L. writes:
We’re about to welcome our third child, and second daughter – and we’re stumped on a name. Our last name rules some unusable – Gucci with an M – for instance I love the name Harry for a little boy – but put it with our last name, and it just sounds wrong. Le sigh.
When we were pregnant with our first (son) we loved Eleanor (nn Nora) – which was a family name. We also loved Claire Elizabeth, and Greta Elizabeth. But alas – we had a boy – and William Thomas (nn Will) it was (both family names!)
Fast forward 20 months – and our first daughter arrived – We had met so many Nora’s since we’d had Will – that was off the table – We felt Claire was a little too traditional, and while I still loved and adored Greta – my husband was over it. We considered names like Scarlett (which almost won!), Vivienne, Thalia, Elise. My husband was 100% for Colette – but I never warmed to it. Ultimately we chose Annika Catherine – partially for Scandinavian heritage on my side, but mostly just because we liked it – and Catherine was a family name. We love the name but don’t love the two very distinct pronunciations – we say Annika (Ahn-i-ka vs, Ann-i-ka).
Fastforward another 13 months and we’re faced with the same baby girl naming dilemma. We expect her in 2-3 weeks and are desperate to find a name we love -we have a list – but keep searching – which tells me the perfect name is out there and hasn’t been found!
Current list:
1. Scarlett (a. grace b. elizabeth c. eleanor)
2. Sloane
3. Sienna
4. Clara
5. Natalie
6. Tessa
7. GiaWe’d like to incorporate a family name – preferably Bevan – as a middle but have the following since Bevan doesn’t always flow with names:
Elizabeth, Eleanor, Deyette, Helen, Angelina, MarjorieEliminated names:
Loralei
Grace
Arden
Ella
Leila/Leyla
Emerson
Brooklyn
Juliette
Marina
Karina
Lydia
Lila
Lea
Sonia
Piper
Rowan
Larkin
Neve
Aya
Skylar
Royce
Aria
clea
Skye
Kaia
Breelyn
Elle
Eliana “Lia”
Caroline
Colette
GretaMaybe it’s naming exhaustion – or pregnancy brain – but 3 times in 3 years – I’m coming up empty! HELP!
I’ve said this before on here – but in a family with a boy and a girl already, I like when the third is named with a name that clearly identifies whether s/hes a boy or girl — especially in cases like this where the first two are very gender obvious names. Based on that, from your list I would eliminate Sloane. It is more girl to me.. but still ambiguous enough that I wouldn’t use it.
I don’t care for Sienna – something about the first syllable makes my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth lol.
I find Clara/Natalie to both fall in the same category as Claire above – a little too traditional for you.
Scarlett is pretty, but somewhat common. Gia is too short for some reason imo. Tessa is ok, but not great.
Names that I imagine with a sister Annika: Elsa or Elsie, Ingrid, Gretchen, Edith, Agatha, Linda..
I also think these work well because they are older names that seem toc oordinate with William
First of all — I LOVE the name Annika. It’s so classic and fresh with a dash of international spunk. So that’s what I’ll try to emulate here…
Of your names, I love Tessa the most. Clara is also great, but around here, it’s just as popular as Nora.
Ohhh! I think my favorite as a sister for Annika would be Saskia. It’s got the same spunk, love the repeating K sound, and it sounds great with William too! Saskia Bevan, Saskia Elizabeth, Saskia Helen… You really can’t go wrong.
Other names to consider:
Cora
Honor/Honora
Celia or Cecilia. (Or maybe Cecily)
Georgia
Eleanor, but with the nickname Nell or Nella
It’s also popular, but maybe Charlotte instead of Colette for your husband? You could go Charlie or Lottie for a nickname. If he likes the French sound, maybe Simone? Cosette? (nn Etta… So cute) Delphine? More mainstream, but Vivienne?
Louisa
I just met a little baby named Ingrid and she was gorgeous! Made me really consider the name. Ingrid Elizabeth is GORGEOUS.
Freya
Imogen
Matilda
Good luck! Your other kids are so well named, can’t wait to hear what you choose!
Also — not to pitch for Saskia too hard, but if you wanted a nn, you could use KiKi or Kia.
Oooh — one more and then I’ll stop.
Marita.
I love some of the other suggestions: Ingrid, Saskia, Freya, Imogen, Matilda… all pretty, sassy names with that little international twist that blends them with Annika =)
Would you consider Marguerite nn Greta? I know it gives you that alliteration with your last name, but some folks like that… It’d be pretty with Bevan as a middle name and is a little international, but a little traditional to blend with William:
William Thomas, Annika Catherine and Marguerite Bevan, Will, Annika and Greta?
