Names like Clare, Katharine, Caroline, and Grace

I’ve been having a very hard time sticking to a favorite pick for a girls name this pregnancy. I’ve posted several polls but don’t feel any closer to picking a name…I’m actually starting to hope it’s another boy because I’m pretty set on [name_m]Thomas[/name_m].

We have 2 daughters [name_u]Clare[/name_u] and [name_f]Katharine[/name_f]. We honestly picked [name_f]Katharine[/name_f] to call her [name_f]Kate[/name_f] but we don’t use it at home (she does at school) and instead call her by her full name or [name_f]Kat[/name_f]/[name_f]Kitty[/name_f]. We both like [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] but feel [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] is probably too close to [name_u]Clare[/name_u]'s name and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] to close our youngest son’s [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m]'s name. None of my kids share a first initial so that would be really nice to continue. (Our other boys are [name_m]Paul[/name_m], [name_m]Mark[/name_m], [name_u]James[/name_u], and [name_m]Andrew[/name_m])

My husband has liked [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] for a longtime and I see some merit but I don’t feel like it’s as strong a name as my other girls’ names.

[name_f]Sarah[/name_f] seems like a possible fit but I’m not sure it’s special enough. [name_f]Anna[/name_f] could work as well if we’re not concerned about the closeness with [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] (who will only be 4).

I sometimes like names like [name_f]Theresa[/name_f], [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f], and [name_f]Frances[/name_f] but I’m not sure they’re current enough. My husband does not really care for these but I’m getting free-reign on naming this baby since [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] was his pick.

What would the berries suggest?

[name_f]Lucia[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Lucy[/name_f])
[name_f]Leah[/name_f]
[name_f]Laura[/name_f]
[name_f]Emily[/name_f]
[name_f]Rachel[/name_f]
[name_f]Mary[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Julia[/name_f]
[name_f]Hannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Emma[/name_f]

I love your children’s names and I think [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] is great. Would the [name_f]Teresa[/name_f] spelling make the name feel more current to you? You could also use the nickname Tess to make the name feel current. Other ideas of names that feel strong, timeless, and grounded to me:

[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f]
[name_f]Emily[/name_f]
[name_f]Bridget[/name_f]
[name_f]Susanna[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]
Fiona

My favorites that you mention are [name_f]Grace[/name_f] and [name_f]Teresa[/name_f] (I think it’s modern enough if you use [name_f]Tess[/name_f] as a nickname). With the classic names you have so far I think [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] is a natural choice. There are so many nickname options maybe you can find one you like?

[name_f]Bridget[/name_f]
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] nn [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] or [name_f]Libby[/name_f]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Esther[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Irene[/name_f]
[name_f]Lydia[/name_f]
[name_f]Natalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
[name_f]Samantha[/name_f]
[name_f]Silvia[/name_f]
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f]

I love [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] and [name_f]Frances[/name_f], they are definitely modern enough to be used for a 2018 baby.

Some more ideas:
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Emily[/name_f]
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f]
[name_f]Theodora[/name_f]
[name_f]Martha[/name_f]
[name_f]Mary[/name_f]
[name_f]Emma[/name_f]
[name_f]Natalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Christina[/name_f]
[name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Agatha[/name_f]
[name_f]Laura[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f]
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Valentina[/name_f]
[name_f]Zoe[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Rebecca[/name_f]

[name_f]Abigail[/name_f], [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], [name_f]Analisa[/name_f]/[name_f]Annaliese[/name_f], [name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Brianna[/name_f]
[name_f]Camille[/name_f]/[name_f]Camilla[/name_f]
[name_f]Delilah[/name_f], [name_f]Daphne[/name_f], [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f], [name_f]Demetria[/name_f]
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u], [name_f]Elena[/name_f], [name_f]Eliana[/name_f], [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]/[name_f]Elsbeth[/name_f], [name_f]Estelle[/name_f], [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f], [name_f]Flora[/name_f], [name_f]Francesca[/name_f]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f], [name_f]Georgina[/name_f], [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f], [name_f]Gwyneth[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f], [name_u]Hillary[/name_u], [name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f], [name_f]Isabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_f]Juliet[/name_f]
[name_f]Louise[/name_f], [name_f]Laurel[/name_f], [name_f]Leona[/name_f], [name_f]Lillian[/name_f], [name_f]Lilith[/name_f], [name_f]Lorna[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f], [name_f]Madeline[/name_f], [name_f]Mallory[/name_f], [name_f]Margo[/name_f], [name_f]Mariana[/name_f], [name_f]Marjorie[/name_f], [name_u]Meredith[/name_u], [name_f]Melinda[/name_f], [name_f]Mildred[/name_f], [name_f]Muriel[/name_f], [name_f]Miriam[/name_f]
[name_f]Nadine[/name_f], [name_f]Noelle[/name_f], [name_f]Norah[/name_f]
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f], [name_u]Ruby[/name_u], [name_f]Regina[/name_f], [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Sabrina[/name_f], [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f], [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]
[name_f]Tabitha[/name_f]
[name_u]Vivian[/name_u]/[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f], [name_f]Valerie[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Winona[/name_f]
[name_f]Zara[/name_f]

[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is a really good suggestion. My husband and I have always loved the name [name_f]Nell[/name_f]. I’ll have to put that back on the list. It does remind me a lot of [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] and [name_f]Katharine[/name_f].

