[name_m]Hi[/name_m] all! I’m a longtime name nerd who’s been part of this site on-and-off for awhile, so I’ve had many lists over the years, but they were always for a hypothetical baby. In 2024 I’ll be TTC for my first child as a solo parent and some of the names I’ve had on my brain forever may get to be used!
That said, there’s a few names I’m taking a closer look at and want some thoughts on:
[name_f]Millie[/name_f] - Wondering if it sounds too nickname-y? With other people’s kids I don’t think twice about that kind of thing but still? I’ve thought about using [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] nn “Millie” but feel like my love for [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] has cooled and [name_f]Millie[/name_f] and it feel different in vibe to me. On the plus side, I’m drawn to [name_f]Millie[/name_f] because it was my great-grandma’s name (Mildred, exclusively called Millie), and she had a lot of admirable qualities.
[name_f]Lucia[/name_f] - [name_f]My[/name_f] concerns are pronunciation–how would you say it instinctually? and it getting shortened to [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], which I only feel lukewarm about.
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] / [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] - I really love [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] but feel like it’s a polarizing name because people hear “hairy”, so is that reason enough to avoid it? [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] is a similar concern to [name_f]Millie[/name_f] - could it work as a standalone name?
[name_u]Sierra[/name_u] - [name_u]Sierra[/name_u] is a name that’s grown on me a lot lately, and I enjoy the nature association because I’m a hiker. Wondering what sort of feel it gives off to people? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think of the mountains right away, or something else?
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] - I speak Spanish but in my rural area it’s not common to encounter international names like this unless it’s already one with mainstream popularity. Would that be a reason to mark [name_f]Paloma[/name_f] off my list?
I like all of these names
And don’t take any of these to heart these are my opinions
[name_f]Millie[/name_f]- for me it is not too nicknamy, I actually really like it. [name_f]Millie[/name_f] can be a nickname but can be very strong on its own. I also like the nicknames that come with [name_f]Millie[/name_f], [name_f]Mimi[/name_f], [name_f]Mila[/name_f] and Mils.
[name_f]Lucia[/name_f]- I actually like this name more than I expected. It reminds me of the ocean, I have no clue why though. I know a [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] and she went by [name_f]Cia[/name_f] which was always nice. [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] is nice but not my favourite. [name_u]Luca[/name_u] could also be a nickname?
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] / [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] I once knew a [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] nickname [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] which I quite like. [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] reminds me of a garden. I am not 100% sure that [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] could be stand alone, but I think it would work. [name_m]Just[/name_m] I wouldn’t use it. But I like [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] and I doesn’t really associate it with ‘hairy’.
[name_u]Sierra[/name_u]- I like this name, to me it reminds me of fire. The reason is strange, it reminds me of [name_f]Sienna[/name_f] which reminds me of fire. So I now name the same association with [name_u]Sierra[/name_u], but I still like the name.
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f]- if you like the name then use it. Don’t let your area stop you, unless in your area it is highly hated then don’t let it bother you.
In the end if you like the name, use it. Don’t let anyone stop you
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] I could help at all
Good luck TTC in 2024!
[name_f]Millie[/name_f] - a sweet, simple and charming name! I’ve met various ‘just Millies’ over the years and they’ve all worn it well
[name_f]Lucia[/name_f] - my instinctive and preferred way of saying it is loo-chee-uh, and the two I’ve met have said it that way. However, most people around me say it loo-see-uh.
Neither [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] I knew got called [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], but it is definitely a possibility, so I’d mull over how you’d feel if she did become a [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]
Harriet/Hattie - love this, the clunky cute [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] with the sweet charming [name_f]Hattie[/name_f]! I’m in the UK so the ‘hairy’ thing isn’t an issue in my accent so I can’t comment on that. I’ve met a few Hatties, and think it can stand alone
[name_u]Sierra[/name_u] - love [name_u]Sierra[/name_u] - it has flair, warmth, and earthiness. I think of mountains and sunsets, but also a bit of glitz and sparkle, an American vibe too from a UK perspective
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] - gentle, warm and bright. I think [name_f]Paloma[/name_f] is easy enough to say imo but it might be worth testing it out on friends and family to see how they respond
[name_f]Millie[/name_f] – It’s a bit too nickname-y for me personally, but plenty of people are using it as a standalone in the US (and even more in the UK!). I agree that [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and [name_f]Millie[/name_f] have different vibes. I would just go with [name_f]Millie[/name_f] if it’s your favorite – love the connection to your great grandmother!
[name_f]Lucia[/name_f] – I say loo-SEE-uh instinctively, but could easily be corrected – I’ve also heard LOO-shuh and loo-CHEE-uh. I think a [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] shortening is only intuitive with the loo-SEE-uh pronunciation. I think I’d expect just [name_u]Lu[/name_u] more often.
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] / [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] – I really like [name_f]Harriet[/name_f], too! I agree it might be a bit polarizing in the US due to the ‘hairy’ similarity, but I think the nickname [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] makes it more approachable. I also think [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] works well enough as a stand-alone, even more so than [name_f]Millie[/name_f].
[name_u]Sierra[/name_u] – Yes, it feels very mountain-y to me, but I also get Western US / desert vibes due to the connection with the [name_u]Sierra[/name_u] [name_u]Nevada[/name_u] mountain range. It does seem quite different than the others on your list – more earthy and modern (not a bad thing!)
