Name for a serious but sweet toddler?

Girl Names
1

Ayo! You might’ve noticed me lurking about lately, and it’s because S.O. and I have recently come into fostering an 19-month old girl. Times are pretty ridiculous. Our tiny house is bursting at the seams. Everything is sticky. On a positive note, the gender balance is finally settling :stuck_out_tongue:

She is not yet legally free for adoption, but in all likelihood, she will be in a few months according to her case agent and the social worker who represents our family. It’s a long saga I will not get into, but suffice it to say she will probably become our child within the year.

For privacy reasons, I will not share her given name, but it’s nothing I would ever choose, and is borderline problematic. (Think something like “Natzee.” Obviously, not that, but worrisome for similar reasons). She has no middle name.

I’m familiar with much of the politics surrounding changing names of adoptees. We’ve decided that we feel quite confident doing it in this case. That said, we are aware of the issues.

When we first got her, she was quite despondent and unresponsive, and did not know her name (about four weeks ago). In this short time, she’s livened up spectacularly. She laughs easily, is very cuddly, but is not what I’d call energetic. She prefers quiet activities and minimal noise. A serious but sweet girl.

We’ve been calling her Boo, because that’s what we call all the wee ones.

Any ideas for a quiet, serious, exceptionally affectionate toddler?

Here’s what we’ve got so far:

[name]Lavender[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Elsbeth[/name] [name]Octavia[/name]
[name]Marjorie[/name] [name]Simone[/name]
[name]Felicity[/name] [name]Eve[/name]
[name]Gwendolen[/name] [name]Rosalia[/name]

I’m not wedded to anything. Nothing’s jumping out. It’s hard already knowing her.

I don’t prefer names that end in A, but there are exceptions. I like names with [name]Christian[/name] and/or mythological resonance…and combos that feel story-bookish.

2

[name]Felicity[/name] [name]Juliette[/name]
[name]Violet[/name] [name]Imogen[/name]
[name]Seraphine[/name] [name]Iris[/name]

3

[name]Vivienne[/name] [name]Delilah[/name]
[name]Vivienne[/name] [name]Eleanor[/name]
[name]Hazel[/name] [name]Elodie[/name]
[name]Clara[/name] [name]Vivienne[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name] [name]Adelaide[/name]
[name]Willa[/name] [name]Beatrice[/name]
[name]Cordelia[/name] [name]Mathilde[/name]
[name]Ginevra[/name] [name]Blythe[/name]

I don’t have a middle name for it, but I’d like to add Reverie.

4

I love [name]Marjorie[/name] [name]Simone[/name]! Of your list I like [name]Gwendolen[/name], [name]Lavender[/name] and [name]Elsbeth[/name] exclusively, though I’m not sold on middle names.

[name]Rosalind[/name] [name]Jane[/name] or [name]Rosamund[/name] [name]Jane[/name]
[name]Amelia[/name] [name]May[/name]
[name]Cecily[/name] [name]Juliet[/name]
[name]Adelaide[/name] [name]Felicity[/name]
[name]Verity[/name] [name]Christabel[/name]
[name]Aurelia[/name] [name]Louise[/name]
[name]Rosemarie[/name] [name]Alberta[/name]
[name]Charlotte[/name] [name]Rowena[/name]
[name]Sabine[/name] [name]Violette[/name]
[name]Audrey[/name] [name]Berenice[/name]
[name]Marlena[/name] [name]Annaliese[/name]
[name]Penelope[/name] [name]Camille[/name]
[name]Caroline[/name] [name]Audrey[/name]
[name]Adeline[/name] [name]Eugenia[/name]
[name]Cornelia[/name] [name]Jeanine[/name]
[name]Lucy[/name] [name]Seraphine[/name]
[name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Flora[/name]
[name]Minna[/name] [name]Clarabel[/name]

5

[name]Serenity[/name] [name]Grace[/name]

6

She sounds very much like a [name]Hazel[/name] to me, [name]Hazel[/name] [name]Margery[/name], but I wonder if perhaps that isn’t unique enough for you?

