Serious dilemma approaching. Need help STAT.
The baby is due in under 3 months and we have almost nothing picked out for names. This is where I turn to the internet for suggestions on what I can name our second child which is going to be a little girl. Here at the McSleepy household we are very picky about names, yet our son was named by the time I was 12 weeks pregnant with the Most Perfect Boys Name Ever. This time around we are finding that naming a girl is really quite hard to do – but yet we have a plethora of fantabulous boys names on hand.
Here are our personal guidelines:
- No popular names or top 10 style names. This means names such as Maddison, Kaylee, McKayla, Olivia, Addison, Emily, Emma and Hannah are out of bounds. Please no Isabelle’s either. Really they are lovely names but just not for us.
- No made up spellings of names or spellings that put a bunch of extra letters in a name to make it “unique”. So don’t turn Ashley into Ashleigh or anything of that sort. The exception being a name like Analise – which would have to be spelled Annalise for me because I really don’t think the first 4 letters of any name should spell ANAL.
- We really like older names. Our son’s name was popular in the 1880’s and sadly it is making a small comeback – but we love the old name style of it. Names I have suggested that are older in style are: Elenor, Evelyn (too common), Ruby, Pearl, Astrid, Beatrix, Ester, Ingrid etc…. none of these are serious contenders on our list though. We have also rejected Miranda because Stewart thinks it is too “Sex in the City”.
- We also like names from movies, so what if our son was named after a character in one of the best 80’s movies of all time? It would be kinda fun if our girl could share this too.
- We also like British/Irish/European style names (but if you have something else PLEASE THROW IT AT ME). In fact our son’s name is Irish in origin even though we are a bunch of Ukrainians here (with a touch of Scottish and English thrown in).
- We are not fans of gender-bent names. That means Pat, Jamie, Ashley, Cameron and all others are also out of the running. A major man name on a girl could be OK though – think Clark on America’s Next Top Model (although is it me or do you have to be totally hot to pull a name like that off?).
- I would appreciate names sent in First and Middle name combo’s. Single names are fine too, I do have some imagination. Keep in mind that it would be nice if the name flowed with a last name that sounds like ToyTruck.
Not too hard to do right? Go forth and give me EVERYTHING you have for The Most Perfect Girls Name Ever. I need it.
Also, I really like the idea of using Deuce as a middle name. So far Stewart is NOT convinced that Deuce is a good middle name. To me she could easily be a supermodel or bounty hunter with a name like Deuce. Stewart sadly thinks of Deuce Bigelow Male Gigilo movies when he hears this….. maybe it is my hormones that makes this an appealing choice
***EDITED TO ADD***
Free giveaway, a list of boys names that I made before finding out Deuce was going to be a girl.
Nash
Ridge
Jett
Callum
Declan
Anders
Vaughn
Walker
Wyatt
Niall
Piers
Cormac
Gunnar
Piet
Stellen
Ashen
Metro
Edison
Hugo
Archer
Beck (Beckett)
Major
Ok so here’s the thing, I named my kid Danger, no for real! So I’m not sure that I’m the one you want naming your kid although I will give it a valiant effort. It’s going to take some time though… I love the name Lawyer for a girl but the husband wouldn’t go for it so that’s my initial response but give me some time for brainstorming!
Genevieve?
Jessamine?
Stella?
Millicent?
Georgia?
Kiera?
Nora?
Nettie?
Lottie?
Sorry, that’s all I got! LOL
Nikki: The name Danger really cracks me up – yet is somewhat appealing as well. I also like Lawyer but I don’t think Stewart would ever go for it. Bummer.
pgoodness: I love Genevieve but Stewart has vetoed that one on me. He says it is too long – 3 syllables. Gawd my own name has 3 syllables and I do not find it long at all…. can’t use Millicent – t was the name of my car in high school. Kiera is nice but do you think it may become popular after the actress???? Love Nora and Georgia.
So… Gynipher is out then?? π
What about Josephine? She could be called Jo. Cute, and also reminiscent of the spunky one from Little Women.