Maybe Lorelai? International, uncommon but recognizable. Will, Annika and Lorelai
or Helena? Kind of has the feel of Eleanor, but less popular and a nod to a family name William Thomas, Annika Catherine and Helena Bevan. Will Annika and Helena or Lena
or Esme? William Thomas, Annika Catherine and Esme Bevan. Will, Annika and Esme
Annika and William are lovely. Interestingly, the only Annika I know has a sister called Greta!
WDYT of Gretel? It’s my twin sister’s name, and I think it’s awesome :) It feels a lot friendlier than Greta to me!
I’ll also suggest:
Serena
Penelope
Violet
Juniper
Felicity
Clio
Phoebe
Matilda
Also, I absolutely adore Eleanor. WDYT of the nickname Nell, if you’ve heard too many Noras?
Best of luck!
Oh, also, Imogen!
My favorites on your short list are Clara and Tessa, but what do you think of Helen as a first instead? Helen Elizabeth, sister to William Thomas and Annika Catherine.
Will, Annika, and Helen. Nell is a traditional nickname for Helen, too. Will, Annika, and Nell.
Oh love the others suggestion of Nell for a nickname for Helen!
I think in this situation you might be looking for a unicorn. I can understand wanting to continue to search and of course there is nothing wrong with continuing to look. It’s super fun! But it can also be exhausting. You have a very large list of considered and dismissed names and I’m guessing you’ve been through all the naming books. So I think it’s possible that you’ve already found all the names you like and it’s now a matter of picking your favorite.
Your list is great. Scarlett is my favorite. I love it. Natalie is probably my second and Tessa my third. I also love the suggestions of Edith (my personal favorite) and Ingrid. I do really love Eleanor (could using a nn of Ellie make this feel fresh? But you might have as many Ellie’s as you do Nora’s in your area?). And I will throw out a few others that aren’t on your lists:
Stella
Imogen
Cora
Josephine
Claudia
Briony
One more. Cecily!
I don’t think Cecily sound’s great with “Gucci”. It almost rhymes.
This is such a great way of putting it. I feel like I am maybe at that unicorn stage. We are having another baby in 2-3 weeks and have a multi-page spreadsheet of name considerations, but nothing has seemed perfect. So I keep looking for more inspiration, more names, but that of course isn’t helping either. I agree that it’s time to focus on options we have already identified rather than trying to find the mythical perfect name.
Love your “unicorn stage” comment! My thoughts exactly. It may be time to look over the list of most favorite names and choose something from that list or something very similar.
Are you the same “L” as originally queried Swistle? And, if so, are you asking that we give feedback only on the lead list of names #1-7? (I’m confused)……
My interpretation of the comment was that she is another woman in similar circumstances to those of the letter-writer, and that she found helpful focus in jen’s comment.
How about Vienna, Celeste, Simone, Vera, Marianna, Gretchen, Ingrid, or Tala? I do love all the names on your current list too.
I like Sienna and Scarlett best from your list – the double letters seem like a great fit with Will and Annika and they sound great as a sibling set.
Another commenter suggests Esme, which is also lovely and in the same vein as Scarlett. I also like the suggestions of Imogen and Cecelia. Cecelia also has the bonus of not an actual double letter, but the sound of a double letter – another great fit with Will and Annika.
Some other thoughts:
Annelise (would sound lovely with Bevan, double letters)
Susanna
Wendy
Lena (LEE-nah)
Elsabet/Elisabet (nn Elsa, Elise, Elisa, Ella)
Polly (not great with Bevan)
Nella
Just thought of that and wanted to add.
The name Linnea would just fit so perfectly with William and Annika.
I’d also like to suggest:
Astrid
Kirsten
Marin
Gretchen
Katya
Claudia
Margot
All the best!
I was going to suggest Linnea! Love it with William and Annika!
With your sibset I love the suggestions of Freya, Imogene, Simona, and Helen as they are all old world relatively unused names, that are also simply beautiful.
I would add Eugenia, Nadia, and Irene all three would be lovely as well.
I would suggest that Scarlett might have similar problems with your last name as Harry…
What about Brigitta? Love this name!
Liesel?
As you can tell, I just recently watched The Sound of Music!
Louisa or Marta anyone?
Of the names on your list, I like Clara best for you. I also liked the suggestion of Ingrid.
