With a one syllable/very short last name, do two or three syllable first names flow better?
Last name is similar in sound/length to Mah and most names I am thinking of are one syllable which is not sounding great. I.e. [name_f]Elle[/name_f] Mah. To me it doesn’t flow but what do others think? Another, longer name on our list is [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] or [name_f]Margot[/name_f] for short. [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] Mah or [name_f]Margot[/name_f] Mah sound better to me than [name_f]Elle[/name_f], for example. Thoughts?
I don’t think there’s a great difference, both two-syllable names and three-syllable names would work just as well with your last name! Maybe the three-syllable ones would flow ever so slightly better, but nothing too significant that should dissuade you from using a two-syllable name. I agree that [name_f]Elle[/name_f] could sound a bit odd with a one-syllable last name – but I think it depends! Something like [name_f]Grace[/name_f] Mah sounds fine to me, so some one-syllable first names can work. I love [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] from your list and I think it sounds beautiful with a short last name!
Thank you! Side question, does [name_f]Margot[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] sound good? I’ve heard it used as a nn one time and loved it, hence why we’re seriously considering
Sure, it makes perfect sense as a nickname to me! I generally prefer it when the name you’re going to use is what’s actually on the birth certificate, so if you’re going to call her mostly [name_f]Margot[/name_f] I would personally just do [name_f]Margot[/name_f], but it absolutely does work as a fun short form for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], if you would rather she had a longer legal name
Generally, two or three syllables can produce better flow with a one syllable. There are exceptions. Names that have a soft ending usually work okay like [name_m]Cash[/name_m] [name_m]Brown[/name_m].
I really like [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. I prefer the [name_f]Margo[/name_f] sp. as a nn.
I know a number of people with one syllable first names and one syllable last names. I guess it all depends on the sounds of the name you’re pairing with it rather than it just being a blanket rule about syllables.
[name_f]Elle[/name_f] Mah sort of blends together - as would [name_f]Faye[/name_f] Mah, [name_f]Lou[/name_f] Mah, or [name_f]Rue[/name_f] Mah to me, but [name_f]Claire[/name_f] Mah, [name_f]Kate[/name_f] Mah, [name_f]Eve[/name_f] Mah, or [name_f]Niamh[/name_f] Mah, just as examples, don’t sound bad to me.
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] Mah and [name_f]Margot[/name_f] Mah work too - and to me, they do work better than [name_f]Elle[/name_f] - [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] especially.
There was an article a little while ago about how typically each name having a different number of syllables flows best i.e. Sally Mae Carnahan 2-1-3. But I grew up with having an even syllable count for my names 2-2-2 and still thought it flowed okay.
We have a single syllable last name as well with a harsh sound in it and I am finding that 2-3 or even 4 syllable firsts/middles flow best but I think a lot of it depends on the sounds in it as well sometimes.
So in your case if you don’t mind alliteration, then I would likely go with Margaret. Or you could extend Elle into Eliana Margaret Mah for example (4-2-1) and still call her Elle.
I think two syllables sounds best with Mah.
Margot Mah is good. Some other ideas (I got most of these from the suggested similar names to Elle, Margot, and Margaret, I think they sound good with Mah):
Ellen
Daphne
Edith
Frances
Phoebe
Elise
Harlow
Daisy
Chloe
Alice
