We are expecting our fourth child in Feb and as this is our last child and we already have a boy and 2 girls we are not finding out the gender. Our problem is that we have already had 2 girls so we used all the names that we love. Our last one was a boy and the girl name we had picked our was [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Esther[/name_f], now we have a niece named [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], and we were planning on calling her [name_f]Mae[/name_f]. The middle name will be [name_f]Esther[/name_f] or [name_f]Ann[/name_f], but we are stumped on first names. We want a name that is vintage, underused today but still pronounceable/spellable, two or three syllables, and with a cute nickname. Sisters are L0uise [name_u]Jean[/name_u] and Fr@nces [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] and brother is [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] Th0mas. Here is our shortlist:
[name_f]Jane[/name_f] - I love the simplicity with this, and it is a really solid name, but it is really close to [name_u]Jean[/name_u]. Would that bother you?
[name_f]Ann[/name_f] - But does it fit with the others?
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] - It’s cute but for some reason I can’t see it on an adult. I really love it for a kid though and the name would probably grow with her.
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] - I love how this is less used than [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], but it feels to cutesy for an adult, even more so that [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]. What do you think?
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] - I have loved the name [name_f]Lily[/name_f] for a long time, and it is one of my best friend’s middle name, but [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] is way too popular.
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] - We love this, but we would call her [name_f]Lena[/name_f] a lot and that starts with the same letter as [name_f]Louise[/name_f]. We could have all her monogrammed things with H on them, but I am holding back for that reason.
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] - We would call her [name_f]Mina[/name_f] or [name_f]Millie[/name_f]. I like [name_f]Mina[/name_f], but [name_f]Millie[/name_f] is a little too cutesy for an adult.
Names we like but cannot use as a first are:
[name_f]Esther[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] “[name_f]Mae[/name_f]”
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] “[name_f]Mae[/name_f]”
[name_f]Jane[/name_f] - is really simple and it could be seen as “boring” or a “no personality” name. “Plain [name_f]Jane[/name_f]” is often used to describe someone who isn’t really interesting.
[name_f]Ann[/name_f] - doesn’t go with [name_f]Esther[/name_f] in my opinion.
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] - for some reason whenever I hear and see this name I immediately get the image of a beetle.
That’s just me though, [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] is usually seen as a quirky name. “[name_f]Bea[/name_f]” is a cute nickname.
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] - same feeling as [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] but can also have the name “trixie” as a nickname.
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] - will automatically be shortened to “[name_f]Lily[/name_f]” by everyone whether you like it or not. [name_f]Lily[/name_f] is so overused so
much that the name has become boring to me. I know so many [name_f]Lily[/name_f]'s that I’ve actually had to start calling
some of them by their middle names to distinguish them. Though if you do go with a [name_f]Lily[/name_f] name, I would recommend [name_f]Lilith[/name_f], which is much more underused than [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] and way more interesting as a full name.
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] - a beautiful, timeless, classic name and goes wonderfully well with [name_f]Esther[/name_f]. This name ages like a fine wine and comes with beautiful nicknames such as “[name_f]Elena[/name_f]”, “[name_f]Helen[/name_f]”, “[name_f]Lena[/name_f]”, “[name_f]Ellen[/name_f]”, “[name_f]Ellie[/name_f]”, “[name_f]Ella[/name_f]”, “[name_f]Leah[/name_f]”, “[name_u]Lee[/name_u]”.
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] - [name_f]Mina[/name_f] is cute but most people will automatically shorten this to “[name_f]Emma[/name_f]” or “[name_f]Em[/name_f]” so be prepared to do some correcting if you choose this name. Another name that has a bit more “umph” to it that’s similar to [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] that you might like is [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f].
I would also like to recommend [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], which has that warm vintage feel to it plus [name_f]Mina[/name_f] can be used a nickname with it as well.
[name_f]Jane[/name_f] - A lovely choice with your other names, and I don’t think it’s a problem that it’s similar to [name_u]Jean[/name_u], as [name_u]Jean[/name_u] is a middle name
[name_f]Ann[/name_f] - Another lovely choice, and nickname [name_f]Annie[/name_f] is so sweet.
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] - I love it and I think it works on all ages, but I do feel this and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] are rising so much in popularity that it might not fit your “underused” priority for much longer…
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] - Ditto with above. I prefer [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] of the two.
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] - As you say, [name_f]Lily[/name_f] names are very popular. If it’s important to you that this is not the case, I’d take this off your list. Also same first letter as [name_f]Louise[/name_f] which you mention elsewhere bothers you.
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] love love, and my first choice for your family. I think the two L names sound different, plus her actually name would begin with H, so not sure this is a problem.
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] - I love nickname [name_f]Mina[/name_f] but not [name_f]Millie[/name_f]. I like this name but feels a bit more overly formal than [name_f]Louise[/name_f] and [name_f]Frances[/name_f] which I think are more under-stated. Same first letter as [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] too.
My first choice for you would be [name_f]Helena[/name_f], followed by [name_f]Ann[/name_f] and [name_f]Jane[/name_f]. All names are lovely though, so you can’t go wrong!
We have VERY similar taste in names. My girls are Jane and Margaret. We are having a boy and we are having such a hard time finding a boy name (maybe since we share a similar style you can let me know what your thoughts are on Oscar versus Ernest). If our next baby was a boy, we would have chosen one of these (Francine and Lois were also on our list but I took them off of this one for obvious reason. :))
Sylvia - I love the sound of this name. Beautiful. I like the nn Sylvie.
