only a month left and i'm no where closer.. please help

[juliaas]

I’ve always been drawn to different/less popular names. but after discovering the ava aiden book (by nameberry creator) many of my choices for a girl are budding trends etc, so i’m trying to reach out.
i’m drawn to vintage names, surnames-androgynous names. We have a daughter who is 18 months named [name]Piper[/name] [name]Estelle[/name]. [name]Estelle[/name] was my husbands grandmother, but is right up my alley with regard to charmingly old fashioned. [name]Piper[/name]'s popularity has really been on the upswing since i picked it in early 09, which wasn’t what i was going for. By the way, my last name ends in -y (ee sound)

[name]Elliot[/name]
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Anne[/name]
[name]Finlay[/name]
Harpeth- (we moved away from TN last year and are homesick-it was a river we kayaked on)
[name]Isla[/name] [name]Grey[/name]-but this fn is looking to be a chart climber
[name]Sailor[/name]- I love this one, but we live in a coastal town and i’m afraid folks with think i’m purposefully going nautical
[name]Scarlett[/name]-she will be a leo ? but what’s the nick name potential-scary?
[name]Frances[/name]
[name]Evelyn[/name] (evie for short) -this is my mom’s name-sort of inconvenient, bc i really love it. Is there a rule on naming after such a close living relative. besides the fact that my mother in law would be jealous
[name]Beatrice[/name]

Any help with middle names with these that you like would also be a big help! thanks so much!!

[jesba]

[name]Hi[/name]! Congrats on expecting! Some thoughts follow - hope they help!

[name]Elliot[/name] - a great name that is decidedly masculine in feel - I like it but recommend looking elsewhere since you otherwise seem to go more clearly uni or femme. Plus, I think it will bump up, given the popularity of anything that can give [name]Ellie[/name] as a nickname (although this will always be on the rarer side as a proper name for girls, I think).

[name]Ellis[/name] - I really like it, but do wonder if everyone will hear [name]Alice[/name]. Again, [name]Ellie[/name]…

[name]Finlay[/name] - I’d prefer spelling [name]Finley[/name], and while it feels trendier on boys, it’s still feeling like it might be a climber for girls. Also, names like [name]Kinley[/name], Tinley, [name]McKinley[/name] are all climbing for girls. Is this rhymey with your last name? Finla would be unexpected and cool!

Harpeth - this is pretty cool! I just think everyone will hear [name]Harper[/name] and it might be better as a middle? [name]Elspeth[/name] is a variant of [name]Elizabeth[/name] that merges this with some of the [name]Ell[/name] names you like, and I think will also stay on the low end of any [name]Ellie[/name] popularity - what do you think? I also think [name]Tennessee[/name] would be really cool. Would that be rhyme-y with your last name?

[name]Isla[/name] - yes, it’s going to climb a good bit. [name]Ayla[/name], [name]Viola[/name], [name]Ayelet[/name], [name]Twyla[/name], Hila, these hit some of the same notes and might not rise as high ([name]Ayelet[/name] and [name]Twyla[/name] especially).

[name]Sailor[/name] - Sayla? Or too much : D? I see the nautical concern, but this is cool. [name]Sailor[/name] and [name]Piper[/name] would be a little close though, maybe? What about something more subtly nautical, like [name]Marin[/name]/[name]Maren[/name]?

[name]Evelyn[/name] - aww : D. [name]Lovely[/name] to honor the family. Check this one out on the charts too, though, if you’re worried about popularity. Could [name]MIL[/name]'s name be the middle? My verdict on using a living family member’s name: totally depends on the family. It’d be odd in mine, but wouldn’t in others. [name]How[/name] would your mom feel? Honored or strange? I’d ask if you haven’t. [name]Aveline[/name] is rarer and quite pretty, although probably so close while being hard to spell that it’s not as great as it otherwise might be.