I think [name]Ruby[/name] could be a quick transition from Boo - to Roo or [name]Rue[/name]? - and I like [name]Ruby[/name] [name]Aveline[/name], [name]Ruby[/name] [name]Cordelia[/name], and [name]Ruby[/name] [name]Gwendolen[/name] for you.

With [name]Ulysses[/name], [name]Bishop[/name], and [name]Winifred[/name], perhaps:

[name]Alice[/name] - [name]Alice[/name] [name]Marigold[/name] [name]Elspeth[/name] ([name]Allie[/name])
[name]Adele[/name]
[name]Constance[/name]
[name]Daphne[/name]
[name]Esther[/name]
[name]Estelle[/name]
[name]Florence[/name]
[name]Greta[/name]
[name]Lenore[/name] - [name]Lenore[/name] [name]Viola[/name] Julip ([name]Leni[/name], [name]Lena[/name])
[name]Pauline[/name] - [name]Pauline[/name] [name]Eulalie[/name] [name]Rose[/name] ([name]Polly[/name])

My favorites have combo ideas.

7

I think [name]Beatrice[/name] or [name]Beatrix[/name] would work very well on a sweet but serious girl, plus I love how it sounds with [name]Winifred[/name]. Boo could easily become [name]Bee[/name].

UPDATE: OH! I just saw somebody suggested [name]Eleanor[/name]! I [name]LOVE[/name] that more than the rest for both your criteria for sweet but serious, the storybook aspect plus I think [name]Eleanor[/name] next to [name]Winifred[/name], [name]Bishop[/name] and [name]Ulysses[/name] is just perfection!!

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@lemon - [name]Hazel[/name] is beautiful, I really like it. Not sure how I feel about it with [name]Margery[/name]. Since [name]Hazel[/name] is vintage, I might want something more fresh and modern to lighten it up. But I am adding [name]Hazel[/name] to the list. It’s one I’d kind of forgotten about, thank you. I’ve thought about something [name]Rue[/name]/Roo for the “boo” connection. Any suggestions besides [name]Ruby[/name]? I couldn’t think of anything!

@bandksmith - Thank you for the suggestion! [name]Serenity[/name] [name]Grace[/name] is a lovely combo, but not for me.

@bibliophile - Yeah, I’m really, really unsure about the combos. I kind of threw a few names together, didn’t even ask Himself. But [name]Marjorie[/name] [name]Simone[/name] is rather cute, idnit? I love all of your suggestions, especially [name]Adelaide[/name]. I think that’d really, really work for her. I’m concerned about the rising popularity. I’m not fond of “[name]Addy[/name].” Maybe [name]Lacey[/name] as a nickname?

@pistachio - oh [name]Reverie[/name]! I like that. Maybe as a middle.

@rkrd - [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Juliet[/name] has lots of spunky and sweetness. [name]Will[/name] definitely think about that one.

9

As for the nicknames, you can get [name]Lacey[/name], [name]Leda[/name], [name]Ada[/name], [name]Delia[/name], [name]Adele[/name], [name]Liddie[/name], [name]Lidia[/name] as well. I’m glad you liked my suggestions!

10

Here are some serious sounding Biblical names;
[name]Abigail[/name], [name]Bernice[/name], [name]Bethany[/name], [name]Damaris[/name], [name]Deborah[/name], [name]Dinah[/name], [name]Esther[/name], [name]Eunice[/name], [name]Eve[/name], [name]Judith[/name], [name]Leah[/name], [name]Martha[/name], [name]Naomi[/name], [name]Phoebe[/name], [name]Ruth[/name], [name]Sarah[/name], [name]Susanna[/name]

And some [name]Saint[/name]’s names;
[name]Adele[/name], [name]Ann[/name], [name]Bernadette[/name], [name]Beatrice[/name], [name]Bridget[/name] / [name]Brigid[/name], [name]Catherine[/name], [name]Clare[/name], [name]Dorothy[/name], [name]Faith[/name], [name]Gwen[/name], [name]Helen[/name], [name]Hyacinth[/name], [name]Joan[/name], [name]Jude[/name], [name]Louise[/name], [name]Lucy[/name], [name]Merryn[/name], [name]Rosalie[/name], [name]Therese[/name]

