I have been brainstorming names for a friend and have really gotten into thinking about names for a future son or daughter. We plan to start TTC in the spring so this is premature but I love thinking about ideas. Our DD is [name]Mila[/name] [name]Juliette[/name] Kl — (one syllable and rhymes with line).
For boys, I initially would have named a son [name]Reed[/name] but I am no longer set on that name and am moving away from it. Here is my current boy list:
[name]Elias[/name] (nn: [name]Eli[/name] - does this go with [name]Mila[/name]?) this is probably my top choice right now.
[name]Emmett[/name] (is this going girl - hope not because I love it - might be my second choice)
[name]Rafferty[/name] (nn: [name]Rafe[/name] or Raf)
[name]Rafe[/name]
[name]Reed[/name]
[name]Wyatt[/name]
[name]Troy[/name]
[name]Trey[/name]
Girl names:
[name]Simone[/name]
[name]Scarlett[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name]
[name]Pippa[/name]
[name]Iris[/name]
[name]Eve[/name] (nn: [name]Evie[/name])
[name]Daphne[/name]
[name]Carys[/name]
[name]Annabel[/name]
[name]Lucia[/name] (pronounced Loo-sha with the nickname: [name]Lulu[/name])
[name]Louise[/name] or [name]Louisa[/name] or [name]Lucille[/name] (nn: [name]Lulu[/name])
[name]Elias[/name], [name]Emmett[/name], and [name]Rafferty[/name] are my favorites from your list. I love [name]Emmett[/name] too, and I think you’re safe with it “going girl-” similar name [name]Elliott[/name] is still pretty solidly masculine and I think will remain so, along with [name]Emmett[/name].
[name]Rafe[/name] I’d only use for a nickname- [name]Rafferty[/name] is great, but [name]Raphael[/name] would work well too and I think it sounds fantastic with [name]Mila[/name]. [name]Reed[/name], [name]Wyatt[/name], [name]Troy[/name] and [name]Trey[/name] don’t really do much for me and I think they sound a little dated.
For girls, I love [name]Simone[/name], [name]Annabel[/name], and [name]Louisa[/name]. I like [name]Lucia[/name] pronounced loo-see-a or loo-chee-a, but I don’t like Loo-sha. [name]Pippa[/name] is nice, but I don’t like it with [name]Mila[/name]. I love [name]Iris[/name], [name]Carys[/name], and [name]Eve[/name], but I don’t think they sound good with your last name ([name]Ivy[/name] has the same problem for me.) I don’t normally care for [name]Scarlett[/name] because it starts with “scar” and sounds like “harlot,” and I think its harshness is worsened with Kl—.
My top picks would be [name]Rafferty[/name] and [name]Simone[/name]. Best of luck!
[name]Elias[/name] - I like this a lot. I do think it’s a little too similar to [name]Mila[/name] for my taste, but it’s not that bad.
[name]Emmett[/name] - Please don’t let a few little girl Emmetts make you take this off your list. That’s when names [name]DO[/name] “go to the girls”. This is too masculine for me to see it on a girl anyways. I really like this name.
[name]Rafferty[/name] (nn: [name]Rafe[/name] or Raf) - [name]Don[/name]'t really like the sound of it.
[name]Rafe[/name] - [name]Don[/name]'t like.
[name]Reed[/name] - Like.
[name]Wyatt[/name] - Like.
[name]Troy[/name] - It’s ok.
[name]Trey[/name] - Ok, prefer [name]Troy[/name].
Girls:
[name]Simone[/name] - It’s ok.
[name]Scarlett[/name] - Like it.
[name]Ivy[/name] - NMS.
[name]Pippa[/name] - [name]Don[/name]'t like it.
[name]Iris[/name] - NMS.
[name]Eve[/name] (nn: [name]Evie[/name]) - Nice but NMS.
[name]Daphne[/name] - Like. Uncommon yet recognizable, which is good!
[name]Carys[/name] - Not bad. I liked this more when I was mispronouncing it in my head, haha.
[name]Annabel[/name] - Like, and I prefer this spelling too.
[name]Lucia[/name] (pronounced Loo-sha with the nickname: [name]Lulu[/name]) - Like it, but beware of pronunciation issues. I’ve seen this pronounced multiple ways so if you don’t mind correcting people, go for it!
