f]Luna[/name_f] paired with a longer, more grounded and vintage name. Because of its popularity, [name_f]Lily[/name_f] probably doesn’t need a name so vintage as [name_f]Florence[/name_f], but I quite like that style right now, especially as a sibset with [name_f]Luna[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f].

So really, I’m looking for a relatively long and vintage name like [name_f]Florence[/name_f] that has a nice meaning (that is preferably not religious) and flows next to [name_f]Lily[/name_f].

I have already thought of:
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - nice flow but no real meaning to me (“may Jehovah add”)
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] - means “fair, blessed” which is sweet
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] - adore [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] but meaning doesn’t appeal to me (“woman of the race”)
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] - like the mythological connections, but the flow is off
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] - [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the nautical connection (means white wave), so probably the top contender. I find Guinevere elegant and interesting, but I worry some people find it pretentious and plain.
Lily Hermione - adore this as much as Lily Guinevere, but worry it might be too Harry Potter?

Thoughts/favourites? Any other suggestions? And also, do you think Lily Hermione is too Harry Potter?

2

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] there.

I love the name [name_f]Lily[/name_f] too. I kind of like [name_f]Lilie[/name_f] or [name_f]Lili[/name_f] as a nn for [name_f]Lilia[/name_f]/[name_f]Lilian[/name_f]/[name_f]Liliana[/name_f]. I also like Callalilie! I’m 36 and I’ve loved the name [name_f]Lily[/name_f]/[name_f]Lilia[/name_f] since I was 12 and [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] was the name of my favorite gymnast. So, I totally get your annoyance. My mom named her cat [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lili[/name_f] about 10 years ago, so at least we have one in the family. :wink: .

That being said, I think that [name_f]Lily[/name_f] is way better than [name_f]Luna[/name_f]. They’re kind of equally popular names according to the social security popularity charts, but [name_f]Lily[/name_f] is a classic. [name_f]Luna[/name_f] is just now getting popular, which makes it kind of trendy & less meaningful in my opinion.

Here are my thoughts on your [name_f]Lily[/name_f] combos:

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - This is beautiful & vintage.

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] - Very nice & kind of unexpected. I prefer [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] for some reason. It looks cleaner, but [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] is way more known.

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] - That’s cute. I like [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] more.

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] - It doesn’t flow super great, but I don’t think that it’s awful if you love the meaning.

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] - [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is my absolute super star favorite name, so I love this! It’s not boring at all. [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is very special & unique, & [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is adorable.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think that [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] is too [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m]. I’ve never read [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], & I had no idea that [name_f]Lily[/name_f] was a character. [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] is very associated w/the books, but [name_f]Lily[/name_f] is just a classic name that’s not really associated w/anything in my opinion. [name_m]Just[/name_m] like [name_m]Harry[/name_m] or [name_m]Ron[/name_m].

A few other [name_f]Lily[/name_f] combo ideas:

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Adeline[/name_f]

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f]

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Coraline[/name_f]

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Francesca[/name_f]

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_u]Juniper[/name_u]

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f]

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps. :slight_smile:

3

Thanks @michellem!

I totally get your [name_f]Luna[/name_f] concerns, which is why I added something in my original post for other people to read over if they reply, which is that [name_f]Luna[/name_f] does have personal connections and meaning to me personally!

Thank you for your responses, I think I’m definitely leaning towards [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]. Your last comment about [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] definitely has me thinking - I think that because I’m a fan, I instantly think of [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_m]Potter[/name_m]… but you’re right, other people might not, especially with [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] only in the middle spot. [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Adeline[/name_f] is gorgeous, by the way!

4

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Cressida[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Constance[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Adele[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Valentina[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Amabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Diana[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Athena[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Astraea[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Frederica[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Eugenia[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Georgiana[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Margot[/name_f]

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] and [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] are both lovely

5

Well, as my name is actually [name_f]Lily[/name_f], and my middle name is [name_f]Grace[/name_f], maybe I can help.

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] (I’ve seen this one already suggested by someone else, but I like it.)
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Margaux[/name_f] ([name_f]Margo[/name_f], but spelled differently.)
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Hester[/name_f] ([name_f]Hester[/name_f] is a common vintage name)
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] Lorinne (One of [name_f]Alice[/name_f]'s sisters from [name_f]Alice[/name_f] in Wonderland)
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Constance[/name_f] (Has that vintage appeal)
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] (Double flower names)
[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_u]Cassidy[/name_u] (I just like this one)

I also want to say I don’t think having a more popular name for a kid is too bad. In my entire school there were only two girls named [name_f]Lily[/name_f]. It can sometimes be a benefit because then you don’t end up with a kid that hates their name and especially if you do choose a longer middle name, they have a wide variety of nickname options.

6

Thank you @greyblue! [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Cressida[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Diana[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Athena[/name_f] and [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Astraea[/name_f] are lovely.

Thanks @chasinglily! [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] is gorgeous. And I agree, a popular name isn’t always a bad thing! It’s more of a personal thing for me, because me and both of my sisters grew up with very unusual names - and we loved it! There’s never had to be the issue of [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] C, [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] K, etc.

7

What if you named her something where her nickname could be [name_f]Lily[/name_f] like [name_f]Lilliana[/name_f] or [name_f]Lillian[/name_f]! I feel like [name_f]Lilliana[/name_f] is becoming more popular but [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] might not! [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] might be cute middle names! From your list, I like [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]!

8

@sintrocaso I have thought of that, and I don’t dislike [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] or [name_f]Lilliana[/name_f], in fact they’re sweet and vintage! I just find [name_f]Lily[/name_f] so perfect that I don’t want it be a nickname :slight_smile: I’m nowhere near having kids though, so my opinion might change. Thank you for your suggestions!