Some storybookish combinations include;
[name]Bethany[/name] [name]Faith[/name]
[name]Brigid[/name] [name]Rosalie[/name]
[name]Damaris[/name] [name]Eve[/name]
[name]Dinah[/name] [name]Joan[/name]
[name]Esther[/name] [name]Merryn[/name]
[name]Eunice[/name] [name]Gwen[/name]
[name]Hyacinth[/name] [name]Adele[/name]
[name]Leah[/name] [name]Naomi[/name]
[name]Phoebe[/name] [name]Jude[/name]
[name]Therese[/name] [name]Dorothy[/name]

11

[name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Hazel[/name] have that image for me.
[name]Isabeau[/name] could get you Boo.

12

I love [name]Lavender[/name]. Could you consider putting her given name in the middle spot? That way she retains a part of who she’s been and you get to call her something more suitable.

13

The only one I can think of is Ruchama/Ruhama, which has a pretty meaning (“comfort”) but a rather heavy sound and isn’t well-known enough to be easy to use. I think of it as MN material. I like [name]Rue[/name] a lot so if you find another, pass it along!

I mean I guess there’s [name]Rubina[/name] but… I don’t like [name]Rubina[/name].

14

Ruhamah is a beautiful name. It means “one who was spared, who received mercy” but has the connotation of a lone survivor of a disaster. Here is a Hebrew website:

Ruhamah (Ruhama, Ruchama) | Feelings and Personal Traits | Hebrew Names | Learn Hebrew with eTeacher
.
If you like the nn [name]Rue[/name] I think this is perfect. You can’t beat the meaning and it’s a biblical name a well.

15

My favourite are [name]Lavender[/name] [name]June[/name] and [name]Elsbeth[/name] [name]Octavia[/name].

16

Wow, thank you for all the feedback.

Right now, [name]Beatrix[/name], [name]Adelaide[/name], [name]Lavender[/name], [name]Elsbeth[/name], and [name]Hazel[/name] are the frontrunners for firsts. Any ideas for combos? Is nn “Lady” for [name]Adelaide[/name] too Lady and the Tramp? Any other ideas for firsts? I thought of [name]Clotilde[/name], as well, which is a personal favourite, but I don’t know that I’d want to saddle a child with such an intense, generally unfamiliar name.

[name]Beatrix[/name], [name]Elspeth[/name], and [name]Adelaide[/name] all have religious associations or are saints names. But [name]Lavender[/name] and [name]Hazel[/name] don’t, so I’d prefer if the middle had something mythological to it. [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Ariadne[/name] too much?

@gigi - [name]Beatrix[/name] is one of my favourites. I think you’re right about “[name]Bee[/name]” being a nice, easy transition from Boo. It’s one of my favourite names. Nameberry seems to like it okay. My only issue is that people I run into in real life don’t seem keen on it for some reason, not that that will decide it, but something to think on it. [name]Eleanor[/name] is sweet, but I know about four under 10! The issues of living in hipsterville, sigh.

@biblio - Oh, I love all of those suggestions. Thank you. I’m all for giving the little one lots of nickname options.

@novaberry - Thank you! [name]Bethany[/name] has always been a favourite of mine, but some people find it thoroughly dated, or associate it with girls you meet at Bible Camp. [name]Hyacinth[/name] is another suggestion I like. It seems too heavy, though? Too serious, perhaps? Bordering on snobby? I’m going to look over your combinations, thanks.

@tuitree - [name]Hazel[/name] is definitely on the list. [name]Isabeau[/name] is a great suggestion! I worry about her getting lost amongst the Isabels and Isabellas, though.

@emekct - I’ve thought about using it as a second middle, since [name]Winifred[/name] has two middles, and then all the girlies could have two middles, which might be nice. The name is, think, A----n Brotherhood (spelled slightly differently…obviously, minus “brotherhood”). [name]Will[/name] likely delete this soon. As she’s so young, I cannot predict how she will feel about her name. All I know is that at the present moment, when she came to us, she had no connection to it at all, and at her age, one should be responding to their name. When she’s older, if she seeks to change it back, we will gladly comply. As she’s a baby now, I feel like it’s our job to consider her bests interests, and if we’ve made the wrong choice, so be it, as that’s something all parents have to live with at some point.

