EDIT: I’m putting the Name Hunt on hold for now. Things are not going well with the pregnancy at the moment. We should know more after my next ultrasound in 5 weeks.
Rilla, Scarlett, and Petra were still on the list for consideration, with concerns for each. I’ll just see what I’m thinking on these later on down the road.
My favourites are definitely [name_f]Petra[/name_f] and [name_f]Celeste[/name_f]. [name_f]Petra[/name_f] isn’t just a rock for me, it’s a pretty name with exotic feel and nice connections. But if you’re really worried about it, I think a middle name with… a more meaningful meaning would be enough to compliment the name. [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] is just cute. I prefer it over [name_f]Celestia[/name_f].
Of this list,my faves are
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]: [name_u]Read[/name_u] [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] Burgon’s sonnet ‘[name_f]Petra[/name_f]’. I love the beauty and strength and steadiness of it. I don’t think at all that a daughter would be sad to be ‘just a rock’ compared to her sisters - but then, I took a bunch of Geology post-secondary just because I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] rocks. I mean think about it, all those lovely gem names you like? Rocks, dude. Some rocks are beautiful. I do think it loses a point because it starts with P but it works better with your last-name than some of your other options. If its just not pretty enough for you though, then drop it as a fn & keep it around as a possible honour middle.
[name_f]Celestia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Celeste[/name_f]: I think this is a good way to get something you both love. And you could get nn [name_f]Tia[/name_f] if you wanted(?). I like this one the best - I feel like it hits that sweet spot of obscure & recognizable & pulls the other kids names together really well. It especially ties with the girls’ names being recognizable like E v e & having some flowy cadence like D u l c i n e a. [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] makes me think of the moon, and stargazing, as if I even needed to point that out, and the moon always makes me think of [name_f]October[/name_f] (harvest moon?)… so I like [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] for a fall baby. [name_f]Celestia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Celeste[/name_f]/[name_f]Tia[/name_f] is both elegant & playful. Starts with the same letter as C a s p i a n, but that wouldn’t be as obvious because he is a bit older so they would be less likely to be grouped together as [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] would be with the youngest kids or lumped in with ‘the girls’.
[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f]: I like [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] O’[name_f]Hara[/name_f], she is one tenacious lady. I also like the leaves changing sort of colour connection that you get for fall. I don’t really think it’s rare enough to truly run with your little ones, but it definitely has enough moxy! Its weird, but I keep seeing [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] [name_f]Violet[/name_f] when I think about the possibility of [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] [name_f]Iolanthe[/name_f]. I like that it is a ‘new letter’ as opposed to reusing first letters like some of your other picks would do.
[name_f]Rilla[/name_f]: I like Sarala nn [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] well enough, but prefer the shorter [name_f]Sela[/name_f], which is actually the Hebrew name for the city of [name_f]Petra[/name_f] ;). That, or just [name_f]Rilla[/name_f]. Sarala really is pretty, but do you really like it enough on its own, or is this you trying to get a longer name for [name_f]Rilla[/name_f]? I feel like it would almost definitely be shortened to [name_f]Sara[/name_f]. Where [name_f]Petra[/name_f] lost a point because it starts with P, [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f] loses TWO points because it starts with P AND has the same number of syllables as P e r e g r i n e… and feels a bit like just another ‘way to get to [name_f]Rilla[/name_f]’. I still like Aurelia & Marilla nn Rilla.
I will leave these threads alone for a bit cause I’m like the only one commenting & am probably scaring people off.
But I’m excited for you to get to the combo stage.
I dropped [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f] and added [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f]. I forgot to include [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] on the “[name_f]Rilla[/name_f]” options so it was overlooked. [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f] really is just a “long name for [name_f]Rilla[/name_f]” name, and it has a P, and it’s too “matchy” with brother’s name. Three strikes, that one is out. We actually have considered [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] on its own merit before, so it gets that spot, at least for now.
