Our favorite contenders are currently [name_f]Esme[/name_f], [name_f]Georgia[/name_f], Vivienne/Viviana and [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f]. One name he loves that I’m iffy on is [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] (only because I don’t love the nickname Gen). We were pretty set with [name_f]Esme[/name_f] (potentially [name_f]Esme[/name_f] Viviana) and then, my in-laws were totally upset by the name (which I’m very annoyed we even told them…) I don’t want anything that ends in -ly/-leigh and have been hesitant about -ra (although we loved [name_f]Keira[/name_f] & Nora) given our last name.
[name_f]My[/name_f] style is more girly and stylish (Camila, [name_f]Sienna[/name_f], [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], [name_f]Thalia[/name_f], [name_f]Daphne[/name_f], Evana); my husband’s style is more traditional and [name_m]Irish[/name_m] (Helen after his grandmother, [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f], [name_f]Bridget[/name_f], Aileigh).
We were so set on [name_f]Layla[/name_f] for our daughter and then fell in love with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] as the middle name, so we’ve had a bit of a hard time agreeing on our second girl name. If we have a boy at some point, we are planning for [name_m]Edward[/name_m] [name_m]Graham[/name_m] (calling him [name_m]Graham[/name_m] and naming him [name_m]Edward[/name_m] after long line of family name).
From your favorite contenders I like [name_f]Georgia[/name_f] a lot, and [name_f]Bridget[/name_f] is very pretty as well! [name_f]Esme[/name_f] is stunning – I wouldn’t let your in-laws ruin the name for you (my grandmother hated my name when my parents told her, but has no problem with it now that I’m her main association). Your baby, your name choice!
A few more ideas to try and find a nice blend between you and your husband’s style: Similar to [name_f]Esme[/name_f]: [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], [name_f]Juno[/name_f], [name_f]Ismay[/name_f], [name_f]Eleni[/name_f], [name_f]Ines[/name_f], [name_f]Eloise[/name_f], [name_f]Aria[/name_f] Similar to [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] (but w/ no “Gen”): [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] Girly & stylish but with a traditional, Irish/Welsh/Scottish feel: [name_f]Willa[/name_f], [name_f]Elsie[/name_f], [name_f]Etta[/name_f], [name_f]Enid[/name_f], [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] / [name_f]Gwenore[/name_f], [name_m]Emlyn[/name_m], [name_f]Flora[/name_f], [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f], [name_f]Isobel[/name_f], [name_f]Freya[/name_f], [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], [name_f]Roisin[/name_f] (prn. ro-sheen), [name_f]Brianna[/name_f] / [name_f]Brenna[/name_f], [name_f]Alva[/name_f], [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f], [name_m]Bellamy[/name_m], [name_f]Finola[/name_f], [name_f]Rosaleen[/name_f], [name_f]Oona[/name_f]
[name_f]Esme[/name_f] is so beautiful.
I would recommend not having your son go by his middle name as someone who has to deal with this. No one has ever listened to me and always do it anyway, but here I am still shouting it from the rooftops.
I’d say keep [name_f]Esme[/name_f] [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] on the backburner (unless your in-laws have a very specific / understandable reason). It’s a lovely name!
[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f], [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f], and [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] are great too though [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_f]Esme[/name_f] or [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] [name_f]Esme[/name_f] perhaps?
That’s rough when family doesn’t like a name. [name_f]Esme[/name_f] [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] is beautiful and I’m sure they’d get used to it.
I think of your finalists that [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] goes best with [name_f]Layla[/name_f]. [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_f]Esme[/name_f] is lovely.
Other ideas for sister to [name_f]Layla[/name_f] [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]:
[name_f]Layla[/name_f] is a beautiful name. I’m sure you’ll find another winner for this girl.
Both [name_f]Layla[/name_f] and [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] have a strong long A sound. Maybe you should stick with sounds you love (Esme).
[name_m]Or[/name_m], if you would find another long A name too close, switch up the dominant sounds in this second child’s name.
I love [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f]. I know you said no -ly endings, but do consider [name_f]Cecily[/name_f] as well.
I don’t think the -ra ending names conflict with the part of your username that seems to be your last name. If you loved one of those, I’d say use it.
If Genevieve’s main drawback is the nickname [name_f]Gen[/name_f], you could use the full name exclusively. It’s only three syllables, like “Caroline” or “Jeremy.” [name_m]Or[/name_m] use [name_f]Eve[/name_f] or [name_f]Vivi[/name_f] as her nickname. When she’s older, her friends/ coworkers might use [name_f]Gen[/name_f], though.
[name_f]Layla[/name_f] and [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] are also nice together.
I would suggest morphing [name_f]Helen[/name_f] slightly into [name_f]Elena[/name_f], but that would be super close to [name_f]Layla[/name_f], too close.
Maybe he’d like [name_f]Sasha[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f], or [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] called [name_f]Sasha[/name_f].
Maybe [name_f]Brielle[/name_f] mixes [name_f]Bridget[/name_f] and girly for both of you?
You have a lot of great names in the running! I think [name_f]Esme[/name_f] is beautiful. [name_f]Esme[/name_f] [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] is a stunning name! Is there a reason they didn’t like it? It’s always such a huge disappointment when someone reacts negatively to a possible name like that.
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] would be my next favorite from your list!
[name_f]Esme[/name_f] [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] is absolutely amazing! If you love it, please use it. I believe your in-laws will get used to it. Besides, it is your baby girl! The parents are the ones that need to love and admire the name they choose for their little ones. Why were your in-laws upset? Unless there is a very strong and reasonable motive to dismiss [name_f]Esme[/name_f], I would not eliminate that option. [name_f]Esme[/name_f] is sweet, elegant and has a magnificent meaning.
Combining both your styles, I think [name_f]Esme[/name_f] [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] would be stunning.
Your current contenders are all lovely. With [name_f]Layla[/name_f], [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] sounds amazing. [name_f]Georgia[/name_f] is charismatic and bright. [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] has a melodic sound, but I don’t love the meaning. What about [name_f]Celia[/name_f]? [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] has multiple nickname options. [name_f]My[/name_f] favorites are [name_f]Vivi[/name_f], [name_f]Viv[/name_f], [name_f]Evie[/name_f], [name_f]Neve[/name_f].
I think you may like:
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]
[name_f]Bryn[/name_f]
[name_f]Eloisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
[name_f]Flora[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Daisy[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_f]Esme[/name_f] or [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] [name_f]Esme[/name_f] perhaps?