Hello, I have been name crazy for as long as I can remember so having twins is double the fun and double the indecision! We have decided to name one baby each so my partner has decided on [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] (His favourite female painter [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] Carrington, his grandmother, my grandmother). [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] wouldn’t be my first choice but I like it and I love the nicknames [name_m]Leo[/name_m] and [name_f]Lily[/name_f].
So…! [name_f]My[/name_f] top choice is [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - it can shorten to spunky boyish nickname like [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] so they could be [name_m]Leo[/name_m] and [name_u]Jojo[/name_u] or girly [name_f]Lily[/name_f] and [name_f]Posy[/name_f] but I also like the following, please help me! I have even made an excel spreadsheet. Ps we are both English and live in the UK.
[name_f]Agatha[/name_f] (I will never be brave enough)
[name_f]Arabella[/name_f] (pretty but maybe [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] and [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] a bit much?)
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u] (my 8 year old son really wants me to use this - is a surprising contender)
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] (so many nicknames, I love [name_f]Bess[/name_f] for example, or [name_f]Eliza[/name_f])
[name_f]Grace[/name_f] (I love this and feel strong affinity with it but it is quite common in UK)
[name_f]Greta[/name_f] (name of a dear old family friend)
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] ([name_u]Jo[/name_u] [name_u]March[/name_u], great nicknames and honours my mother [name_u]Jo[/name_u])
[name_f]Katherine[/name_f] (a classic, I used to call my diary [name_f]Kitty[/name_f] when I was a little girl like [name_f]Anne[/name_f] [name_m]Frank[/name_m])
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] (maybe a middle name?)
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u] (a family name)
[name_f]Violet[/name_f] (worried it sounds like “violent” lots of spoiled girls in books are Violets but have always loved)
[name_f]Leonora[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] is a lovely name. [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] wouldn’t be my first choice either, but it’s nice. I don’t love the nn [name_m]Leo[/name_m] and I don’t see how you got [name_f]Lily[/name_f]. I like the nn [name_f]Lea[/name_f] though!
Surprisingly, I really like [name_u]Artemis[/name_u]. I think she’s an admirable goddess, but maybe the name is too goddess-y. nn [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] could work! [name_f]Lea[/name_f] and [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] would be so cute!
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is really nice, but maybe not unique enough to be paired with [name_f]Leonora[/name_f].
[name_f]Greta[/name_f] is stunning, but it has no nicknames, something that may be important to you (it’s important to me).
[name_f]Violet[/name_f] - I don’t have an English accent, but I wouldn’t worry about it sounding like violent. A lot of girls are named [name_f]Violet[/name_f] and it’s an accepted name / flower name. Plus it’s really cute. Maybe as a middle name?
[name_f]Grace[/name_f] - Maybe a MN, I’m not a huge fan.
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] - I think this is way too classic to be paired with [name_f]Leonora[/name_f], and if you only like it because it has so many nn’s, that’s not a great reason to chose it. You’ll only be able to call your daughter one (maybe 2) nicknames. I like [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] as a name.
The ones I didn’t mention I’m meh about.
Combos: [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_u]Artemis[/name_u], [name_f]Violet[/name_f] [name_f]Greta[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. Sorry, I’m awful at 3 name combos.
Congrats on your twins and welcome to Nameberry! [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] is gorgeous and from your list, I love [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f] and [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] for her twin sister. I don’t mind girls names ending in “a” as long as they sound different enough ([name_f]Leonora[/name_f] and [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] would be fine together). [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] or [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] would be wonderful combos. I would also suggest [name_f]Evelina[/name_f], [name_f]Estella[/name_f], [name_f]Cosima[/name_f], [name_f]Silvia[/name_f], [name_f]Emilia[/name_f], [name_f]Clara[/name_f]/[name_f]Chiara[/name_f], [name_f]Antonia[/name_f], [name_f]Cecily[/name_f], [name_f]Jemima[/name_f], [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f], [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], [name_f]Augusta[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], [name_f]Araminta[/name_f], [name_f]Susanna[/name_f], [name_f]Thalia[/name_f], [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f], [name_f]Marina[/name_f] and [name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f] for [name_f]Leonora[/name_f]'s twin sister.
Thanks waverly123, I had only come up with [name_f]Missy[/name_f] as a nn for [name_u]Artemis[/name_u], [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] is cute. All the combos you did were beautiful, how can one ever decide? I worked out I would need to have 98 daughters to use all the names I love.
And [name_u]Mischa[/name_u] I’m afraid [name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f] has been vetoed by dh it was high on my list, I love [name_f]Chiara[/name_f] but maybe as middle, my car is called [name_f]Araminta[/name_f] (!). I thought I could make [name_f]Violet[/name_f] [name_f]Violetta[/name_f] instead maybe? I need to come up with alternatives to [name_u]Jojo[/name_u] as we have all taken to referring to the unborns as [name_m]Leo[/name_m] and [name_u]Jojo[/name_u] and I haven’t made my mind up yet, before I know it they will be set in stone.
I have a feeling that I may end up with [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] in the end but I swore that I would only use a name I have liked for at leat 5 years to avoid having a trendy name but [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] only came up because of twins and my son studying Greek myths at school! Thanks for your help. I love nameberry, is definitely the best name site out there.
I think [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] & [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] sound much better than [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] & [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] is so pretty & bella even means beautiful so all the better, I think they are a great pair! NN options could be: [name_u]Ari[/name_u], [name_f]Belle[/name_f], [name_f]Bella[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Elle[/name_f], [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]…
Haha 98 daughters! Maybe you could give each daughter like 8 middle names hahaha. I love your idea of [name_f]Violetta[/name_f]! [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] and [name_f]Violetta[/name_f] would be so perfect together! [name_f]Violetta[/name_f] nn’s could be: [name_f]Vi[/name_f], Vio, [name_f]Letta[/name_f], [name_f]Via[/name_f], [name_f]Etta[/name_f] and probably more than I just can’t think of right now. [name_f]Glad[/name_f] you like [name_f]Emmy[/name_f].