@stripedsocks - Is it strange to appropriate a Hebrew name/word having no Jewish background? On another note…is it strange just to call her Roo/[name]Rue[/name]? Does it need to have something longer tied to it? [name]One[/name] thing I came up with was Ruxandra, which is the name of one of my favourite contemporary poets (Ruxandra Cesereanu), and it’s a Romanian variation of [name]Roxana[/name]/[name]Roxane[/name]. LOL re: [name]Rubina[/name]. Not a fan myself. There’s [name]Ruth[/name], but it’s a bit crusty-clunky for a first name.

@wintersage - Oh, thank you for digging up all that extra information. It is a beautiful name, but not sure how I feel about the sound of it overall.

@c2@29 - Those are two of my favourites, too. Maybe I’ll combine them for [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Elspeth[/name]…

17

I am loving [name]Hazel[/name] and [name]Adelaide[/name] for you! You might also like [name]Laurel[/name].

18

First I just want to say that I admire you’re naming style, your children have wonderful names. I believe [name]Heidi[/name] is the traditional nn for [name]Adelaide[/name], I think it’s very cute. I love [name]Lavender[/name] as a fn but the er in [name]Lavender[/name] doesn’t flow as well into the ar of [name]Ariadne[/name], it sounds a bit harsh and r heavy. I love the idea of a mythological mn, though! Here are some mythological names I like with [name]Lavender[/name] and [name]Hazel[/name]:

[name]Althea[/name]
[name]Athena[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name]
[name]Ceres[/name]
[name]Clio[/name]
[name]Cybele[/name]
[name]Daphne[/name]
[name]Diana[/name]
[name]Hestia[/name]
[name]Ianthe[/name]
[name]Isis[/name]
[name]Juno[/name]
[name]Maeve[/name]
[name]Nephele[/name]
[name]Niamh[/name]
[name]Penelope[/name]
[name]Persephone[/name]
[name]Phoebe[/name]
[name]Priya[/name]
[name]Selene[/name]
[name]Xanthe[/name]

I love [name]Clothilde[/name]/[name]Clotilda[/name], but I understand your hesitancy to use but, it reminds me of [name]Otthild[/name] which makes me think of the option [name]Ottilie[/name] or Otttiline for you. I love all of the names you have right now, my favorites being [name]Beatrix[/name], [name]Elspeth[/name] and [name]Lavender[/name]. [name]Hazel[/name] and [name]Adelaide[/name] are lovely as well and could also make nice middles. If [name]Winifred[/name] has two mn’s it would be nice if her sister did too and that way you get to choose 3 names! More names, more fun : )

19

I love the suggestion of [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Juliet[/name]! [name]Juliet[/name] in particular brings to mind the serious-but-sweet idea.
I like [name]Lavender[/name] quite a bit, but always struggle with a nickname. Perhaps she would be one whose nickname doesn’t relate to her name but to some other quality, or maybe she would continue to be Boo (which is adorable). [name]Lavender[/name] [name]Elspeth[/name] is a lovely combo.
[name]Hazel[/name] and [name]Adelaide[/name] are not favorites of mine and while I like [name]Beatrix[/name], it makes me think more of a mischievous, imp-ish type girl and that might not be a good fit.
[name]How[/name] about:
[name]Cecily[/name]
[name]Flora[/name]
[name]Augusta[/name]
[name]Rosamond[/name]
[name]Lorelei[/name]

20

@-cosmonaut

Sounds like you have a sweet little girl : ) I really love [name]Hazel[/name] [name]Rue[/name]. And no, it is not strange to call her just [name]Rue[/name]. If she doesn’t like it when she’s older, however, I think a long-ish first name would do the trick. I like your suggestion of [name]Lavender[/name] for that purpose, or maybe [name]Violet[/name] : )