Sarala is not a full-name stand-in. We liked it close to a decade ago but felt like we couldn’t use it because of the [name_f]Sara[/name_f] part, but linking it with a different nn makes it a possibility. I don’t think it will get shortened to [name_f]Sara[/name_f], at least not while she is little, and if she decides on that when she’s older, it’s her issue. Everyone told me that P e r e g r i n e would inevitably be [name_u]Perry[/name_u] and he is not.
@truenature - see, you get it with [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f]. And I like [name_f]Katie[/name_f] O’[name_f]Hara[/name_f], even if she is a brat. I’ve tried to think of other names with that kind of quality of, yeah, moxy, but all I’ve ever been able to come up with is [name_f]Roxanne[/name_f], which is a tough sell because the X doesn’t seem to be appealing to Hubby. [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] [name_f]Iolanthe[/name_f] would be pretty red-purple, but that’s why I don’t do combos until I have a name or two that I like enough to use every day on its own merit, and then let the middles fall where they may. There’s still a lot of other mn honor possibilities (and Hubby likes them better than [name_f]Iolanthe[/name_f] anyway).
[name_f]Rilla[/name_f] - I really like this - it reminds me of [name_f]Marilla[/name_f] from [name_f]Anne[/name_f] of [name_u]Green[/name_u] Gables. I think I might actually prefer [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] nn [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] though.
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] - I really love this. It’s my aunty’s name, and I’ve always found it beautiful and mysterious. I don’t think the ‘just a rock’ issue is a problem - [name_f]Petra[/name_f] is a beautiful city with lovely meaning and significance. Also - I know you’re not really looking for suggestions (and you’ve probably seen everything already!) but just wanted to throw my grandmother’s (aunty [name_f]Petra[/name_f]'s mother) name out there as well: Neroli [NEH-roh-lee]. She’s called [name_f]Nell[/name_f] by her friends (which I love). Neroli is actually a flower - an orange blossom. [name_m]Just[/name_m] something to chuck into the mix!
[name_f]Celeste[/name_f], possibly [name_f]Celestia[/name_f] - love both, probably prefer [name_f]Celestia[/name_f]. It seems more ethereal and pretty to me.
[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] - I really love this. Is the nickname [name_u]Scout[/name_u] too far-fetched?
Sarala, nn [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] - not my favourite sorry. I also think there’s possibility for confusion with your name!
[name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] - I like this a lot. I have a friend named [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] and it’s always struck me as gorgeous. It’s pretty and flowery but also seems solid. The nickname [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] is also perfect!
I love [name_f]Petra[/name_f], [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], and [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f].
But my vote goes to [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] because it seems like you really want to use [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] and I think the flower/not flower name thing is a very cute and fun way to tie the younger girls together.
Ohh you have narrowed it down to such lovely choices!
My favorites:
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] - It has such a “cool factor” to me. I’m not sure why, but something just screams “edge” to be about [name_f]Petra[/name_f]. I really like it and I think it totally can stand up to your kids’ unique, awesome names. Repeating the P initial would give me pause as well, though.
[name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] - This is my favorite way to get [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] for you. It’s such a neat name with great imagery and what a sweet, spunky nickname! I think it would be a great addition to your set.
[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] - Ok, so even though this is definitely the “safer” of your options, [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] has always given me the fiery, spunky vibe that I think totally works with your set. Maybe it’s the red connection or the GWTW connection, but [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] sounds like a little firecracker!
What a fantastic sibset and list of names you have!
[name_m]Just[/name_m] some thoughts:
[name_f]Rilla[/name_f] - as a nn it’s nice, but as a full name, I think it’s too incomplete, especially with the ‘gorilla’ issue. (Sorry.)
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] - love this choice. I get what you mean with the meaning and repeating initial, though.
[name_f]Celeste[/name_f], possibly [name_f]Celestia[/name_f] - This is a fantastic choice on all fronts. Maybe the little girl just didn’t “fit” the name? [name_f]Celestia[/name_f] is a little frilly to me, but it’s still a lovely choice.
