Jessica writes:

I am 38 weeks pregnant with our second child, which we do not know the sex of.  Our first child, my lovely daughter, is named Lola Vaughn Randall.  I absolutely love her name.  She is named after my husbands maternal grandmother, a holocaust survivor and strong matriarch–unfortunately I did not have to pleasure of meeting her before her death.  

I’m one of three siblings, my brother is Ian and sister is Briana. Growing up, there names were unique.  I remember it being many years before I’d met another Ian or Briana.  As for us, we’re happy with the idea of two children.   So this will be my final pregnancy.  

So here are our considerations:

Girl:  1.  Harlow  2.  Harper

Boy:  1.  Greyson  2.  Reed  3.  Cole  4.  Mason (This was a big contender, but now I’m not crazy about the association with Khloe Kardashian’s son.) 

These are all first name considerations, I haven’t been able to come up with middle names at all.  I really love my daughters first and middle combination, but I’m having a hard time coming up with any middle names.  

Any help will greatly be appreciated!  Thank you.

From your girl name list, I prefer Harper. Lola and Harlow is a little difficult for me to say, with the repeated “low” sound.

I’d add to the list:

Anya
Audra
Aurora
Bianca
Bridget
Colette (maybe too much “ole”)
Dahlia
Geneva
Georgia (Georgie or Gigi)
Gianna
Iris
Jade
Jolie (maybe too much “ole”)
Margo
Maxine
Nadia
Olive
Ruby
Scarlett
Silvie
Simone
Thea

My favorite from that list is Bianca. Bianca Randall; Lola and Bianca. Maybe Bianca Sloane or Bianca Grey.

From your boy name list, I’d eliminate Cole for a similar reason as Harlow, but this time for too much “ole” sound (Lola and Cole starts to make me think of cola).

I think I’d also eliminate Mason, not because of the Kardashians but because according to the Social Security Administration it’s now the #2 most popular boy name in the United States, while Lola is significantly less common.

I hesitate slightly with Greyson. I think it coordinates well with Lola, but Grayson/Gracen/Graycen is used often enough for girls that it’s starting to make me a little nervous. It’s not a big deal (I’m about to suggest Grey, after all, and that has the same issue), but it’s something I’d want to think about ahead of time. I also think that just as people currently say they don’t want any of the “ayden” names (Aidan, Jaden, Hayden, Caden, etc.), they may soon be saying the same of the “ayson” names. I think I might go straight to Grey. Grey Randall; Lola and Grey. Or maybe to Grady. Grady Randall; Lola and Grady.

So that makes Reed my top choice from your boy name list, if that’s not too much R and D with the surname. Reed Randall; Lola and Reed.

I’d add to the list:

Cade
Cason
Dean
Edmund
Ezra
Flynn
Gage
George
Grady
Grey
Hayes
Hugh
Hugo (might be too hard to say with Lola)
Jude
Malcolm
Rhys
Thompson
Truman
Wilson

Hayes seems like it would make a particularly good middle name. Something like Malcolm Hayes Randall, maybe, or Cason Hayes Randall. You could also use Mason as a middle if you decide not to use it as a first: Flynn Mason Randall, or Dean Mason Randall.

Name update! Jessica writes:

Boy, you got the post up just in time.  Our son was born at 12:53pm on Saturday, June 2. 

The input was a lot of help, as well as the comments.  We decided on Greyson Miles and will call him Grey.

I did love the suggestion Harlow Grey for a girl & will always be a little sad we didn’t get to use that, but now it’s out there. 

Lola Vaughn loves being big sister to Greyson Miles and there is nothing sweeter than hearing her say his full name.

Thank you again.