I love the advice that berries have given me about some of my favorite names, so I hope that maybe you can give me more ideas related to this name: [name]Emily[/name].
This classic name is the name of my best friend in college and one of those names that I smile when I say, and it was at the top of my list until my husband’s niece had the same name. I didnt care at first, but now I realized that they will see eachother a lot and I would hate to get them confused.
But I haven’t been convinced by the “if you like [name]Emily[/name], you might love…” lists. I did like some of the suggestions, but many of them, like [name]Everly[/name], for example, sound too much like [name]Emily[/name] and I would look like a wannabe copycat of my sister in law. I dont like that. The other name that almost convinced me was [name]Lily[/name], because of the similar flow and the [name]Christian[/name] imagery (just like the nameberry definition said!) but when I mentioned it to my best friend, she said, no, I would never use a [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] name! Is everyone going to think that?
Berries, what are your “feels like [name]Emily[/name]” names? Thanks as always for your ideas!
[name]Amelia[/name] is the first same-yet-different name that comes to mind for me. For me, it would be too close though (as would [name]Emma[/name]). Though my brother has the exact same name as one of our cousins, so obviously not everyone is averse to the idea.
Part of the problem with the “If you like ______, you’ll love _______” lists is that everyone’s being influenced by different things. For you it might be personal associations that sell you on it, which doesn’t really help when you’re asking the peanut gallery for similar names.
BTW [name]Lily[/name] is NOT a ‘[name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] name.’ It is just a name, and a classic, incredibly popular one at that. I had to sit and think for a minute before I figured out who [name]Lily[/name] even WAS in [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name]. No one will make that association, I promise.
I agree with yellow… I don’t think of [name]Lily[/name] as a [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] name, and I am a HUGE fan of that series. However, using [name]Lillian[/name] instead might avoid that association altogether. I actually prefer [name]Lillian[/name], personally!
Other names which have the same feel of [name]Emily[/name] for me (for different reasons) are:
I don’t think [name]Lily[/name] is a [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] name… I don’t like [name]Lily[/name] on it’s own, as I find it to be very popular, but I love [name]Lilia[/name], [name]Lilian[/name], or [name]Liliana[/name] (lily-ah-nuh)
I would suggest more names starting with the [name]Em[/name] sound which could likely have the nn [name]Emily[/name] if you wanted:
[name]Emani[/name] – belief, faith
[name]Ember[/name]
[name]Emberly[/name]
[name]Emelia[/name]/[name]Emilia[/name]
Emiko – blessed, beautiful child
[name]Emilyn[/name]
[name]Emma[/name] – like this suggestion from someone else. Sounds similar but with a different end sound
[name]Emmeline[/name]
[name]Emmalyn[/name]
[name]Emery[/name]
Or names with the Am beginning might be good for you:
[name]Lily[/name] is not a “[name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name]” name. [name]Don[/name]'t worry about that. As for [name]Emily[/name], here are some names that I think have the same “feel”:
I agree that I don’t think of [name]Lily[/name] as a [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] name! The [name]Christian[/name] imagery is really quite perfect, imo, and it does really have that same feel as [name]Emily[/name] does. Of course, I never read HP, so I wouldn’t know, but from what everyone else is saying, I really don’t think it’s a huge [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] name. Besides, [name]Lily[/name] was popular before HP came out, and it’ll be popular long afterwards! It’s a well loved name with lots of great associations to it. I think [name]Lily[/name] and [name]Emily[/name] are different enough that they wouldn’t be confused (or think that you were trying to copy them), but it still has that same feel.
I can’t really think of any other names that have the same feel as [name]Emily[/name] that doesn’t encroach on little [name]Emily[/name]'s name, but I think a lot of others have given some pretty good suggestions. The only thing I can think of is [name]Gemma[/name] and [name]Emilia[/name], but those are a bit “em” heavy next to [name]Emily[/name], imo. I think they’re different enough–and still might be a nice nod to your husband’s Hispanic culture, maybe?–so if you like them, you might be able to use them.
