expecting second baby
big sister = birdie margaret
baby boy name = henry moses // hal
baby girl name = keeping me up at night
and i feel kind of silly because we (well, mostly me tbh) decided on fern before i was even pregnant. but i had bennett on my list for a boy and the more i thought about it, the better it sounded as a name for either gender and it opened pandoras box very literally because i tend to get hyperfixated on names and, of the hundreds of combos ive considered over the last few weeks, pandora has made a few appearances.
its gotten so bad i have abandoned all hope of using a family name as the middle name and am just looking for a combo that satisfies my name-nerdiness and sounds right with birdie margaret
sometimes i love the idea of using pearl/wren/dove for the middle name since it connects the name to birdie (wren/dove) margaret (pearl) but sometimes i hate the whole idea and think its stupid
this is the state of my list right now, its all over the place, pls help:
fern josephine
fern susannah
fern annabelle
bennett louise
winifred pearl // effie
sylvie bluebell
rose thomasina
susannah dove // susie
betsy patience
also - shout out @cece84 for helping us find our baby boy name
First off, [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_u]Henry[/name_u] [name_u]Moses[/name_u] “Hal” are delightful!!
With [name_f]Birdie[/name_f], I love [name_u]Fern[/name_u] [name_f]Susannah[/name_f], [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_u]Dove[/name_u] and [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] [name_f]Bluebell[/name_f]. I’d also love [name_f]Effie[/name_f] as a stand alone (Effie [name_u]Lark[/name_u] or [name_f]Effie[/name_f] Thomasina!) Also, [name_u]Fern[/name_u] [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] came to mind
I feel your pain!! [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is fantastic though And I’m sure you’ll land on another great girl option. I notice for [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] [name_f]Bluebell[/name_f]- it’s stunning !
Other options: [name_u]Fern[/name_u] [name_u]Bennett[/name_u] or [name_u]Lark[/name_u] [name_f]Winifred[/name_f]
Winifred Pearl “Effie” and Bennett Bluebell “Bette/Betty” would be perfection with Birdie
Other ideas
Magnolia Bluebell “Nola”
Emmeline Pearl
Tamsin Dove
Tallulah Patience “Lula”
Leona Pearl
Daphne Annabelle
Zelda Lake
Vera Pearl
Raquel Thomasina “Roxy”
Ramona Estelle “Romy”
Tabitha Bellamy
Etta Bluebell
Farrah Josephine
Tatum Susannah
Salem Louise “Sally”
Pandora Dove “Rory” “Andi”
Della Primrose
Cordelia Wren
Imogene Pearl “Ginny”
Gemma Bluebell
Marnie Wren “Maren”
Olympia Lark
Octavia Soleil
I think [name_u]Fern[/name_u] [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] is perfectly matched with [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. Both quirky vintage as a first with classic vintage as a middle. [name_f]My[/name_f] next choice would be [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] [name_f]Bluebell[/name_f].
Here’s another idea …
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Sybil[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] and Sybie
You have so many lovely names on here! I understand why it’s hard to narrow down.
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is so beautiful, and I love Henry/Hal [name_u]Moses[/name_u]. I noticed that the potential is there for both of your kids to have M middles. Sometimes it’s fun to make that intentional. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have an M name you love if the baby is a girl?
Is [name_f]Thomasina[/name_f] a family name? I thought [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] [name_f]Thomasina[/name_f] sounded like a perfect fit with [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f].
I don’t know if you want more suggestions, or if you feel like you’re drowning in too many good possibilities. On the off chance that you want more suggestions, here we go (most from my own list, as we seem to have similar taste):
i love your suggestions!!! so many of those have been on my lists for years and years, but i totally forgot about zelda… it has the whimsical and familiar-yet-uncommon vibe that i really love in a name, i think a little zelda would be just adorable
I think you have some lovely options here! It seems like you need some help narrowing things down and deciding on the direction you want to go with this combo. So I’m going to rank the combos on your list in order from “best fit” to “least complementary” as a sibling for [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] - keep in mind that these are based on my own personal opinion - and I’ll also provide feedback on what I think about the combos. And at the end, I’ll include a few suggestions just in case you need a fresh idea to help you break out of the box.
