Katie writes:
We are expecting our third child in December, possibly our last and can’t decide on a name. We’d like to have it narrowed down before she makes her arrival so she no longer will be Baby No name, but it has been so hard finding or deciding on a name that we “love”. It was stressful not deciding with our 2nd until he was born and in the end it felt rushed.
With our first we agreed on Georgia Kate(mn from my side) early on and it has been THE perfect name for her. Nn: Gigi and George, we absolutely love her name.
Our 2nd was a surprise so the girl name would have most likely been Esme and while that’s still on the list it’s not quite at the top anymore. We chose Nathan (Nate) and Scott for his middle name, my husbands name. Looking back I probably might have considered using one of our other less common boy names from our list since I love names so much, but I am really happy with his name.
We are not set on using a family name for mn spot on #3.
To get our naming style a little: We both have more traditional common names (Scott and Katie) so I think we always thought we’d like a little more unique yet not too unusual names for our children. Not too popular. I guess we seem to stick with more classic names, but did not on purpose. Also, my husbands job requires that for the next several years and potentially longer we will be moving to different countries (and sometimes back in the US) every couple years so it’s a little tricky to decide or care about trends in a particular state or city, but I do think about that.
After going back and forth, here is the girl list we have agreed on:
Piper – we love but I’m afraid it’s getting too popular or trendy?
Violet/Violette (nn: viola/vi) – again, I’m not sure I’m in love and it seems to be getting too popular?
Esme – not Esmerelda
Crosby – I had first fallen in LOVE. I had thought for a boy, but since its a girl I actually really still liked so I keep jumping back to it. I did get mostly negative feedback from most people(not a girl name and not with our names), but I can’t help it. A little girl Crosby would be so spunky and cute!!!Also on the longer list: Tessa, Charlotte, Maeve, Molly, Sutton, Jensen and Quinn. Hubby does not love these, but he wasn’t sold on Nathan either and loves now so…
Mainly, we want to love her name and pick something that feels just right. We do not want to have any regrets about wishing we would have really used a fun name instead of something so traditional. Should we care about this? Also, I don’t want to miss out on picking a name I love just because others might not agree. In fact, we got mixed reviews on Georgia and we absolutely have never had any reservation that it wasn’t just right.
Just to reference and know for any future siblings and our style, here are Boy names from our boy list:
Crosby
Bennett
Samuel (hubby likes)
Reid (we have a nephew Reece, do it might be to close, but I’ve loved it)
Wesley (too matchy with our last initial)
Maxwell nn Max (again we have a nephew Mack so too similar)
Graham/grant
Larson/Lawrence nn Lars(hubby liked, I didn’t, but am growing)For now, I’ve been searching name lists for any other girl names that might jump out at me, but we’d love to hear your thoughts and any suggestions that your readers might have. It would help so much to get a little extra advice. Thanks so much!
In this sibling group, I think Crosby works better for a boy than for a girl. If you’re set on it for a girl, I recommend using it as the middle name.
I wonder if you can put your finger on what it is you like about the name Crosby. Is it the cute “bee” sound at the end? If so, I’d suggest:
Aubrey; Georgia, Nathan, and Aubrey
Beatrix; Georgia, Nathan, and Beatrix
Darby; Georgia, Nathan, and Darby
Ruby; Georgia, Nathan, and Ruby
Shelby; Georgia, Nathan, and Shelby
Or is it the fun Z-sound? If so, I’d suggest:
Azalea; Georgia, Nathan, and Azalea
Eliza; Georgia, Nathan, and Eliza
Eloise; Georgia, Nathan, and Eloise
Esme (already on your list); Georgia, Nathan, and Esme
Hazel; Georgia, Nathan, and Hazel
Isadora; Georgia, Nathan, and Isadora
Louisa; Georgia, Nathan, and Louisa
Louise; Georgia, Nathan, and Louise
Margaret, nicknamed Daisy; Gigi, Nate, and Daisy
Margaret, nicknamed Maisy; Gigi, Nate, and Maisy
Rosalie; Georgia, Nathan, and Rosalie
Susanna; Georgia, Nathan, and Susanna
Zinnia; Georgia, Nathan, and Zinnia
From your list, my favorite sister name for a Georgia is Violet. I think Violet Wickland is a particularly smashing combination. My second favorite from your list is Esme.
