Hello, hello!
We will be welcoming baby number 3 at the beginning of August, and we are in desperate need of naming help. Baby sister’s older siblings are Sophia (Sophie) Lauryn and Oliver Henry. Our last name is Freitag. I like that our other 2 children both have 6 letters in their first name; however, that is not a necessity. This entire pregnancy we have referred to the baby as Hadley. As her due date nears, I find myself not loving the name, but maybe acquiescing because it is a name that both my husband and I agreed upon easily…. Our boy name we had decided upon was Elliot.
We (I) have considered these other names: Ella, Sutton, Ashlyn, and Elliot (nn Ellie). My husband does not like gender neutral/boy’s names for girls so I don’t think I can convince him of this, and I don’t know if it fits with our traditional naming preferences thus far for a girl.
As far as middle names I would love to honor my mom by using her name, Marie Margaret, somehow or incorporating my grandmother’s name, Mildred Serena-possibly Millie? My husband is not on board with Millie. I love it. Another honor name possibility we have considered is Jane. It is my mom’s favorite name and my middle name.
Please help!Thank you!
It looks to me as if you have two preferred naming styles. One style includes Sophia/Sophie, Oliver, Ella, and Elliot-for-a-boy. The other style includes Sutton, Ashlyn, Hadley, and Elliot-for-a-girl. At this point, there are three approaches you could take. One would be to say, “We used one style for our first two kids; now it’s the other style’s turn.” The second would be to say, “We used one style for our first two kids, so let’s stick to that style for a third.” The third would be to say, “Let’s pick our favorite name and use it, regardless of style.”
My own personal preference would be to stick to the established style (or a similar style), because I like sibling names to be compatible. So from the names you’ve mentioned, I would start with these:
Ella
Jane
Margaret
Then I would see if I could plump that list out a bit with some similar candidates, looking in particular for names with six letters, names that have sounds in common with Hadley/Emma, and names that might honor a Marie/Margaret/Mildred:
Adeline (similar to Hadley and Ella)
Amelia (six letters)
Annabel (similar to Ella)
Audrey (six letters; similar to Hadley)
Charlotte
Clara
Cora
Eleanor (similar to Ella)
Eliza (similar to Ella)
Ella Jane (double first name)
Evelyn (six letters)
Grace
Greta (similar to Margaret)
Isabel (six letters; similar to Ella)
Josephine
Lillian (similar to Ella)
Lydia (similar to Hadley)
Madelyn (similar to Hadley and Ella)
Matilda (possibly somewhat similar to Mildred)
Margot (six letters; similar to Margaret)
Mariela (Marie + Ella)
Marina (six letters; similar to Marie)
Melody (similar to Hadley and Ella)
Nora
Olivia (six letters)
Rose
Stella (six letters; similar to Ella)
I singled out Ella Jane as a double-first-name candidate, but I also think Ella as a first name with the middle name Jane is great. And in fact, I’d be inclined to use Jane somewhere in the name if at all possible. Audrey Jane. Eliza Jane. Isabel Jane. Jane Margaret. Jane Marie. Margaret Jane. Jane Evelyn. Annabel Jane. And so on.
If you decide to go with a name from your other preferred style, I suggest Ellery. It fits with names such as Hadley and Sutton; it has six letters; it sounds like Ella and Elliot and gives you the nickname Ellie; it’s used almost exclusively for girls.
Name update:
This is a well overdue update! Adeline Jane joined our family at the end of July. Thank you for the name suggestions. Her name suits her beautifully.
I think this is a situation where Mary Jane might be perfect! I love it, as in the sweet shows and vintage name. I know people shy from it because of the association with marijuana, but Molly is stil in use! I know a ten year old Mary Jane, she loves that she shares a name with Spiderman’s girlfriend. It feels so fresh, yet so familiar. I also love Jane on her own.
Of Swistle’s suggestions, I like Eleanor a lot for you. Unless you’re going to use Elliot someday.
Hadley is cool, but yes, quite different. If you love it though, who cares about sibling name compatibility? But it doesn’t sound like you love it. Have you considered Henrietta or Harriet to get you to similiar Hattie?
Oh wait. Just saw that Oliver’s middle is Henry, so Henrietta is out. But Harriet is lovely! Also, spellcheck has been messing with my comments – “sweet shows” should be “sweet shoes.”
I love Swistle’s reasoning and suggestions. I also offer Helen(a). It’s more old-fashioned than all of your other choices, but also timeless. It has the “el” sound of Elliot, and the H from Hadley. I think Helena Margaret sounds divine, as does Helena Jane. Nicknames Lena (LAYNA or LEENA), even Lenny.
Alternatively, would you consider Marie Margaret nn Mimi? Mimi Frietag sounds like a fashion designer!
You got my mom’s name there 😊 I also really like Helena. It’s different enough that I think I could go for it!
You know, you could even use the nickname Ellie with Helena, I just realized 😀
Margaret Serena – two honor names and Margaret has loads of nickname possibility (Maggie, Greta)
I like the suggestion of Margot too and Amelia Jane seems lovely and in line with your other kids names
My suggestion is Eloise. Has 6 letters and goes great with Sophia and Oliver.
You could easily get to Ellie for a nickname, and Ella doesn’t seem like a huge stretch either.
I think Margaret (nn Maggie) Jane would be great! I wonder if youd like Camilla, though, since your hubs doesnt like Millie? From your list, I like Ashlyn the best and think it pairs nicely with Oliver and Sophie. Another choice is Ellison or Ellis, if you don’t plan to use Elliot in the future. I think Margaret makes a great middle name, too! I dont know why, but the name Emery just came to mind for you, too.
Good luck!
Love, love, love these suggestions!
