[name_m]Hi[/name_m] all - We are still working on the name for our fourth child (third girl) and not getting that far!
Our front runner is [name_f]Astrid[/name_f]. Is it too similar in sound to our eldest daughter [name_f]Saskia[/name_f]? We do call her Sass and Sassy and would no doubt shorten [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] to [name_f]Asti[/name_f] or Azzy/Azz. Would the similarity be enough for you to cross it off the list?
Our second choice is [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. Wondering if this is too short at one syllable compared to sisters [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] and [name_f]Imogen[/name_f]? We also have a boy named [name_m]Leo[/name_m]. Our surname is three syllables.
Oh wow you have amazing choices! I love your children’s names.
I prefer [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] slightly (I think it balances the strength of [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] with shorter [name_m]Leo[/name_m]) but they’re both great.
I dont think [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] and [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] are too close
I’m curious what else is on your list?? [name_m]Just[/name_m] because I’m nosey haha
[name_m]Hi[/name_m]! We had [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] (husband vetoed) and [name_f]Estella[/name_f] (we decided it was too much of a mouthful and might be always misheard as [name_f]Stella[/name_f]).
Our below the line list had [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] (unfortunately our in-laws dog’s name), [name_f]Freya[/name_f] (seriously considered for girl no. 2 so has a bit of baggage), [name_f]Neve[/name_f], [name_f]Greta[/name_f], [name_f]Anya[/name_f], [name_f]Aria[/name_f] (too popular), and [name_f]Juliet[/name_f].
Should also note that we say [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] with a short a sound like “tap”, not the long a ie Saaarrrskia. The correct pronunciation is actually an “uh” sound, which is somewhere in between the two. My husband’s father was Dutch. But Australians tend to use the short a sound.
I’ve seen people suggest [name_u]Ari[/name_u] as a nickname for [name_f]Astrid[/name_f]. I love [name_u]Ari[/name_u], but in all honesty, we’ll probably use the most obvious, easy option! I’ve also seen Triddy which doesn’t appeal at all.
Hey! I think [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] works excellently with [name_f]Saskia[/name_f]. The nicknames aren’t too close, but even then they’re just nicknames that I doubt they’ll use when they’re older, Sassy especially. So it’s not a big deal at all.
Excluding [name_u]Ari[/name_u], Triddy, [name_f]Asta[/name_f] and [name_f]Azzie[/name_f] (I wouldn’t use Azz, I just think of the same word but with s instead of z) there are also [name_f]Trudie[/name_f] and [name_f]Star[/name_f]
So that’s the other thing with [name_f]Astrid[/name_f]…the potential for someone at school to either accidentally or maliciously call you ass or some other creative variation. In Australia we tend to say arse rather than ass, but it is still used. Is that a deal breaker??
I personally don’t think it’s a deal-breaker. There are plenty of girls named [name_f]Astrid[/name_f], it’s not like it’s a one-of-a-kind name. Plus, if she got teased about it it’d just be a dumb joke, like “Hey Asstrid!”. She’d probably just roll her eyes at it, it’s not that big a deal.
I don’t think [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] is too close to [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] (especially if it’s [name_f]Saskia[/name_f], [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], and [name_f]Astrid[/name_f]) BUT if you are prone to nicknaming, and you’d use Azzy or Azz, I would avoid it. I think [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] is a stunning name but already kind of toes the line as far as bad associations go, and that nickname pushes it over that line.
However, [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] is beautiful, gorgeous, perfect with your sibset. I don’t think it’s too short, especially with [name_m]Leo[/name_m]. [name_f]Saskia[/name_f], [name_m]Leo[/name_m], [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], and [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. [name_f]Lovely[/name_f].
I don’t think [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] is too similar sounding to [name_f]Saskia[/name_f], and I really like it with both [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] and [name_f]Imogen[/name_f]. That being said I think [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] works really well here too and isn’t necessarily too short.
My pick would be [name_f]Astrid[/name_f], but if you find yourself having doubts when it comes time to put it on documentation [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] is an excellent backup.
Oh, the similarity is with the first syllable sound of Sas and As, and our use of nicknames or Sassy and Asty. Does that similar sound make them too matchy?
I think [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] is a better choice - more distinct from [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] and less teasing potential. [name_f]Greta[/name_f] and [name_f]Freya[/name_f] are also lovely.
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f] and [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] make such lovely sister names! I really like how they’re both quite unusual but familiar enough not to be completely unknown, and feel very European and classy
I don’t think they’re too close at all. My sister’s name and mine are closer than that - two syllables and both ending in -en - and it’s never been a problem. Sass/Sassy and Azzy/Azz are pretty similar, but I think it’s fine when it’s a nickname. I was (re)watching Pride and Prejudice once and realised how [name_f]Lizzy[/name_f] and Liddy ([name_f]Lydia[/name_f]'s nickname) are quite similar - I’d seen the movie so many times and didn’t pick up on it for years! I think it’s less noticeable to have similar nicknames?
You could use [name_u]Adi[/name_u]/[name_f]Addy[/name_f] for a nickname instead though, if you wanted something a bit more different.
I really like [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], but not as much as [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] with your kids’ names!
I think we call [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] by a short version of her name about 70% of the time. And I’ll yell out to her “Sass…Sassy…[name_f]SASKIA[/name_f]!” [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] is [name_f]Immy[/name_f] and sometimes Ims. But [name_f]Immy[/name_f] most of the time. I’m guessing we’d do the same for [name_f]Astrid[/name_f]? You can’t do it for [name_m]Leo[/name_m], but he does get “buddy” a lot.
I think they are too similar, and I also just really love the name [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. I don’t think it’s too short and it fits well in style with your other kids’ names.