The name Piper has the energetic sound you’re looking for, but I think it’s a different type than the name Georgia. One thing I love about the name Georgia is that it works on a very serious person or a very cheeky one; it’s easy to imagine the name Piper working on someone cheeky, but harder to imagine it working on someone serious. I like the way a Georgia can be a Gigi or a George or a Georgie depending on her personality; Piper misses out on those additional options. I’d prefer something like Beatrix, which lets her be Bee or a Bix or a Beatrix; or Louisa, which lets her be Lou or Lulu; or Margaret, which lets her be Daisy or Maisy or Meg or Maggie.
Name update! Katie writes:
Baby girl decided to arrive on her due date. After much deliberation we decided to name her Piper Elizabeth. The name Piper seemed to really fit and balanced nicely with a more feminine classic middle name that we didn’t even realize was in the family. Thanks for all of your help and suggestions. Big sister and brother are smitten:)
If I ran across a sibset of Georgia, Nathan & Crosby, I would assume Crosby was a boy. It just doesn’t work for me as a girl name.
From your list, my favorites are Esme and Violet. From the longer list, I really like Maeve. I wonder what you think of Maisie? Could be a nickname for Maeve or you could go more traditional with it as a nickname for Margaret.
I like many of the suggestions Swistle made as alternatives to Crosby. My favorites being Aubrey, Azalea & Hazel. I wonder if you’d like Phoebe? Or maybe something like Cora/Coraline or Cordelia?
Piper also feels very off with siblings named Georgia and Nathan. It seems trendy to me, but in a dated way. I wonder if you’d like Phillipa with the nickname Pippa? Or Penelope? I also thought of Posey as a kind of cross between Piper & Crosby.
Ooo, I like Posey as a nickname for Josephine. Georgia and Josephine; Gigi and Posey.
I am Georgia Josephine and I think they’re a great pairing for sisters!
What about Maeve with the nick name Maybe/Maeby? It’s from Arrested Development but it’s such a cool, spunky nick name.
My niece Esme just turned 3. Her parents sometimes call her “Ezzie” or “Ez”. I love her name! Why not stick with Esme? It sounds well with Georgia and Nathan and the nicknames Gigi and Ezzie would be darling together.
Of all the names you listed. my favorite with your sibset is Charlotte. Georgia, Nathan, and Charlotte… Gigi, Nate, and Lottie or George, Nate, and Charlie
My second choice would be Violet. Georgia, Nathan, and Violet , Gigi, Nate, and Vi…George, Nate, and Viola. If you are woried about popularity, what about Vivienne.
My only problem with Esme is that there is no natural nickname and you use nicknames for your other two children. I would also prefer Esmeralda with the nickname Esme.
Piper and Crosby are cute but don’t leave the child with other options so I don’t see them as very versatile. I guess I feel pretty much the same way about Tessa, Maeve, Molly, Sutton, Jensen and Quinn.
My favorite of Swistles suggestions is Louisa. Georgia, Nathan, and Louisa. Gigi, Nate, and Lulu… George, Nate, and Lou
With your last name and the sibling names, I love Josephine. Georgia, Nathan, and Josephine…. Gigi, Nate, and Joey (or Josie)… George, Nate, and Jo.
I also love Althea. Georgia, Nathan and Althea .. Gigi, Nate, and Ali … George, Nate, and Thea
What about
Love the suggestion of Phoebe; of your list, Esme. Possibly Zoe. Charlotte would be a great mn with these. Best wishes!
I was going to suggest Josephine as well! Love the name with Georgia and Nathan.
I think my favorite with your sibset is Hazel though…just love the idea of sisters named Georgia and Hazel :) I could see Alice working nicely too!
Crosby screams boy for me, think its adorable for a little guy though!
Piper is cute, but it doesn’t fit with your sibset IMO. Esme…I feel like all I hear is this name now….
Both your children have two syllable first names and one syllable middle….you could keep that pattern going :)
Georgia Kate, Nathan Scott and Hazel …
Ann
Bea
Grace
Jane
June
Mae
Maeve
From your top contenders, my favorite is Esme. It’s enough unusual and it’s a great with the sib set. It’s hard to use “the leftover” name. I had two boys and found I was not in love with any of my choices and I continued searching with no luck. But that feeling passes really quickly once you actually use the name, in my experience. Piper and Crosby seem so different from Georgia and Nate in style. I also love Maeve from the longer list and Violet is a great sib name too.
Hazel & Daisy are my two favorites. I’d save Crosby for a boy.
