Sister for Eleanor and Liam

Due soon and without even a good short list of names for our new daughter. Her siblings are [name]Eleanor[/name] ([name]Ellie[/name]) C”it (Irish for [name]Kate[/name], pronounced more like “Coit”), 5, and [name]Liam[/name] [name]Dermot[/name], 3. We have a list of criteria that is too long, and we’ve diverged from it both other times, but would love to hear your suggestions.

We’d prefer:

  • a strong name that does not sound diminutive - she is going to be tall
  • names that have a long formal version and a nickname
  • nicknames that are unisex, but a feminine formal name
  • names that do not end in “A” or “IE”
  • names that don’t start or end in “L” since our last name starts with L - we’ve covered the Ls at this point
  • not a last name now used as a first name (sounds great on other kids, just not for me)
  • Irish names are good as the dh is from [name]Ireland[/name], but not impossible to pronounce/spell in the US (i.e. [name]Niamh[/name]) but this cultural reference is not necessary, just a bonus
  • not too popular (we had picked [name]Liam[/name] years before its spike in popularity, but went with it anyway and had no idea of the popularity of [name]Ellie[/name], although [name]Eleanor[/name] is still not omnipresent)

You can see why I’m posting here. Looking forward to your suggestions. Thanks!

[name]Bronwyn[/name] nn [name]Bron[/name], [name]Winnie[/name], or [name]Brynn[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] nn [name]Alex[/name] (sorry, I know I broke a rule with that one)
[name]Camille[/name] nn [name]Millie[/name] or [name]Cam[/name]
[name]Jacquelyn[/name] nn [name]Jackie[/name]
[name]Delilah[/name] nn [name]Lila[/name]
[name]Delaney[/name] nn [name]Laney[/name]
[name]Susanne[/name] nn [name]Susie[/name], [name]Ann[/name]
[name]Vivienne[/name] or [name]Vivian[/name] nn [name]Viv[/name]
[name]Annalise[/name] nn [name]Anna[/name], [name]Annie[/name], [name]Lise[/name]
[name]Pheobe[/name]
[name]Cheyenne[/name]
[name]Imogen[/name]
[name]Jane[/name]
[name]Seraphina[/name] nn [name]Sera[/name]
[name]Mirabel/name nn [name]Bella[/name] or [name]Mira[/name]
[name]Francesca[/name], [name]Frances[/name], or [name]Francine[/name] nn [name]Francie[/name]
[name]Rosalee[/name], [name]Rosalind[/name], or Rosamel nn [name]Rosie[/name], [name]Rosa[/name], or [name]Rose[/name]
[name]Annabelle[/name] nn [name]Anna[/name] or [name]Belle[/name]
[name]Georgia[/name] nn [name]Georgie[/name]
[name]Ashlynn[/name] nn [name]Ash[/name] or [name]Lynn[/name]
[name]Avalon[/name] nn [name]Ava[/name]
[name]Lucille[/name] nn [name]Lucy[/name]
[name]Isabel[/name] nn [name]Izzy[/name]
[name]Dolores[/name] nn [name]Lola[/name]
[name]Dorothy[/name] nn [name]Dolly[/name]
[name]Margaret[/name] nn [name]Maisie[/name]
[name]Penelope[/name] nn [name]Penny[/name]
[name]Catherine[/name] nn [name]Cathy[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name] nn [name]Lulu[/name]
[name]Natalie[/name] nn [name]Nat[/name] or [name]Ali[/name]
[name]Valentina[/name] nn [name]Lena[/name], [name]Val[/name], or [name]Tina[/name]
[name]Clementine[/name] nn [name]Cleo[/name], [name]Clem[/name], [name]Clemmie[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name] nn [name]Josie[/name] (lola can give you a long list of nn for [name]Josephine[/name])
[name]Caroline[/name] nn [name]Cara[/name]
Madeliene nn [name]Maddy[/name]
[name]Corinne[/name] nn [name]Cora[/name]
[name]Estelle[/name] nn [name]Stella[/name]
[name]Jocelyn[/name] nn Jocy
[name]Matilda[/name] nn [name]Mattie[/name] or [name]Tillie[/name]
[name]Winnifred[/name] nn [name]Winnie[/name] or [name]Freddy[/name]
[name]Charlotte[/name] nn [name]Charlie[/name] or [name]Lottie[/name]
[name]Celeste[/name] nn ?
[name]Beatrix[/name] nn [name]Trixie[/name] or [name]Bea[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] nn [name]Bea[/name]
[name]Beverly[/name] nn [name]Bev[/name], [name]Ever[/name], [name]Everly[/name]
[name]Abigail[/name] nn [name]Abby[/name]
Ottillie nn [name]Tillie[/name]
[name]Adelaide[/name] nn [name]Addie[/name]
[name]Juliet/name nn [name]Julie[/name]
[name]Lillian[/name] nn [name]Lilly[/name]
[name]Savannah[/name] nn [name]Anna[/name]
[name]Violet[/name] nn [name]Vi[/name]
[name]Ariel/name nn [name]Ari[/name] or [name]Elle[/name]