Analysis
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] [name_f]Bluebell[/name_f] - This combo immediately jumped out at me from your list as being an amazing addition to your sibset. [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] and [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] are both vintage names with a touch of whimsy; familiar, yet common. [name_f]Bluebell[/name_f] is so lovely and sweet and evocative, and while it’s definitely more unusual than [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] is also more unusual than [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f], so it feels like the combo is still balanced.
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_u]Fern[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - I love these two together. I’m a huge fan of [name_u]Fern[/name_u] (one of my daughter’s names), and I think she has a similar quirky vintage cottagecore feeling as [name_f]Birdie[/name_f]. I think [name_u]Fern[/name_u] is a little softer, and [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] a little more spunky, but I think in the middle names this balances out - [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is a little calmer and more dignified, while [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] feels lively and a little mischievous. This pair also makes me think of [name_f]Meg[/name_f] and [name_u]Jo[/name_u] from [name_m]Little[/name_m] Women, which I love.
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_u]Dove[/name_u] - I confess that I’ve always had an irrational distaste for the name [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] and the nickname [name_f]Susie[/name_f]. However, setting that aside, this is a very complementary pairing. [name_f]Susie[/name_f] and [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] share the sweet-yet-saucy nickname vibe, while [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] and [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] are both gently vintage classics. I adore the name [name_u]Dove[/name_u], and I think the connection to [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] is sweet and not too overt, since it would be in the middle slot.
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_u]Fern[/name_u] [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] - This one would probably be higher on the list if it weren’t for my feelings about [name_f]Susannah[/name_f]. But this is a very strong sibset, with quirky soft vintage first names and more familiar, uncommon classics as middles.
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] - I’m surprised at myself that this option isn’t higher on the list, because I love [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] and adore the nickname [name_f]Effie[/name_f]! I think part of my hesitation is that I don’t love [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] and [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] together? [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] feels light and offbeat, while [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] has a clunky vibe. And paradoxically, while I loved the connection between [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] and [name_u]Dove[/name_u], the connection between [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] is bothering me. Maybe it’s because they have the same meaning? I get a little obsessive about the meanings of names.
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Thomasina[/name_f] - I love the name [name_f]Rose[/name_f], and a sister set of [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] and [name_f]Rose[/name_f] would be very sweet. This combo seems to lack the sense of energy that I get from some of the others. I think it’s in part that [name_f]Rose[/name_f] feels very delicate - she needs a spunky middle to bring in some of the quirky vibes that [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] has. I’m fairly lukewarm on Thomasina; it’s a bit heavy.
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_u]Fern[/name_u] [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] - There’s nothing wrong with any of these names individually - I’ve extolled my love for [name_u]Fern[/name_u] already, and [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] is a lovely counterpoint to [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. I just don’t care for the flow of [name_u]Fern[/name_u] and Annabelle; the N sounds are a bit close together. But honestly I’m being really nitpicky at this point, because you have so many good choices.
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] [name_f]Patience[/name_f] - [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] [name_f]Patience[/name_f] is an interesting combo, but I don’t care for it with the existing sibset. I feel like [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] and [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] are too similar, both beginning with B and ending in the “ee” sound. And I always get a bit of a Puritanical virtue name vibe from [name_f]Patience[/name_f] - when paired with [name_f]Betsy[/name_f], this combo becomes very Colonial [name_u]America[/name_u] to me. I think you have much stronger options, stylistically speaking.
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_u]Bennett[/name_u] [name_u]Louise[/name_u] - While I think [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_u]Louise[/name_u] are very compatible middle names, and while I can see how [name_u]Bennett[/name_u] brings in a sort of Pride and Prejudice vibe, I will be honest: If I saw a sibling pair of [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] and [name_u]Bennett[/name_u], I would 100% think that [name_u]Bennett[/name_u] was a boy. I also think it would be hard on one sister to have a masc name when the other’s name is so femme. (I admit to some bias here, as I always struggled with the fact that I was given a masc name, while my sister’s name is very feminine.) I think this is the least complementary sibset of your choices.
Suggestions
This section is basically just brainstorming ideas that I feel like would fit the sibset - mostly vintage names, nicknames, and warm sunny word/nature names.