If you like Violet but are turned off by the popularity, would you consider Viola? It’s a name I really love and it’s not in the least bit popular (out of the top 1000 currently!) Georgia and Viola makes me swoon a little :) And it doesn’t seem jarring with a brother named Nathan. Georgia, Nathan and Viola. Viola Maeve would be my favourite combination. I have to agree with everyone else that I find Crosby a bit too boyish in this sibling set.
I agree that Crosby does not seem like a girl name next to Georgia.
From your list, i like Violet and Molly. From others’ suggestions, I love Ruby and Hazel. Phoebe and Zoe are nice too. Rosalie nn Rosie is very cute.
It might not be your style, but when I saw Georgia and Nathan in the title, Meredith immediately popped into my head as the third name. Gigi and Merry is a pretty cute sibset.
I also love Violet and Tessa from your list.
Other ideas:
Penelope
Delilah
Lydia
Meredith is lovely but would the nn mere pronounced “mare” sound ok?
Vivian! I think the nn Vivi would be darling with Gigi. Georgia, Nathan, Vivian. Perfect.
I think Violet or Eliza or Ruby would be lovely! I don’t think Crosby fits well with the other names. I first read it as “Cosby” and immediately thought of the comedian Bill Cosby.
You have a great last name – so many of these sound really lovely. I agree that Crosby is a no go. From your lists I like Violet and Tessa, and also Swistle’s suggestion of Eliza. How about Celeste?
From Swistle’s two lists…I love the name Ruby Eloise!
In this sibling group, I like Esme, Violet, Charlotte, and Maeve. Beatrice nn Bea was a good suggestion, too. Or maybe Susannah, nn Zuzu. Susannah Maeve is lovely.
Ooo Susannah Maeve…love this!
It’s funny, I know a woman named Crosby, she’s probably in her fifties now. So the name feels feminine to me, but I agree that it reads masculine in this sibset. I love the suggestion of Josephine. I know a little Josephine with a sister named Matilda, does that ring any bells for you? Gigi, Nate and Tilly are cute together!
What about Thisbe? It’s a very uncommon girl’s name and has both the z sound and the bee at the end like Crosby.
Oh, this was a good suggestion. Very similar to Crosby, but is definitely more feminine. I still don’t know if it is stylistically the same as Georgia but I suppose that doesn’t really matter.
Georgia and Nathan are lovely together. For the third, my favorites are Violet and Charlotte. Since you’ll be moving around to different countries, it might be nice for your daughter to have a name that is easily understood/translated across many countries and languages. Swistle’s suggestions of Josephine, Beatrix, and Louisa would also be excellent choices. Good luck!
I have a Bennett George and a little girl named Arden Natalie so I wanted to suggest that since Georgia is at the top of the list for baby #3. I love your names you have beautiful taste and can’t go wrong :)
I really like the suggestions of Beatrice, Louisa, and Josephine. The full name works really well with this sibling set. There are also a TON of possible nicknames for all of them. I’d like to add Tallulah, Matilda, and Lena to the list of possible suggestions.
Good luck!
Depending on where you think your family will end up living, I’d be careful with Piper. I know that “Pippi” and “Pipi” are slang terms for pee in a bunch of European countries and Israel, and “piper” might be a version/declension of it in certain languages– I’m not sure, I’d just advise you to check ahead of time.
I actually rather like Piper with your surname though, even though it seems the odd one out with Nathan and Georgia. What about using Piper as a middle name?
Oh so good to think about! Given that we have no way to predict the location until it happens I’m so glad you brought the “pipi” meaning to light just in case.
I want to add, also, that if you are certain you’ll be spending a lot of time abroad, your daughter appreciate having a more international name that works in many languages. Neither Piper not Crosby fit this– they could be problematic.
Some very international choices I thought of, some already suggested:
Louisa
Josephine
Marina
Sophia
Lucia/Lucy
Anna
Julia
Caroline
Aurelia
Aurora
Amalia
Clara
Helena
Rose
Frances/ Francesca
Juliet
Catherine
Caterina
Isabel or Isobel
Sarah
Martine
Simone
Laurel
Alice
Matilda
Beatrice
Clarissa
Eve
Camille or Camilla
Penelope
Good luck!
That should have read *might appreciate.
Also, I just remembered Susannah/Susanna! That is a beautiful, classical name that works everywhere from London to Milan to Abu Dhabi to Delhi, and is quite rare in America. Susie, Sunny, Suki, Annie, Sanna, and Anna are cute nicknames too…
I love Camilla nn milla and Juliette sounds so pretty.
