Kimberly writes:
I am due in 3 weeks with baby #2, a girl. We think we have agreed on a first name, but I’m starting to have doubts for various reasons. In addition, we can’t decide on a middle name! The name we have chosen is Zoe. It started a few months ago simply as a suggestion from my husband, but my (almost) 3 year old loves the name and is already introducing the baby as “my baby sister, Zoe.”
We are fairly certain that this is our last child, meaning my husband will not likely get the son he wants (even though he is thrilled with his girls!). I named our oldest child, and suggested he pick a name for this baby. The name he chose was Zoe Jane. For those not familiar with the song or type of music, Zoe Jane is the name of a song by Staind and is about a father’s love for his daughter. While the idea is extremely sweet, I just couldn’t name my child after a song and we are now having a problem agreeing on a middle name. He suggested Grace, which I don’t think goes well. I suggested Elizabeth and he thinks it is too old fashioned.
The other problem (and the biggest problem I am facing right now) is the similarity in sound to another family member’s name. She is the girl’s aunt (my husband’s younger sister), but is still in early elementary school so she is closer in age to the girls than to my husband. My kids will spend every weekday afternoon with her (and my mother in law) while I am at work. Her name is Chloe. I’m worried the names sound too simliar and will cause confusion.
I hope you can offer some input to help us make our decision a little easier.
If your husband is going to choose the name for this daughter, and if it doesn’t bother him to have his daughter’s name rhyme with his sister’s name, then I think having a Zoe and a Chloe will be fine. There will probably be occasional confusions, but it seems likely to be a minor issue.
I think the name Zoe is a particularly difficult one to find a middle name for. I lean toward long middle names:
Zoe Carolina
Zoe Felicity
Zoe Katerina
Zoe Olivia
Zoe Rosanna
Zoe Rosemary
Zoe Savannah
Zoe Veronica
Zoe Victoria
If he likes the sound of Zoe Jane and Zoe Grace, perhaps he would like:
Zoe Faith
Zoe Joy
Zoe June
Zoe Kate
Zoe Layne
Zoe Paige
Zoe Pearl
Zoe Rayne
Zoe Rose
If Elizabeth is too old-fashioned, maybe he would like:
Zoe Elena
Zoe Eleni
Zoe Elise
Zoe Eliza
Zoe Ella
Zoe Isabel
I have a friend whose daughter’s name is Zoe Alexa which I think is a lovely combination. Just throwing out another idea….
I don’t think that the song you are worried about is popular enough for many people to make that connection, and if you like Jane otherwise, you should go for Zoe Jane. I have to disagree with Swistle – I like Zoe paired with a shorter middle name rather than a longer one – of the suggestions offered, I think either Zoe Rose or Zoe Kate are the best.
Some ideas, I hope this helps
Zoe Adeline
Zoe Bellatrix
Zoe Cecily
Zoe Diana
Zoe Emmeline
Zoe Florence
Zoe Genevieve
Zoe Juliana
Zoe Lucia
Zoe Miriam
Zoe Nicolina
Zoe Perdita
Zoe Raphaella
My own daughter’s name (Bailey) rhymes with my husband’s sister’s name (Calie) and it has never been a problem.
I love Zoe Jane. I have never heard of the song you mentioned so chances are other people won’t make that connection either. I think it is sweet that your husband chose that name and would go for it!
I like Zoe Jane.
I also have never heard of the song you mentioned. And I also lean toward shorter middle names with the first name Zoe.
The big sister’s name isn’t mentioned, if not Jane, then perhaps a middle name that coordinates with her name/middle name?
I love the name Zoe, and I particularly like the idea of Zoe Alexa as someone mentioned earlier. The styles seem to mesh really well. That said, I think Zoe Jane works just fine, and I’ve never even heard of that song, so if your husband loves it, and that’s your only complaint, I say go for it! (I also don’t think the Zoe/Chloe thing is a big deal.)
My Zoe has the middle name Claire, but before that we were going to go with Zoe Rebecca. I love Zoe Jane, and I love ZeeJay as a nn. Very cute!
I am one who likes longer middle names with Zoe. I like Zoe Victoria of Swistle’s suggestions. I’m also going to suggest Zoe Bernadette. If Zoe and Chloe would be sisters I would say it’s too close, but since they’re not sisters, I think it is ok. The kids will not spend every weekday together indefinitely.