[name]Scarlett[/name] - [name]Lettie[/name] or [name]Ettie[/name] are pretty nickname options. I like this name and really like it with [name]Piper[/name], but it’s definitely up there with [name]Isla[/name] in terms of chart climbing / position right now, just FYI. [name]Crimson[/name] alludes to that red color, and feels a little boyish like [name]Piper[/name], nn [name]Sonny[/name]/[name]Sunny[/name]?

[name]Beatrice[/name] - love! And while it will climb some, at this point it’s hard to imagine climbing that much. [name]Do[/name] you like [name]Beatrix[/name]? It seems to have some extra spunk to take it closer to piper - I also think it’s the rare of the two variants, and lets you pick either [name]Bea[/name] or [name]Trixie[/name] more easily (I mean, I think [name]Beatrice[/name] could still be a [name]Trixie[/name]).

All best!

[averyvirginia]

[name]Piper[/name] [name]Estelle[/name]…I really like it! [name]Piper[/name] is so spunky.

What are you going for? [name]Do[/name] you want the names to “match” in their style or will you go with something you love?

[name]Elliot[/name] - [name]Ellie[/name] is an adorable nick-name, I love it, but would not use such a masculine name to get [name]Ellie[/name].
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Anne[/name] - I really like this, [name]Ellis[/name] sounds feminine to my ears.
[name]Finlay[/name] - [name]Even[/name] though this sounds feminine to me, it isn’t my favorite.
Harpeth - I like this and it has meaning to you.
[name]Isla[/name] [name]Grey[/name] - I really like this and I [name]LOVE[/name] it with [name]Piper[/name] [name]Estelle[/name].
[name]Sailor[/name]- [name]Piper[/name] and [name]Sailor[/name] sound great to me, but I do see your concern with the nautical theme since you live in a coastal town.
[name]Scarlett[/name] - It’s cute, but I like [name]Isla[/name] [name]Grey[/name] better.
[name]Frances[/name] - Possibly a middle name, [name]Frances[/name] is not one of my personal favorites.
[name]Evelyn[/name] - Eh, it’s nice, just not my personal style. And, your child and your mother sharing the same name is fine.
[name]Beatrice[/name] - love, love, love!!!

From your list I really like:
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Anne[/name]
Harpeth
[name]Isla[/name] [name]Grey[/name] - my favorite!
[name]Sailor[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name]

[bedhead]

[name]Love[/name] [name]Ellis[/name], [name]Frances[/name], [name]Evelyn[/name] or [name]Beatrice[/name] with [name]Piper[/name].

[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Anne[/name] is pretty what about…
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Jane[/name]/[name]June[/name]
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Juniper[/name]
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Mae[/name]
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Margo[/name]
[name]Ellis[/name] Harpeh
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Margaret[/name]
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Penelope[/name]
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Rose[/name]
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Ruby[/name]
[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Winifred[/name]

[name]Frances[/name] [name]Posy[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Lily[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Hazel[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Clementine[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Violet[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] Harpeth
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Ivy[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Helena[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Juniper[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Julia[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Willow[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Ruby[/name]

[name]Evelyn[/name] [name]Posy[/name]
[name]Evelyn[/name] [name]Rose[/name]
[name]Evelyn[/name] [name]Kate[/name]
Eveyn Harpeth
[name]Evelyn[/name] [name]Ruby[/name]
[name]Evelyn[/name] [name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Evelyn[/name] [name]Ruth[/name]
[name]Evelyn[/name] [name]Fay[/name]

[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] Harpeth
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Ivy[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Margo[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Violet[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Mae[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Hazel[/name]

[freckles]

[name]Piper[/name] [name]Estelle[/name] is gorgeous! You’ve got a lot of really nice names on your list. Here’s some thoughts and middle name suggestions…

[name]Elliot[/name] - I’m not a fan of [name]Elliot[/name] on a girl. [name]Piper[/name] is pretty gender neutral, definitely in the girls camp right now, but [name]Elliot[/name] is well-used for boys. I’d go with [name]Ellery[/name], though it might sound weird with your surname. I prefer [name]Ellis[/name] (see below).

