We love antique charm type names and unique but not unheard of names. We are American but have Scottish roots (thus the name [name]Alister[/name]). We’ve decided to use McDougall for the middle name if it’s a boy and would use two family names as middle names if it’s a girl (choices include [name]Adele[/name], French, [name]Edith[/name], [name]Mae[/name], [name]Cynthia[/name], [name]Clara[/name]).
Our boy names list includes [name]Levi[/name], [name]Isaac[/name], [name]Charles[/name], [name]Malachi[/name] (or [name]Malachy[/name]). We also have discussed [name]Arlo[/name], [name]Lazarus[/name] (too much?), [name]Milo[/name], [name]Sullivan[/name] (husband doesnt like), and [name]Solomon[/name]. On an earlier post I was encouraged to think of another Scottish name to go with [name]Alister[/name]- but I can’t seem to find one I like. We also love [name]Malachi[/name]- but so many people seem to have a negative opinion of it bc of “children of the corn”. Thoughts?
As for a girl, my husband is convinced of [name]Isla[/name] French [name]Adele[/name]. I prefer [name]Eloise[/name] [name]Adele[/name] French or [name]Isla[/name] [name]Adele[/name] French. I also love [name]Penelope[/name], but really dislike the nickname [name]Penny[/name]. Other girl names we like include [name]Tallulah[/name] (but not confident that this name will last longterm and sometime feel like it sounds like a pet name). We also love [name]Ivy[/name] and [name]Iris[/name]- but I think they are too flowery with [name]Magnolia[/name].
[name]Long[/name] story short- I would love opinions on our list and suggestions for names we haven’t thought of. Thanks so much!!
I love [name]Ivy[/name] and [name]Iris[/name], both on my short list- I did veer away from them though as I too already have a flower! Having said that [name]Ivy[/name] is less flowery [name]IMO[/name] so I think you could get away with that. [name]Adele[/name] is pretty, I’ve never heard of using ‘French’ as a name (I’m from the UK) so that sounds odd to me. [name]Love[/name] [name]Edith[/name], very classic and [name]Edie[/name] (ee-dee) v cute nm.
[name]Charles[/name] is lovely for a boy, [name]Isaac[/name] v common (in UK) but a great name. I heard of a little boy called [name]Solomon[/name] recently, the first I’ve come across and I really liked it. [name]Sullivan[/name] reminds me of Monster Inc but then ‘[name]Sully[/name]’ is cute.
[name]Isla[/name] is v popular in the UK at the moment so I’d prob go with [name]Ivy[/name] or [name]Iris[/name] if you don’t mind the flower thing again. Tallullah I’ve always thought very sweet on a little girl but wouldn’t sit well on a grown-up!
[name]Just[/name] some random thoughts, good luck!
Hello, your kids names are such fun.
Here’s my take on your lists.
[name]Levi[/name]- Like that all the kids have an I in their name but this one sounds so different. However, generally not a fan of names ending in i. They look king of unfinished to me…
[name]Isaac[/name]- [name]Love[/name] [name]Isaac[/name], and [name]LOVE[/name] it with your kids names. Beautiful, traditional, and no other name sounds like it to me.
[name]Charles[/name]- Quite like this too, but do feel it would just be shortened to [name]Charlie[/name] all the time at school, especially. Which might work less well with the sibset.
[name]Arlo[/name]- Not a fan of this, with your kids of otherwise. Trendy feeling, and reminds me of aardvark.
[name]Lazarus[/name]- Dazzling. A bold choice, but I personally love it. I would say it is more the style of [name]Magnolia[/name] than [name]Alistair[/name], but they do all work well. It might be wise to come up with a less unique name for him, so that he can use something more ‘blend in’ at school age if he wishes.
[name]Milo[/name]- See [name]Arlo[/name]. Lacks the charm of your kids’ names.
[name]Sullivan[/name]- This is quirky. I like it, on the whole, but think its less special than some of your other ideas.
[name]Solomon[/name]- Big fan of this idea. [name]Solly[/name] is so cute, too. What a grand, but warm name.
[name]Malachy[/name]- I like it spelled like this. Considered this one as a middle myself. I think it sounds so energetic! However, I got very mixed feedback myself. People consider this one quite aggressive, I think. I don’t hear it though.
