H. writes:
I am 5 months pregnant with our second daughter and due the first of September. We have a 17 month old daughter named Ivy Frances and we are in love with her name. Plus, your blog definitely inspired us and gave me great direction when it came to naming her. Also, Ivy was one of the only names my husband and I really agreed on as we have very different tastes. Frances is a family name on my husband’s side of several generations. Overall, we had an easy time picking Ivy’s name and unfortunately, it’s not going the same way with the next one.
For our second child, we have decided to go with the middle name Lee. It honors my father who is no longer living as well as his father who is 93 and very much alive and well! There is a possibility we will have a third child but I don’t want to save Lee in the event we don’t…Now to the trickiest part of our baby naming dilemma, our surname! It is Erdlen and pronounced exactly as read. It’s German and a tough one…
So far, these are the two names that my husband and I agree:
Isabel Lee, call her “Isa” although my husband likes “Izzy”
Josephine Lee, call her “Josie” or “Poppy”
Penelope Lee, call her “Poppy”
But I of course have a few more on my list:
Nora Lee (not a fan of Eleanor)
Emory Lee
Willow Lee or Willa Lee
Talula Lee or Tallulah Lee
Esme Lee
Savannah Lee
Zoey Lee
Gemma Lee
Elise Lee
My husband isn’t too keen on the above.
I do like Annabel but “Annabel Lee” is an Edgar Alan Poe poem and I’m not keen on having the relation…
Names we’ve vetoed because of the way it sounds with our last name or popularity amongst friends / family:
Ingrid
Amelia
Sascha
Ruby
Abigail
Ava
Eden
Eve / Eva
Charlotte
Chloe
Georgia
Lily
Mabel
Phoebe
Sadie
Violet
VivianIf we have a third child and it’s a boy, we would most likely go with a classic family name although I would push for a rock star name like Axel! Ha!
We did consider Josephine “Poppy” with our first child so as much as I love Poppy, I feel bad that it is a leftover for our second. Also, are Poppy and Ivy too similar sounding as sibsets? My concern with Isabel is one, the popularity of the name. Two, the fact that Isabel ends with an L and then there is Lee so you have back to back L’s. Three, we are starting a trend with giving our children “I” names which of course is not intentional. I’m not a fan of the spelling Isabelle and much more prefer Isabel. I noticed when picking names for my first that I was not a fan of names that ended in E because our surname started with an E but now I’m thinking how much does that really matter?
Please help! I know Ivy is categorized as an “antique charm” name and I am wondering if there are other names out there I am missing or what are your opinions on the ones we like thus far? I want something different and creative and it is driving my pregnancy brain crazy! I like that Ivy is a bit common but still stands out and would love to be able to give that to our next one.
Many thanks!
I like your top three names. The best part of “Lee” as a middle name is that it goes with almost everything.
Names that weren’t on your list that I think might appeal to you and your husband are: Rosa; Lillian; Magnolia; April; Robina; Roberta; Lavender
From you list, I really like Josephine, though Josie seems like a better fit as far as the nicknames. Poppy from Josephine seems like a bit of a stretch to me. Of course, nicknames don’t have to come from the given name. I wonder if you would like Fi as the nickname?
Poppy & Ivy do seem very floral together. If you have a 3rd, would you feel obligated to continue this? If the floral theme doesn’t bother you & you really love Poppy (I’m guessing you might like it more than Isabel or Penelope) I’d just go with Poppy. It’s a lovely on it’s own and doesn’t need to be a nickname.
Isabel is a lovely name, but again you’d have the “I” name theme. I personally find Izzy & Ivy too close, I don’t think they pass the holler test.
Gemma & Zoe from your longer list would be great with Ivy. It’s a shame your husband doesn’t care for them.
I don’t think you should worry too much about names ending in E, so long as the E is silent or sounds different from the E in your last name. Something like Zoe Erdlen is fine. But I would probably stay away from things like Zoe Eads, as the first/last slur together.
Some suggestions I think would fit well with Ivy are Fiona, Phillipa/Pippa, Ruby, Hazel, Margot, Audrey, Cora, Maeve, Willa, Scarlett
I chose not to add my own suggestions, it seems like you have plenty of names already, but the first name that popped in my head for you was Cora. Cora Lee Erdlen. Ivy and Cora. And I see this commenter selected it as well. If you prefer a longer version, Cordelia, nn Cora would work, but Cora certainly stands on its own.