Sorry I broke the rules on some, that was hard! Good luck!

Thanks for your suggestions.

Of these we have considered [name]Josephine[/name] ([name]Jo[/name]), [name]Jacqueline[/name] ([name]Jackie[/name]), and [name]Charlotte[/name] ([name]Charlie[/name]) but for some reason (hormones?) none of these grabs us (well, my dh must have sympathy hormones.) Maybe because they are too common? Not sure.

The Ls are hard to avoid, aren’t they? It’s just too much of a tongue twister to have another L with the existing two plus the last name. [name]Susanne[/name] is a possibility, too. We had discussed [name]Susan[/name], but it never stuck. Also, some of the names I like that you suggested are already taken by family members close enough to count (like [name]Vivian[/name], [name]Beatrice[/name] and [name]Margaret[/name]) so that limits a bit.

[name]Just[/name] for an idea of tastes, I like [name]Sabine[/name] (another rule broken) but I am the ONLY one so that’s out.

Does that help rustle up any more names?

I love [name]Susannah[/name], but not [name]Susanne[/name] or [name]Suzanne[/name]
[name]Sabrina[/name] nn [name]Bree[/name]-similar to [name]Sabine[/name]
[name]Violet[/name] nn [name]Vi[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] nn [name]Bea[/name] could get really popular.
[name]Annika[/name] nn [name]Anna[/name] or [name]Ann[/name] (I think this is my favorite girl’s name) I know it ends in “a” but it’s wonderful so I’m sharing it.
[name]Iris[/name] ( in my top 5)
[name]Bianca[/name] nn [name]Bea[/name] ( I am putting a bunch of my faves since you love [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Liam[/name], so just know from now on I’m putting all my favorites.) Sorry about the “a” ending.
[name]Frances[/name] nn [name]Fran[/name], [name]France[/name], [name]Franny[/name], [name]Francie[/name]
[name]Rosemary[/name] nn [name]Rose[/name], [name]Romy[/name]
[name]Rosalind[/name] nn [name]Rose[/name] this would be great!
[name]Rosamond[/name] nn [name]Rose[/name], maybe [name]Romy[/name], too.
[name]Georgia[/name], [name]Georgianna[/name] nn [name]Georgie[/name]-love it!
[name]Genevieve[/name] nn [name]Eve[/name], [name]Evie[/name]-ditto
[name]Veronica[/name] nn [name]Vera[/name]-oops, two “a” endings. I love [name]Veronica[/name].
[name]Harriet[/name], [name]Henrietta[/name] nn [name]Hattie[/name] (not one of my faves)
[name]Imogen[/name] nn [name]Immy[/name]- smashing!
[name]Miriam[/name] nn [name]Miri[/name] (MIRROR-ee)-I love this nickname and [name]Mira[/name]-oh, oh, that “a” again.
[name]Winnifred[/name] nn [name]Winnie[/name] (not one of my faves)
[name]Margaret[/name] nn [name]Maisie[/name], [name]Margo[/name]-maybe you would like a name that ends in “o”.
[name]Marin[/name] (Mah-[name]RIN[/name]) not so feminine
[name]Mavis[/name] nn [name]Maeve[/name] Celtic
[name]Maud[/name] on the hipster list
[name]Ruth[/name]
[name]Rachel[/name] nn [name]Rae[/name]
[name]Esther[/name]
[name]Simone[/name], [name]Simona[/name]
[name]Clara[/name] nn [name]Clare[/name] this is one of my most favorite names.
[name]Hope[/name] it’s okay to have nicknames end in “ie”
[name]Honor[/name]-I think this would be great!
[name]Hollis[/name]
Also Nordic choices:
[name]Ardith[/name]-I had a teacher with this name. She was very tall and had a strong style about her.
[name]Astrid[/name]-a tall name
[name]Ingrid[/name]-ditto
Let me know if you don’t like these, and I will be happy to come up with more. It is my hobby.