Cynthia - Classic but not often used.
Fay - Strong and simple
Dorothy (Dot) - Dot? Come on… so cute.
Susan - I desperately wish I had not used this for a middle name because it is my favorite for a third. It is strong, understated and rare. Plus, Zuzu can be a nn.
Vera - This name is so underused IMO. It is classic and everyone know how to pronounce it, but it is also beautiful, strong and unique.
Katherine - My name is Kate, but we love the name Katherine. We like the nn Kit.
Agnes
Bernadette (Bernie or Birdie) - I met a little Bernadette once and she took my breathe away. Bernie is such a cute nickname.
Helen - I think Helen versus Helena fits your other names. It is more classic.
Anne - I love how simple and perfect this name is. It feels very much like Jane in that regard. This was high on our list but we worried it was too close to Jane. If you like Jane, but worry it is too close to Jean, then I’d go Anne.
[name_f]Jane[/name_f] -[name_f]Jane[/name_f] feels like a nice choice - solid, simple and while very traditional, it also feels quite fresh today. It is close to [name_u]Jean[/name_u], but since that’s a middle and has a different sound, I think it would be okay
[name_f]Ann[/name_f] - [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Anna[/name_f]? I think [name_f]Ann[/name_f] fits though
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]/[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] - I like both but I prefer [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]. I think it would definitely grow with her
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] - if you feel it’s too popular, I wouldn’t use it - plus it shares the initial with your daughter and you mentioned you didn’t want that
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] - [name_f]Lena[/name_f] and L0uise sound fairly different, and I wouldn’t be put off by that since her name would actually start with H - and she might end up going by another nickname anyway
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] - [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] is lovely and I love [name_f]Mina[/name_f] for it!!
My top choices for you would be [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Esther[/name_f] and [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Ann[/name_f]
My favorites are:
[name_f]Ann[/name_f] – definitely fits. A classic like your kids.
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] – what about [name_f]Nell[/name_f] as a nickname?
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] – I definitely see it on an adult. It’s an old lady name to me, but in a cute way.
Other ideas:
[name_f]Celeste[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] nn [name_f]Hattie[/name_f]
[name_f]Irene[/name_f]
[name_u]June[/name_u] (similar to [name_f]Jane[/name_f] but a little less serious. I don’t think similarity to [name_u]Jean[/name_u] is a problem unless you actually use her middle name)
[name_u]Marion[/name_u] nn [name_f]Molly[/name_f] or [name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f] nn [name_f]Ruthie[/name_f] or [name_u]Rue[/name_u]
I think [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] goes best with [name_f]Louise[/name_f], [name_f]Frances[/name_f] and [name_m]Edmund[/name_m]! I can picture [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] on any age.
Good luck deciding!
My picks would be [name_f]Helena[/name_f] or [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]. I think they are classy names that fit well with your other kids names. [name_f]Jane[/name_f] and [name_f]Ann[/name_f] fit too but they have always been quite ‘plain’ names to me. I think its because they are short and nicknames aren’t really possible (but I am a fan of nicknames).
I love [name_f]Lana[/name_f] as a nn for [name_f]Helena[/name_f]. I’d probably go more with [name_f]Emi[/name_f] as a nn for [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] but really there are a few lovely nickname options there!
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] would be my third choice but like you say, its very popular now.
[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Melina[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]? [name_f]Melina[/name_f] mixes most of the name you like and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is a cute as a middle name.
I like [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] or [name_f]Helena[/name_f]. I’m gobsmacked by your concern that [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] doesn’t work on an adult. A completely unfounded worry, in my opinion. [name_f]Esther[/name_f] would make an excellent first name choice if you’re willing to consider it. [name_f]Ann[/name_f] could work too, in the theme of old-fashioned gems too often relegated to middle names you’ve started with [name_f]Louise[/name_f] and [name_f]Frances[/name_f].
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]- Personally I would be on the fence also due to [name_u]Jean[/name_u] already being used. But I honestly do love the name and simplicity.
[name_f]Ann[/name_f]- While I like [name_f]Anne[/name_f], it always looks a tad incomplete, [name_f]Anna[/name_f] would be lovely though. [name_f]Anna[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] maybe?
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]- I honestly think this could fit on someone of any age, makes me think of [name_f]Bea[/name_f] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and the nn [name_f]Bea[/name_f] is so sweet.
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]- Same as above, I do see this one as a tad more “modern” but still has the same versatile feel.
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f]- To be honest, this one is a bit boring to me. Especially next to a lot of your other choices. It does go with your other choices but I’d go with [name_f]Helena[/name_f] “[name_f]Lena[/name_f]” rather then [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] personally.
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]- My favorite from your choices and I think it goes perfectly with you kids names. What about [name_f]Helen[/name_f] though? As far as [name_f]Lena[/name_f], I don’t really think that is that big of a issue. [name_f]Louise[/name_f] & [name_f]Lena[/name_f] sound different enough.
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]- Pretty and goes well. I wouldn’t worry too much on a nickname transferring over to adulthood, by the time that will be relevant she will be able to decide for herself if she still wishes to be called [name_f]Millie[/name_f].