Sisters Avery & Ainsley?

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] Berries,

This is my first post, although I’ve been lurking for quite some time now!

I have a 5 year old daughter named [name_u]Avery[/name_u] [name_f]Michelle[/name_f] ([name_f]Michelle[/name_f] is to honour my sister). When my husband and I started discussing names when I was pregnant with her, the only name he wanted was [name_u]Avery[/name_u], whereas I was a more open! [name_u]Avery[/name_u] (who we call Aves a lot of the time) was the only name we both agreed on.

Now I’m 27 weeks pregnant with baby girl # 2, and he has his heart set on [name_u]Ainsley[/name_u]. I really love the name, but I worry it sounds to similar to [name_u]Avery[/name_u], especially when we talk about nicknames. To me, natural nickname for [name_u]Ainsley[/name_u] is “Ains”.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] [name_u]Avery[/name_u] and [name_u]Ainsley[/name_u] sound too similar to be siblings? And if I had a third baby, would we have to continue the “A” trend? Any other suggestions are welcome. Some of the other names on my list that hubby has vetoed, just to give you an idea of my naming style, are:

[name_u]Hadley[/name_u]
[name_u]Wren[/name_u]
[name_u]Marlowe[/name_u]
[name_u]Skye[/name_u]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Harlow[/name_f]
[name_u]River[/name_u]
[name_u]Harper[/name_u]

Thanks for your help!

[name_f]Lauren[/name_f]

I think they are too similar and if you chose it, I feel like it would be expected to keep the trend going. Not only is it an ‘A’ trend, but also a long ‘E’ trend. If you like the unisex ‘A’ trend, then I would lean more towards [name_u]Arden[/name_u] or [name_f]Avalon[/name_f]. You should also ask you husband to write down the names he likes to see if you can compromise.

Other Suggestions

[name_f]Bardot[/name_f]
[name_u]Carmen[/name_u]
[name_u]Cheyenne[/name_u]
[name_f]Keira[/name_f]
[name_u]Kit[/name_u]
[name_f]Lucia[/name_f]
[name_f]Margo[/name_f]
[name_f]Nicolette[/name_f]

I don’t think the full names sound too similar, but the nicknames seem to be too similar. Also, there would be no reason to keep with the “A” trend unless you actually liked another A name. It seems like your husband likes the “ee” sound, so here are some other ideas:

[name_f]Emily[/name_f], [name_f]Chloe[/name_f], [name_f]Zoey[/name_f], [name_u]Aubrey[/name_u], [name_f]Audrey[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_u]Riley[/name_u], [name_f]Kylie[/name_f], [name_f]Sophie[/name_f], [name_f]Melanie[/name_f], [name_u]Sydney[/name_u], [name_f]Callie[/name_f], [name_f]Naomi[/name_f], [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], [name_u]Paisley[/name_u], [name_f]Molly[/name_f], [name_u]Ruby[/name_u], [name_f]Sadie[/name_f], [name_f]Kinley[/name_f], [name_f]Valerie[/name_f], [name_u]Cassidy[/name_u], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], [name_f]Melody[/name_f], [name_u]Kelsey[/name_u], [name_u]Delaney[/name_u], [name_u]Kenzie[/name_u], [name_u]Shelby[/name_u], [name_f]Mallory[/name_f], [name_u]Finley[/name_u], [name_u]Adley[/name_u], [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], [name_f]Amelie[/name_f], [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], [name_f]Tinley[/name_f], [name_u]Dagny[/name_u], [name_f]Lottie[/name_f]

They are too similar for my taste. I would keep [name_u]Ainsley[/name_u] as the middle name and choose another for first name.

What about:
[name_f]Zoey[/name_f]
[name_f]Macy[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilly[/name_f]
[name_u]Kelsey[/name_u]
[name_f]Lacey[/name_f]
[name_f]Briony[/name_f]
[name_f]Romilly[/name_f]
[name_f]Ottilie[/name_f]
[name_f]Hattie[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
[name_f]Zadie[/name_f]
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f]
?

I would suggest something similar but where a different nn could be used…

[name_f]Amelie[/name_f] ([name_u]Mel[/name_u], [name_m]Eli[/name_m])
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f] (Dri)
[name_f]Hailey[/name_f] (Hails)

I kind of like [name_u]Avery[/name_u] and [name_u]Ainsley[/name_u]!
What do you (and your DH) think of [name_f]Ansley[/name_f]? That could be a compromise…or instead of called [name_u]Ainsley[/name_u] “Aines” you could go for a “[name_u]Lee[/name_u]” nickname.

A family friend had 2 children with H names and when #3 came along decided to keep the H name trend, but when #4 arrived they named him a H name but differed it by using a one syllable name rather than the 2 syllables for the other 3.

I definitely think that [name_u]Avery[/name_u] and [name_u]Ainsley[/name_u] are too similar. Not only do they end in the same letter, but they begin the same way too!

Here are some names that feel similar to [name_u]Ainsley[/name_u], or that pair well with [name_u]Avery[/name_u]: (in my opinion, anyway :slight_smile: )

[name_u]Aubrey[/name_u] (a little less matchey, since the ‘A’ in [name_u]Avery[/name_u] makes a different sound than the ‘A’ in [name_u]Aubrey[/name_u])
[name_u]Paisley[/name_u]
[name_f]Annika[/name_f]
[name_u]Eden[/name_u]
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Ellie[/name_f]
[name_f]Zoe[/name_f]
[name_u]Teagan[/name_u]
[name_u]Morgan[/name_u]
[name_u]Piper[/name_u]
[name_u]Peyton[/name_u]
[name_u]Rylie[/name_u]
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
[name_f]Macy[/name_f]
[name_f]Calla[/name_f]
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_f]Keira[/name_f]
[name_f]Sienna[/name_f]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_u]Marley[/name_u]
Hailey
Bailey
Kayley
Katie
Cadence

Good luck finding something just perfect for your little one!