[name_f]Mary[/name_f] has been on and off my list. Visually it’s close to [name_m]Mark[/name_m]'s name and I don’t love the duo of [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] and [name_f]Mary[/name_f]. But it’s definitely a contender.

My husband loves [name_f]Tess[/name_f]. It sounds a bit superhero-ish with our last name which is two syllable T-name ending is son.

Such a hard call. Maybe I’ll put [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] and [name_f]Frances[/name_f] back on the list. It does seem to me if [name_f]Alice[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] can come back in style that [name_f]Frances[/name_f] should be right along there with them.

I do adore [name_f]Libby[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f].

I actually know of sisters named [name_u]Clare[/name_u] and [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] (friends of a friend) , who also have a sister [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], so was going to suggest that but see you’ve ruled it out! I can see why you don’t think it’s special enough though- I’ve known a LOT of girls named [name_f]Sara/name_f over the years, very popular for girls my age. You might like [name_f]Sarai[/name_f], or is that too out there for you?

I was going to say [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] too, I agree it would be a good fit and it sounds every bit as strong as your other girls’ names to me (think [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] from the [name_f]Narnia[/name_f] series!).

[name_u]Clare[/name_u] and [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] are a bit too similar for me, personally, but I don’t think it’s unworkable. [name_u]Abby[/name_u] from the Appellation Mountain name blog has a daughter [name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], so if they’re not too similar for first/middle name I don’t think they’re too similar for sisters!

I don’t think [name_f]Anna[/name_f] and [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] are too similar at all, especially with six other kids so it doesn’t sound like you’re going for an obvious theme. The [name_f]Queen[/name_f] has an [name_f]Anne[/name_f] and an [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] so they seem like natural siblings names to me.

[name_f]Grace[/name_f] and [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] aren’t too similar to me either- they share a first letter, but are clearly distinct and have different numbers of syllables. I can see why you’d prefer not to have your kids share initials, but if [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is your favourite I wouldn’t rule it out based on that. [name_m]Just[/name_m] curious, do you and your husband have different initials to anyone else in the family too?

[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] is a great suggestion that fits right in with your sibset. There are so many nickname options: [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], [name_f]Elle[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Lizzy[/name_f], [name_f]Liza[/name_f], Lillibet, [name_f]Libby[/name_f], [name_u]Abbie[/name_u], [name_f]Bette[/name_f] (like “bet”), [name_f]Betty[/name_f], etc.

You seem to like classic/subtly Biblical names, so here are some more suggestions:

[name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
[name_f]Amy[/name_f]
[name_f]Esther[/name_f]
[name_f]Susanna/name_f
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] – nns could be [name_f]Meg[/name_f], [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], [name_f]May[/name_f], [name_f]Etta[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_u]Marian[/name_u]/[name_u]Marion[/name_u] instead of [name_f]Mary[/name_f], and you could still call her [name_f]Mary[/name_f] as a nn
[name_f]Thea[/name_f] instead of or as a nn for [name_f]Theresa[/name_f]
[name_f]Hannah[/name_f] – similar to [name_f]Anna[/name_f] but a bit more different from [name_m]Andrew[/name_m]
[name_f]Rebecca[/name_f]
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]/[name_f]Eva[/name_f]
[name_f]Abigail[/name_f]
[name_f]Bethany[/name_f]
[name_f]Leah[/name_f]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f], feels more classic and timeless
[name_f]Isabel/name_f
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Martha[/name_f] – [name_m]Mark[/name_m] and [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] together made me think of the siblings in the Tales of [name_u]Magic[/name_u] series, who are [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_m]Mark[/name_m], [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] and [name_f]Martha[/name_f]-- but it does repeat an initial
[name_f]Natalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Lydia[/name_f]

[name_f]Anna[/name_f]
[name_f]Hannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucinda[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u]
[name_f]Bethany[/name_f]

[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Florence[/name_f]
[name_f]Julia[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Patricia[/name_f]

[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] are both beautiful names! They are similar, but I don’t think so close to your other children that you couldn’t us them if you love them.

I also really love [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] and think it’s just as strong a name. You could also consider [name_f]Lucille[/name_f] or [name_f]Lucinda[/name_f] to get to the nickname…

Some other thoughts for similar names…

[name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Madeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Norah[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_u]Vivian[/name_u]

[name_u]Eloise[/name_u]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Maxine[/name_f]
[name_f]Helen[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_f]Marilee[/name_f]
[name_f]Sandrine[/name_f]