Dear Swistle,
My husband and I are due with our first child this coming March. Our last name is pronounced like “Wasp-ick” without the “p.” For a boy, we have decided on the name Lucas Christopher. We are having more trouble coming up with a girl name. We would definitely like to use the name Estelle as the middle name to honor my grandmother. We have chosen a list of potential first names but none seem quite right. Our current list is as follows:
Natalie
Claire
Anna
Sarah
LeighWe would appreciate any suggestions or thoughts that you have.
Thank you,
Heather
I was not planning to comment on boy names, since it sounds as if you’ve chosen one. But when I was trying out the name Lucas Was(p)ick with sibling names, I noticed I found it very difficult to say. I think it’s because the -cas of Lucas and the -sic of the surname are mirrored sounds. I thought perhaps I wouldn’t mention it: these things vary from person to person, and if it’s not hard for you to say, then it’s not an issue. But we once had it happen that a letter-writer had tried out the name only with the middle name acting as a buffer between the first and last names, and hadn’t noticed an issue with the first/last combination, and ever since then I’ve been a little jumpy about it.
Now, girl names. I was surprised and pleased to see Sarah and Leigh on your list. I think my eye skips over them too easily in baby name books.
I think all five of the names on your list are good with the brother name Lucas. The only potential issue that catches my eye is the matching initials of Lucas and Leigh: is that something you would want to avoid? is it something that, if your first two children were named Lucas and Leigh, would make you feel pressured to use an L name for a third child?
All five of the names on the list sound about equally good to me with the middle name Estelle. The only potential issue that catches my eye on this one is initials: with _EW, it’s easy to spell words. The words here are innocuous (NEW, SEW), but it’s the sort of thing I like to think about ahead of time. Or I might not suggest first names starting with E, J, or P.
I wonder if you would like the name Naomi? I think it was just the letters of the other names on the list that made me think of it, but I really like it. Naomi Estelle.
Leah is an option that reminds me of Anna, Sarah, and Leigh. Leah Estelle.
Or Celia. Celia Estelle.
Lydia is similar in sound to Natalie. Lydia Estelle.
I don’t know if Sabrina is getting too far off the path, but I do love it. Sabrina Estelle.
Laura is another name I think can get skipped over to easily. Laura Estelle.
Maria, too. Maria Estelle.
Rose is common as a middle name but less familiar as a first. Rose Estelle.
I feel like I’m ready to see the name Lynn again as a full name rather than a suffix. Lynn Estelle.
Name update:
We had a little girl that we named Lydia Estelle. We think it’s perfect for her. Thank you for the ideas!
Have you thought about Estelle as the first name? It’s lovely plus has the fun nickname option of Stella or Elle. Natalie is beautiful as is Sarah, although Sarah Estelle is a bit of a tongue twister. I wouldn’t let that stop you from using the name.
Lucas is really tough with your last name. What about Luke or Lee?
I know you did not write in for boy name advice, but Lucas really is tough with Waspick. Liam, Logan or Levi are nice alternatives. I’d also recommend Nathaniel…Nate is such a darling nickname.
Okay, on to the girls. Estelle is beautiful!
Natalie has a modern, vaguely 80s vibe to me (I have a cousin my age with the name, so that probably has something to do with it). Other names with a similar vibe: Audrey, Rebecca, Samantha, Natasha. Audrey Estelle is my fave from this group!
Claire reminds me of Clara, Chloe or Cora… all lovely with Estelle and your last name.
Sarah reminds me of Sadie and Sydney….Sydney Estelle is very pretty!
I’m going to join the camp of “Lucas is fine, use it!” I don’t find it tough to say at all. :)
I also happen to LOVE the name Lydia. That’s a real nice name and goes beautifully with Estelle…..
From your list I like Anna and Claire best, I also like the suggestion of Estelle as the first name and Rose.
I don’t find a problem with using Lucas with your last name. If you like it use it!
Just as a warning, I do think sibling sets of Lucas and Leigh and definitely Lucas and Leah bring to mind Star Wars. But if that doesn’t bother you then it shouldn’t be a big deal.
Natalie is a name I don’t see very often anymore, and one I’very always liked.
Sorry! Auto correct! That should be I’ve not I’very :0)
I agree with this whole comment. Lucas = fine. Star Wars, and all. :)
What about Natalia versus Natalie?