Madeline? Before you bash it, that’s of course my own daughter’s name. I love it, but she’s often called Maddie and everyone assumes it’s short for Madison. Or Maddysin. π
Cecilia? I like this one, as long as people don’t call her Sissy for short.
Okay, and I’ll give you one I have reserved for a potential future daughter of my own one day: Amelia. I love it. And, when she reads the Amelia Bedilia books as a kid she’ll like them that much more!
Nora is also adorable!
Madeline and Amelia are both great names. We have a family friend with a Madeline but they recently moved to a different province – so that could put that name back in play……
Josephine is one that hasn’t even crossed my mind. May have to examine it further.
Cecilia is great too but I have a cousin named Cecile so I don’t think I can use it, even though she is pretty cool.
Omega – coolest name ever and can be shortened to a symbol for an even higher coolness factor. Doesn’t go with Deuce or the last name for that matter BUT the shear uniqueness of it will over-ride all potential problems guaranteed!
How about Audrey
Natasha
Margaret
Cypher: Omega hey? There was a kid in Alberta named Inertia last year – I thought that was odd enough (or his parents were physics geeks).
Sarah: I actually love Audrey – and as an added bonus Audrey was the name of the daughter in the National Lampoons Vacation movies which to me fits our 80’s movie theme very well!
Not sure if I can help or not…my favorite name for a baby girl, which I won’t be using because I’m done with birthing babies, is Ananda Lily. Ananda is the feminine of the middle name of my husband and both of his brothers. One is Anand, one is Devanand, and one is Dyanand. Anand is an Indian name, and it means bliss, or happiness.
My mother’s name was Lillian, as was my Great-Grandmother, though my mom changed hers to Lilith. So Lily would be for them.
However, as neither you nor your husband has ancestors from India, and I’m assuming no family named Lillian or Lilith, this combination might not sound so perfect to you.
I still like Lily, though.
I used to really like the name Brielle for a girl, but then Brianna got really popular, and I dumped it.
My daughter’s name is Maya Amrita, which I also happen to think is a lovely name. π
Oh, what about Chloe or Sophie? Those are my nieces, and their names kind of fit your guidelines.
Hmmm…
Georgia (my grandma)
Virginia (other grandma)
Vivienne (no one that I know, but kind of old fashioned)
Genevieve (my dog – named for the dog in the Madeline books)
What about Audrey Rose? That’s kind of pretty.
I love Georgia for a name, as well as Vivienne (sadly I am anti- Angelina Jolie names). Audrey Rose has a nice ring to it though – girlie yet solid.
I never even thought of Lillian which is funny because I like Lilly for a name but am in a situation where I can not use it (since it is the name of my old car -LAME = yes). There are a few too many Sophie’s around which is a pitty because the name is awesome, and I can’t use Chloe since it is already in the family and quite frankly I do not like that kid.
Funny side note: Stewart and I had a “first date” at a friends party and his name was Anand – cool guy.
How about: Matilda? Ava. Gertrud. Clarabelle.
I wanted to name our child Matilda if we ever end up having a girl, but my husband is not supportive of that.
Ooo, or Nina.
I like Matilda but that was a name of a car I wrote off in an accident that should have killed me 10 years ago. Not too many fond memories of that one.
Ava has become too popular and Gertrude is another car name.
Come to think of it I have owned a lot of cars. God thing the new one is named Blue Steel.
I like Clara (over Clarabelle) though. And Nina.
Josephine (Josie)? Sadie? Elizabeth?
That’s all I have. My daughter (as you know) is an Emily π
I love doing the baby name game…found my way over here from Chris @ Rude Cactus…
a few of my fav girl names:
Morgan
Sabrina
Lauren
Loralei
Cassandra
Emma
Girls’ names… impossible!!! We fretted for months and months – could not agree, and it just came to us about two weeks before we had her…the weird thing was my Dad came up with the same name totally on his own at literally the same time (my Mom called us the next day after he came up with it and I swear to God it was the morning after we thought of it too!) so we figured it was fate.
It’s hard to come up with something unique. We thought we had it covered when we named girlie, but then Disney came out with Enchanted and I’m sure Princess G’s will be popping up everywhere now – GRRRRR.
