Julia writes:
I am a loyal reader of your blog, and I need some advice from you and your other readers. We are having our first child next month (due Sept. 16) and we have yet to decide on a name. We have narrowed it down to a short list that includes:
Charlotte Kate
Lucy Kate
Ruby Kate
Hazel Kate
Jackie KateWe plan to call her by both names, so we need help deciding what sounds best together. Depending on which we go with, we might use Katherine as the middle name and just call her Kate. For example, if we go with Lucy Kate we would likely name her Lucy Katherine and call her Lucy Kate. If we go with Jackie, we would likely name her Jackie Kate or Jacklyn Kate.
Which combination of the above 5 do you like best and any thoughts/feedback on them? Oh and if it helps, I am Julia and my husband is Ben. Our last name is Phillips. So basically any of them go with our last name.
Thanks so much for your help!!!
I said each one aloud several times, imagining addressing a child. For me, Charlotte Kate is the largest/longest to say outloud: the Char of Charlotte needs a little extra time to say, and then the consonant ending of Charlotte forces a little pause. I think I like the sound of Jackie Kate least. I’m not sure why—the repeating K sound, maybe. That may be part of the reason Charlotte Kate isn’t my favorite, either: the doubled T-ending.
My top favorite is Lucy Kate. It’s the combination I find easiest to say (no hard consonant sounds in the first name), and also the combination I think would be most likely to be understood by someone hearing it.
Ruby Kate and Hazel Kate are tied for second place. Not as smooth for me to say as Lucy Kate, but easier for me to say than Charlotte Kate or Jackie Kate.
Let’s have a poll over to the right, to see everyone else’s favorites! [Poll closed; see results below.]
My eye was immediately drawn to Charlotte Kate, and then I did see Swistle’s point about saying it out loud. But, I really like the idea of shortening Charlotte to Charly (you could either pronounce it with a hard ch- as in the boy’s name Charlie or a soft ch- pronounced like Sharly). Charlotte Katherine with nn Charly Kate is soooo cute!
Before reading Swistle’s comments, Lucy Katherine “Lucy Kate” had my vote. Absolutely darling! Kate is like Jane — goes well as a middle name with so many names, but particularly with classic names. Lucy Katherine/”Lucy Kate” is an amazing combination!
I also voted for Lucy Kate. I found both Charlotte Kate and Jackie Kate difficult to say. I would vote for Ruby Kate as a close second. I love the name Hazel, but it just doesn’t roll off the tongue with Kate nearly as well as Lucy or Ruby.
Lucy Kate and Ruby Kate are my favorites: You have the three long vowels (oo, ee, ay), but no repeating sounds.
Jackie Kate is my least favorite as well – the repeating “K” sound it tricky on the tongue. And “Jacklyn Katherine” has the addition of repeating vowel sounds (the short “a” and the short “i” of “lyn” and “ine) as well as the repeating “K.”
But I recognize that sound is wholly subjective – and all the names are lovely! Congratulations on your baby!
I, too, prefer Lucy Kate. I don’t much care for Hazel Kate, but I love Hazel Katherine! I think if I were just going off of what I like best as Firstname Lastname (not taking the MN into consideration), I’d vote for Hazel. But since you plane to call this baby by the first and middle, my vote is for Lucy.
I don’t like Jackie Kate at all, but I’ve never been a fan of the name Jackie, period. Charlotte Kate doesn’t flow for ms, not does Charlotte Katherine. Ruby Kate I like, but it sort of sounds like a restaurant to me.
Ruby Kate is easiest for me to say. And Ruby Katherine is a lovely full name.
Good luck!
I like Ruby Katherine/Kate and Lucy Katherine/Kate. I really like full names instead of nicknames, but I think I am being objective and really like the sounds of those names the best. They are really nice names, best of luck!
Lucy Kate or Ruby Kate– love them both!
I voted for Lucy Kate, because it seems to flow best. I would go with Lucy Katherine and just call her Lucy Kate. I love Hazel, but not as a double name with Kate. No matter what first name you choose, I would use the full name Katherine. I really like full proper names.
I love the name Lucy from your list and it sounds great with the middle name kate!! I also like the idea of naming her Charlotte but using the nn Charlie, Charlie Kate is very cute for a little girl!!
Congrats and all the best x
I voted for Ruby, but I had a hard time deciding between that and Lucy or Hazel. I would go with Katharine instead of Kate as the full name if it were me, but Kate is cute as a nn.
Would you consider Nora Kate? I always thought that would be a cute combo.
Oooooh, Ruby Kate! The flow is really nice and I think they complement each other well. Classic names but together they sound really fresh.
Good choices!
I like Lucy Kate, but I love the name Hazel too not paired with Kate though.
I like Lucy Kate. I have a niece named Lila Kate which is very similar and I think it’s an adorable name. I love when the first and middle name can be combined. It’s cute and makes them stand out even if the first name is a little more common.