I have to disagree with the above commenter. I do not think Lee goes with everything. I don’t like it with Isabel, at all. The back to back L sound makes me hear it as Isabelly. I also don’t care for it with Willow, Willa, Tallulah, Esme, or Elise.
My favorite choice for you is Penelope. Poppy is a darling nickname for it and I think Ivy and Poppy are sweet as sister names. Not too close, especially because you are not naming the second Poppy, it’s just a nickname. If Josephine feels like leftovers, then set it aside.
My personal favorite from your list is Gemma Lee. I think it is beyond darling and Ivy and Gemma are swoon worthy names in my opinion. But you said your husband isn’t keen on your secondary list. If you could sway him, that’s the direction I’d head.
Otherwise, Penelope sounds like the clear winner, based on your own comments on the top three list.
I like Josephine the best of your options. Josie and Ivy is a very cute sibset.
Penelope and Isabel are also great options, and I don’t think any of the “issues” with Isabel are deal breakers.
I hate to say it, but I don’t think I can get behind any of the names listed. and I feel bad because there are so many! Some of them I like, but just don’t work for me in one way or another – ex: I would love Elise, but Elise Erdlen is too much E; throw in the Lee and there is WAY too much E and then also too much L!
Would you consider Hazel? Ivy and Hazel seem like darling sisters to me. Hazel Lee Erdlen.
Or maybe: Sage, Amity, or Pearl.
A longer first name to pair with the shorter mn, but perhaps with a short nickname to also coordinate with Ivy? Georgia nn. Gigi? Ivy and Gigi. Georgia Lee Erdlen. Gigi Erdlen.
Antique charmy: Clara, Wren, Fiona..
I also think a longer first name to go with the short middle name would be best. And a short nickname would help it fit with Ivy. If you like Savannah, what about Samantha, nn Sam? Charlotte nn Charlie or Lottie? Caroline nn Carrie? If you like Violet and Vivian what about Victoria? Olivia?
Olivia Lee
Victoria Lee
Caroline Lee
Charlotte Lee
Samantha Lee Erdlen
Good luck!
Ivy and Hazel are great together.
I like Josephine nn Josie and wouldn’t worry about it being the “left over” name from your first pregnancy. You loved both names then and now – you just had to wait for the right time to use it. I do find Poppy a stretch from Josephine, though.
I would recommend Isabella – it sounds better with Lee than Isabel and you could use nn Bella. I think Ivy and Izzy are too close for comfort, but Ivy and Bella are adorable.
Good luck choosing.
I think Clara is so great for you. Clara Lee erdlin. Ivy and Clara.
Of your list, I like Josephine/Josie
Others:
Alice — could do Ali if you wanted a nn
Beatrice/Bea (ohhhhh love this!!)
Eliza
Harper
Imogen
Isadora (gets you iz nn but works better with lee)
I don’t like the repeating L sounds of Isabel Lee. It sounds like Isabelly. Penelope Lee seems a bit too rhymy to me, although that is a matter of preference.
Names ending in vowel sounds seem to blend into your last name a bit although again, this is a matter of preference. Of your top 3 I would say Josephine, and not worry about it being a contender for your first daughter. I think Ivy and Poppy have a charming floral thing going on, especially since the second is a nickname.
What about Margaret, nickname Daisy?
I like the Josephine / Ivy combo. I also liked the suggestion of Hazel. I realize this is a stretch with Ivy, but what about Jane? Jane Lee sounds nice.
Even with your list of good honoring reasons, picking the middle name first seems to me like letting the tail wag the dog–especially when the choice starts making perfectly good first names work less well. Of the top 3 you both agree on, none of them work particularly well with the middle name Lee. Isabel because of the slurring “l”, and Josephine and Penelope because they each end with a long “e” sound that then gets doubled with the long “e” of Lee. None of these combos seem to me to have the elegance & balance of Ivy Frances. And letting Lee eliminate Annabel from the running seems like a shame……..