I’d go with Zoe Jane, too, despite the song and Aunt Chloe. I tend to like shorter middle names with Zoe, so my other favorite would be Zoe Pearl.
It really depends on your last name, though. Number of syllables as well as emphasis.
I’m with those who’ve never heard of the song, prefer Zoe paired with a shorter middle name and see no problem in having cousins Zoe and Chloe. Zoe Jane sounds perfectly fine.
Zoe Jane is cute! I think Zoe is a really easy name to match – it sounds great with long or short middle names. Others that would sound good:
Zoe Breanne
Zoe Sage
Zoe Lynn
Zoe Elaine
I think Zoe Jane is fine, no song association for me. But just in case, here are a few ideas. Since people seem to have different and strong ideas about syllable count, I’ve got short, medium and long here. Take your pick.
Zoe Alice
Zoe Amelia
Zoe Caitlin
Zoe Emma
Zoe Gabriella
Zoe Jasmine
Zoe Jillian
Zoe May <-- my favorite
Zoe Nora
Zoe Samantha
Also the Chloe thing probably won’t be much of a problem. I wouldn’t worry about it.
My newest Niece, who is two weeks old today is Zoe Rachel. (Just throwing that out there…I’ll be coming to you soon for some help trying to name my own baby-to-be.)
Since Zoe is a greek name, meaning, I believe, “life”, you may want to choose a greek middle name?
For example:
Zoe Alexandra (or Alexa as was previously suggested)
Zoe Amara (Amara means unfading or eternal beauty)
Zoe Jacinda
Zoe Karissa
Zoe Callista
Good luck!
I like
Zoe Alexis
Zoe Celeste
Zoe Nicole
Zoe Veronica
Zoe Savannah
Zoe Corinne
Zoe Delaney
Zoe Noelle
Zoe Michelle/Mikaela
I like accents on the second syllable of the middle name with Zoe, which is sort of a short and spunky name, and tend to agree more with swistle that something at least two syllables goes well to balance the short spunkiness of the name. You just can’t use an overly girly or flowery name I think, because Zoe is not that. If you use a shorter name though, what about:
Zoe Lane?
Like Jane, but Lane is a bit hipper and less classic, which I think fits with Zoe nicely. And your husband will still be reminded of the song.
I like Zoe Jane, but I also like Zoe Katherine.
Good luck!
Zoe Jane is adorable. I’ve never heard of the song either. However, I understand how you don’t want the connection once it has been made. My husband told me he wanted to name our son William Owen, which I was all for, until his best friend told me it was in honor of his two favorite comedians, Will Ferrell and Owen Wilson. Yeah, no thanks!
Zoe Jane is super cute, and I have never heard that song. :)
I have not heard the song Zoe Jane. I know a friend who has a daughter named Zoe Cadence. So there’s another one for you!
How about Zoe Brooke? Zoe Anna? Zoe April? Zoe Esme? Zoe June? Zoe Olive? Zoe Nina? Zoe Hannah? And I do like Zoe Jane. Best wishes!
I think Zoe Jane is lovely, and I haven’t heard the song. Even if I had, I would say go for it. In 5, 10 15 years most people will have forgotten about the song anyway. Also, unless she goes by her first and middle name together, her middle name will almost never come up in conversation.
Zoe Jane is way cool. As is Zoe Dawn.
Zoe Jane is the way to go. First of all maybe I’m biased because I’ve got jane for a middle. But I’ve never heard of the song and I like to think I’m at least somewhere in the middle of the bell curve when it comes to hipness and knowing songs. So I think you’re safe.
Zoe Marie.
My daughter’s name is Zoe Parker and I think it is a strong but still girly name. More modern.
Zoe Claire is what we are naming ours.
Well i really like the name Zoey Renee!!! but i am having difficultly keeping it that way because my man don’t like the middle name that’s why i am on here asking about the middle names lol….
I’m naming my daughter Zoe Jayne Willis, once she is born. I didn’t know of the song. I just listened to it now, and MORE than ever, I can’t wait to give my daughter this name. I was named after a song, and to find out there is a song for the name we chose for our babygirl, I’m even more in love with her soon to be name. :)
My name is Brandie. I was named after Brandy, you’re a fine girl by Looking Glass. :)
My daughters name is Zoey Ashlan :)