Kate writes:
I am due with my first baby January 20th, my name is Kate and my husband is Daniel, we don’t know the gender but we are pretty decided on a boys name: Hudson James Clancy (Clancy being our last name). Our alternate boys names if Hudson doesn’t feel right are: Riel James or Maxwell James (I also like the names Leif and Finley)
BUT: we are totally undecided on a baby girl names, I like names that are easy to spell and have been heard of before but aren’t SUPER common. We are thinking of Eleanor as the middle name (as it is a family name and we think it is lovely)
Harper Eleanor (I can’t decide if I think Harper is too common, does it sound “classic” or just “trendy”)
Hazel Eleanor (I like the old style of this name)
Scarlett Eleanor
Nelle (NN Nelly – middle name would have to be something other than Eleanor – maybe Kathryn?)
Beatrix Eleanor (I like the spunky sound but I am not sure it is classic enough for me.)
Violet Eleanor (I love how girly it is, but I am afraid of it’s popularity)I love classic English or Irish names, but I just can’t seem to find one that I love as much as I love Hudson for the boy. Also, I quite like the idea of it being a “girly” but classic sounding name.
Name update! Kate writes:
We had our baby girl on January 20, 2011. We named her Lily Eleanor. When she was born she didn’t look like any of the names we had chosen, she has such delicate features, she needed a delicate name. A couple of days before she was born, my husband and I remembered a name that we had chosen for our “future babies” when we first met (at age 16!), that name was Lily. We had forgotten all about it and it was perfect, she just looked like a Lily Eleanor. She is now three months old and it is perfect for her. If I could offer one piece of advice, don’t worry about how popular a name is, if you love it, that is all that matters. Thanks for all of the lovely suggestions!
I love Hudson James!
For a girl, can you use Eleanor as a first name? Eleanor Kathyn, nn Nelle/Nelly for example? Lovely.
I like Beatrix very much for you! Beatrix was most popular in 1883 (classic!) and isn’t among the top 1000 today which makes it a winner in my book.
My second choice for you would be Hazel.
(I don’t want to suggest anything because you have a great list and it looks like you’re all set…)
Good luck!
We seem to have some similar naming tastes – you even have one of my daughter’s names on your list, so I’m going to go ahead and suggest my other daughter’s name – Daphne. It sounds lovely with Eleanor and seems to fit your other criteria.
Good luck – I’m sure whatever you choose will be great!
I think Eleanor for the first name is a great idea. While it’s at a similar level of popularity as most of your list, it’s not rising as quickly so there’s less danger of it seeming trendy.
Also, as someone already pointed out, Beatrix is not in the top 1000, if this is a big concern for you.
But even though they are fast risers, I do like Harper, Hazel and Violet quite a bit. I bet stop before I endorse every name on the list. Good luck.
Ohh, I like Harper Eleanor. Beatrix is on our list and Scarlett was on the list for our first daughter. Her name is Juliet if you find that viable for you. I think your list is wonderful. My only thought is if you are trying to avoid two kids with the same initial then you might want to avoid Harper or Hazel if you are having more and Hudson will stay on your list. That doesn’t bother me at all, but just thought I’d point it out.
What about
Aria
Adelaide or Adeline
Cordelia
Carys
Rhiannon
Felicity
Romilly
Emmeline
Lenore/Lenora (Lena)
Count me among those who suggest using Eleanor as the first name. Eleanor Kathryn – nn Nelle or Elle – perfect!
For my take on the other names:
Harper – I like it, but I consider it more trendy than classic.
Hazel – I sort of see this as retro-trendy. It was trendy 80-100 years ago and now it is getting rediscovered as part of the old-fashioned trend.
Scarlett sort of walks the line between trendy and classic. It is more classic than Harper or Hazel but not as classic as say, Charlotte.
Nelle – I see this as a nickname name, and retro-trendy like Hazel.
Beatrix -I see this as classic, and I like it, but I prefer the softer sound of Beatrice.
Violet – I think this is mostly classic.
