Brooke writes:
My husband and I are expecting our first baby, a girl. We still need to name her. It’s not that we disagree about names really, we just don’t ever decide! If I were to characterize our name choices though, I would say that I typically like more unique names while he likes names a little more on the traditional side.
Names we like:
Ella (I like this one a lot, my husband a little less so. Eloise is my mother’s name so that’s another reason I like it.)
Elle (Same as above)
Brynn
Quinn
Aubrey (my husband’s current favorite)
Virginia (I don’t like this at all but my husband does…I should rephrase, this is my Grandmother’s name and I love her very much I don’t want Virginia as my daughter’s name…AND we both have sisters named Jennifer/Jenny/Jenn.My only problem with Ella is that I don’t want a name that becomes the next Jessica or Jennifer so that she’s always Ella J in school b/c there are like 4 of them in her class. How did it become so popular?!?!?!? boo!! Are any of these other names on the verge of that popularity too? Maybe we could do Ella or a form of it as a middle name and still honor my mother that way? Just a thought.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
We’ve discussed before (too hurrying-to-catch-up to find links right now, but eventually we’ll have a FAQ) that even the very most popular names today are only about 1/4th as popular as names such as Jennifer were when THEY were the most popular. So there isn’t any such thing right now as the next Jessica or Jennifer: if there were four Jennifers in a classroom before, there would now be only one of today’s #1 name.
But I get what you mean: even if Isabella isn’t as common as Jennifer was, even if it’s only 1/4th as common, it still can easily result in being Isabella R. and so forth. Although even this situation (1) isn’t too awful, and (2) can happen even with a name that’s statistically unlikely to duplicate within a classroom.
Ella is indeed getting very popular (a = not in the Top 1000 for that year):
(screenshot from SSA.gov)
Would you consider actually making your daughter a namesake and naming her Eloise? It’s a wonderful name, and much much much less common than Ella:
(screenshot from SSA.gov)
You could even nickname her Ella, but she could use Eloise if there was another Ella in her class.
If Eloise is not your style, the name that comes to mind looking at your list is Brielle—but that doesn’t work with your husband’s list at all. Hm.
One of my friends named her daughter Audra. It has the sound of Aubrey/Audrey, and it’s good established name, but it’s uncommon. Audra Eloise, maybe.
A very unusual choice would be Aquinnah, which is what Michael J. Fox named one of his daughters. It has the Quinn you like, but it’s…well, it’s longer. It has the rhythm of the name Virginia and some of its sound, so maybe it would be a name you’d both like. Aquinnah Eloise.
Another very unusual choice is Elodie. (It rhymes with Melody.)
Aubrey and Brynn have so many letters in common, I’m tempted to combine them—and it feels like there MUST be a name that sounds like both of them.
Name update! Brooke writes: “We ended up with a name we both adore, Quinn Eloise (Eloise is my mother’s name).”
I second Swistle’s suggestion of naming her Eloise with a possible Ella nickname. I think it’s lovely, classic, feminine but still not too common!
I think Eloise is a fine name and good choice for you, but if you want more El names there’s Ellen, Elaine, or Eleanor (a favorite of mine). Elizabeth is probably more popular than what you’re after. Elspeth maybe?
Just saw this in the previous post– Elise could work.
Eloise is a lovely name. I think Elsa could be another unusual name that is less common. Or Elise. So many great choices.
Brynn is a nice name. Short, sweet, and simple. It would definitely be well received.
Eleanor is a nice, solid name, but less popular than Ella. Plus, if she doesn’t want to be confused with the other girls whose names are shortened to Elle, she could use Nora.
I also like Sarah’s suggestion of Elsa.
I vote Eloise.
I actually know of a baby girl/toddler named Aubryn (and she’s adorable!)
Ella/Ellie was on my list, but hubs didn’t like it… we ended up with Emma (yes, yes – I know it was #1 in 2008… our E was born in Jan. 2009 – and so far I know & know of some other Emma’s who are several years older than her, but none her age – even at daycare…)
I think Eloise is cute, and could easily use either (or both) nicknames of Ella/Elle :)
I love Eloise, and some of the other suggestions you’ve gotten here. That said, if you love Ella: use it! (So long as your husband approves, of course.)
Good luck!
I love Eloise, it’s a perfect name. But maybe you don’t want to name you baby after your mother. (As much as I love my mother, and her name, I will not be naming my daughter after her.)
I love Ella too, and if you don’t want to use it, you could use one of the following and still have Ella/Elle as a nn.
Ariel/Arielle
Danielle/Daniella
Elena
Estelle/Estella
Gabrielle/Gabriella
Michelle
Good luck!
For some reason I think of the name Briony when I read this post, which after I looked it up, it seems the more common spelling is Bryony. I also like Eleanor and Elise.
i love all of the El names, too. how about Ellison or Ellington?? Audra and Aubryn are so cute, also. Good luck!!
I’d probably go with Aubrey – it’s adorable!
How wonderful if your mother and daughter shared the same name!
Eloise Jackson is classic, lively, and elegant.
As for nicknames, there are: Ella, Ellie, Els, Elsa, Lola, Lou, Elle, and Lois.
Paired with a smart middle name, you have all the makings for “Wow! What a perfect name!” to be uttered over and over again for years.
Best wishes to you all!