[name]Louise[/name] or [name]Louisa[/name] or [name]Lucille[/name] (nn: [name]Lulu[/name]) - Out of those, I prefer [name]Louise[/name]. Though if it were [name]Lucille[/name] nn [name]Lucy[/name] I’d like that more.
Personally, I don’t find any of your boys names can match the European flair of [name]Mila[/name]'s. From your list, I like [name]Elias[/name] the best but it may be too heavy on the “i” sound with your surname (unless you’re pronouncing it “eh-[name]LEE[/name]-us” instead of “eh-LIE-us”). Second and third choices would be [name]Emmett[/name] and [name]Wyatt[/name]. Have you considered [name]Everett[/name]?
With gorgeous and exotic [name]Mila[/name], I think names like [name]Felix[/name], [name]Theo[/name], [name]Roman[/name], [name]Victor[/name], [name]Arlo[/name], [name]Anton[/name], [name]Xavier[/name], [name]Aldo[/name], [name]Raphael[/name] and [name]Otto[/name] would be better style matches.
I really like [name]Elias[/name] with [name]Mila[/name] and I actually really like the idea of the repeating long I in your last name. I also like the suggestion of [name]Xavier[/name] with [name]Mila[/name]. [name]Carys[/name] is my favorite from your girl list, but I’m not so sure it goes well with your last name.
[name]Elias[/name]-This is nice. Not really my style, but I still think it’s a nice name. I think it does go nicely with [name]Mila[/name] though.
[name]Emmett[/name]-I definitely wouldn’t consider this to be going girl. While I’m sure there are girl Emmetts out there, I personally haven’t met any. I find this too masculine for a girl. But it’s just fine for a boy.
[name]Rafferty[/name]/[name]Rafe[/name]-Not my style. [name]Rafferty[/name] is too last name-ish for me.
[name]Reed[/name]-This is okay. A little plain. I’d prefer it in the middle.
[name]Wyatt[/name]-I really like this one!
[name]Troy[/name]/[name]Trey[/name]-I don’t like either of these, sorry.
[name]Simone[/name]-This is okay, not really my style.
[name]Scarlett[/name]-I’ve always found [name]Scarlett[/name] to be pretty, but a bit to frilly to be usable. That’s just my opinion, though.
[name]Ivy[/name]-[name]Love[/name] this!
[name]Pippa[/name]-This is cute!
[name]Iris[/name]-This is okay. I’d much prefer [name]Ivy[/name].
[name]Eve[/name]-This is nice. I prefer [name]Eva[/name], but I think the nickname [name]Evie[/name] is really cute!
[name]Daphne[/name]-Nice enough, but not my style.
[name]Carys[/name]-This is nice.
[name]Annabel[/name]-I like this a lot. I prefer just [name]Anna[/name], but this is pretty.
[name]Lucia[/name]-I really like this, and I like the loo-sha pronunciation.
[name]Louise[/name] or [name]Louisa[/name] or [name]Lucille[/name]-I like [name]Louisa[/name] best out of the three. Very pretty! [name]Lulu[/name] is a cute nickname too.
Thanks so much for your valuable feedback Berries!!
@daisy451 - what is it about [name]Iris[/name], [name]Ivy[/name], [name]Eve[/name] and [name]Carys[/name] that you dont like with the last name?
@mischa - I have considered [name]Everett[/name]. I am still on the fence about it. For some reason, I see myself with an [name]Elias[/name] or [name]Emmett[/name] and I dont feel the same way about [name]Everett[/name]. I understand your opinion that my boy list needs a bit more European flair but I am having a hard time finding the right names. Out of your recs: I just dont think [name]Felix[/name] works for me. [name]Theo[/name] and [name]Roman[/name] (I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Roman[/name]) have been used by family members so I dont want to use them. I tried [name]Xavier[/name] - I kept repeating it for a week or so but I ultimately let it go. I will put in back in circulation. I was having pronounciation problems - I would like to use the Zahy-vier pronounciation but I kept saying X-Zahy-vier. Out the rest, I have thought about [name]Anton[/name] and [name]Otto[/name] but I just dont know…can you recommend any others?? Is the [name]Elias[/name] (long i) with the repeating sound in the last name really a dealbreaker?
