I think I have painted myself into a corner with all the naming rules I have imposed on myself. So I am requesting your expertise!
Current situation
We have a 3yr old daughter [name_f]Holly[/name_f] with middle name [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] already.
We have a single syllable last name.
My current set of rules for the next one (if it’s a girl)
Must be easy to correctly spell by anybody hearing it. No strange derivative spellings.
Must not be gender neutral (nicknames are ok)
Can’t start with H or M
Can’t end with an E sound
Must have more than one syllable in the first and middle names because I want some rhythm to the name.
I prefer quite traditional names
I love nature names but I guess I certainly can’t have another nature based first name
Can you help with suggestions or have I constrained myself too much!
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f] [name_f]Willow[/name_f] & [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u] were the first names to come to mind. Also, [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Isla[/name_f], [name_f]Lillian[/name_f], [name_f]Emma[/name_f] or [name_f]Katherine[/name_f].
What about [name_f]Rosa[/name_f]? It eludes to a nature name without being entirely thematic. I also think [name_f]Holly[/name_f] & [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] pair really nicely. [name_f]Holly[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]?
I don’t think it’s too limited - although no M names is a shame because there are sooo many beautiful names starting with M out there!
As for a nature name, I think you could get away with it as long as you avoid names that are flower/plant/tree-based or too reminiscent of the winter and/or holiday season (for example, [name_f]Holly[/name_f] and [name_f]Noelle[/name_f] – that’s just too much). However, I will say that I think names like [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] and [name_f]Roslyn[/name_f], while based on flower names, are so traditional that many don’t really associate them with the flower anymore. I wouldn’t think twice about [name_f]Holly[/name_f] paired with either of those names – but [name_f]Holly[/name_f] & [name_f]Violet[/name_f] or [name_f]Holly[/name_f] & [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] (that last one is both flowery and Christmasy – double whammy) is too much for me.
[name_f]Tansy[/name_f] and [name_f]Zahara[/name_f] are flower names but not obvious ones.
Traditional or classic names
[name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Christina[/name_f]
[name_f]Vanessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f]
[name_f]Jessica[/name_f]
[name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] -may still seem dated but it is pretty
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f]
[name_f]Octavia[/name_f]
[name_f]Rebecca[/name_f]
[name_f]Holly[/name_f] and [name_f]Lark[/name_f]
[name_f]Holly[/name_f] and [name_u]Lake[/name_u]
[name_f]Holly[/name_f] and [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]
[name_f]Holly[/name_f] and [name_f]Flora[/name_f]
[name_f]Holly[/name_f] and [name_f]Zinnia[/name_f]
[name_f]Holly[/name_f] and [name_u]Dove[/name_u]
[name_f]Holly[/name_f] and [name_u]Sky[/name_u]
[name_f]Holly[/name_f] and [name_f]Clover[/name_f]
[name_f]Holly[/name_f] and [name_f]Laurel[/name_f]
Okay. That’s a lot of rules! And I thought you said must be gender neutral, so I was writing down a lot of unisex names! [name_m]Man[/name_m]. Here are some first name ideas, I’ll come back later with middles…
I don’t think it’s too limited. In fact, I would say that I had basically the same rules (with different off limits first initials) for my second. There are so many pretty girls names that end in -a, and that’s what I ended up with. Now, with my third, it’s much harder bc they can’t end in -y or -a, and that’s a huge chunk of girl names!
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is my pick ([name_f]Lillie[/name_f] and [name_f]Holly[/name_f] would be cute) Both are very traditional names with really only one spelling (except for the nickname [name_f]Lillie[/name_f])
Mix and Match from the following:
First Names
Adelaide
Adeline
Annabelle
Annalise
Arabella
Caroline
Clara
Cora/Coraline/Cordelia
Eleanora
Emilia
Emmeline
Evangeline
Evelina
Genevieve
Hannah
Katherine
Madeline
Rosalyn/Rosaline
Scarlett
Vera
Middle Names:
Aurora
Briar
Calla
Camellia
Cassia
Dahlia
Eden
Eve
Fleur
Flora
Ginger
Hazel
Jade
Laurel
Lavender
Magnolia
Marigold
Poppy
Posey/Posy
Rose/Rosaline/Rosalyn
Violet
Zara
[name_f]Bella[/name_f]
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Ida[/name_f]
[name_u]June[/name_u]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Alma[/name_f]
[name_f]Julia[/name_f] (I don’t think that [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] goes with [name_f]Holly[/name_f], even though many are recommending it)
Thanks all so much for your help. I am sorting through the answers now.
So turns out this one is a girl!
I am writing this from hospital where both of us are lucky to be here after a placental abruption.
So far these are the combos from your suggestions I am thinking about:
[name_f]Alexa[/name_f] [name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Lauren[/name_f] [name_f]Victoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Abigail[/name_f] [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Imogen[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabella[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_u]Eden[/name_u]
[name_f]Alexa[/name_f] [name_f]Lauren[/name_f]
I like [name_f]Alexa[/name_f] and [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]. But can’t quite nail the middle name. I can’t use an M name because my last name is Monks.
Now the pressure is really on to come up with a name!! Thanks so much for your assurance this far.