Twin siblings for Eleanor

I’m having twins, a boy and a girl, and my husband and I can’t agree on names that work with older sister [name]Eleanor[/name]. I love the quirky English names like [name]Mathilda[/name] and [name]Hugo[/name] and [name]Jemima[/name] and he likes more classic, traditional names like [name]Elizabeth[/name]. Our last name is one syllable beginning with a D. We’d like to honor some family names - right now we’re thinking as middle names - by using the first initials of “M” for a boy and “C” for a girl (my grandmother’s name was [name]Clara[/name] but we think that as a first name it might be too simple with our one syllable last name). Here is what we’ve come up with but I’d love some more interesting options as well.
[name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Micah[/name] D…
[name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Claire[/name] D…
Gyweneth [name]Clara[/name] D. (we both like this name buy worry about the Paltrow associations)
and that’s about all we have so far.

[name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Micah[/name]: I really like this! :slight_smile:
[name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Claire[/name]: I think this is lovely, too. I love the name [name]Eliza[/name], too, but am wondering if another [name]El[/name] name may be too similar to [name]Eleanor[/name]?
[name]Gwyneth[/name] [name]Clara[/name]: I love both names, but not so much together. If you’re worried about Paltrow connections (I admit I thought of [name]Gwyneth[/name] Paltrow), perhaps [name]Gwendolyn[/name] [name]Claire[/name] may be another option for you.

For what it’s worth, I think that [name]Clara[/name] Downes (I’ll use that as your last name) is beautiful, and I think it’s perfect with big sister [name]Eleanor[/name]. (I love her name!) :slight_smile:

[name]Just[/name] for fun, here are some [name]Clara[/name] combos:

[name]Clara[/name] [name]Beatrix[/name]
[name]Clara[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name]
[name]Clara[/name] [name]Josephine[/name]

Some more ideas:

[name]Alice[/name]
[name]Beatrix[/name]
[name]Celia[/name]
[name]Clementine[/name] (nn [name]Cleo[/name] or [name]Emme[/name])
[name]Cora[/name]/[name]Cordelia[/name]
[name]Daphne[/name]
[name]Diana[/name]
[name]Felicity[/name]
[name]Georgia[/name]/[name]Georgina[/name]/[name]Georgiana[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name]
[name]Iris[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Juliet[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name]
[name]Mirabel[/name]/[name]Mirabelle[/name]
[name]Miranda[/name]
[name]Matilda[/name]
[name]Phoebe[/name]
[name]Penelope[/name] (nn [name]Poppy[/name])
[name]Rosalie[/name]
[name]Scarlett[/name]
[name]Susannah[/name]
[name]Tess[/name]
[name]Violet[/name]
[name]Vivian[/name]/[name]Vivienne[/name]
[name]Willa[/name]

[name]Atticus[/name]
[name]Barnaby[/name]
[name]Calvin[/name]
[name]Conrad[/name]
[name]Dashiell[/name]
[name]Dexter[/name]
[name]Everett[/name]
[name]Edward[/name]
[name]Elias[/name]
[name]Felix[/name]
[name]Gabriel[/name]
[name]Gideon[/name]
[name]Henry[/name]
[name]Isaac[/name]
[name]Jude[/name]
[name]Jasper[/name]
[name]Leo[/name] (perhaps too close to [name]Eleanor[/name])
[name]Maxwell[/name]
[name]Milo[/name]
[name]Miles[/name]
[name]Oliver[/name]
[name]Phineas[/name]
[name]Peter[/name]
[name]Simon[/name]
[name]Sebastian[/name]
[name]Theodore[/name]
[name]Xavier[/name]

Good luck to you! :slight_smile:

Thanks [name]Jill[/name]. Those are great options. I do like [name]Gwendolyn[/name] [name]Claire[/name] and [name]Clara[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name]. I also like [name]Iris[/name] too. I was wondering about [name]Elizabeth[/name] being too close to [name]Eleanor[/name]. My husband was thinking that it would give them a connection but perhaps a little too much?

You’re welcome. :slight_smile:

I really love [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Elizabeth[/name], but for me personally, it would be too much of an “[name]El[/name]” theme. That’s just me, though, and if it’s something you’d like to do to tie the girls’ names together, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it at all. :slight_smile: [name]Just[/name] be sure to give them nicknames (should they have them) that don’t both contain [name]Elle[/name] or [name]Ellie[/name], such as [name]Nora[/name] and [name]Libby[/name].

I really love [name]Iris[/name], too. :slight_smile: I think you have a great list!

Take care!