For [name]Iris[/name] and [name]Ivy[/name], I don’t like the assonance- [name]Iris[/name] “[name]Line[/name]” and [name]Ivy[/name] “[name]Line[/name]” have too much of the long i for my taste. [name]Iris[/name] KL— also sounds like “I risk line.” [name]Eve[/name] I think is too short with a one syllable last name sound it sounds a bit choppy; [name]Eva[/name], [name]Evangeline[/name], [name]Genevieve[/name], or [name]Evelyn[/name] could be good alternatives if you really love [name]Evie[/name]. I don’t like the alliteration in [name]Carys[/name] KL–.
However, this is mostly personal taste. I don’t think any of them are totally horrendous with the last name and I like them all as names ([name]Carys[/name] is among my personal favorites) I just don’t think they’re as good as your other options with the consideration of the last name. If you really prefer one of those four names over the others, by all means use that, but I think the last name thing could be a tie breaker or another thing to consider.
Overall I think you have a great list and excellent taste, so you really can’t go wrong!
[name]Elias[/name] - it fits, and it’s a great name! I like this one a lot for you
[name]Rafe[/name] - I think this one fits with best with [name]Mila[/name], has the same feel and interest level, [name]Rafferty[/name] I’m not super fond of but it could work
[name]Reed[/name] - I love this name, but it has a different feel for me than [name]Mila[/name], not sure how big a deal that is for you though. But with your last name it sounds a lot like recline.
[name]Wyatt[/name] - again, this is a name I really like, but I’m not sure about it with [name]Mila[/name], it could work.
[name]Eve[/name] - this is one of my favorites and I think [name]Evie[/name] would go well with [name]Mila[/name]
[name]Daphne[/name] -this has a different feel than [name]Mila[/name] but I think it could still work and it’s a lovely name
[name]Lucia[/name] - I think this is a very nice option that also fits well with [name]Mila[/name]
Thanks daisy451 - I def agree that your points ar factors to consider in choosing a name and for sure [name]Iris[/name] is now off the list! I hadnt realized the I risk line. Maybe alos [name]Ivy[/name] . . . Thanks for your overall support too.
kala-way - so glad you like [name]Elias[/name] as I am really warming up to it.
[name]Elias[/name] - I like it. Similar sounds to [name]Mila[/name], but I think it’s still usable.
[name]Emmett[/name] - I’ve never been fond of this name. No real reason why. [name]Don[/name]'t really like [name]Everett[/name], but I like it better than [name]Emmett[/name].
[name]Rafferty[/name] (nn: [name]Rafe[/name] or Raf) - I really like this one. Really like the nn [name]Rafe[/name].
[name]Rafe[/name] - Prefer a longer name. See [name]Rafferty[/name].
[name]Reed[/name] -I like it, but it seems kind of plain next to [name]Mila[/name]. Could be misspelled as [name]Reid[/name] often, as well.
[name]Wyatt[/name] - I like it, but I don’t. I’m not super western, but I think of [name]Wyatt[/name] Earp first. It also has a different feel than [name]Mila[/name] for me.
[name]Troy[/name] - Not heard much, but I kind of like it. I like it better than [name]Trey[/name].
[name]Trey[/name] - Prefer [name]Troy[/name].
[name]Simone[/name] - Never liked this one, but I don’t know why. I do think it sounds nice with [name]Mila[/name], though.
[name]Scarlett[/name] - Never been a big fan of this one, either. Again, can’t pinpoint why.
[name]Ivy[/name] - Automatically think of poison ivy, not great. And I think it’s too similar in sound with your last name. That’s just personal preference, though.
[name]Pippa[/name] - I don’t mind it as a nn, but don’t like it as a full name. Maybe [name]Penelope[/name] nn [name]Pippa[/name]? (Not sure how that sounds with [name]Mila[/name], though.)
[name]Iris[/name] - Not a fan. It’s been my street name for my address most of my life, though, so that might be why.
[name]Eve[/name] (nn: [name]Evie[/name]) - Prefer [name]Eva[/name], but don’t really like either. Like the nn [name]Evie[/name], though. I do think it goes well with [name]Mila[/name].
[name]Daphne[/name] - I didn’t used to like this, but it has grown on me lately due to a sweet little girl I met. Not sure I like it with [name]Mila[/name], though.