[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] - I like [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], but I think she is a little too mainstream for the group? I just feel like I hear it everywhere I go, and you seem to like names with a touch of magic to them.
Sarala, nn [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] - Sorry, but I didn’t pronounce this like [name_f]Sara[/name_f]-la when I saw it, and I actually thought it sounded too close too marsala. With the [name_f]Sara[/name_f]-la pronunciation, it’s ok, but I think I like [name_f]Selena[/name_f] or [name_f]Serena[/name_f] better.
[name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f], nn [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] - Fantastic choice. I don’t think having two flowers is that big of a deal and I get the impression that you really like this with [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] as a nn option.
I’m sure you’ve looked at every name on nameberry, but two that came to mind were [name_f]Azure[/name_f] and [name_f]Oceane[/name_f].
With E v e (E v i e) and D u l c i n e a (D a i s y) I was surprised that I like [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] best, reading through your list it is the odd name out but with your girls in particular is seems like the right fit. It also is a perfect name for a harvest baby. I do like [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] but I’m not a fan of [name_f]Rilla[/name_f]. I do like [name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Lilla[/name_f] but something about Rill makes me think of fish, maybe gill?
So basically the choices are:
[name_f]Eve[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], and [name_f]Petra[/name_f]
[name_f]Eve[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], and [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f]
[name_f]Eve[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], and [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] (in some form)
[name_f]Eve[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], and [name_f]Celeste[/name_f]/[name_f]Celestia[/name_f]/[name_f]Lettie[/name_f] - Is there a particular nn you had in mind for [name_f]Celeste[/name_f]/[name_f]Celestia[/name_f]?
Which set do you like the most? I think [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] fits right in…then all of your girl names are nature/word/known names. And I adore [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f]!
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] seems like the outlier to me…it starts with a P like [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m], ends in -a like [name_f]Dulcinea[/name_f], there are no obvious nn’s, and my personal opinion is that the name does not sound ‘lyrical’ enough to be an obvious choice in your set. I do like the name, though, even though I don’t like how it can be shortened to [name_f]Pet[/name_f]. (Not sure I would like that as a teen girl).
[name_f]Celestia[/name_f] - I prefer this to [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] for the sole reason that when I say this name I don’t hear the molest sound at all, so it’s no longer an issue for me. Plus, I like the longer, more elaborate names. I can’t really think of a great nn for this…maybe you already have one in mind? I do think this is a wildly romantic choice in its long form, quite rare, and really does tie [name_f]Eve[/name_f] and [name_f]Dulcinea[/name_f] together very well. I also like that although it’s another c name, it’s not a huge issue because the initial sound is more s than k.
[name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] - I love this name to pieces. I would definitely choose this form over [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] or Sarala (I agree that this choice, although pretty, features no instinctive pronunciation/emphasis, and I have a kid with a name like that and [name_m]OY[/name_m] do people butcher her name constantly!)I don’t know how much weight you put in the flower not matching her birth season, etc… That kind of thing is not make-or-break for me, but then again what I like is versatility in a name - a bit of classicism, a bit of weight, a bit of fun, and cute nn choices to boot - and this name has all those things. Lastly, I think it’s spunky, unexpected (which seems like a key element in your names), and I’m fond of the sweet nn [name_f]Rilla[/name_f].
So my top three choices would be: [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f], [name_f]Celestia[/name_f], and [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f]
[name_f]Lovely[/name_f]!!
My favorites from your list are [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] and [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f].
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] and [name_f]Celeste[/name_f]/[name_f]Celestia[/name_f] are the standouts on your list for me. Strong and lovely with the same kind of edge as your other children’s names. The meaning of [name_f]Petra[/name_f] to me is a real plus - so many rocks are incredibly gorgeous and their variety in nature is stunning. Personally I would take the first initial issue off the table and concentrate on what name you like best - there are so many other things to prioritize. (It’s easy to label things with both the first and middle initials, for example). [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] is simply stunning and has a lot of nickname possibilities. Best of luck!
