My girl list

Girl Names
1

I go for my IUI on [name_f]Monday[/name_f], so I have been thinking a lot about names over the last few days.

[name_u]Baby[/name_u] will have two middle names. [name_f]Helena[/name_f] will be one of them after my beloved grandmother if I don’t use it as a first. She pronounced it hel-ee-nuh. Last name is very common (in the US), two syllables, starts with M and ends with n. [name_u]Jean[/name_u] will be the other after my great grandmother.

I have quite the list and have been a namenerd for most of my life but these are my favorites. It seems though that actually naming a child is a lot different than naming a hypothetical one! :cool:

First Names (with my concerns in parentheses):
[name_f]Katherine[/name_f] nn [name_f]Kitty[/name_f] (my name is a trendy, common variant of [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] ending in -lin. I worry this is too close but I love [name_f]Katherine[/name_f]/[name_f]Kitty[/name_f]).
[name_f]Lila[/name_f] (I worry [name_f]Lil[/name_f]-names, and L names in general, are everywhere, plus it pretty common)
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u] (not sure if its too cutesy)
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f] (definitely in my top 3, spelling worries me as [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] is more popular. I also don’t like any of the nicknames for it ([name_f]Annie[/name_f], [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Belle[/name_f])
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] nn [name_f]Margie[/name_f]/[name_f]Maisie[/name_f] (has the same beginning sound as my last name, I don’t care for nn [name_f]Maggie[/name_f])
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] nn [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] (one of my tops as well by but it is my nieces second middle name and they will already be sharing a first middle name with each other. So me niece is FIRSTNAME [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and babe would be [name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] SECONDMIDDLE NAME.)
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] nn B (this has been my long time favorite but worry about it gaining popularity in leaps and bounds lately. I see it on lots of list, although I have only seen it (and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]) actually being used a handful of times.
[name_f]Pearl[/name_f] (I don’t have any concerns with this one, would probably call her [name_f]Pearlie[/name_f] as an informal nickname)
[name_f]Annora[/name_f] nn [name_u]Nori[/name_u]/[name_f]Noor[/name_f] (Pretty and uncommon but worry about spelling/pronunciation issues.)
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] nn [name_f]Nellie[/name_f]/[name_f]Lena[/name_f] (same as [name_f]Annora[/name_f])

Other names I like are [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], [name_f]Clover[/name_f], [name_f]Honor[/name_f], [name_f]Maple[/name_f], [name_f]Fern[/name_f], and [name_f]Jemima[/name_f]. I doubt I would actually use any of these but I like them!

I am open to any suggestions and opinions on any of these! I am also going to make a boy name thread on that boy name forum for those interested.

2

My favorites on your list are [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] (not at all too cutesy in my opinion), [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], and [name_f]Annora[/name_f]. Have you thought about using [name_f]Honora[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Annora[/name_f]? You have [name_f]Honor[/name_f] in your other names list, and I think that spelling might help eliminate any possible mispronunciations.

3

I like [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] and [name_f]Annora[/name_f]. But I think [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] will definitely get shortened, so I would avoid it unless you can make peace with one of the nicknames.

I’m not the biggest fan of [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] but I wouldn’t consider it cutesy, particularly with [name_f]Helena[/name_f] as a middle name.

[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] I don’t like but it’s more of a taste thing than practicality, I think it goes with the surname and B is an intuitive nickname. [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] would be nice.

Suggestions:
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_u]Simone[/name_u]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f]
[name_f]Antonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Lydia[/name_f]
[name_f]Mara[/name_f]
[name_f]Bianca[/name_f]
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f]

4

My strong favourites are [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] and [name_f]Annora[/name_f]. Then [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] or [name_f]Rose[/name_f].

[name_f]Katherine[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u]
[name_f]Annora[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] [name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u]

5

I have thought about [name_f]Honora[/name_f]. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think it is more intuitive than [name_f]Annora[/name_f]? I pronounce it more as UH-nor-uh than [name_m]AH[/name_m]-nor-uh. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_f]Honora[/name_f] still works?

6

[name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] would be gorgeous! [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] is adorable. I don’t think it’s a problem that she share some names with one of your niece’s. I have a [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] nn [name_f]Bea[/name_f] and have received amazing response about her name.

7

[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Fern[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u]

[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Rosa[/name_f] instead? [name_f]Rosa[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Fay[/name_f]?
[name_f]Annora[/name_f] I like! [name_f]Annora[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Fern[/name_f] (I’m a big fan of [name_f]Fern[/name_f] with [name_f]Helena[/name_f] :))

8

[name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] and [name_f]Annora[/name_f] and the suggestion of [name_f]Honora[/name_f]. You have many great options. [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] may be too close to your name though.

9

I actually like the names [name_f]Kitty[/name_f] and [name_f]Bea[/name_f] and [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] as firsts! and my other favorites are [name_f]Clover[/name_f], [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], and [name_f]Fern[/name_f]. I think [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] or [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] would be beautiful!

10

[name_f]Pearl[/name_f] and [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] are my two favorites from your list. I don’t think [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] is too cutesy (maybe because most [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]'s I come across are 80+ years old). I wonder if you’ve thought of using [name_u]Jean[/name_u] as a first name? To me, [name_u]Jean[/name_u] is super cool and ready for a comeback, and [name_f]Jeanie[/name_f] is a cute nickname!