[name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Micah[/name] D… [name]Love[/name] this! [name]Both[/name] names are super.
[name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Claire[/name] D… I think this is really classic and pretty.
Gyweneth [name]Clara[/name] D I don’t like [name]Gwyneth[/name] with [name]Clara[/name], but I really like both names. [name]Gwyneth[/name] [name]Claire[/name]?

I also love [name]Jill[/name]'s suggestions of [name]Gwendolyn[/name] [name]Claire[/name], [name]Clara[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name] and [name]Iris[/name].

I was wondering about middle ground between your naming style and your husband’s. For example, if he likes [name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]Eliza[/name] is a great “quirky British”-style option that you both may like. Although in this case I think [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Eliza[/name] are just too close (although I think [name]Elizabeth[/name] is fine). So I thought I would try giving alternatives to some classic names.

[name]Anne[/name] - [name]Annika[/name], [name]Anais[/name], [name]Annabel[/name]
[name]Jane[/name] - [name]Gianna[/name], [name]Sian[/name], [name]Janey[/name]
[name]Katherine[/name] - [name]Katerina[/name], [name]Kitty[/name], [name]Katinka[/name]
[name]Lucy[/name] - [name]Louisa[/name], [name]Lucinda[/name], [name]Lucia[/name]
[name]Margaret[/name] - [name]Margot[/name], [name]Millie[/name], [name]Daisy[/name]
[name]Mary[/name] - [name]Maria[/name], [name]Martha[/name], [name]Molly[/name], [name]Maya[/name]
[name]Sarah[/name] - [name]Zara[/name], [name]Sahara[/name], [name]Sasha[/name], [name]Stella[/name]
[name]Victoria[/name] - [name]Violet[/name], [name]Veronica[/name], [name]Verity[/name], [name]Venetia[/name]

Some other names you may like:
[name]Allegra[/name]
[name]Amelie[/name]
[name]Arabella[/name]
[name]Camille[/name]
[name]Cecily[/name]
[name]Elspeth[/name]
[name]Freya[/name]
[name]India[/name]
[name]Lottie[/name]
[name]Ottilie[/name]
[name]Romilly[/name]
[name]Tabitha[/name]

Good luck!

[name]Love[/name] [name]Mathilda[/name], [name]Jemima[/name] and [name]Hugh[/name]

I am so tired of [name]Elizabeth[/name] it must be the most overused name in history and yet people never tire of it (well maybe a few).

I would rather [name]Elise[/name], [name]Elodie[/name], [name]Elsie[/name], [name]Elsa[/name], [name]Eliza[/name], [name]Eloise[/name], [name]Elva[/name], and the beautiful [name]Ellen[/name].

The well loved [name]Claire[/name] has too become too common and has lost its lustre for me.

I love [name]Claudia[/name] and think [name]Clara[/name] may be nice in the mn spot.

Others to consider
[name]Clementine[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name]
[name]Helen[/name]
[name]Mariella[/name]
[name]Odile[/name]
[name]Olwyn[/name]

[name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Micah[/name] is nice as is

[name]Micah[/name] [name]Daniel[/name]

[name]Jemima[/name] [name]Elodie[/name]
[name]Jemima[/name] [name]Eloise[/name]

[name]Matilda[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Matilda[/name] [name]Alice[/name]
[name]Matilda[/name] [name]Caroline[/name]

[name]Hugh[/name] [name]Patrick[/name]
[name]Hugh[/name] [name]Charlton[/name]
[name]Hugo[/name] [name]Grant[/name]
[name]Hugo[/name] [name]Leonard[/name]

Gywneth is very nice but [name]Clara[/name] is kind of clunky next to it.

Gywneth [name]Elva[/name]
Gywneth [name]Beatrice[/name]
Gywneth [name]Olwen[/name]
Gywneth [name]Rose[/name]
Gywneth [name]Maire[/name]
Gywneth [name]Maeve[/name]
Gywneth [name]Bridie[/name]
Gywneth [name]Darcy[/name]
Gywneth [name]Rowan[/name]
Gywneth [name]Patricia[/name]

[name]Lovely[/name] combos, very melodic.

[name]Just[/name] a note that the lovely [name]Gwyneth[/name] is having some spelling issues :wink:

I do think [name]Elizabeth[/name] is too similar to [name]Eleanor[/name].

[name]Gwyneth[/name] [name]Claire[/name] flows better than [name]Clara[/name], as pp mentioned.
I (obviously) love [name]Gwendolyn[/name] as an option. I think it’s unfortunate that Paltrow is the only common [name]Gwyneth[/name] but it was enough to push me to [name]Gwendolyn[/name].