[name]Isla[/name] French [name]Adele[/name]/ [name]Isla[/name] [name]Adele[/name] French- Like your name order better here, and I do like [name]Isla[/name]. I like the idea of a shorter name after youru first two longer ones. Striking! I do feel [name]Isla[/name] will become popular though, at least if UK state of affairs is anything to go by. If you like the ‘a’ ending and the name [name]Adele[/name], but want something a little more unique, how about [name]Adela[/name]? One of my favourites anyway.
[name]Eloise[/name] [name]Adele[/name] French- I am a lover of [name]Eloise[/name], but I think this name will become really popular. If you are looking for unusual, [name]Adele[/name] [name]Eloise[/name] French might be more the way to go? [name]Just[/name] my two cents!
[name]Penelope[/name]- [name]Love[/name] this with your other kids names! Whilst [name]Tallulah[/name] makes [name]Magnolia[/name] seem sillier (not being rude, I love the name!) [name]Penelope[/name] makes it feel graceful and melodic. There are so many nicknames for this one too- [name]Nell[/name], [name]Lola[/name] (I’ve heard this used anyway), [name]Poppy[/name]. Beautiful choice.
[name]Tallulah[/name]- I feel this is very much a zeitgeist name and will be v v dated in a few years. It lacks the longitude of some of your others, and agree with a pp that it would be less comfortable on an adult.
[name]Ivy[/name] and [name]Iris[/name]- Agree about the too flowery thing, whilst they are lovely!
Good luck, looking forward to hearing your progress!
The berries always give such nice long detailed answers, I hope that the “officialness” of my response makes up for its brevity.
I agree that [name]Alister[/name] and [name]Magnolia[/name] are wonderful, original names and perfect companions for each other. So, you’ve set a very high bar! Something trendier and less distinctive just won’t cut it for a third.
Therefore, I think the best choices from your list are:
[name]Malachy[/name] – the Irish version, better than the Old Testament/Hebrew/Israeli one in this case, and I’m assuming you know that it’s pronounced mal-a-kee vs. the long i sound at the end of the OT one.
[name]Penelope[/name] nn [name]Nell[/name] – [name]Poppy[/name] is nice too but another flower name and so too jokey. [name]Talullah[/name] very cute but paired with [name]Magnolia[/name] do sort of heighten the wacky quality of each other – they sound like sisters in a [name]Wes[/name] [name]Anderson[/name] film, if that makes sense. Whereas [name]Nell[/name] has a quirky-yet-sedate quality that feels British yet not too, like your other names.
[name]Isla[/name] way too trendy. [name]Ailsa[/name]? Scottish but a lot like [name]Alister[/name]. [name]Love[/name] [name]Ivy[/name] but another botanical name so not sure you want to go there.
Thanks everyone for your detailed feedback. I’m still very much on the fence. We are leaning toward [name]Isla[/name] as we don’t know a single one here in the states. As for boys- I think I’m leaning towards [name]Malachy[/name] or [name]Isaac[/name]. Any more name suggestions would be appreciated- baby due any day now!
I love [name]Adele[/name], [name]Mae[/name], [name]Cynthia[/name], [name]Penelope[/name] & [name]Clara[/name] for your girls. I think [name]Penelope[/name], [name]Adele[/name] ([name]How[/name] do you feel about [name]Adelaide[/name] with the nn [name]Adele[/name]?) & [name]Clara[/name] go best with sister [name]Magnolia[/name] and brother [name]Alister[/name]. I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Eloise[/name] [name]Adele[/name] French- that would be my first choice!
[name]Alister[/name], [name]Magnolia[/name] & [name]Eloise[/name] sound great together!
From your boys, I like [name]Charles[/name] & [name]Milo[/name], and think either would be a good choice. My first choice would be [name]Milo[/name] because it is less formal yet still classic- like [name]Alister[/name] and [name]Magnolia[/name].
Maybe [name]Milo[/name] [name]Charles[/name] McDougall? or [name]Milo[/name] [name]Sullivan[/name] McDougall?
Girls:
[name]Isla[/name] French [name]Adele[/name] sounds very flowy and great with your others.
other options if you’re not thrilled on this one:
[name]Iris[/name] [name]Tallulah[/name] [name]Mae[/name]
or your choice of [name]Eloise[/name] [name]Adele[/name] French sounds nice
or [name]Edith[/name] [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Mae[/name]
or [name]Iris[/name] [name]Clara[/name] [name]Mae[/name]
or [name]Ivy[/name] [name]Adele[/name] French
I love [name]Isla[/name] [name]Adele[/name] French but I think that [name]Isla[/name] is too popular what about [name]Edith[/name] [name]Adele[/name] French nn [name]Edie[/name]?