Natalia Estelle
How about adding Liese onto Anna? Annaliese? Annaliese Estelle
Amelia/Emelia
I love the names Corinne or Corynn
Other suggestions:
Sadie Estelle
Tillie Estelle
Savannah Estelle
Lucy Estelle
Estelle was my grandmother’s name as well, makes me feel warm and fuzzy hearing it. I am finding Leigh Estelle sounds like Leah Stelle to me, and I have the same trouble with Claire. I seem to prefer 2 or more syllables in the first name, and names that end in a vowel so that they don’t run together.
Lucas Waspick is hard to say, but Luke works just fine. Your letter doesn’t mention how you feel about nicknames.
My issue with Lucas & Leigh is that they are awfully close to Luke & Leia. Not a huge issue since you currently only need one name, but I think using one now would mean ruling out the other later.
I love both Claire & Sarah for you. Perhaps you’d also like Clara? I’ll also suggest Cora, Hannah, Emily, Julia, Audrey & Molly.
I like all the options and second naomi, what about Natasha or Rebecca?
I think Lucas waspick is fine (I like Luke too)
I too find Lucas hard to say with your surname. I found myself garbling Lucas to “Lusic”. :(
Luke isn’t ideal to my ear either– but Lucian/Lucien are fine! So is Luca.
For girls, does Lucia appeal? Some of your other choices have the same quiet, classic feeling. And Lucia Estelle is just lovely.
Also Luna comes to mind!
Or: Celeste, Clara, Rosemary, Leila, May…
All these girls’ names feel very familiar because my daughters, both now in their 30’s, each have friends with these names. Both are friends with several Sarahs and Leighs, in particular. I’d consider Sarah and Anna to be classics, and possibly Claire, too, but as a whole, I tend to think of these girl names as the names of your contemporaries rather than the names of today’s babies. You might not care about this in the least, and it might be a good thing–it’s unlikely there would be lots of other little kids with the same names.
With your last name, I prefer the rhythm of either Natalie or Claire, but that’s me. Claire is one of my all-time favorite names, but again, I’m not sure that’s relevant to you. I don’t think you can go wrong with either Sarah or Anna, either. But you do say none of these names feel “quite right” to you.
Swistle made some good suggestions, I love either Lydia or Rose.
Meanwhile, I’m sorry you’ve received so much feedback about the name you were sure of, Lucas–it’s a risk you take going public, I guess. Reluctantly, I do add my voice to those who find Lucas tricky to say with your surname; Luke is fine though. And I really hope we’re not jinxing never hearing back from you by giving this feedback. Good luck, you still have so many months ahead to be open to new ideas!
I adore your taste is girls names, so classic and stylish! I find Christopher to be more in line with their style quite frankly. I also find Lucas difficult with the last name. I think Christopher Lucas may be the better option.
I am in the group who thinks Lucas Was(p)ick sounds fine.
With Estelle in the middle (a lovely choice), all the names on your list end with a vowel that kind of slurs into Estelle. Obviously that only matters when using her full name which doesn’t happen often.
But if none of these names seem quite right about one of the following.
Nadine Estelle
Clarice Estelle
Annette Estelle
Estelle
Suzanne Estelle
Leanne Estelle
Lauren Estelle
I also have difficulty with a vowel leading into a vowel. I like Lauren Estelle, or maybe Jillian Estelle?
I second suggestions Lauren Estelle and Christopher Lucas. For me, Lucas Was(p)ick becomes Luca Swazick.
I love Natalie Estelle from your list. It feels very timeless, and sounds lovely with your last name.
Here are a few other ideas:
Caitlyn Estelle Was(p)ick
Rachel Estelle Was(p)ick
Gwendolyn Estelle Was(p)ick
Penelope Estelle Was(p)ick
Lilian Estelle Was(p)ick
Bethany Estelle Was(p)ick
Georgia Estelle Was(p)ick
Paige Estelle Was(p)ick
I think Mary is very ready for a comeback, and wonder if you would like it. Mary Estelle. Pretty!
I think I like two syllable first names with Estelle in the middle…its easier for me to pronounce them as two distinct names that way. From your list, I think I like Sarah Estelle the best.
Since you like Leigh, I wonder if you’d like one of my favorite names….Leonie. Leonie Estelle Waspick sounds very nice, I think, and Lee/Leigh could be a nickname.
What about Hailey? (or hayleigh, Haley, whatever version you like best!) I think it sounds great with your last name, and incorporates some of the qualities you seem to like in a name.