[name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Gwendolyn[/name] and [name]Nathaniel[/name]. I’m not sure I like [name]Gwendolyn[/name] with [name]Eleanor[/name] actually

I think [name]Clara[/name] [name]Dean[/name] (as example) flows very well. I wouldn’t have any hesitations to use it (if you love it). It definitely fits with big sister and I think

[name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Clara[/name] and [name]Nathaniel[/name].
[name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Clara[/name] and [name]Micah[/name] (I quite like [name]Micah[/name] as a first name)

I’m not very creative this morning, but I liked these ideas from pp (I can’t remember who):

[name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Louisa[/name], [name]Simon[/name]

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! I can’t believe how thoughtful all the posts are. My husband and I are taking it all in. It is good to get your thoughts on the [name]Elizabeth[/name] - [name]Eleanor[/name] similiarities. We were going to use the [name]Libby[/name] nn for [name]Elizabeth[/name] but perhaps still too similar.

Please keep us posted!

Best wishes to you! :slight_smile:

I think we’ve determined that [name]Elizabeth[/name] is out. [name]Nathaniel[/name] Michah is our top pick for the boy and we’re leaning to [name]Nathaniel[/name] as fn and [name]Micah[/name] as mn since our last name of D… (three letters total) is so simple and short and we thought a 3 syllable first name would work better. [name]Do[/name] you agree?

As for the girl name, it’s not so clear. I loved pp suggestion of [name]Claire[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name] but wonder if on a regular basis using [name]Claire[/name] D… will be too plain. While there are many great girl names that I like, there’s not one in particular that i’m in love with, the way i was with [name]Eleanor[/name] when i named our first daughter. I have a few months so hopefully something will pop out. In the meantime, any more suggestions that would work with [name]Eleanor[/name] (big sister) and twin [name]Nathaniel[/name] would be appreciated!

We now think [name]Elizabeth[/name] is out. We still like [name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Micah[/name] D… (last name is 3 letters) but now need something to go with that.
So far my top pick is [name]Claire[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name] per pp but wonder if [name]Claire[/name] with our simple last name of three letters may sound so plain. All the other names that I like don’t really go with older sister [name]Eleanor[/name] and twin [name]Nataniel[/name], like [name]Philippa[/name] (nn [name]Pippa[/name]), etc.

Would love some more suggestions for girl first names that go with [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Nathaniel[/name] and perhaps with the middle name of [name]Claire[/name] or [name]Clara[/name].

Thanks.

I love the suggestions so far. I think [name]Claire[/name] is a great first name. :slight_smile:

Not sure if you’ll like any but here are few more suggestions.
[name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Nathaniel[/name] and

[name]Alison[/name]
[name]Angeline[/name]
[name]Annmarie[/name]
[name]Caroline[/name]
[name]Collette[/name]
[name]Jacqueline[/name]
[name]Julianne[/name]
[name]Miriam[/name] - nn [name]Miri[/name]
[name]Ramona[/name]
[name]Rosemarie[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name]

From your previous post, I really love the flow of [name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Micah[/name] D__. I think it’s amazing! :slight_smile:

I’m not sure if you’re referring to my suggestion of [name]Clara[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name] D___, but I do really love [name]Clara[/name] with your last name, and personally don’t find it too plain. With such a short last name, I’d personally go with something longer than [name]Claire[/name], though.

I think that [name]Clara[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name] is great with [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Nathaniel[/name].

Have you thought about [name]Clarissa[/name] as a middle name?

I apologize in advance for repeats! (I can’t see the earlier posts and suggestions!):

[name]Cecilia[/name] [name]Claire[/name] (I think I’m the only one who hears it, but when [name]Claire[/name] follows a first name ending in A, it connects to [name]Claire[/name] for me, and I hear “eclair,” like the dessert, when I say it out loud. I think a longer middle name works better with your last name, though.)
[name]Catherine[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Diana[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Emmeline[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Genevieve[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Juliet[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Julia[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Miranda[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Vivien[/name]/[name]Vivienne[/name] [name]Claire[/name]

With [name]Claire[/name] in the middle, I’d personally go with a first name that’s at least three syllables long.

[name]Clara[/name] in the middle:

[name]Josephine[/name] [name]Clara[/name] Downs (pretend last name) :slight_smile:

Names that are closer to [name]Philippa[/name], while still working with [name]Eleanor[/name] (but not as well as the more traditional options):slight_smile: :

[name]Daphne[/name] [name]Clarissa[/name] Downs
[name]Ivy[/name] [name]Clarissa[/name] Downs
[name]Phoebe[/name] [name]Clarissa[/name] Downs
[name]Ruby[/name] [name]Clarissa[/name] Downs

Best wishes to you! :slight_smile:

[name]Jill[/name] - you’re awesome at this! Thanks for your great suggestions. I think my top picks from your list are [name]Cecilia[/name] and [name]Catherine[/name] and [name]Genevieve[/name] along with the previously mentioned [name]Clara[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name]. My husband has mentioned [name]Phoebe[/name] before as a possibility and although I find it an adorable name for a baby, I’m not sure how it sounds as a grown up name.
What do you think of the middle name of [name]Lily[/name] with the [name]Cecilia[/name] and [name]Catherine[/name] options? That’s my husband’s grandmother’s name.
And, do you think [name]Genevieve[/name] as a first name goes with [name]Eleanor[/name] or does it come across as very elaborate and [name]Eleanor[/name] as a little to simple?
Thanks!

