Big sister is Philippa “Pippa” Evelynn. Maren, Marigold, and Edith are honor names for husband’s grandmother, Marian Edith and Lillian is husband’s great grandmother. Also, open to thoughts/rationale and alternative nicknames or pairings.
Note: I like to pronounce Marigold with as little of the i as possible - more like Mair-gold, which is also coincidentally how my toddler says it, lol.
@Junebugs I know, this was totally unintentional and when we realized it, we kindof laughed. [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] [name_f]Evelynn[/name_f] paired with [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] [name_f]Edith[/name_f] feels ultra-Anglophile. I’m ok with that - I do think it brings the names together nicely.
I like [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] and [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] because they share so many of the same sounds and are both Greek origin and even both have the classic Greek PH spelling.
And I like [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] because I think it matches [name_f]Pippa[/name_f] in energy and spunk. [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] is actually my favorite at the moment, but I am feeling so torn in general.
To make it more complicated, my almost three year old has gotten stuck on [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] somehow and is refusing to consider anything else. She just laughs at us when we ask if we should name baby sister [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] or [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] and says nooo, it’s going to be Mare-gold.
I prefer [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] with [name_f]Philippa[/name_f], and think [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] [name_u]Marian[/name_u] would be a divine pairing!
I really love the elegance of the name Ophelia—so on its own I voted for that. However, I personally don’t care for the nickname [name_f]Lilou[/name_f] with [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], so all things considered, I would go with [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] since I love the nicknames equally!
The sound of [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] doesn’t appeal to me, but I do love the imagery it evokes. So you can’t go wrong here!
I can understand this - I feel like the sounds of Marigold are heavy. Not only are there a lot of consonants, but they are all voiced (opposed to voiceless consonants like F, P, S, T, etc). And it’s topped off with the LD cluster at the end, adding extra weight. This is not the type of sound I typically gravitate toward, and it took me quite some time to warm up to (I had it on the list originally with the first, but never seriously considered it) which I think is still why I am slightly reticent to use it.
I think names can definitely grow on people! If I knew a [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] I think I would quickly warm up to it, and I don’t mean to dissuade you from using the name. It’s just that I like your other two options even more.
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]! I love [name_f]Lilou[/name_f] as a nickname, and I also love the nickname [name_f]Lily[/name_f] for [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]. It is a good way as well to honor a [name_f]Lillian[/name_f].
This one is so hard. I like [name_f]Marygold[/name_f] the best, and like its nickname potential. But I think [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] matches so perfectly with [name_f]Philippa[/name_f]. I don’t think the nickname [name_f]Lilou[/name_f] is intuitive at all, though.
Possible nickname for [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]: [name_u]Fee[/name_u], [name_u]Olly[/name_u], and [name_f]Lia[/name_f].
@Junebugs didn’t think of [name_f]Opal[/name_f]! It’s also a name I love.
@bjoy glad you said [name_u]Fee[/name_u]- two more options that made me think of are [name_f]Faye[/name_f] and [name_f]Fia[/name_f]. I love the fairy reference in [name_f]Faye[/name_f] and it makes me think of both the [name_u]French[/name_u] version, [name_f]Ophélie[/name_f], and fée, [name_u]French[/name_u] for fairy.
[name_f]Pippa[/name_f] & [name_f]Goldie[/name_f] are a perfect duo oh my goodness More detailed thoughts…
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]: [name_u]Strong[/name_u], elegant, and regal, [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] strikes me as a natural match for [name_f]Philippa[/name_f]! And [name_f]Lilou[/name_f] is such a fun nickname. [name_f]My[/name_f] only hang-up? If I’m being completely honest, I just don’t love [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]. I want to, because objectively I think it’s a wonderful name, but I just haven’t quite gotten there. That said, the logical part of my brain still really likes this option for you!
[name_f]Marigold[/name_f]: Sunshine-y and summery yet bold and energetic, and all around a perfect (slightly unexpected, in a nice way) sister for [name_f]Philippa[/name_f]! Between your two [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] options, I prefer [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] [name_f]Edith[/name_f] to [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] Lillian–the latter leans just a little too floral for my liking, and while I love [name_f]Lilou[/name_f], I think [name_f]Goldie[/name_f] is pretty much an unbeatable pairing with [name_f]Pippa[/name_f]!
[name_u]Juniper[/name_u]: [name_u]Bright[/name_u] and spunky and fun, and I love the botanical connection! And I think either [name_u]June[/name_u] or [name_f]Juno[/name_f] would work nicely with [name_f]Pippa[/name_f] (although [name_f]Juno[/name_f] strikes me as an especially good fit). But [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] doesn’t feel like quite as natural a sister name for [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] to me as either of your other options. Whereas [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] feels full of historical gravitas, [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] gives me a more airy and modern vibe. Not a dealbreaker by any means, because there’s no real reason sibling names need to “match,” but in the interest of narrowing things down…
All in all, [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] “Goldie” is definitely my favorite of your choices! I love [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] & [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] together, I adore [name_f]Pippa[/name_f] & [name_f]Goldie[/name_f] together, and I love both [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] & [name_f]Goldie[/name_f] as individual names! All that being said, you have three fantastic options–you really can’t go wrong here. Good luck!
Thank you so much for your detailed thoughts. Was thinking the same thing about [name_u]Juniper[/name_u]. I feel like [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] and [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] pair better as sibs than [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] and [name_f]Philippa[/name_f]. This is all so much harder bc I am negotiating with both my husband and my toddler, ha. After endless years of combing nameberry here I am, and it is so frustrating, lol.
I also feel like [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] has the best professional vibe of the three?
For me, [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] is one of those names that is best without a nickname. Maybe Phee or [name_f]Lia[/name_f]? I think those might naturally happen at home/with friends, but if nickname potential is one of your biggest criteria, than [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] or [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] would be better choices, in my opinion.
here I am, and it is so frustrating, lol.