Great list extension. Some thoughts, just for narrowing purposes:

[name]Sabrina[/name]-similar to [name]Sabina[/name] – dh can’t get the witch image out of his head
[name]Annika[/name] nn [name]Anna[/name] (I think this is my favorite girl’s name) I know it ends in “a” but it’s wonderful so I’m sharing it. – love it too, and the name of a very good friend’s kid so not comfortable using it for ours
[name]Iris[/name] (also in my top 5) – cool but lacks nn
[name]Bianca[/name] ( I am putting a bunch of my faves since you love [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Liam[/name], so just know from now on I’m putting all my favorites.) Sorry about the “a” ending. – nice classic - good one to add to our list
[name]Frances[/name] nn [name]Francie[/name] – keep thinking of [name]Kurt[/name] Cobain
[name]Rosemary[/name] nn [name]Rose[/name], [name]Romy[/name] – not bad, but not sticky for some reason
[name]Rosalind[/name] nn [name]Rose[/name] – see above
[name]Rosamond[/name] nn [name]Rose[/name], maybe [name]Romy[/name], too. – see above
[name]Georgia[/name], [name]Georgianna[/name] nn [name]Georgie[/name] – see above
[name]Genevieve[/name] nn [name]Eve[/name], [name]Evie[/name] – so nice, but too close to my name
[name]Veronica[/name] nn [name]Vera[/name]-oops, two “a” endings. – I forgot we had considered this (nn [name]Nicky[/name] or [name]Ronnie[/name]) so thanks for bringing it back to the forefront
[name]Harriet[/name], [name]Henrietta[/name] nn [name]Hattie[/name] (not one of my faves) – me neither
[name]Imogen[/name] nn [name]Immy[/name] – Heap
[name]Miriam[/name] nn [name]Miri[/name] (MIRROR-ee)-I love this nickname – taken by famiiy (big family with cool names)
[name]Winnifred[/name] nn [name]Winnie[/name] (not one of my faves) – me neither
[name]Margaret[/name] nn [name]Maisie[/name] – taken by family
[name]Hope[/name] it’s okay to have names end in “ie” – fine for nn, less so for formal name for us
Also Nordic choices:
[name]Ardith[/name] – never heard this one - interesting
[name]Astrid[/name] – like it but I worry about the ostrich association for a tall bird (bird being slang for girl in Irleand, UK, etc.)
[name]Ingrid[/name] – good too but also no nn

Thanks for going through all these! It does make it easier than just browsing the impressive database on this site.

I think we were posting at the same time! Here are thoughts on your other suggestions:

[name]Marin[/name] (Mah-[name]RIN[/name]) not so feminine – lived in SF, and might move there again so not sure I can name for a place we might be living
[name]Mavis[/name] nn [name]Maeve[/name] Celtic – taken by family (they’re a cool bunch, I tell you)
[name]Maud[/name] on the hipster list – eh
[name]Ruth[/name] – ALSO taken by family (these Irish make it hard with all the procreation - they had picked [name]Eleanor[/name] for her twin but changed to [name]Evelyn[/name] when we beat them out by a couple of months)
[name]Rachel[/name] nn [name]Rae[/name] – L problem
[name]Esther[/name] – not sure why, but not doing anything, and I have friends I like named [name]Esther[/name]
[name]Simone[/name], [name]Simona[/name] – thought of this but likewise not a fave
[name]Clara[/name] nn [name]Clare[/name] this is one of my most favorite names. – taken AGAIN ([name]BOTH[/name] versions)
[name]Honor[/name]-I think this would be great! – nah, but along that line I had considered [name]Constance[/name] (nn [name]Connie[/name]) but not a fan of [name]Prudence[/name] and some of the other Puritan names
[name]Hollis[/name] – last name ends in “us” so this sounds a bit strange

Thanks for your dedication to the future of my child! [name]Just[/name] going through these lists is helping me focus and get some perspective. I’m always happy to hear more ideas.

Okay, the only names ( besides the ones listed above) that I can think of are [name]Aurora[/name] nn [name]Rory[/name], [name]Samantha[/name] nn [name]Sam[/name], [name]Willow[/name] nn [name]Will[/name], [name]Danielle[/name] nn [name]Danni[/name] and [name]Patricia[/name] nn [name]Pat[/name]. I don’t really like any of these, except for [name]Aurora[/name] and maybe [name]Samantha[/name]. Which one of your rules do you care about most? I keep finding beautiful names to go with [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Liam[/name], but they either end in with an a, don’t have a unisex nn, or just aren’t your style. I understand, everyone wants to give their baby the perfect name (and you did so wonderfully with your first two) but it is driving me crazy because I can’t find a name that follow all your rules :frowning: I feel like I am letting you down, I truly do want to help!