[name]Ellis[/name] [name]Anne[/name] - I think this goes nicely with [name]Piper[/name]. [name]Ellis[/name] [name]Anne[/name] is pretty as well. I agree with the PP that said it might get mistaken for [name]Alice[/name], though.

[name]Finlay[/name] - I prefer it (and other [name]Fin[/name]- names) on boys, but I think it could work on a girl as well. I’d pair it with something vintage and feminine. If you don’t use [name]Evelyn[/name] as a fn, it would make a nice middle. [name]Finlay[/name] [name]Evelyn[/name] is so pretty! I also like [name]Finlay[/name] [name]Beatrix[/name] and [name]Finlay[/name] [name]Cordelia[/name].

Harpeth- I like the significance, but it’s so close to the fast-rising, trendy [name]Harper[/name], and sounds kind of made up.

[name]Isla[/name] [name]Grey[/name]- it is climbing, but it’s very sweet. [name]Isla[/name] [name]Grey[/name] flows so nicely too. Other similar options: [name]Iris[/name], [name]Ada[/name], [name]Ione[/name].

[name]Sailor[/name]- I like this a lot, though along with [name]Piper[/name] it’s a tad themey, especially if you’re planning on having more children.

[name]Scarlett[/name]- Cute! Getting more popular, but it’s a new classic, in my opinion. It’s only downside is it doesn’t have great nicknames. [name]Scarlett[/name] [name]Ruth[/name], [name]Scarlett[/name] [name]Mae[/name] and [name]Scarlett[/name] [name]Jane[/name] are all super cute.

[name]Frances[/name]- I’ve really started to like [name]Frances[/name]. It’s the perfect blend of vintage and unisex, plus [name]Frankie[/name] is just such an adorable nickname. I love it with [name]Piper[/name]. [name]Frances[/name] [name]Evelyn[/name] would be adorable. Or you could go with something more whimsical like [name]Frances[/name] [name]June[/name], or something modern like [name]Frances[/name] [name]Paige[/name].

[name]Evelyn[/name]- very sweet, especially since it’s your mom’s name, though definitely one of your more popular options (currently #39). I think it works better (and creates less drama!), in your case, as a middle name.

[name]Beatrice[/name] - love love love. More feminine and old-fashioned than [name]Piper[/name], but I think they go together quite nicely. I might pair it with something a bit more modern/androgynous, like [name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Grey[/name], [name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Blake[/name] or [name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Rae[/name].

[name]Hope[/name] that helps!

[juliaas]

Thanks so much for your input. I"m starting to wonder if my darling husband is the real problem, he has adamantly opposed scarlet, frances, and beatrice (and technically finely too, but i’m fighting it). There is another challenge. I live in Mt.[name]Pleasant[/name] SC-essentially the suburb to [name]CHarleston[/name] and per capita i think we have more gymboree/little gym attending stay at home mom types than any other place i’ve yet to live. and i’m realizing that names that are somewhat are obscure across america (esp surnames like [name]Finley[/name] and elliot) are much more prevalent here. And [name]Fin[/name] is a very popular boys name lately. So i feel like i’m back to square one. Digging deeper into obscurity without creating a name (made up names are not my thing) i’m imagining things like,

[name]Pearl[/name], [name]Flynn[/name], [name]Evie[/name], [name]Millie[/name], [name]Lilah[/name], [name]Gloria[/name], [name]Iona[/name]

My last name is Slattery, but an aunt is [name]Mary[/name] Slattery and the rhyme-y thing never struck me with her name, so maybe all -y endings aren’t out? you guys tell me your thoughts.

desperate as ever!
[name]Julia[/name]

[lookingforaname]

I wanted to jump in and say that I think Harpeth would make a great MN - having meaning and beautiful/unique - Middles are a good place to play around, I think, especially if you can tell her later about the significance the place had to you.

