Dear Swistle,
My husband and I are expecting our first child (a girl) next month and we cannot decide on a name. The only name that we could really agree that we both love is Hannah, but we have both decided that it’s popularity bothers us. I like Lucy (he doesn’t), he likes Catherine (I don’t).
The two names that we have it narrowed down to are Harper Eve or Mary ___. I don’t think either of us love these names and we can’t think of a middle name for Mary (we aren’t Catholic and I don’t want the name to sound too Catholic, no offense). I wish that we had a family name that we loved, but we don’t. Our grandmothers names are Merlyn, Doris, Levora, and Dianne, none of which we care for. Our great grandmothers names are Ila, Maude, Sarah, Laura, Mary Ellen, Elise, Ernastine, and Ellis, but we’re not sold on any of these. I like Ila (or Ayla or Isla), but my husband hates it.
All of my sisters have names that start with a K sound and that is confusing enough that I don’t want to introduce another K (or hard C) name into the mix.
Our last name starts with J and is two syllables. We would like a name that isn’t weird, that is easy to spell and easy to pronounce, but that isn’t too popular. We tend to like classic names, although Harper has been one of my favorites for a long time so there are exceptions to this. We have nieces named Mia Rose, Sydney Anne, Emma May, and Hailey Elizabeth, so all of these are off limits.
Thanks so much :)
Erica
I like the name Harper VERY MUCH, and since you’ve liked it a long time, it’s tempting to just say, “Yes! Harper!,” make a poll with one choice on it, and dust off my hands after a job well done. I’m a huge fan of Eve, too—although I think a different middle name might work better with Harper.
There was a little girl named Mary in my son’s kindergarten class, and I was surprised at how fresh and uncommon it sounded. I think of it as a Very Common Name, but of course it ISN’T common in the current crop of babies. I like the family tie-in if you use Mary Ellen, but what about Mary Harper? (I considered Mary Hannah, but when I said it out loud I added “little lamb”: “Mary Hannah little lamb, its fleece was white as snow.”)
A name that catches my eye in your family name list is Laura. I think it’s beautiful. Laura Harper. Laura Eve. It’s easy to spell and pronounce, it’s classic, and according to the Social Security Administration it was only #172 in 2006. For comparison, that’s LESS COMMON than the names Genesis (#169) and Alondra (#170).
If you both love the name Hannah, and you agree on it, I think you should reconsider using it. It’s a beautiful, classic name with long roots. But if its popularity continues to bother you, I’d go with Laura. That’s my top choice: Laura Harper J____ (LHJ). Family connection. Classic. Easy to pronounce and spell. Not too common and not too weird. And it incorporates the name Harper, which you’ve liked for a long time.
oh yippie i’m the first comment.
I like Mary Harper as a double name! You use both names you love so it’s a win-win.
I also like Mary Laura as a double name.
Yes ma’am I’m a southern girl with a thing for double names.
If you go with Harper, what about Harper Laura J? Not as a double name just as the first middle.
Those are my thoughts!
The name that pops out from the family list is Elise – I think Mary Elise is a great choice.
I also like Harper Elise.
I really like Harper even though like Mairzy, I’m not big on the names that can go with either gender. How about Harper Marie or Hannah Marie? Isn’t Marie another form of Mary? That would kinda include the Mary that they like, but not make it too Catholic-like.
Mary Celeste
Mary Katherine
Mary Beth
I was going to say just what Lori said.
I do like Mary Harper also, and don’t think that sounds very Catholicy.
I love love Harper, but also love how pretty Laura sounds.
I thought that Ellis and Elise would make good middle names for Mary
Mary Elise
Mary Ellis (although this might be a famous person)
Harper Ellis
I guess I just think Ellis is too cool not to use.
I’ll also go ahead and suggest Elizabeth with the nn Betty. Elizabeth reminds me of your husband’s favorite and Betty reminds me of Lucy, your favorite.
I really love Harper. Our last name is Parker so I could never use it. And I think Ellis is a great middle name for either one- Harper Ellis sounds good. And I like it for Mary as well. It sounds fresher- Mary Alice with a twist.
I’m wild about Harper. What a beautiful name!
I’m in agreement that it sounds great as Harper Ellis or Harper Elise.
Harper Elise is beautiful!!!
Oh dear.
This was tough for me.
I grew up with a girl who, I’m serious, had the first name Meredith and the last name Harper. And she was dramatic, and always had to be the centre of attention, and we clashed in personality quite a bit…. soooo unfortunately I am not a fan of either of those names.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Hannah! It’s always a contender on my List of Possible Names for my Future Spawn. I’ve only met one or two Hannah’s, and in the school where I currently work I haven’t come across as many Hannah’s as I might have thought I would.
I think Hannah is classic, pretty and I always picture a very well-mannered and soft-spoken little girl (much like the only Hannah I know personally, hahaha).