If you want classic, from your list, I suggest Eleanor or Beatrix.
Have you considered Phillipa?
Or for another path to Nelle, how about Penelope?
Sorry I think I misspelled Philippa.
I think it is one L and two Ps….
I think you have a great list, but I just have to suggest Philippa with the nickname Pippa because I feel it fits your criteria.
Philippa sounds funky and trendy but being the feminine version of Philip, I feel it is still classic and it is English.
I really like either Eleanor as a first name or the name Beatrix (or Beatrice as suggested) for you! I think it’s classic, but doesn’t seem like it’s gotten too popular. You might also like Leticia.
Good luck!
Someone else suggested this one, but I think it’s gorgeous:
Carys (it’s Welsh)
Or, Bridget/Brigid?
Aisling?
It’s maybe a stretch, but I think Olive is gorgeous, too. Hudson and Olive…
Congrats!
Eleanor is a lovely classic name, with Nell a possible nickname. Beatrix might also be called a classic name.
Harper isn’t classic and doesn’t sound classic: the source of it’s popularity appears to be writer Harper Lee, whose full name was Nelle Harper Lee. Harper was most likely a surname in her family, as was often the case with middle names for girls in the South where Nelle Lee was born. Hazel and Violet are late 19th – early 20th century favorites, but again, not actually “classic” names. Scarlett isn’t regarded as a classic either.
I think your best bets for a classic name from your list would be Eleanor, followed by Beatrix and Kathryn.
Eleanor “Nell” (or Nelle) would be lovely and meets your preference for a “classic English… name” and a name that’s “girly but classic sounding.”
I think Beatrix is definitely a classic name, and I third the comment about Beatrice as an alternative! Beatrix/ce would be my vote, if you are set on Eleanor as a middle name. Eleanor is so classic, just what you’re going for. Could it be a first name contender?
Hudson James and Rosalynd Eleanore Clancy?
Others-
Evangeline Nelle Clancy – Evie, Angie, Lina, Evalyn..
Esme Eleanor Clancy
Serena Lenore Clancy
Elise Nelle Clancy ***
Liliane Nelle Clancy
Alicia Eleanor Clancy
Beatriz Eleanor Clancy
Betsy Eleanor Clancy
Bevin Nelle Clancy
Rosamund Eleanor Clancy
Afton Eleanor and Hudson James.
Elinor as a different way to spell seems to go well with Hudson. Also, I think Beatrice does more than Beatrix. I think you would prefer a name without an easy nickname, since Hudson doesn’t have a nickname, so maybe like Violet. Maybe Vivian suits you?
I agree with another poster that Harper is not a classic or old fashioned name. I think its people liking the classic book and associating the name with it.
Beatrix is a wonderful, classic, and smart name for a girl.
Beatrix Potter, the creator of the Peter Rabbit series, published her books in 1903. That’s a pretty established name.
AND you get the nickname ‘Bea’! How darling is that?!
Anyway, you’ve got great taste, and Beatrix Eleanor seems like a fabulous name. Best wishes to your growing family!
(Oh, yes… ‘Hudson James’ is smashing!)
My only hesitation with using Beatrix, nn Bea is that Bea Clancy sounds a bit off – like you’re saying Be- a – Clancy. It could just be me!
Some suggestions:
Adele
Arden Eleanor Clancy (love this)
Annette
Amelia
Florence
Jacintha
Lillian
Luella
Arabella
Madeline
Congratulations on the birth of Lily Eleanor. What a gorgeous name. And what a great name story of remembering only a few days before her birth that years ago you and your husband chose the name Lily for your future daughter. It seems that she was meant to be called Lily.
>>If I could offer one piece of advice, don’t worry about how popular a name is, if you love it, that is all that matters.
I totally agree and hope that mantra is repeated again and again for parents seeking the right now for THEIR baby.
>>If I could offer one piece of advice, don’t worry about how popular a name is, if you love it, that is all that matters.
I totally agree and hope that mantra is repeated again and again for parents seeking the right *name* for THEIR baby.