I have also found that there seem to be regional pockets of popularity that intrigue me so I can empathize. I also even feel like nameberry itself has a certain type of naming bias or leaning, which is not necessarily bad, just interesting.

The “y” thing would be a case-by-case thing - I agree that it shouldn’t be just automatically ruled out.

From your most recent list: I like [name]Iola[/name] Harpeth and [name]Lilah[/name] Harpeth the best.

Some other names that go with Harpeth and match (to me) what you’re seeming to like:

[name]Alice[/name]
[name]Blythe[/name]
[name]Dahlia[/name]
[name]Esme[/name]
[name]Flora[/name]
[name]Iris[/name]
[name]Lucia[/name]
[name]Lucy[/name]

[juliaas]

ah just wrote a really long reply and it didn’t post. try #2

i really love lola harpeth, great suggestions!

I must confess that i am strangely drawn to less fem names. [name]Elliot[/name] was kind of eliminated bc to of piper’s peers in music class are elliot and GIRLS?! so not so unique. what are your thoughts on
[name]Finley[/name]? In brittish isles and scandinavia for girls they spell it oft [name]Finlay[/name]. Might have to put a more fem middle name with like [name]Claire[/name]. honestly what do you think?

[rollo]

[name]Hi[/name] [name]Julia[/name]

I am coming to this a little late. You asked whether we thought [name]Finlay[/name] would be a good name and it would be prnd as [name]Finley[/name] but you mentioned that your surname has the ‘ee’ sound therefore [name]Finlay[/name] would not make a good fit.

I have no problem at all with anyone using the name of their nearest and dearest for their children so I say use it. [name]Don[/name]'t worry about mil’s feelings I didn’t have a problem when my dil used her mother’s name for her daughter. I thought what a lovely combo and as dil loves her mother so much it is a lovely way to honour her.

I suggest [name]Evelyn[/name] Harpeth
or
[name]Evangeline[/name] [name]Finlay[/name] (if you don’t mind the ee sound repeated but it shouldn’t be a problem as it is in the middle, so if this is a big favourite and you just have to have [name]Finlay[/name] the middle spot is the best place to put it). [name]Evangeline[/name] is my modern twist on [name]Evelyn[/name].

I also like [name]Isla[/name] and [name]Isla[/name] Harpeth would be a good combo.

I think you will find a lot more Finlays than Islas and I would prefer [name]Isla[/name] because it has a lovely feminine feel and yet works beautifully with sibling [name]Piper[/name].

or
[name]Isla[/name] [name]Beatrice[/name]
[name]Isla[/name] [name]Jessamine[/name]
[name]Isla[/name] [name]Clementine[/name]
[name]Isla[/name] [name]Willow[/name]

or

[name]Margot[/name] Harpeth
[name]Margot[/name] [name]Clementine[/name]
[name]Margot[/name] [name]Liliana[/name]

or

[name]Lorelai[/name] [name]Beatrice[/name]
[name]Lorelai[/name] [name]Ellis[/name]
[name]Lorelai[/name] [name]Blake[/name]

best wishes,

rollo

[missalice]

I really like [name]Ellis[/name] on a girl. [name]Piper[/name] and [name]Ellis[/name] make a cute pair as well. I think people will get the hang of it and not mistake her for [name]Alice[/name]. All it takes it one quick “Its [name]Ellis[/name] with an E” comment and people should be fine. [name]Ellis[/name] is def. the most trend defying on your list. [name]Finley[/name] and [name]Elliot[/name] are both destined to sky rocket up the charts.

Others you might like:
[name]Reese[/name]
[name]Marlow[/name]
[name]Greta[/name]
[name]Tatum[/name]
[name]Teagan[/name]
[name]Zara[/name]
[name]Tamsin[/name]
[name]Austyn[/name]- my good friend has this name picked out for her future daughter. I never considered it on a girl but somehow she has made me like it. Probably to trendy for most though.
[name]Georgia[/name]
[name]Nola[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name]
[name]Ada[/name]
[name]Maeve[/name]