11

Best of luck tomorrow! You have lovely taste in names :slight_smile:

From your main list, I love these for you…

[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]: This has a whole lot going for it! It sounds gorgeous with [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] in the middle, it’s been your favourite for many years, and it feels beautifully classic and traditional, without being at all popular. I can see it climbing further up the popularity rankings, but I don’t think it will become super popular: it’s just a bit too quiet, calm and buttoned-up to have that mass appeal, I think. [name_f]Bea[/name_f]/[name_f]Bee[/name_f]/B is a lovely nickname.

[name_f]Pearl[/name_f]: I love this name! It’s sweet, simple and gently quirky. It also feels like a fresher, perkier alternative to [name_f]Rose[/name_f] which would avoid the similarity to your niece’s name. If you wanted to, you could also use this as a traditional nickname for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] (but I personally prefer “just” [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]).

[name_f]Annora[/name_f]: I think the pronunciation of this one is pretty intuitive, actually, and it’s so underused yet feels like a lovely, solid, traditional pick. The [name_f]Annie[/name_f]/[name_f]Annie[/name_f] nickname potential could still be an issue, but [name_f]Noor[/name_f] is a lovely alternative!

[name_f]Helena[/name_f]: Such a beautiful, timeless, international name, and meaningful to boot! Using it as a first would give you scope to pick one of your more unusual favourites for the middle slot, if you liked. Something like [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Maple[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] or [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Clover[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] would be beautiful, or [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] or [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] for something more traditional.

I really like, but I’m not sure I like them for you…

[name_f]Katherine[/name_f]: Assuming your name is a variation on [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f], I find this a little too close, even with the lovely nickname [name_f]Kitty[/name_f]. Unless you wanted to consciously include a nod to your own name, in which case this feels like a natural option!

[name_f]Annabel[/name_f]: Beautiful, chic name, but if you’re sure you don’t like [name_f]Annie[/name_f], [name_f]Anna[/name_f] or [name_f]Belle[/name_f], then I’d think seriously before using this one as a first. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if you avoid nicknaming her, others probably will, and she herself may decide that she wants to go by one of those later in life. If you wouldn’t be OK with that, I’d keep looking.

[name_f]Margaret[/name_f]: Neither of your hesitations – the repetitive sound with your surname, or your dislike for the nickname [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] – feel like dealbreakers to me, but I feel like you have less problematic options which sound like they excite you more. You could always just use [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] or [name_f]Mae[/name_f] as a full name.

[name_f]Rose[/name_f]: Pretty and classic, but it would make your daughter’s full name rather similar to your niece’s, so for that reason I prefer other options for you.

I’m less keen on…

[name_f]Lila[/name_f]: I agree with your concern that [name_f]Lil[/name_f]- names are everywhere at the moment. They’re all very pretty, but [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Layla[/name_f], [name_f]Lila[/name_f], [name_f]Lola[/name_f], [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] and co. are starting to feel quite overused and therefore much less interesting and distinctive than many of the other names on your list.

[name_u]Ruby[/name_u]: I think this might just be because I’m in the UK, where this name has long been popular, but [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] just doesn’t do much for me. It’s nice enough, but again it doesn’t feel quite as “special” as many of the other names on your list.

From your other options, I love all of them except [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f] (which is very sparky and fun, just not so much my taste). [name_f]Honor[/name_f] stands out to me especially from this list: it seems to strike the perfect balance between fresh, sparky and unexpected (like [name_f]Clover[/name_f], [name_f]Fern[/name_f], [name_f]Maple[/name_f], [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]) and solid and traditional (like [name_f]Katherine[/name_f], [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Annabel[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]). And the combo [name_f]Honor[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] would be absolutely gorgeous!

You might like…

[name_f]Gemma[/name_f]
[name_f]Daisy[/name_f]
[name_f]Florence[/name_f] or [name_f]Flora[/name_f]
[name_f]Vita[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
[name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] “[name_f]Tibby[/name_f]”
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f] “[name_f]Pippa[/name_f]”
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonora[/name_f] or [name_f]Leonore[/name_f]

12

I adore K@atherine [name_f]Helen[/name_f]@ Je@n and I love the nickname [name_f]Kitty[/name_f]. I think it makes a nice connection to your own name.

13

My favourites from your list are [name_f]Lila[/name_f], [name_u]Ruby[/name_u], [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] and then [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f] from your ‘other names but doubt I would use them’ list.

To answer your worries, I don’t think [name_f]Lila[/name_f] is that common, heck, I don’t even think [name_f]Lily[/name_f] is. I also wouldn’t say [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] is too cutesy either, it’s a beautiful name with so much usage for so many years, with Rubys ranging in all ages. For [name_f]Annabel[/name_f], I prefer this spelling and don’t see an issue with just calling her [name_f]Annabel[/name_f]. Saying that, you’ll have to be OK with the possibility of her picking a nickname at a later stage, but she may also not want a nickname either. And then there’s [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], I love her. She makes a great middle if not wanting to use as a first.

Now for combos… [name_f]Lila[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f], [name_f]Lila[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Fern[/name_f], [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] (you could even try [name_f]Kitty[/name_f] as a nn here if you wanted), [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] and [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f].