Btw, if you like [name]Sabine[/name], it’s a great mn option. And I love [name]Josephine[/name] nn [name]Jo[/name] and [name]Charlotte[/name] nn [name]Charlie[/name] is cute too.

Okay, the time has come to get out my special name book. [name]Pam[/name] and [name]Linda[/name]'s books are just as good or better, and the Nameberry website is amazing. But when you’re desperate, it’s good to look at more than one source. I look at my little book a lot because next to every name entry there are five girl sibling names and five boy sibling names. Of course you should always have [name]Pam[/name] and [name]Linda[/name]'s books within easy reach, too! Forgive me if I repeat a name from an above post:
[name]Amelia[/name] nn [name]Mia[/name], [name]Milly[/name] ([name]Mia[/name] is very popular like [name]Ellie[/name], though.)
[name]Madeleine[/name] nn [name]Maddie[/name]-I like this spelling of [name]Madeleine[/name]. (Very popular but not as much as [name]Mia[/name].)
[name]Anwen[/name] nn [name]Annie[/name]- I really like this a lot. Easy to spell, very Celtic.
[name]Esmerelda[/name] nn [name]Esme[/name]
[name]Annaliese[/name] nn [name]Annie[/name]
[name]Adeline[/name] nn [name]Addie[/name]
[name]Minerva[/name] nn [name]Minnie[/name]
[name]Alexandra[/name] nn [name]Zandy[/name]-cute
[name]Anastasia[/name] nn [name]Tansy[/name]-this is darling
[name]Avalon[/name] nn [name]Ava[/name] (but [name]Ava[/name] is so popular!)
[name]Dominique[/name] nn [name]Nicki[/name]
[name]Camilla[/name] nn [name]Cammie[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] nn [name]Sylvie[/name] - Did I already say this one? I love it so much!
Franceska nn [name]Francie[/name]-no [name]Kurt[/name] Cobain here.
[name]Theodora[/name], [name]Theodosia[/name], nn [name]Teddie[/name]
[name]Andrea[/name] nn [name]Andie[/name] this is pretty.
[name]Penelope[/name] nn [name]Penny[/name]-I love [name]Penelope[/name].
[name]Angelica[/name] nn [name]Angie[/name]
[name]Celeste[/name], [name]Celestine[/name] nn [name]Celia[/name]
[name]Audra[/name] nn [name]Audrey[/name]
[name]Adelaide[/name] nn [name]Addie[/name], no on [name]Heidi[/name]-dated.
[name]Cordelia[/name], [name]Cornelia[/name] nn [name]Corrie[/name]
[name]Desiree[/name] nn [name]Desi[/name]-saw this character in a Hallmark movie.
[name]Theresa[/name] nn [name]Tessa[/name], [name]Tessie[/name]
[name]Victoria[/name] nn [name]Tory[/name]
[name]Geneva[/name] nn [name]Ginny[/name]
[name]Adrienne[/name], [name]Adrianna[/name] nn [name]Addie[/name]
[name]Jaqueline[/name] nn [name]Jackie[/name] I really like this. Because I love [name]Jackie[/name] O!
[name]Mattea[/name], [name]Matilda[/name] nn [name]Mattie[/name]
[name]Cecilia[/name] nn [name]Cissy[/name], Cessie, [name]Celie[/name]
[name]Vivian[/name], [name]Viviana[/name] nn [name]Vivi[/name]
[name]Gabriella[/name] nn [name]Gabi[/name]
Raffaella nn Raffie
[name]Regina[/name] nn [name]Regi[/name] (dated?)
Now I can’t think of anymore, but give me time! I really love [name]Alexandra[/name] nn [name]Zandie[/name], [name]Mattea[/name] nn [name]Mattie[/name], [name]Adeline[/name] nn [name]Addie[/name], [name]Anastasia[/name] nn [name]Tansy[/name] (my fave!) and [name]Andrea[/name] nn [name]Andie[/name].

I love [name]Abigail[/name]! I think its beautiful! Its funny My son’s name is [name]Liam[/name]! He’s 3 and expecting a sister!