As someone already commented, I think Izzy/Isa are both too similar to Ivy, leaving Josephine and Penelope as the top agreed-upon contenders. Either of these names work stylistically quite well with Ivy Frances, but I find liking Poppy a bit of a stretch as reasoning to use them. Josie, Jo, Finny, or Fi seem more likely for Josephine, and Penny, Nellie, Nell, or Lopi for Penelope. Again, this seems to me to fall in the category of letting the tail wag the dog: Why not get to know the baby and let the nickname naturally evolve? Or simply name her Poppy if that’s what you love. Even though this does set a “flora” precedent should you have a third child, there’s such a multitude of names in this category that I think you could pull it off without it getting too corny.
I love the suggestions of Hazel, Margot, Cora, Beatrice, and Willa for you, and off your own extended list, Gemma. But really, can you come up with another middle name that still honors? Lilou? Leonie? I think if you do this, you’ll free up your thinking about the first name.
All of your suggestions and feedback thus far are amazing! I do feel as if we’ve backed ourselves into a corner with already choosing the middle name but it’s really one we are set on. Penelope is still on our list although it is a mouthful with our last name and I think we may be feeling indifferent about nicknames since we didn’t do one with our first. Nonetheless, your comments are so helpful already!! Thank you!
OK, good to know you’re so sure about it! Then my best recommendation would be to use a name that ends in “a” , such as Cora, Gemma, or Philippa.
Names that end in “a” go really well with Lee in the middle.
Phillippa Lee, nn’d Poppy, Pippi, or Pippa.
Cora Lee
Gemma Lee
Susanna Lee, nn’d Sunny or Susie
Junia Lee, nn’d Junie
Josepha, nn’d Josie
Althea Lee, nn’d Thea
Glad to help! Have you considered Alice? Alice Lee isn’t ideal, but it’s the honor that counts, and it’s not bad.
I also want to discourage you from putting Poppy itself down on the birth certificate as the full name, as others have suggested. It sounds exactly like the Spanish “papi” (meaning Daddy) which is used alllll the time in Spanish neighborhoods as slang for “man” (like you say, “How are you, papi?” or “thanks, papi” to people you don’t know, in shops, etc.) it’s ubiquitous to the point that non-Spanish speakers use it all the time too where I live (NY). I know a British woman with the name living in NYC who encounters constant disbelief and amusement from
Spanish speakers when they are verbally introduced to her… Anyway, it’s a lovely name and a cute nickname, but Spanish is so common in the US… you never know where your daughter will end up living or working, and wouldn’t want her saddled with “daddy” forever. But Penelope or Josephine nicknamed Poppy would be adorable!
I agree. I live close to the Mexican border and”papi” is used a lot as term of endearment for little boys. It sounds similar to”poppy” depending on the accent. Our property manager is Mexican and is always calling my boys “little papis”. It is sweet though! I’ve caught myself doing it too!
Agreed. Poppy is adorable, but Penelope would look better on a nameplate in a law office.
Agreed re: Poppy/Papi. I think it’d be hard to get away from. Even many non-Spanish speakers call their grandfathers Poppy.
We picked our daughter’s middle name before picking a first, and it just so happens that middle name was/is also Lee. We ended up with Beatrice Lee for our daughter, but here are our other contenders and names that I think work with Lee, which happen to echo other suggestions and some of your contenders:
Victoria
Josephine
Caroline
Clementine
Jacinda
Georgiana
Matilda
Margaret (nn Daisy)
Anastasia
Veronica
And in my own family, Lee has been combined with Daisy, Virginia, Melissa, and Laura (that’d be me :) )
Also, I want to reassure you that there is nothing negative about choosing the middle name first, no “backing yourself into a corner.” Choosing an honorific first and working around it is a perfectly fine way to get to a name, it’s just one method, like making sure names all start with one letter, or wanting a name with 3 syllables. Don’t get discouraged!
Also, Antonia was on our list.
Could you do a variation of Lee in the middle spot? Would it change how you feel about certain names if you were able to use Leeann or Leah?
Of your top choices, I also prefer Josephine with the nickname Josie. I also think Nora is lovely with Ivy.
I want to second (or third) the suggestions of Clara, Beatrice, Cora, and Fiona.
I’m with the group that likes Poppy for itself instead of as a nickname. Since you already have a little girl with a name that doesn’t need a nickname, I think it’d be good to do the same for your next little girl. Poppy Lee is pretty and spunky, not to mention not overly common.