Genevieve was on our REALLY short list (we would have pronounced it the French way, as in Bujold the actress). I also LOVE the name Siobhan, but spelling would be a pain and a half I think. I was going to suggest Audrey too.
How about Avery, maybe Avery Rose; Grace; Sara; Elizabeth; Helena/ Helen; Anna; Diane; Talia; Charlotte; Alice or Alicia, Natalie…?
Seriously you didn’t think of Stella? That will be my girl name if I ever have kids. I LOVE Vera (Dave’s grandma)
Margie
Gina (tough name)
I love Deuce for a middle name but also think Dean is cool for a girl’s middle name.
Please don’t do Tamzin (seems like a name someone is pronouncing wrong.. maybe i’m just blonde) and you’ll get “Tammy” for short if you’re okay with that.
Bevin makes me think of a Bevvy.. (mmm drinks..)
LOVE Pilar and Phillippa
Audery sounds like a geek to me (maybe i knew an audrey in school)
Imogen makes me think of the band (isn’t that swedish?)
I live Genevieve, it’s SO french. But if steve has vetoed then how about Gwendolyn?
If none of it works out you can call her apple.. ha ha ha!
Really though, you should seriously name her Jessica.. π
Love vivienne..
I think i’ve figured it out.. My child (and I know it’s not about me) if it ever so chooses to exist will be named after some fasion designer..
Geez i’m weird. Forget it all and name her Chanel.. ($hit.. that’s taken)
What about Claire?
Jessica: Claire is a perfectly fine name for a fat girl who beats me up in grade 2…. Stella? Is a beer – although an OK one. Also Stella is too “Street car named desire” for my liking. I like Vera but since I actually know you in real life I can’t steal that name.
You are right about Tamzin though – I keep wanting to say Tasmin which is why I really can not go for that name. Audrey? I like geeks – so do you (heck you married one too!) hahahaa. Damn Angelina using a perfectly good name like Vivienne.
Karen: I love Helena. It is one of my favorite names ever. I can not use Avery or Talia – they have been taken at least one time each by friends. I love Giselle too – sadly my child will never be a leggy Brazilian supermodel and thats all I think of when I hear that name. Maybe I just need to watch this Enchanted movie?
Gabriella: I love Lauren, and I have a distant cousin (who is a triplet) named Laurel. I like both of these names. Lorelei is pretty too but I keep thinking of the Gilmore Girls.
Angella: Josephine and Sadie are both great. I think I like Josephine solely for the Josie nickname.
Hi there…just found you through Cactus and thought I would leave some names. I am in Australia so they may be a little different culturally but may be JUST the thing you were after. I have a Daisy which I LOVE but could be a little country (as in Duke). Daisy was almost Freya or Olive or Poppy which are all other favourites of mine. I have a friend who just had a Scarlett (but a prob little too Johansson) for you. I have another friend who just had an Eadie (actually not sure of spelling but have written it like you would say it) middle name Mae. Our Daisy’s middle name is May too but spelt differently. Other names off the top of my head (ok just every kid I can think of!):
Bella, Alice, Mia, Charlotte, Ava, Gertie, Lily….I could go on and on let me know if you need any more. Good luck!!
Clearly all you other commenters should just take your ball and go home because I am clearly the name genie around here!
Bethan is a winner! I can feel it in my bones!
I remembered another one as well that I love…Ines (pronounced Inez) which I think is a little fab as well. I am very focused on this now..
Beth: The name Edie is actually on a list we had made at one time – and Stewart was the one who picked it out of a baby name book. I like it a lot but am not so sure about having 2 children with “E” names. I also have Ines/Inez on my list as well. Poppy is so appealing (and also on one of the many lists I have struggled with) becasue it is such a British style name (my favorites!).
I have always like Olive since I worked with a sweet old lady named Olive who was the most awesome co-worker ever. That and it is a nice departure from Olivia (which is still a favorite) since it is just way too over-used.
I think I need to create a page at the top lof my blog listing baby names and slowly cross them off as we omit/add names to the list.
Nikki: Bethen is still so very cool – loving it (and Bevin).