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] – Such a gorgeous name! I think the pronunciation is very intuitive for [name_f]English[/name_f] speakers, so I wouldn’t cross it off your list just because it’s unfamiliar.
i love all the names except sierra (sorry!) i just think sierra has a very different vibe from all the other names listed, but that’s just my opinion! but my favs have to be lucia & palmoa although i do love millie (and it’s not too nickname-y to me) and matilda! but i do agree they both have a diff vibe. and harriet i’ve always liked <3 good luck and hope this helps!
[name_f]Millie[/name_f] - It is nickname-y but I think can stand alone and I love the connection to your great grandma. [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] nickname [name_f]Millie[/name_f] is also fantastic.
[name_f]Lucia[/name_f] - I say loo-see-uh and dropping the “uh” to shorten to [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] does feel pretty natural.
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] / [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] - The teasing potential is also keeping [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] off the top of my list even though I really like it. I don’t know if it would actually be an issue but it does concern me. [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] feels less able to stand alone than [name_f]Millie[/name_f] but could maybe work.
[name_u]Sierra[/name_u] - I do get an outdoorsy vibe because I live in a very outdoorsy area and it was a really popular name for girls my age so I’ve known several who did a lot of hiking and stuff but none of the ones I knew were really my favorite people so I have a bit of a negative mental picture but that’s also definitely just a me thing.
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] - Nah, I wouldn’t take it off just because its unexpected.
Thank you for your replies! I’m happy to hear some of the vibes these names give off because that gives me a better feel for them and if it kind of “matches” my vision of that name. Also happy that [name_f]Paloma[/name_f] doesn’t seem too out of place… it’s such a beautiful name imo and the meaning of it is sweet.
Millie-Millie is so cheerful & clever and charming. She’s vintage & simple and well known but not terribly popular. I do really prefer it as a nn, but I think that it’s fine as a full name if you only really love [name_f]Millie[/name_f] and wouldn’t feel as strongly about any full name options. That being said, [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] isn’t the only one. I like [name_f]Millie[/name_f] as a nn for [name_f]Camilla[/name_f], [name_u]Camille[/name_u], [name_f]Camellia[/name_f], [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] & [name_f]Millicent[/name_f]. I don’t care for [name_f]Millicent[/name_f] that much, honestly, but it’s an interesting option.
Lucia-I totally get the concerns with pronunciation. I say it ‘Loo-see-uh’, but have also heard it say ‘Loo-che-uh’ or ‘Loo-sha’. I know a little [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] who says it ‘Loo-chee-uh’ and I have to pause & think about how to say her name before saying it. Also, if you don’t love [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], I don’t know if it’s a good idea to use [name_f]Lucia[/name_f]. It may be at least slightly unavoidable.
Harriet/Hattie-I think that if you love [name_f]Harriet[/name_f], I wouldn’t worry too much about the ‘hairy’ part. I don’t love [name_f]Harriet[/name_f], but I just think that it sounds kind of clunky. I don’t think the ‘hairy’ part is the issue. I do like [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] a lot though. Very cute! Similar vibes as [name_f]Millie[/name_f], but maybe more unique. I think that [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] is fine as a stand alone name. The only thing that I don’t like about [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] is that you have to be very intentional to say HaTTie instead of HaDDy. That may just be my problem.
Sierra-I like that it has special meaning for you because you’re a hiker. I don’t really get a nature vibe from it though. I think I just kind of get a late 90s vibe.
Paloma-Very pretty & unique & I love the ‘dove’ meaning. It also has the nn [name_f]Polly[/name_f], which is super adorable if you’re into that.
[name_f]Millie[/name_f] - I love this soo much!! I see this totally as a stand alone, but maybe because I know a [name_f]Millie[/name_f]. I never knew it was a nickname beforehand and I never questioned it. Very beautiful, timeless, refreshing and would age soo well. I do much prefer [name_f]Millie[/name_f] to [name_f]Matilda[/name_f].
[name_f]Lucia[/name_f] - Instinctually I would loo-SEE-ah and prefer that pronounciation. It is a good ok name. Doesn’t really do anything for me though. [name_m]Just[/name_m] not a fan mostly of [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] as I think of the ‘Loosey Goosey’ rhyming If that doesn’t bother you then disregard that.
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] / [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] - Firstly, I love Hattie!! Sooo cute!! Although, not sure I could invision this one as a standalone name. But, maybe only because I don’t know anybody with the name. It is lovely for sure! [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] is NMS unfortunately. It doesn’t call out to me. Still seems quite stuffy and very dated to me. I do hear “hairy” in the name and right at the beginning and maybe is what turns me off. But, I know people on here like it. [name_m]Just[/name_m] not for me.
[name_u]Sierra[/name_u] - This is ok, but especially with this spelling reminds me right away of the truck. [name_f]Ciara[/name_f] spelling seems more pretty and helps abit to differentiate. It does have a nice sound to it! Wouldn’t be a total dealbreaker for me if spelt [name_f]Ciara[/name_f].
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] - I don’t speak spanish, so forgive me if my opinion is off due to language barrier. But, imo this name doesn’t appeal to me personally. It sounds like an object or an animal to me. I instinctually pronounce it “pa-low-ma” sort of similar sounds as diploma. [name_m]Just[/name_m] seems awkward to me.
although i do love millie (and it’s not too nickname-y to me) and matilda! but i do agree they both have a diff vibe. and harriet i’ve always liked <3 good luck and hope this helps!
If that doesn’t bother you then disregard that.