Willow is lovely, too. More of the calm, less spunky, more modern botanical name. Willa would be the same feel, but leaning more vintage (my husband’s grandmother is a Willa Mae and I’ve always thought her name was sweet)
A more vintage version of the floral option would be the already suggested Daisy, but just on it’s own, not as a nickname :)
I also love Cora or Clara for you Ruby or Stella would be pretty, too.
Rosa would be nice, but I wonder if people would combine her first and last into one name and come up with Roasalie? Not necessarily a bad thing, but it could bug you.
Hazel is a beautiful name, but may be tough with the ending L sound mixed with Lee and your last name…that’s a lot of Ls
Good luck and congrats on your new baby girl!
Ooh, what about Ava? Ava and Ivy! Ava Lee Erdlen!
Too similar for my taste. It would be a mouthful to call them both for dinner…
I agree that it seems like you might like Poppy as a first name: Poppy Lee is lovely.
What about a variation of Lee? Leila, Leah, Annalee?
Other names I like for you:
Juliet Lee
Esme Lee
Alice Lee
Ruby Lee
Eliza Lee
Susannah Lee
Imogen Lee
Fiona Lee
Clara Lee
Mabel Lee
Matilda Lee
Flora Lee
Margot Lee
Hazel Lee
Jemima Lee
Celia Lee
Good luck!
I’ll suggest my all time favorite girl name- Margaret with the nn Maisie or Maisy.
Maisie and Ivy
Or Maisy and Ivy.
I think Josephine Lee is lovely and I wouldn’t think of it as a leftover. I would avoid Isabel Lee as I hear it as Isabelly. I trip over Penelope Lee. I would also avoid Poppy Lee as it sounds like Poppily.
Regarding the “leftover” feeling… Swistle once explained that sometimes she thinks of this like
“Sarah and Mary are my children. When pregnant with my first I thought it was Mary, but it was actually Sarah. So when it was time to name baby #2, it wasn’t that I was giving her a ‘rejected’ name from her sister, it’s just that I had assumed the wrong order that my children would come.” I’m not explaining it as well as she did, but that really struck a chord with me. And thinking of it like that may help you get over your hesitation.
Thanks for the perspective on the “leftover names” for the second baby. I think as a parent there can be a lot of pressure on naming subsequent children or children in general and for some reason, I’m just not getting the same creative excitement as I did the first time around. But again, all of these suggestions are great. Keep them coming please!
You have three strong contenders you already agree on, which is great. I think I like Josephine and Penelope best. I’m not sure you need more ideas, but how about Beatrix or Zora?
How about Adeline? It has German roots and so sounds natural with your last name. Also, Ivy and Adeline sounds like a sweet sister pair.
I do love Poppy, though, as well. Either Josephine or Penelope is a nice way to get to it.
From your list I like Penelope the most.
A lot of the names on your second list and reject list are the names of young children I know, so I will just add a few more of those:
Sophie, Maia, Charlotte and Caitlin. There’s also Ella but I don’t think it works with either the middle name or the surname.
From those I like Sophie the most. I think it flows well with the middle and the surname. Plus the sounds are quite similar to Josephine.
Sophie Lee Erd…
Ivy and Sophie
Good luck.
From your list, my favorite is Josephine.
Adore the suggestion of Hazel – it was the first name that popped into my head while reading your letter. Ivy & Hazel – love the way they look side by side AND how they sound!
Other suggestions I think pair nicely with Ivy, the mn of Lee, and your last name Erdlen:
Vera Lee Erdlen (my favorite hands down)
Viola Lee Erdlen
Evelyn Lee Erdlen
Marion Lee Erdlen
Orla Lee Erdlen
Delilah Lee Erdlen
Audra Lee Erdlen
Annabel is gorgeous and I love it with Ivy! Cora, Clara, Nora and Eliza are all great suggestions too. Loving Poppy and I think you should just go for it if you love it!
Other suggestions:
Tessa
Elsie
Ada
Elsa
Posey
Penny
Betty
Alma
Sadie
Molly
Polly
Edie
All the best!
My preference from your top three is Josephine – I have to say that I find Penelope Erdlen to be quite the tongue twister!
Josephine Erdlen sounds (and feels) very pretty. Another nickname option for Josephine is Posy/Posey (Behind the Name: “Diminutive of JOSEPHINE. It can also be inspired by the English word posy for a bunch of flowers”).