Girls names have always posed a problem for us – we found it so much easier to come up with boys names that we liked. Good luck.
A few suggestions –
Victoria (which we loved and were going to use but I couldn’t get past the definite shortening to Vicky – that and Oliver turned out to be a boy)
Charlotte
Ainsley
Lillian
Helen
Elizabeth
Eliza
Elsbeth
Sophie
Sofia
Gwyneth/Gwendolyn
Abigail
Darina
My real name is Tamsen – and pronounced Tam – sen, and actually have never been a Tammy. I love it!!
I am suggesting a few for you too (besides mine, because my name is def. not for everyone!):
Helene (my grandmother’s name)
Hazel Mae (my other grandmother’s name)
Aubrey (great grandmother)
Arabella (almost my name)
Emmeline (almost mine too)
Elsie
Laurel
I always liked Elisabeth, but that may be too common.
Elizabeth
Georgia
Ethel
Doris
Helen
Jane
I asked Monkey who her new friends at school are this year, and I HUGGED her when she said this name because it was SO adorable in her little chipmunk voice:
Rosalie….
Seems right up your alley — old fashioned, not common, easy to spell….very GIRL….
I also love the name Monkey…. π
No really, my sister’s name is Dara, my sister-in-law is Sabrina (love that — we call her Sabby), my middle name is Rachel…. Does that help?
I had a camper with a GREAT name you should consider: ETHEL BERTHA. Seriously! Can you imagine a 7 year old named Ethel Bertha??? Apparently, she’s, like, model gorj now, so she OWNS it.
And, yes. You have to be totally hott to pull off “Clark.” And, I think you have to be blond and tanned….
Just thought of Esme (pro ez may) which is very old fashioned and a little sweet too me thinks? Ummm…still thinking…
I went straight to movies and TV and bookshelves and oh…the dusty corners of my mind – hope some of these may help! Cheers, Katie
Marilla Jean
Lorianne Lousie
Blythe Danielle
Ceceilia Joan
Josephine May
Sloane Katherine
Ruby Lee
Clementine Rose
Clara Anne
Nellie Opal
Mary Alice
Ona Kearney
Paley Rae
Faith Phillipa
Harper Francine
Sarah Noelle
Tabitha Elaine
(this was fun, thanks!)
adele
louisa
adeline
mina
marian
annika
fiona
are all names we considered for our daughter who ended up a scarlett.
good luck! ours almost came home with no name.
I like Merrin. How about Merrin Ingrid?
I also love Millicent. I think it’s adorable and beautiful, and it goes with the Eleanor/Evelyn/Ruby crowd. Millicent Pearl.
Cordelia?
Hmmm, as I think I may have a girl in here, I cannot give away too many of my ideas just yet. I really like the suggestion above of Sloan, that is on my list too. What about Ophelia. I am into names starting with vowels this time around, quite a few “E” names on my list. I too love Olivia but agree it is way overdone. Another favorite which goes with your “old” theme is Bronwynne. Or Briony (goes also with the movie theme).
Some of my favorites are:
Emmaline Gretchen
Lucy Madeline
Ava Phoebe
Tessa Evelyn
Sophie Charlotte
Olivia Fabiola (family name)
If I ever have a daughter, and the chances are slim to none at this point, she will be named Kennedy Faith. I love this name.
I noticed Declan on your boys’ name list. One couple who we shot a wedding for was Angele and Declan. They both had such great names so my pick of the day for you is:
Angele
Brynn
Elise (Eli for short)
Gweneviere
I happen know 3 little girls with the above names and I like them all.
Our girls are Ainsley Allen (her dad’s middle name) and Amelia Allison (my middle name). We found boys names impossible to agree upon both times I was pregnant, so its good we had girls!
I have always loved the name Penelope. My husband vetoed it both times, but I’m still stuck on it.
My mom used to work with a woman named Craig. Which is also my Dad’s name. So there’s that.
I love Olivia, but its making a serious comeback in popularity recently. Have friends in London who named their little one Beatrice, which has been a favorite of mine since I first read the Ramona books.
And for an 80’s reference – how about Sloane?