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u] isn’t a name you have loved for 5 years, but it’s certainly not a “trendy” name either. Plus it’s so sweet that your son helped out. Would you maybe like [name_f]Athena[/name_f] or [name_f]Hera[/name_f]?
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] [name_f]Violetta[/name_f] is a stunning name! (the best of the combo’s I’ve come up with so far!).
[name_f]Violetta[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] works as well!
[name_f]Violetta[/name_f] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Violetta[/name_f] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_u]Artemis[/name_u]
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Greta[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] / [name_f]Greta[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] / [name_f]Greta[/name_f] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - that’s a lot of g/j sound
[name_f]Violetta[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] [name_f]Arabella[/name_f]
I actually really love [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] together. [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is definitely my favorite choice from your list. A hint of vintage charm, a multitude of nicknames for either, and still each would have her own identity. It’s funny, [name_f]Agatha[/name_f] and [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] are my top two guilty pleasure names. I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] them but I don’t really think either is suitable unless you’re VERY adventurous. As for the rest, I think [name_f]Katherine[/name_f], [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f], and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] may be a bit too tame next to [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] for the first name spot. They just lack a little something for me in the first name position, but would make good middles. [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] is pretty, but it feels a little over the top for me. [name_f]Greta[/name_f], [name_u]Ruby[/name_u], and [name_f]Violet[/name_f] are all fantastic also. Some alternatives to [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] for the nickname [name_u]Jojo[/name_u] would be [name_f]Josette[/name_f]/[name_f]Josetta[/name_f], [name_f]Joelle[/name_f]/[name_f]Joella[/name_f], [name_f]Jolie[/name_f], [name_f]Jolene[/name_f], [name_f]Josepha[/name_f], [name_u]Joan[/name_u], [name_f]Johnna[/name_f], [name_f]Joanna[/name_f].
[name_f]Welcome[/name_f] and congratulations, having twin girls would be wonderful.
I would definitely go with [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] and [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] they are what I call “look at me names”, that is they are unusual, wonderfully feminine (you may say frilly - which I love) and I think that they would make a remarkable pair.
If you don’t mind the [name_f]Mary[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] links then I think [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] could be [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]. I definitely ‘see’ the colour pink with [name_f]Arabella[/name_f].
I love [name_u]Artemis[/name_u], I think it goes well with [name_f]Leonora[/name_f]. They’re distinct from one another, but equally distinctive, and both are a good blend of feminine and strong. [name_u]Ara[/name_u] might work as a nn. [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]? [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Katherine[/name_f]?
[name_f]My[/name_f] favorite from your list is…
[name_f]Leonora[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] & [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Agatha[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
I love [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] together. [name_f]Nora[/name_f], [name_f]Ora[/name_f] and [name_f]Nina[/name_f], & [name_u]Josie[/name_u] are other cute nicknames for them. Lots of possibilities there!
Or perhaps [name_f]Johanna[/name_f] [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] would be a nice, spunkier alternative. You still get [name_u]Jojo[/name_u] as a nn, too.
So many nice names! What a difficult choice for you. Best of luck!
I really like the idea of [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] & [name_f]Greta[/name_f]. [name_f]Greta[/name_f] is such a classic name, but unusual nowadays. I think you could really bring it back!
otherwise I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the name [name_u]Artemis[/name_u], and I agree that letting your son help is very sweet and meaningful. I named my little sister when I was three! haha. [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] & [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] sound like beautiful, mythical warrior women (appropriately, I suppose).
[name_u]Haven[/name_u]'t got many suggestions but consider that the other girl might not love that her sister got two really meaningful/honorific middle names if her own were chosen ‘just because’, or vice versa (first one not liking that her middles are of a different style than her sister).
[name_m]Just[/name_m] another consideration.
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] anotherkate, that is a really good point, all siblings feel fairness very strongly and I can imagine twins more so. I also feel they need to have equally balanced names so both first names need to be longish, at least three syllables which does sort of rule out some of my favourite names. There is never really a just because when it comes to names though is there really? There is always something that chimes. [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is what I was always told my name meant, or by [name_f]Grace[/name_f] of God so the idea of using [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is just me cheekily naming a daughter after myself and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is after my mother who is [name_u]Jo[/name_u] but [name_f]Joanne[/name_f] (which she hates). [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] was of course a twin and it would be great to include our son in the choice.
Everyone has been so helpful and I think I have at least shortened the front runners now down to [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_f]Arabella[/name_f], [name_u]Artemis[/name_u]. I can’t believe how lucky I am having twin girls, thanks for the ideas.
Does your partner have a name, middle name, or relative’s name that you might want to include as a middle? I agree with another [name_f]Kate[/name_f] that it might be nice to have that balance.
I love [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] and especially with [name_f]Leonora[/name_f]. Such strong but still distinctly feminine names. To me [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is not that interesting. I should like it, as it fits with all the others I like, I just don’t. And to me, [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] is too frilly without the substance that [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] has.
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is my suggestion from your current list.
[name_f]Leonora[/name_f] is a name I have been pondering lately, I adore it. [name_f]Nora[/name_f] would be a great nn option. From your list, I think [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] goes best. Two of my biggest name crushes lately, along with [name_f]Leonora[/name_f]/[name_f]Leonore[/name_f] have been [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f].
[name_f]Nora[/name_f], [name_f]Ora[/name_f] and [name_f]Nina[/name_f], & [name_u]Josie[/name_u] are other cute nicknames for them. Lots of possibilities there!