[name]Carys[/name] - I tend to automatically pn it incorrectly, but correct myself fast. Nice name!
[name]Annabel[/name] - Like it, but prefer [name]Annabelle[/name] sp. Really like [name]Anna[/name] by itself more, almost.
[name]Lucia[/name] (pronounced Loo-sha with the nickname: [name]Lulu[/name]) - I like it! I automatically pn it loo-sha first, sometimes second guessing myself and guessing loo-cee-uh. [name]Lulu[/name] is a cute nn!
[name]Louise[/name] or [name]Louisa[/name] or [name]Lucille[/name] (nn: [name]Lulu[/name]) - My mn is [name]Louise[/name], family nn is [name]Lou[/name] or [name]Sari[/name] [name]Lou[/name] (fn & mn are [name]Sarah[/name] [name]Louise[/name]). [name]Don[/name]'t like [name]Lucille[/name], but I do like [name]Louise[/name] and [name]Louisa[/name]. Like [name]Lulu[/name], as well. I also like [name]Lucy[/name], by itself or as a nn.
Other more European boy names:
[name]Hugo[/name] (I usually don’t like this, but I think it would be quite cute with [name]Mila[/name]!)
[name]Jonas[/name]
[name]Maxime[/name] (not sure if you want another m name)
[name]Thijs[/name] (pn issues, but cute)
[name]Bram[/name] ([name]LOVE[/name], [name]LOVE[/name], [name]LOVE[/name] this one lately! And I don’t even like Dracula!!)
[name]Axel[/name]
[name]Sebastian[/name]
[name]Rasmus[/name]
[name]Gustav[/name]
[name]Marco[/name] (again with another m name)
[name]Luca[/name] (Really like this with [name]Mila[/name]! And it recognizable.)
[name]Ruben[/name]/[name]Reuben[/name]
[name]How[/name] do you say your daughters name? I love [name]Elias[/name] but I’m a little concerned the sounds might clash with [name]Mila[/name]'s name.
[name]Emmett[/name] and [name]Rafferty[/name] are both lovely but I can only see [name]Emmett[/name] working with [name]Mila[/name] and not [name]Rafferty[/name].
[name]Mila[/name] and [name]Troy[/name] are cute together.
[name]Mila[/name] & [name]Simone[/name], [name]Mila[/name] & [name]Scarlett[/name], [name]Mila[/name] & [name]Iris[/name], [name]Mila[/name] & [name]Daphne[/name], [name]Mila[/name] & [name]Carys[/name] are all adorable options for a girl.
Thanks so much for your responses pippi777 and sheflieswithherownwings.
I pronounce [name]Mila[/name] like [name]Shelia[/name] with a M or like the [name]Mila[/name] in [name]Ludmila[/name]. I have loved the name since I was 12 and was upset that it became so popular due to [name]Black[/name] Swan and [name]Mila[/name] Kunis and name trends in general. [name]Mila[/name] was almost [name]Anna[/name] (family name) or [name]Sylvie[/name] but when she was born my DH and I just knew she was [name]Mila[/name]. If she was a boy, she would have been [name]Reed[/name] but I am over that name now I think . …
I have been toying with [name]Hugo[/name] a lot. I am still not sure but leaning towards adding it to the list - I also love love [name]Thijs[/name] but total pronounciation issues (which we have with [name]Mila[/name] - people sometims say My-la - it doesnt bother me at all but I think [name]Thijs[/name] might be another level and we are also not Dutch). I like [name]Bram[/name] a lot - I think I would do [name]Abram[/name] nn: [name]Bram[/name] because our last night is one syllable (somehow I didnt mind this with [name]Reed[/name] and also dont mind it [name]Trey[/name] or [name]Troy[/name]). Is [name]Maximus[/name] usable? [name]Rasmus[/name] is interesting.
Updated boy names to consider:
[name]Elias[/name] nn: [name]Eli[/name]
[name]Rafferty[/name] nn: [name]Rafe[/name] or Raf (@sheflieswithherownwings - why doesnt it work with [name]Mila[/name]?)
[name]Emmett[/name]
[name]Anton[/name] (my great grandfather was [name]Antonio[/name] and my uncle is [name]Anthony[/name] - maybe this will work?)