How about Chloe, Ella, Jane, Josephine, Lila, Pearl, Ruby, Violet, or Zoe? A lot of those end in an ee sound, though, and I think that might be why you objected to Harry with your surname, but I wasn’t sure so I included them anyway.
I’m not crazy about Sloane for you. It feels very unisex and a little boring next to Annika, while also feeling too modern next to William/Will. Sienna is a little better fit, but it still seems off to me. It doesn’t seem as classic as the sibling names.
Natalie seems a little dated, but it could work. I think I actually like Natalia or Natasha better for you.
Gia seems like an odd match to both Will & Annika.
I like Clara & Tessa for you, but they do seem to match better with Will and seem a little dull compared to Annika. If you like Clara, maybe you’d like Cordelia? I think it has more of an unexpected feel that pairs well with Annika.
I love Scarlett with Annika. Not an exact style match, but they share the same unexpected but still classic vibe. I also like that they share the internal K sound, it just makes them flow really well when I imagine someone calling them out in a park or something. “Annika! Scarlett! Time to go”
It’s too bad Greta is out for this baby, it does seem like a really great fit. Maybe your husband would like something along the lines of Margo or Elsa better?
Looking for other names with an unexpected but still classic feel, I’d suggest Gemma, Clementine, Verity, Linnea, Coral, Astrid, Aurora, Calla & Talia.
It sounds like Annika doesn’t have a usual nn, and if so, I might look for a similar situation with your younger daughter’s name. From your list Tessa seems to fit the best. Lovely name and works very well with your older children’s names:
William/Will, Annika and Tessa — sounds perfect to me!
I like Eleanor or Elizabeth with Tessa and, again, I think either of those pair nicely with Annika Catherine and with William Thomas:
Tessa Eleanor
Tessa Elizabeth
Can’t wait to hear what you decide!
PS Looking over you list, I really don’t find Scarlett, Sloan or Sienna work well as sibling names for William and Annika (together or Annika separately). Clara would work, but it sounds rather ‘vintage’, which Annika doesn’t. Gia is such a little name to pair with William and Annika, plus it sounds more ‘foreign’ and I think is less known in the US than Annika. Natalie has been very popular — top 50 names for girls since 1996; top 20 since 2004 — and thus doesn’t have the ‘surprise’ element that Annika and Tessa do. Tessa seems to have the same energy that Annika does. Will, Annika and Tessa would be a perfect sibset, from my way of thinking ;-) .
Cordelia
Martina
Madeline
Francine
Elnora
I particularly like Martina for you, and with the sib set.
I know someone who has two daughters named Annika and Bryn, so maybe you will like Bryn/Brynn too! Other names I think would go well with Will and Annika:
Brianna(repeats double n of Annika)
Kayla
Jenna(repeats the double n of Annika)
Someone above mentioned Helena, and I LOVE this with your sibset. Helen is on your list of middle names, but I think Helena would be lovely as a first. It does have a similar pronunciation issue with Annika (I would say it HELL-en-uh, but I’ve heard it he-LAY-na and he-LEE-na). I think it has your traditional-with-a-twist, it goes well with your surname (Helena Gucci-with-an-M), and I also think it’s lovely with Bevan, your preferred middle name. Will, Annika, and Helena! Love this so much I don’t want to suggest anything else. :)
Yes, I want to second (or rather third) the suggestion of Helena! It’s perfect!
I third it!
I thought about suggesting Elena but looked at your list first. Elena is more straightforward in pronunciation than Helena and I think it would be lovely with Annika if you decide not to use Tessa. Saying each pair together — Annika and Elena, Annika and Tessa — I like them both, but still prefer Annika and Tessa because of the difference in syllables and the none-repeating consonants adding some contrast to the sister names.
I know sisters names Annika and Anneliese. I think Anneliese would go with William, too. I also love Tessa and Clara from your list.
I really like Elsa Bevan for you. My favorite!
I also think the following names would work well with your sibset:
Maija Bevan
Freya Bevan
Claudia Bevan
Elke Bevan
Hilde/a Bevan
Marta Bevan
Tanja Bevan
I also prefer Tessa and Clara from your list.
What about Eliza? I like that with your sibset a lot. Classic enough to pair with Will, and spunky enough alongside sister Annika.
It may be too popular for you, but when I look at your shortlist I can’t help thinking of Stella. Will, Annika and Stella Gucci.
I like how someone else pointed out both Will and Annika have double letters, and think that’s a good thing to keep going if you can. Stella has the double L. From your list I like Tessa the most and that also has the double S.