I love the sweet, floral feel of Ivy and Posey together. Josie also has a lovely sound with Ivy. I think the main reason that Josephine works so well is because of all the nickname options!
Ivy and Josephine
Ivy and Josie
Ivy and Poppy
Ivy and Posey
My other preference from your longer list is Zoey Erdlen. Love the spelling, love the sound, love the feeling!
Ivy and Zoey.
You have put together a very nice list of names. Good luck!
What about Elizabeth with the nn Izzy or Libby? You could use the nn Izzy for Eliza too!
Ivy Frances and Elizabeth Lee. Nice!
I’d like to suggest Rita!
I love your daughter’s name! Ivy is a beautiful classic name, not too common and has a lot of spunk! To me Isabel and Josephine have a completely different feel to Ivy, yes they are both classic but to me they are very common and a little on the boring side when compared to Ivy! I also think it doesn’t work having one daughter who uses her full name Ivy which is short and sweet and to give your other daughter a long name who goes by a short nickname! If you like Poppy as a nickname why not use it as her full name Ivy and Poppy are perfect together!
Other suggestions;
Olive
Hazel
Holly
Heidi
Paisley
Posy
Ada
Eden/Edith
I also love Willow and Willa from your list Ivy and Willow or Ivy and Willa are beautiful sibling names! Good luck!
Ok, this is probably too “cute”, but what about Ebony? Ebony and Ivy (get it, kind of like ivory?).
Ebony Lee Erdlen
I like it… but it’s probably better for naming a character in a book than a person!
I have an Ivy and Annabel (twins named with much help from a private consultation with Swistle), so I very much understand how difficult it is to find a name that goes beautifully with Ivy. Ivy was the first name I chose and I agonised for months to find the perfect pairing. Clara was the first name that came to mind for you as it gives that antique charm you’re seeking, and I see others have suggested it too.
I think the Annabel Lee reference could be sweet, as it’s a great poem … or could you just use Anna? Ivy Frances and Anna Lee.
I had many of the names on your list … Charlotte, Elise and Grace were close finalists. Ivy is a difficult name to work with!
I really think Ivy Frances and Clara Lee are a perfect sister set … lovely. Good luck!
I really like Esme. It makes me think of Alma…. A name that just keeps growing on me. Think about it!
I second Christa’s suggestion of Rita. Ivy and Rita are lovely together.
Sorry for any repeats from above!
It might be too “matchy” for you, but do you care for Iris? Ivy and Iris?
How about Daphne? Ivy Frances and Daphne Lee.
Stella? Ivy and Stella? Too much ‘l’ with Stella Lee?
How about June? Ivy and June. June Lee Erdlen.
Carys might be a good fit. Ivy and Carys. Carys Lee.
I’m personally a fan of Poppy… although with the rocketing rate of Penelope, Poppy might become a popular nickname out there.
Hmmmm… oooh, do you care for Ada? Ivy and Ada?! Ada Lee Erdlen! Ada reminds me of Augusta Ada King (countess of Lovelace), the brilliant mathematician. Both have three letters, start with a vowel, share similar popularity, have two syllables, AND it goes well with Lee.
Best wishes as you and your husband narrow the field to that perfect moniker for your sweet daughter!
Love the suggestion of Daphne. It has the same classical but spunky feel of Ivy and carries the floral theme without it shouting at you. This would be my pick.
My great grandmother was Ivy and her sister was Olive. I always thought Ivy and Olive was super cute. Olive could have nn Ollie or Liv. From your names I like Josephine best :)
I rather like like Juniper Lee. Ivy and Juniper. Ivy and Junie.
It also occurred to me that in your shoes I might put in version of Lee in the first spot. Leah Josephine or Leah Penelope are lovely. Ivy and Leah have a nice symmetry of being short too syllable names. Even Lee unaltered could work nicely as a a first name. Lee Josephine. Lee Isabel. Ivy and Lee.
I haven’t read every other comment yet, so forgive me if I am repeating others, but the first thought I had was Margot, nickname Pearl (or Daisy). Margot Lee (or Margo / Margaux). Greta gets you the same two nicknames.
Or, how about:
Celestine Lee
Cosima Lee
Miriam Lee
Gloria Lee
Edwina Lee
Winifred Lee
Gwendolen Lee
Aurora Lee
Genevieve Lee
Helen Lee (sounds a little like heavenly!)