[name]Otto[/name]
[name]Abram[/name] nn: [name]Bram[/name]
[name]Troy[/name]/[name]Trey[/name] ? problem - def not exotic
[name]Hugo[/name]
[name]Xavier[/name]
[name]Glad[/name] you liked some. (I didn’t really think you’d like [name]Rasmus[/name], I just came across it when looking for other suggestions and found it interesting, as well.) I think [name]Maximus[/name] is totally usable! With [name]Maxwell[/name], [name]Maxfield[/name] and [name]Maximilian[/name], why not [name]Maximus[/name]!?! I’ve also heard of a Maxille. Not sure what it means, though. I really like [name]Abram[/name] nn [name]Bram[/name]. I’m with you about [name]Thijs[/name]. Really like the name, but I probably wouldn’t use it living in the US due to those issues.
Of your revised list:
[name]Hugo[/name]
[name]Anton[/name] (really like the family connection)
[name]Abram[/name] nn [name]Bram[/name]
[name]Otto[/name]
[name]Elias[/name]
[name]Rafferty[/name] nn [name]Rafe[/name]
I’ve never really liked [name]Xavier[/name]. I think it’s because of the x, as I don’t really seem to like most other other names with x’s in them, either. Boys names that contain [name]Max[/name] are probably the only ones for either gender that I do like with x’s.
[name]Glad[/name] you liked some. (I didn’t really think you’d like [name]Rasmus[/name], I just came across it when looking for other suggestions and found it interesting, as well.) I think [name]Maximus[/name] is totally usable! With [name]Maxwell[/name], [name]Maxfield[/name] and [name]Maximilian[/name], why not [name]Maximus[/name]!?! I’ve also heard of a Maxille. Not sure what it means, though. I really like [name]Abram[/name] nn [name]Bram[/name]. I’m with you about [name]Thijs[/name]. Really like the name, but I probably wouldn’t use it living in the US due to those issues.
Of your revised list I like:
[name]Hugo[/name]
[name]Anton[/name] (really like the family connection)
[name]Abram[/name] nn [name]Bram[/name]
[name]Otto[/name]
[name]Elias[/name]
[name]Rafferty[/name] nn [name]Rafe[/name]
I’ve never really liked [name]Xavier[/name]. I think it’s because of the x, as I don’t really seem to like most other other names with x’s in them, either. Boys names that contain [name]Max[/name] are probably the only ones for either gender that I do like with x’s.
I think [name]Reed[/name] is so cute, its a shame you’re moving away from it, I prefer the [name]Reid[/name] spelling though.
I like [name]Elias[/name], I’m not sure whether the strong ‘I’ sound in both [name]Mila[/name] and [name]Elias[/name] is too much or not though.
I love [name]Rafferty[/name], it is one of my favourite names and I think it works well with [name]Mila[/name] and it is my favourite of your boys names.
I also like [name]Emmett[/name], but I prefer [name]Everett[/name] to [name]Emmett[/name].
The others aren’t really my style.
[name]Simone[/name] - I think this works really well with [name]Mila[/name] and is a lovely name
[name]Scarlett[/name] - I think there is a few too many negative connotations with this name, ‘Scar’ and [name]Scarlet[/name] fever are just things that spring to my mind when I hear this name
[name]Ivy[/name] - I really like this name, but I think again, the strong ‘I’ sound present in both [name]Mila[/name] and [name]Ivy[/name] makes the two names too matchy.
[name]Pippa[/name] - I love [name]Pippa[/name], but I don’t know whether the ‘a’ endings make the two names too rhymy.
[name]Iris[/name] - Again with the ‘I’'s.
[name]Eve[/name] - I like [name]Eve[/name], I think it sounds like it would go well with [name]Mila[/name] and [name]Evie[/name] is a cute nn.
[name]Daphne[/name] - I think the different styles of [name]Daphne[/name] and [name]Mila[/name] work surprisingly well together.
[name]Carys[/name] - I think this is a really pretty name, and works wonderfully with [name]Mila[/name].
[name]Annabel[/name] - I just happen to really really dislike this name.
[name]Lucia[/name]/[name]Louise[/name]/[name]Louisa[/name]/[name]Lucille[/name] - None of these appeal to me in any way. I’ve never been a fan of [name]Louise[/name] style names, I think I’ve just heard it too much as a middle name for it to ever be appealing.