[name]Catherine[/name] [name]Lily[/name] is very pretty!

Thanks! That’s really sweet of you. :slight_smile: This is a lot of fun. :slight_smile:

I think that [name]Cecilia[/name] and [name]Catherine[/name] are perfect with [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Nathaniel[/name], and although [name]Lily[/name] is popular, I think its meaning to your family trumps that issue. I think [name]Lily[/name] is just beautiful, and like Zardie said, I, too, think that [name]Catherine[/name] [name]Lily[/name] Downs is simply gorgeous! :slight_smile: (I love [name]Cecilia[/name], too, but I don’t think it flows with [name]Lily[/name] as well as [name]Catherine[/name] does.)

I love [name]Clara[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name], too, and also think it’s great with [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Nathaniel[/name].

While I think that [name]Genevieve[/name] is great in the middle with your kids’ names, I don’t think it works as well as [name]Catherine[/name], [name]Cecilia[/name], and [name]Clara[/name] as a first when you consider [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Nathaniel[/name].

(I think that [name]Genevieve[/name] and [name]Eleanor[/name] work better than [name]Genevieve[/name] and [name]Nathaniel[/name]. When I suggested [name]Genevieve[/name] up front, I was thinking more of names that worked with [name]Claire[/name] in the midddle and less of what worked with [name]Nathaniel[/name], so I’m sorry about that. Good catch!) :slight_smile:

So, from your favorites, my favorites are (in no particular order):

[name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Catherine[/name] [name]Lily[/name], and [name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Micah[/name]
[name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Clara[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name], and [name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Micah[/name].

I really love your style!

Good luck!

[name]Eleanor[/name] is lovely! [name]Elizabeth[/name] feels to close to [name]Eleanor[/name] to me. [name]Nathaniel[/name] is darling and so is the other option.

[name]Francesca[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Susannah[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Wilhelmina[/name] [name]Celine[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Clara[/name]
[name]Rose[/name] [name]Catarina[/name]
[name]Harriet[/name] [name]Claire[/name]

__

[name]Lowell[/name] [name]Michael[/name]
[name]Vincent[/name] [name]Mitchel[/name]
[name]Samuel[/name] [name]Mica[/name]
[name]Leon[/name] [name]Mitchel[/name]
[name]Oskar[/name] [name]Mitchel[/name]
[name]Louis[/name] (pr. [name]Louie[/name]) [name]Mica[/name]
[name]Gerard[/name] [name]Mitchel[/name]

While not a huge fan of [name]Nathaniel[/name] it sits well with [name]Eleanor[/name].
I like the suggestions of [name]Clara[/name] & [name]Nathaniel[/name], [name]Margaret[/name] & [name]Nathaniel[/name], [name]Catherine[/name] & [name]Nathaniel[/name] and [name]Genevieve[/name] & [name]Nathaniel[/name].

Suggestions
[name]Lucille[/name]/[name]Lucretia[/name]
[name]Bethany[/name] (as alternative to [name]Elizabeth[/name])
[name]Rosamund[/name] or [name]Rosemary[/name]
[name]Seraphine[/name]
[name]Caroline[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] (Darling with [name]Eleanor[/name])
[name]Juniper[/name]
[name]Ursula[/name]
[name]Zelda[/name]
[name]Audrey[/name]
[name]Araminta[/name]
[name]Isobel[/name]
[name]Adele[/name]
[name]Maude[/name]
[name]Theodora[/name]
[name]Dorothea[/name]
[name]Leonora[/name]
[name]Jillian[/name] or [name]Lillian[/name]
[name]Hazel[/name]
[name]Aurelia[/name]

I love some of the suggestions. [name]Margaret[/name] was at the top of my list but it’s the name of my husband’s h.s. girlfriend so unfortunately that’s out. My husband likes about 3 names of the thousands I’ve run by him (ahhhh) but I think at this time we are leaning towards [name]Catherine[/name] [name]Lily[/name] and [name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Micah[/name] options. I’m sure i’ll have second thoughts closer to the time and will be back here for more ideas. Thank you all!