We just found out we are having our 2nd girl (and last child). Our first daughter is [name_u]Tatum[/name_u] [name_u]Scout[/name_u] and we love it. [name_u]Scout[/name_u] is after the character in To Kill a Mockingbird. And we like that [name_u]Tatum[/name_u] is that last name of famous jazz musician, [name_m]Art[/name_m] [name_u]Tatum[/name_u] (we regularly listen to his music at night with our daughter now).
I would like to find a name that feels meaningful to us in some way. My husband would love to find another literary reference. I would like something that is unique but not too “out there.” Some names we like but aren’t quite it are – [name_u]Campbell[/name_u], [name_u]Rhys[/name_u] ([name_u]Jean[/name_u] [name_u]Rhys[/name_u] is the author of one of my favorite books), and [name_u]Blaire[/name_u].
If we were having a boy I had a very meaningful name picked out – Hutchison, named after the [name_m]Hutchinson[/name_m] Parkway that used to take me into NYC. I feel a deep connection to NYC as all of my ancestors came through there and my parents grew up there. It feel like my “homeland”, and having a little boy named Hutch just felt SO right. So I am partially mourning the loss of a favorite name that I feel is too much to use for a girl. Hoping I can find something that has meaning to me like this one!
ALL advice, thoughts, inspirations are so welcome. Many thanks!!
What about using [name_u]Jean[/name_u] from your favorite author?
[name_u]Campbell[/name_u] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] is sweet and goes well with [name_u]Tatum[/name_u] [name_u]Scout[/name_u]
Or for your afffection for NYC what about a street name or neighborhood…
Astor
[name_u]Chelsea[/name_u]
[name_f]Delancey[/name_f]
[name_u]Waverly[/name_u]
Or perhaps [name_f]Liberty[/name_f] for the Statue of [name_f]Liberty[/name_f] which welcomed people from all over the world into NYC
I think [name_u]Waverly[/name_u] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] or [name_f]Liberty[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] are lovely and go well with [name_u]Tatum[/name_u] [name_u]Scout[/name_u]
I think [name_u]Hudson[/name_u] isn’t too tough for a girl especially if you nicknamed her Huddy or Huddles. However I would suggest going with [name_f]Louise[/name_f] for the middle name over [name_u]Jean[/name_u] if you end up picking it.
I would have suggested [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] for [name_m]Art[/name_m] [name_u]Tatum[/name_u]'s mum but I’m not sure it’s your speed.
The Hutch is named after [name_f]Anne[/name_f] [name_m]Hutchinson[/name_m], who had quite a courageous if tragic story, so maybe you could use [name_f]Anne[/name_f] in the middle. Other ideas:
[name_f]Astoria[/name_f] nn [name_u]Story[/name_u]
[name_f]Hester[/name_f]
[name_f]Jamaica[/name_f]–also linked to [name_f]Jamaica[/name_f] Kincaid
[name_u]Sunny[/name_u] from Sunnyside, Queens also linked to [name_m]Washington[/name_m] [name_m]Irving[/name_m]
[name_f]Belle[/name_f] after [name_f]Belle[/name_f] Moscowitz who was politically influential in the 1920s
[name_f]Emily[/name_f] [name_m]Warren[/name_m] Roebling helped build the [name_u]Brooklyn[/name_u] [name_m]Bridge[/name_m]
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] [name_m]Wharton[/name_m] set The Age of Innocence in NYC
[name_u]Sloan[/name_u] or [name_u]Sloane[/name_u] after [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_u]Sloan[/name_u], a painter of the Ashcan School
[name_u]Parker[/name_u] after [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] [name_u]Parker[/name_u]
Lennox
You say your ancestors came through NYC, which I am guessing means they were processed at [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] Island? If so I think [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] is a perfect choice of names! It is nicely unisex like [name_u]Tatum[/name_u], and even has the more girly nickname option of [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] built in in case your daughter prefers that. [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] Island is inexorably tied to NYC in the minds of many people, so I think that could be a beautiful homage. Perhaps [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] [name_u]Campbell[/name_u]? I love the idea of including a subtle literary reference; that is something I secretly do too. For instance, [name_f]Paola[/name_f] is a reference to [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] Allende’s [name_f]Paula[/name_f], and [name_f]Liana[/name_f] is a reference to the character Liyana in [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] Shihab [name_m]Nye[/name_m]'s [name_f]Habibi[/name_f].
I like the suggestion of [name_u]Ellis[/name_u]. It’s a good unisex name with a feminine sound.
[name_u]Harper[/name_u] for [name_u]Harper[/name_u] [name_u]Lee[/name_u]
[name_f]Maya[/name_f] for [name_f]Maya[/name_f] [name_f]Angelou[/name_f]
[name_u]Sawyer[/name_u] after [name_m]Tom[/name_m] [name_u]Sawyer[/name_u]
[name_u]August[/name_u] from The [name_f]Secret[/name_f] Life of Bees
[name_u]Jo[/name_u] from [name_m]Little[/name_m] Women
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] for [name_f]Willa[/name_f] Cather
[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] for [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] O’[name_f]Hara[/name_f]
[name_u]Parker[/name_u] for [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] [name_u]Parker[/name_u]
[name_f]Holiday[/name_f] for [name_u]Billie[/name_u] [name_f]Holiday[/name_f]
[name_f]Ella[/name_f] for [name_f]Ella[/name_f] [name_m]Fitzgerald[/name_m]
All of these suggestions are so helpful, it’s getting the wheels turning.
I have thought about [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] – and although it would be the perfect name because of meaning - not only for [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] Island, but it was also the pen name of one of the [name_f]Bronte[/name_f] sisters… I just can’t get myself to love it. Maybe over time, but right now, it doesn’t give me that “zing!” that I’m hoping for. Great suggestion though.
I’m going to put [name_u]Hudson[/name_u] on the list, I liked the nn suggestions of “Huddle” or “Huddie.”
I also want to love [name_u]Lennox[/name_u] - has the NYC connection and the little girl in The [name_f]Secret[/name_f] Garden is [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_u]Lennox[/name_u], but again, I just don’t love it.
Many thanks!! It’s so nice to read through all of these ideas.