[name_f]Zelda[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]
[name_u]Florence[/name_u] nn [name_f]Flossie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Honey[/name_f]
[name_f]Blythe[/name_f]
[name_f]Primrose[/name_f]
[name_f]Thisbe[/name_f] nn [name_f]Bee[/name_f]
[name_f]Daisy[/name_f]
[name_u]June[/name_u]
[name_f]Opal[/name_f]
[name_f]Edie[/name_f]
[name_f]Marigold[/name_f] nn [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] or [name_f]Goldie[/name_f]
[name_f]Faye[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f]
[name_f]Araminta[/name_f] nn [name_f]Mint[/name_f] or [name_f]Minnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Clover[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]
[name_f]Blossom[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lottie[/name_f] or [name_f]Lola[/name_f]
[name_u]Prairie[/name_u]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Dulcie[/name_f] (could be short for [name_f]Dulcinea[/name_f] or Dulcibelle)
[name_u]Story[/name_u]
[name_f]Anneliese[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] nn [name_f]Dot[/name_f] / [name_f]Dottie[/name_f]
[name_f]Meadow[/name_f]
[name_f]Nancy[/name_f]
[name_f]Posie[/name_f] (my favorite nickname for Josephine)
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] nn [name_f]Bea[/name_f]
[name_f]Elsie[/name_f]
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Celie[/name_f]
[name_u]Fern[/name_u] goes very nicely with [name_f]Birdie[/name_f].
I can’t help but love [name_u]Fern[/name_u] [name_f]Thomasina[/name_f] as a combo.
Well first of all, I love literally every name you’ve mentioned.
From your list, my absolute favorite to go with [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is [name_u]Fern[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. I think they look wonderful together!
Here are some other names I think would look nice with [name_f]Birdie[/name_f]:
You have so many great suggestions. I’ve already made a number of suggestions, but the ideas keep coming. I was thinking since your first is named [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] perhaps a sister named [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], which I believe is a type of bird would be thematic. Perhaps…
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and……
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Eloise[/name_f]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Susannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] [name_u]Dove[/name_u] and [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] are so beautiful together! Also love [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] [name_f]Bluebell[/name_f]. Im not a fan of fern, i know a lot of others are its just not my style. Your other choices are so beautiful.
i do love love love alliteration and thats what really sold me on henry moses vs other middle names we were considering… and its funny you mentioned it because i was really in love with thomasina mary but my partner thinks its too fussy
my dream is alliterative first names, but the only ones we’ve really considered are bennett, betsy, beatrice/beatrix, and bryony and so far none have stood out as ~the~ name
I love [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]! [name_u]Henry[/name_u] [name_u]Moses[/name_u] “Hal” is goals!
[name_u]Fern[/name_u] works but if you aren’t 100% don’t do it! I actually know a little female [name_u]Bennett[/name_u] and it is super cute and fits her. If you love that name, I say go for it!! [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] and [name_u]Bennett[/name_u] is adorable.
From your [name_u]Fern[/name_u] list, [name_u]Fern[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is my favorite and from the alternates, my favorite is definitely [name_u]Bennett[/name_u] [name_u]Louise[/name_u] . [name_f]My[/name_f] second would be [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] [name_f]Patience[/name_f]!
You mentioned you liked alliterative first names with [name_f]Birdie[/name_f]. How about [name_f]Bidelia[/name_f], nicknamed [name_f]Biddie[/name_f] or [name_f]Bronwyn[/name_f] (Bronwen.) [name_f]Bijou[/name_f] or Brittie. Also, I really like [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] and [name_f]Betsy[/name_f]. Instead of [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] there is also [name_f]Bitsy[/name_f].
Some other ideas with Birdie….
[name_u]Cricket[/name_u]
[name_f]Tipper[/name_f]
[name_f]Gigi[/name_f]
[name_u]Piper[/name_u]
[name_f]Idgie[/name_f]
what a fantastic analysis and you definitely echoed a lot of my own thoughts about the combos on my list, which helps me feel like maybe im not totally crazy. i was also struggling with the middle names we had been considering for fern, and i literally gasped when you used meg & jo from little women as a point of reference for birdie margaret & fern josephine as sisters, i hadn’t even considered that!
i also love your suggestions and ill say that quite a few (mabel, clover, faye, minnie) were thisclose to making the list, but i totally spaced on posie and it has the exact feel im looking for, plus the same literary connection to birdie’s mn which i love.
right 
or [name_f]Effie[/name_f] Thomasina!) Also, [name_u]Fern[/name_u] [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] came to mind