I like the above suggestions of [name]Emma[/name] and [name]Cecily[/name]. I would never associate [name]Lily[/name] with [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name]. Not that I’m a fan, but still.
If I were you, I would use [name]Emily[/name] anyway. It’s your baby and you should be able to name her whatever you want. If it’s truly your favorite name, I personally would not worry about confusing the two girls. Not using the name you love and then wishing you did seems like that would be a bigger problem. If you can’t find a name you like as much, I would just use it.
I immediately thought of [name]Emmeline[/name] and [name]Amelia[/name] but you might also like [name]Gemma[/name] or [name]Emma[/name].
I would advise against naming your daughter [name]Emily[/name] as she will have the same name as her cousin and, while it won’t be too odd for you and your husband, it might be a bit awkward for other family members (such as the grandparents the two girls would have in common).
Instead of [name]Emily[/name], you might like Amélie, [name]Cecily[/name], [name]Clemency[/name], [name]Felicity[/name] or [name]Ottilie[/name]. You might also want to consider [name]Catherine[/name] ([name]Kitty[/name]), [name]Charlotte[/name] ([name]Lottie[/name]), [name]Elizabeth[/name] ([name]Libby[/name] or [name]Lizzie[/name]), [name]Eve[/name] ([name]Evie[/name]), [name]Lucy[/name] or [name]Susannah[/name] ([name]Susie[/name]).
I love [name]Elodie[/name] and I think you might too if you like [name]Emily[/name].
Similarly, one of these might do the trick (mostly other 3 syllable girls’ names ending in an ‘ee’ sound):
[name]Ainsley[/name]
[name]Bethany[/name]
[name]Coralie[/name]
[name]Hilary[/name]
[name]Liberty[/name]
[name]Melody[/name]
[name]Naomi[/name]
[name]Natalie[/name]
[name]Penelope[/name]
[name]Rosalie[/name]
[name]Rosemary[/name]
[name]Sophie[/name]
[name]Stephanie[/name]
[name]Verity[/name]
So many lovely suggestions, a lot of which were already some of my favorite names. I wish I could respond properly to everyone at the same time. I’ll let you know which are my favorites of the suggestions, but sometimes I’ve noticed that even if it’s not my favorite at first, I like it later, so thanks for all of the ideas berries!
And I’m glad that [name]Lily[/name] isn’t a [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] name! I am actually a HP fan, but not THAT much.
[name]Hi[/name] there - My daughter’s name is [name]Emily[/name], so I had to respond! [name]Amelia[/name], [name]Emmeline[/name] and [name]Emma[/name] were my first thought.
But, I really like [name]Emily[/name] with your last name! [name]How[/name] about talking to your niece with the same name and see what she says? She may feel very honored! When you all are together, maybe you can call your baby by her first and middle names?
My favorite suggestions of the bunch
[name]Lily[/name]
[name]Kendra[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name]
[name]Lilia[/name]
[name]Sarah[/name] and [name]Catherine[/name] have always been favorites!
[name]Charlotte[/name] ( but another family member association)
[name]Stephanie[/name], but spelled [name]Stefanie[/name]
[name]Natalie[/name]
[name]Naomi[/name]
I like [name]Amelie[/name], [name]Elodie[/name], [name]Emery[/name], [name]Emilyn[/name] and [name]Romilly[/name] but still too close to [name]Emily[/name] I think.
Kyernsma - I thought of that at first, I could always choose a middle name that I really like as well and use it when we are with my niece. I’ll thnk about it! But if I can find a different option that I like just as well, it would be better.
I understand, believe me! If you want something classic, like [name]Emily[/name], then I would say [name]Catherine[/name] or [name]Eliza[/name] fit the bill. But if you want something a little different, I love [name]Lilia[/name] or [name]Naomi[/name]!
