Jodie writes:
My husband and I are expecting our 2nd child, another girl, in September. Our first born is Ada Frances. Our last name sounds like Fiddle – only starts with a K.
We are decided on a first name, Violet but my husband and I are split between the middle name. My vote is for Violet Luella and his, Violet Stevie.
Other contenders that have been tossed around are:
Juno
Beatrix
Regina
Frankie (too close to Ada’s middle name?)
Hattie/Harriet
RemiThoughts? Suggestions?
An odd thing happens when I see Violet Stevie: my brain reads it as Violent Stevie. (This may be a side-effect of a frequent exposure to video game, comic book, and children’s book characters.) But I would prefer Violet Luella even if it weren’t for this little brain glitch: Luella seems to me to fit better with Ada, Frances, and Violet. The one mark against Luella is that it gives the complete name a lot of L—but that could equally well be used as a point in support of the combination.
My favorite of all the names you mention is Beatrix. I like Violet Beatrix Fiddle best for rhythm, style, sibling name coordination, and overall sound.
Let’s have a poll to see what everyone else thinks!
What is his reasoning behind Stevie? It seems so random, but there must be some meaning for him.
Of the front runners, I prefer Luella. It seems more in line stylistically with the other three names. I also like Beatrix (my vote actually), Juno and Harriet.
I agree with Swistle– Luella of the front runners, and Beatrix otherwise. I have a 3-month old girl named Harriet (nn Hattie), so I also love those names, but not as well with the first name Violet. Our next daughter will be Luella. I obviously think you have fabulous taste in names! :) Whatever you choose of that list will be lovely!
So funny…I just met sisters named Luella and Violet, so that sticks in my mind as a good match.
V, B, and K are such strong consonants that I have a difficult time saying the full name Violet Beatrix Fiddle-with-a-K. I tried three times fast and was completely unsuccessful (sounded like Violet Beatrik Skittle)! I don’t know how often you’d use the full name, but my vote is for Luella, because it is soft enough in that center spot to break up the other sounds.
I agree!
I voted for Violet Juno. But I also wonder what is the significance of Stevie? An honor name? Violet Luella is pretty too.
I voted for Violet Beatrix — and then saw the post by S. I agree that with your actual surname, Violet BeaTRIX KID___ is a bit of a tongue twister.
Looking at your other possibilities, I think Violet Hattie has a special appeal and would be a compromise between your vintage Luella and your husband’s tomboyish nickname Stevie, which for me doesn’t work at all with Violet or with your older daughter’s vintage name Ada Frances. I like Violet Regina too.
I find Juno too modern with Violet, Ada and Frances, and ViolET HarriET, too rhyme-y. Remi sounds either made up or a version of the French male name Remy (???), and Frankie has the same drawbacks as Stevie while also being very close to Frances.
I’m wondering if either Luella, Hattie or Regina has a special meaning for you. If so, I’d chose that name for Violet’s middle name.
Violet Luella is very pretty and rolls off the tongue beautifully. Violet Stevie is quite jarring and doesn’t seems to fit stylistically at all with any of your other names. Does it have some special meaning for your husband?
From your other picks I think Violet Juno sounds great too.
I’d also like to suggest:
Violet Isabel
Violet Olive
Violet Audrey
Violet Lucy (too cute!)
Violet Eliza
Violet Mae
Violet Edith
Violet Nora
Violet Cecile
Violet Beatrice (works better than Beatrix with your surname I think)
Violet Cecile
I also like Viola as a sister name to Ada as well. Ada and Viola!
All the best!
Violet Beatrice is a great suggestion — lovely combination and Beatrice works much better than Beatrix with your surname. Beatrice also sounds very nice with with your older daughter’s middle name:
Ada Frances
Violet Beatrice
I voted for Violet Remi, but Violet Luella would be my second choice. Violet Stevie would be my very last choice- when I see the combination I no longer view Violet as a flower but as a color word, and so I think “Purple Steve.”
I quite like the repeating “V” sound in Violet Stevie, but I don’t like the style clash at all. So I voted for Violet Luella.
I like another commenter’s suggestion of Violet Olive.
Good luck
Thanks for all your comments and votes.
I agree with the “style clash” and “jarring” feelings for Stevie (no real meaning other than a name we like).
You have made me re-think Beatrix ( I love this name!).
Violet Luella or Violet Beatrix look like the contenders, lucky I have 10 weeks to go to convince hubby!
Thanks again J : )
Good luck, Jodie! They’re all beautiful choices. Even Violet Stevie– it’s not quite right exactly as a first/middle combo, but I like them each as independent names.
My favorite, though, is Violet Juno. It flows well with your surname, and Juno is at once familiar and mysterious, girlish and sophisticated, in a way that is really special. Violet Luella would be my second choice.
Of your choices, I like Violet Luella. I might throw it out though just because you each have a favorite and choosing your favorite over his would be less harmonious than choosing a third option. He may be fine though, depends how everyone feels!
Personally though, I think a one-syllable name might sound better with Violet. I like the suggestion above of Violet Mae. Or almost any other one syllable names. Maybe try reading through a list of one syllable names and see if you agree on one?
What about Violet Evie? Close to Stevie but ‘fits’ better. I agree with a previous commenter that the repeating ‘v’ sound is quite appealing.
Ada Frances and Violet Evie. Cute! Violet Ivy is great too.
I do like Violet Luella though!