I like the suggestion of Nell but not sure if I like it with Will. I also like Helena and Linnea.
Good luck.
Nadia?
I agree with some others that Gia feels like a “little” name to put next to William and Annika, but know what doesn’t? Georgia with the possible nickname of Gia (or Gigi, Georgie, or various others). Georgia Bevan Gucci-with-an-M?
Also, maybe you’d like Calista. There’s some je ne sais quoi quality that I feel it has in common with Annika, and I like it with your last name. It opens up Callie, Calla, and Lissie as possible nicknames.
The only other one I think of, and you might find it too close to Annika, is Aurelia. Lots of nickname possibilities, and Aurelia Gucci-with-an-M would be gorgeous.
I think you need a name with an international feel to pair with Annika and while I like Scarlett, I think that’s missing. I love Linnea and Helena with your sib set!
Haven’t read any of the other comments yet, so sorry for any repeats!
Do you like Ingrid? Annika and Ingrid sound like sisters to me. Both hover in the same popularity region and have a Scandinavian flair. Also, both start with a vowel and have six letters… which is kind of neat. Ingrid Beven has a sort of bygone Hollywood glamor, too.
Otherwise… Danika seems quite close to Annika. Oletha is extremely rare. Signe and Sunniva seem especially Scandinavian. Damaris might work though.
Best of wishes as you welcome your precious little daughter!
Sooo many good comments already!
So, just a comment about Tessa … if it feels too short next to William and Annika, maybe a longer form of the name with Tessa as the nickname would sell it? At least, I’ve had that particular dilemma before so I thought I’d offer what my research has turned up!
“Tessa” full names:
-Teresa/Theresa
-Contessa
-Countessa
-Maritess/Marites
-Martessa
-Anastasia (seems like a bit more of a reach to me, but it’s very commonly suggested! I wonder if it’s a wonderful fit with or too close to Annika, though?)
-Tessia
-Tessiana
-Tessalyn
-Altessa
-Quintessa
-Tessaly
-Tessara
-Lutessa
-Santesa
I think Teresa, Maritess, and Tessaly all fit really well with the classic/spunky pair of William & Annika. :)
Loving the suggestions of Elena, Aurelia and Tessa. What about Thalia? Or Daliah? ( nick names Tallie and Dolly) also will suggest Fiona and Amelia. Love those names!!
More suggestions:
Marielle
Romilly
Vanessa
Lucille
Ramona
Sabrina
Camilla
Corinne
Elka
Britta
Minka
Cosette
From the your top seven list, your most workable options are Scarlett, Clara, and Tessa, for the reasons previous commenters have already parsed. Natalie hasn’t received a lot of love, but I’d keep it on the short list, too. You’ve arrived at these names for a reason, maybe the right one is there. (Yesterday Nameberry put up a post of “how to tell when you’ve found the right baby name”–worth a read.)
Other suggestions others have made that I’ve loved are: Linnea, Margot, Stella, Matilda, and Saskia.
I’d add: Bridget, Rosanna, Harriet, and Violet.
Wishing you the most stress-free pregnancy, birth, and 4th trimester possible!
Have you not considered Bevan as a first name? It’s fabulous and it works well. Will, Annika and Bevan-love it. Bevan Georgia Gucci w. an M. Other choices coming to mind are: Georgia as a first name, or Maren. But I’d go to bat for Bevan-I think it’s just perfect for you!
I think you are almost there! There has to be a name closely related to one on your list that will be a great fit! For me, finding something that matches the “sass” of Annika would be the guide.
Imogen was the first name that came to mind, and I do love it with Annika as several other commenters suggested, but the repeating M’s in Imogen “Gucci” don’t flow well to my ear.
And I do like Gia, but it does feel “small” with the sibling names – so what about Gianna (nn Gia)?
– Gianna Gucci
– Will, Annika and Gianna
Or a few others to consider:
* Vita. Vita Gucci. Will, Annika and Vita.
* Sonja. Sonja Gucci. Will, Annika and Sonja.
* Katia, Karina or Katarina.
* Genevieve. Genevieve Gucci. Will, Annika and Genevieve.
* Alessandra. Alessandra Gucci. Will, Annika and Alessandra.
I was going to suggest Gianna with Gia as a nickname–my niece is Giana and they call her Gia and Gigi. I prefer the Gianna spelling as having the double letters in all three kids’ names is a fun way to tie them together.
Casting a vote for Scarlett & Tessa, simply because I love that all the siblings would have a different double-consonant in their names (L for William, N for Annika, S for Tessa / T for Scarlett).