I hope you’ll keep Hannah on your list… popular names are at least easy names for others to understand and spell! I’m a “Stephanie”, born in 1985… in my own personal group of friends, there are THREE of us Stephanie’s.
But honestly, it’s perfect. EVERYONE knows how to say it, how to spell it, etc. So don’t rule out a name you really like because of popularity necessarily. (Also remember, it might not be as popular in your specific town as the “Top Ten” lists, etc make it seem – those aren’t charts for your specific town!).
Anyway, I choose Hannah. Hannah Eve is SO pretty. And both names do that funky thing where you can spell them backwards and forwards. So when Hannah is in school and they teach her that, she can be all, “My first name AND middle name do that funky thing!”. Just sayin’.
The other name I like is Laura. I’ve had nice experiences with Laura’s, I’ve only met attractive Laura’s, and it’s also a nice, classic name (the family connection is great too).
Oh oh! And I was almost named “Celia”… so that has always held a special place in my heart. So nice suggestion, Mairzy!
Instead of Celia, I got Stephanie. I’ve never MET a Celia. I still hold on to Celia as my “nearly got a unique name” name. LOL. (But let me reiterate, I am glad for the well-known name that was never an issue for others).
And one more thing! (Gosh I’m chatty tonight)… I like Elise as was mentioned in the above comments… or another alternative to that could be “Elisa”.
(Swistle – sorry if these comments are too long!!!!)
I like the idea of a ‘soft’ first name, like Mary and a ‘harder’ middle name, like Harper. Then she can choose either later in life.
And what about ‘Hadley’? It is a little like Harper.
I love the name Mary Jane, but my grandmother is Mary Jane. It so bothers me when I go to her nursing home and the aids just call her Mary.
I also like Laura or Laure. Laura Elise Johnson/Jackson sounds very nice.
There are 2 Cecilia’s in my mom’s group. I love the name and my parents’ wedding recessional was the end of that Simon and Garfunkel song. I do ALWAYS sing it when I think of that name. But there’s a song for practically every name – Lydia, oh Lydia that encyclopedia, Lydia the tattood lady.
I really like Harper. And I think Harper Eve is beautiful.
I have a younger sister (in her early 20’s) named Mary Beth Lastname. I love the combination that my parents chose. There were a few people who thought her first name was Mary Beth. But she goes by that sometimes too. Actually Beth came as a compromise with my parents. My mom loved Elizabeth, but my dad didn’t want to chance the nickname Liz or Lizzie (which he didn’t like). So my mom tried Mary Elizabeth, and he said no. So she settled for Mary Beth. I like how it came about. It’s fun and cute and short.
I love the name Hannah, but I can see the whole “Hannah Montana” phenomenon having a negative impact upon that in the next couple of years.
Same with Meredith, such a pretty name but may imply a certain affinity for Grey’s Anatomy.
Of all the aforementioned choices I definitely vote for Mary Elise. Not too Catholic at all. My husband’s side of the family is super Catholic (he’s the exception) and all the women are Mary something, and then go by the middle name only. So you could always go with Mary Elise (MEJ) and call her Elise, and then if she ends up not liking the name she can switch to Mary when she’s older. Or vice versa, I suppose.
I like Harper. But I really like Mary Harper. That’s my vote
I have to disagree that Laura is an easy to pronounce name. I have been yelled at by TONS of Lauras…”No, it’s LAra.” “No, it’s LOra.” Blech. I can’t hardly hear the difference.
I have a friend who is Meredith and goes by Merry for short. I think it is a very cool way to be named Mary.
Oh, and another “problem” with Hannah…there are lots of popular names that sound like it right now. I was in a playgroup that had 2 Hannah’s, 1 Anna, and 1 Savannah. Lordy, that got confusing!
ADORe the name Harper!! Meredith is a close second choice. :)
Another suggestion:
We know a little girl whose name is Mary Elizabeth but goes by “Mary Beth.”
I stumbled upon this blog and felt like I had to comment! Laura Harper is beautiful although I am biased because I am Laura- Katherine (Katie for short). My sister is Mary-Keeley. I have alwayed loved her name. Very unique, and it was my great-grandfather’s name(Robert-Keeley). If you can’t tell already, I am from the deep south where double names are as common as mesquitos all you ever see. Some thoughts:
Harper Keeley
Laura Keeley
Laura Louise (Lou or Lu-Lu for short)
I stumbled upon this blog and felt like I had to comment! Laura Harper is beautiful although I am biased because I am Laura- Katherine (Katie for short). My sister is Mary-Keeley. I have alwayed loved her name. Very unique, and it was my great-grandfather’s name(Robert-Keeley). If you can’t tell already, I am from the deep south where double names are as common as mesquitos all you ever see. Some thoughts:
Harper Keeley
Laura Keeley
Laura Louise (Lou or Lu-Lu for short)