Agatha Lee
Sylvia Lee
Well, that was fun! Good luck H.
(Sorry I didn’t read all comments so this may repeat) My favorites from your two lists are Penelope, Josephine and Willa–all three sound great with big sis’s name and with your surname. I think that a floral/botanical name with Ivy runs the risk of being too cutesy (and may back you into a corner if you have a third girl), so Poppy as a stand alone name would not be great, but it’s just fine as a nickname. I don’t love Willa Lee together, would Wilhelmina, nicknamed Willa, be an option? My step cousin’s oldest daughter is named Isabel, and everyone mishears it as Isabella, which is really frustrating to correct over and over. They named their second daughter Clover, which would be a bit too much with Ivy, but as a nickname for Claire/Clara or Chloe could be sweet. I know of one little Josephine whose sister is named Matilda, and I think Matilda, nicknamed Tilly, goes great with middle name, surname and sister’s name.
I like Ivy & Josephine (nicknamed Josie or Posey) a lot. I don’t think Poppy makes sense as a nickname for Josephine, and the Poppy/Papi association puts me off Poppy anyway.
I love Ivy & Gemma – it’s too bad your husband doesn’t.
I think Ivy & Esme are too similar in sound. I like that Ivy & Willow and Ivy & Savannah are both tree/nature combos, but that might make it hard to name a third child. I would not use Isabel because you’d set up the theme of I names, and there just aren’t that many good I names.
Here are the names I thought of:
Julia Lee Erdlen
Matilda Lee Erdlen
Ruth Lee Erdlen
Lucy Lee Erdlen
Hazel Lee Erdlen
Fiona Lee Erdlen
Alisa Lee Erdlen
Victoria Lee Erdlen (alternative to Vivian)
Annika Lee Erdlen (alternative to Annabel)
Sophia Lee Erdlen
Genevieve Lee Erdlen (maybe too similar w/ Ivy)
Zara Lee Erdlen
And from others’ suggestions, I like:
April Lee Erdlen
Margot Lee Erdlen
Beatrice Lee Erdlen
Since you like Axel, why not Axelle? It’s a legitimate French name. Ivy & Axelle would be pretty cool.
I have a few other ideas:
Sadie Lee Erdlen, Ivy and Sadie (love this)
Arabella Lee Erdlen, Ivy and Arabella (instead of Isabel/Annabel)
Persephone Lee Erdlen, Ivy and Posy (instead of Penelope/Poppy)
Clementine Lee Erdlen, Ivy and Clemmie (instead of Josephine)
Cecelia Lee Erdlen, Ivy and Cece (love this too)
Minna Lee Erdlen, Ivy and Minnie (instead of Willa)
Nina Lee Erdlen (instead of Nora)
I immediately thought of Stella. Ivy and Stella. So cute!
I also LOVE Thea. Ivy and Thea. Two classic, older names with spunk!!
What about Vienna? I LOVE Vienna and Ivy together. SWOONING.
What about Olive??? Ivy and Olive. Not sure if they are too matchy for you, but I think they are super cute together!!
I do have to say that I also love Gemma with Ivy, maybe give it some time and then a couple months down the road you could represent it to your husband. Sometimes a break from a name allows you to see it with fresh eyes. I do like Willa as well from your list. My concern with Isabel is that Izzy and Ivy sound almost too similar. Whereas, I think Penelope, nn Poppy, and Ivy sound quite cute together!
Others that I like:
Phillipa nn Pippa. Ivy and Pippa. CUTE!!!
Pearl
Ada
Brigette or Bridget
Orla
Giada
June
Good luck!
What about Blythe? Ivy and Blythe?
I immediately thought of Elsa for you. Ivy and Elsa.
THANK YOU ALL for your amazing name suggestions and brainstorming ideas! Seriously, you are the BEST!
Would Pippa or Posey appeal as alternatives to Poppy? Or Daisy? Or Leela? Ivy and Leela.
Although, I actually think Esme Lee Erdlen is close enough to perfect!
What did you end up naming her? I’m searching for a sister name for my Ivy :-)
Oh I LOVE Penelope Lee! So so pretty and Poppy as the nn is adorable too. Ivy and Poppy. Love it