I really love Esme and it goes so well with your other kids’ names. Good luck!
Your name list makes me think of the name Stella! Georgia, Nathan and Stella? There are some nickname possibilities there, but I think it’s spunky like Georgia and also a more classic name.
Oh! I love Kaela’s suggestion of Clara! Lovely. Georgia, Nathan and Clara.
But I also love Violet and Charlotte with that sibling group.
What about Phillipa with the nick name of Piper or Pippa?
I do love the nn Pippa or poppy but can’t get behind Phillipa or Penelope.
I just heard one today that reminded me of this list. Sosie! Love it :)
The first name that came to mind was Phoebe. I also like the suggestion of Darby, Louise and Susannah. Sunny/Sosie or Sukie are all great nns. Maeve is another favorite of mine. I think Violet would be a cute match from your list.
Other ideas:
Libby
WInslow nn Winn / Winnie or Lola
Frances nn Frankie / Franca
Delaney, nn Dell / Della/ Laney/ Lana / Lane
Ashby
Marlowe
Sybil / Sibyl (nn could be Billie or Billa if you like the boyish nns)
Willa
From your list Violet is my favorite. Piper does seem too trendy compared to Georgia and Nathan and I get a very boy feeling from Crosby.
Georgia strikes me as a very Jane Austen name. How about
Emma
Caroline
Lydia
Marianne
Eleanor
Or for more spunk, what about Darcy?
I love Susannah–Zuzu is another great nickname.
If you love Crosby, I would go for it, but add in a super-feminine nickname that she can use as well. I like Crosby Rose!
I think you have a ton of great options, from your own list and also from other commenters.
My favourites:
Esme
Isabel or Isobel
Lucia with nn Lulu. Gigi and Lulu. So cute!!
Vivienne – I prefer this spelling over Vivian like a previous suggestion
Juliet or Juliette – I actually really like the double hard “J” sound with Juliette and Georgia. I think these are a great pairing. Actually I think Juliette is my favourite. (and I think I prefer the more french spelling of Juliette over Juliet. As well, if you will be doing quite a bit of international travel, it may be more desirable to stick with the french spelling).
What about Giada? Very feminine which I love. I also love the hard “J” sound paired with Georgia. As for international travel, I think this would be another well known name to most. Nathan, Georgia and Giada. Love this. I think this is my second favourite behind Juliette.
Other ones that I like:
Thea – or variations to get Thea as a nn, such as Theodora or Theona
Beatrix or Beatrice
Josephine
Ruby
Rose and variations. Rosalie, Rosalind, etc.
I think Charlotte Jane, nn Charlie, or Susannah Jane, nn Susie or Zanna, would fit so perfectly with your other children’s names.
Abigail is also another one that has the same feel as Georgia to me, with a lot of spunk, and has the adorable nickname Abby. Georgie, Nate and Abby/Abbie.
I absolutely love the name Samuel, nn Sam, so I think your husband’s choice there is a good one if you should have another boy in the future! Joshua nn Josh would be great too!
All the best!
More suggestions:
Caroline nn Carrie
Andrea nn Andie
Alexa nn Alex or Lexie
Bridget nn Birdie
Elizabeth nn Libby
Tessa nn Tess
Molly or Meg are great sister names with Georgie too!
I think Crosby could work… Really depends on how important sib set is to you. While Georgia and Crosby don’t “sound” like sisters, George and Crosby, or Gigi and Crosby do (quirky)
Of the other names you mention I really like Esme with Georgia and Nathan.
Other names that pop into my.head:
Felicity, nn Fe, Fifi, Lissy
Gladys, nn Glady
Agnes/Agatha, nn Aggie
Millicent, nn Millie
Beatrix, nn Bea, Trixie
Darcy
Shelby
Susan Beatrice NN Suebee?
These have all been so helpful. While some are names that are off the list because of close friends,(lulu, Stella, Margaret etc) there are also so many great ideas that have really helped with narrowing down and adding a few new twists!
Eee.. make sure you update us! I’m excited to see what you picK!
If you haven’t had the baby yet, I just wanted to say that I LOVE Esme, Beatrix, Phoebe, Louisa, and Vivian or Vivienne for you. That doesn’t narrow it down much, sorry! : )
I’m super partial to Esme because I have one and I get so many compliments! ; ) Can’t wait for an update!