Stealing Neroli for my own list. Gorgeous!
I’m so glad you like it! It’s definitely on my list too. I just think it’s beautiful, and so unusual.
Ohhhh wow, you guys. I spent most of the day running around to the OB’s office and the hospital ultrasound clinic and I think I’m just about toast. [name_m]Long[/name_m] story short: the baby is OK. We have been monitoring a problem with the placenta for the past month (subchorionic bleed) and it got a lot worse today. The whole thing has been stressful for weeks, and today it took forever in appointments and waiting, only to never really find out anything. When I called the OB’s office to find whether the problem had gotten better or worse (compared to a scan two weeks ago), the office had already closed for the day, so I’m still going to have to wait out the weekend. Think positive: all of this may have spared me another very upsetting ER visit.
Please excuse me for not feeling quite up to posting individual replies today. I really enjoyed reading all your thoughtful insights (some very good observations I’d never considered), and it was nice to come home and have some interesting ideas to look at. I think that today, my favorites are [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] and [name_f]Petra[/name_f]. Tomorrow? We’ll see when it comes. I’m going to rest and think of a happy place.
[name_f]Glad[/name_f] to hear all is well.
[name_f]Rilla[/name_f] is my fav. It’s unique. Would loved to meet a little [name_f]Rilla[/name_f]
Oh man so stressful! Good for you to be careful though & the running around stressed out of your mind is definitely more productive than pacing at home stressed out of your mind. Sorry you didn’t get to confirm things with the OB this afternoon but they probably wouldn’t have told you much yet anyway other than to wait it out. Hopefully this bleed increase is just getting rid of that little pocket or whatever & you won’t have any more scary spotting this pregnancy? Sending good vibes your way & hoping you get some peace of mind soon.
For me this is a contest between [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] ([name_f]Rilla[/name_f]) and [name_f]Petra[/name_f]. I love [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] for you as well, but I have a hard time with [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] [name_u]Tyler[/name_u]. You really have to enunciate those Ts to make sure [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] [name_u]Tyler[/name_u] is heard as two names. [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] alone doesn’t feel complete to me, which is why I like it as a spirited nickname for [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f]. [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] also gives you the flower connection to [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] and the long A name connection to [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f]. (As a side note, I’m surprised to see the twangy Southern [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] on your list. :p) [name_f]Petra[/name_f] is a strong name, and not just because it means “rock.” [name_f]Petra[/name_f] sounds like a fireball of a woman who doesn’t take crap from anybody. I would love to see a little [name_f]Petra[/name_f] in your family.
Hmm…
[name_f]Rilla[/name_f] ~ I think this name has a harsh unattractive quality the name makes me think of gorilla’s as pointed out by nameberry itself and strangely rice. I do not find this name appeasing.
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] ~ a gorgeous name with a cool Slavic flair that makes her feel interesting and exotic. [name_f]Petra[/name_f] has a lovely connotation with the ancient city in [name_u]Jordan[/name_u]. [name_f]Petra[/name_f] is really stunning and is growing on me.
[name_f]Celeste[/name_f] ~ another gorgeous choice! [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] feels majestic and has an appealing elegance. I also think [name_f]Celestia[/name_f] is beautiful and I think she has a heavenly sound. Both of these choices are beautiful and it depends whether you want a more down to earth sound with [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] combined too the incredibly majestic [name_f]Celestia[/name_f].
[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] ~ again I love this name, [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] is a great choice and she has a southern flair that I feel is fresh and appealing. [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] has great association with Gone with the Wind and also the beautiful [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] Johansson. I also love the nickname [name_f]Letty[/name_f] for [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] as well. It’s beautiful.
Sarala ~ I am not sure on this choice I think visually this name is unattractive.
[name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] ~ This name is a beautiful botanical choice. [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] is elegant and fresh. I dislike the nickname [name_f]Rilla[/name_f] for [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] I prefer Lissy which I think is sweet and delicate. [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f] is lovely.
: )