I like Serena Marie, which would honor both your mother and grandmother. One of my daughters is named Serena, and it hits that sweet spot of being common enough to be easily understood and spelled by other people, yet not common enough to have others in her classes.
Yes, yes, yes! I just raced to the comments to put in my vote for Serena. Six letters, a family name, harmonious with your other children’s names. (I’m normally not a big fan of sib names with the same first letter, but Serena and Sophie have enough different sounds that it doesn’t sound too matchy to my ear.)
I like Serena Hadley, Serena Margaret, and Serena Jane!
I love the Eloise suggestion. I also like Ella Marie and Eliza Jane.
Camilla comes to mind as an elegant way to get to Millie—and it goes so well with Sophia and Oliver.
I really like a lot of Swistle’s suggestions with your daughter and son’s names (Amelia, Annabel, Audrey. I think Amelia Jane is particularly lovely). We have an Oliver and almost exclusively call him “Ollie.” Do you use the nickname for your son? If so, you might want to avoid “Ellie” as a nickname as Ellie/Ollie sound so similar.
Great thought! I hadn’t even considered that connection. We call him exclusively Oliver; however, there are some who call him Ollie.
I love Margaret with the nickname of Maggie, which gives you six letters!
If you don’t love Hadely, try not to acquiesce. Keep looking for that name you both can love. I don’t know if you planning on more children but you may want to save Elliot for a future brother so that would rule out any El- girls names. From Swistles list, Audrey and Eliza iare my favorites with Sophia and Oliver (but of, course, I would avoid Eliza if you want a future Elliot.
You didn’t mention this but both Sophia and Oliver (and Elliot) have three syllables. I think I might look at that for options. Margaret and Serena both fir that criteria. Some othe ideas
Marina
Juliet
Caroline
Hillary (might not be a good year for this name)
Lydia
I was coming to suggest Caroline but I see the poster above me beat me to it! A friend of mine already has a Hadley and named the youngest Caroline so that’s why I’m suggesting.
Caroline Margaret
Out of Swistle’s suggestions- I LOVE Stella!
Other suggestions;
Celeste (Sophia, Oliver and Celeste)
Malina (six letters)
Chloe
Brielle
Lexie
Love the suggestion of Eloise! Serena Jane and Margot Jane are lovely too!
I think Amelia would be adorable, in this case, with the Emilia spelling. Sophia and Emilia just seem to ‘go’ together! Emmy or Millie, if you can convince your Husband on this one, would be great nicknames!
What about Ariana? Marguerite perhaps?
Marina would be a good choice as it incorporates elements from Margaret, Serena and Marie. Marina Jane is sweet too!
My Great Grandmother’s name was Margaret Jane nn Maggie so, of course, I like that one!
Good luck!
Everyone has beaten me to suggesting Emilia but I totally agree – it was my first thought!
A few more suggestions!
Isabella (I know it’s popular, but still lovely!)
Antonia (Annie or Nia)
Lucia (Lucy is adorable!)
Louisa/Louise
Sybella (Sibby)
Katerina (Katie)
Carina
I really like Swistle’s suggestion of Marina for you. And PP’s suggestion of Helena is great too. One of my daughters’ name is Helena Sophia, so I think it goes great with Sophia. :)
I’m sad to see Hadley go, I really love it and think it fits nicely with your sibset! It reads all girl to me. My favorite choice after that is a previous suggestion of Eloise. I’ll leave a new option for you, one of my girls’ names (both happen to have 6 letters, which I love) – Violet.
Would love to hear the other name if you’re happy to share! Violet is so beautiful, one of my favourites.
Oh, I love Adeline for you. Fits with Sophie and Oliver and the nickname Addy sounds like Hadley.
Sophia Lauryn also made me think of Sophia Loren, so I wondered if perhaps another old-Hollywood inspired name might appeal. Margo or Greta (also nicknames for Margaret), Ava, Marlene, Vivian, Clara & Audrey would all stay within this theme.
Camilla Marie Freitag, nickname Millie.
How about Hallie instead of Hadley?
I liked Ella Jane from Swistle’s suggestions well enough that I almost don’t want to consider anything else, but one of my favorite undressed names does seem to go particularly well with the sibling names. How about Rosemary? Sophia, Oliver and Rosemary. I think Lucy would be nice, too. Sophia, Oliver, and Lucy.
I personally love Margot and Isabel and Stella.
What about Juliet? We have a Juliet and love her name.
What about the spelling Emilia (rather than Amelia?). For some reason I prefer it and it gives a different feel.
Good luck!
Just commented to suggest Emilia and noticed you beat me to it! I think it’s a lovely choice in this sib set.
Evelyn and Amelia match sibs really well, and I also like Hazel.
I like Camille (Millie is an optional nickname, but you could also use Cami or Cam), and I think it sounds good with your other kids’ names.
Maybe some other nicknames for Margaret would sway you? I love Daisy and Greta
Sophia Lauryn, Oliver Henry and Margaret Serena or Margaret Hadley, to keep the name the family has been using through your pregnancy
Sophie, Oliver and Greta
Sophie, Oliver and Daisy
Good luck and Congratulations!
ohhh! I think Margaret Hadley is definitely one I will be running past my husband. That has great potential! :)
I’m loving so many of the suggestions. I especially like Caroline as a possibility–or any of the “line” names: Adeline, Emeline, Caroline. Emeline would get you to a lot of the nn sounds you like. I also like Margaret–such a beautiful name, or Arabella (to get to the Ella nn), or Marigold. I am a huge fan of the “ett’ names so Harriet falls in brilliantly with your other classic names. Juliet or Violet would also be lovely.
I guess I’m definitely thinking you should stick with a classic! Hadley would be fine with just Sophie, but when you throw Oliver into the mix Hadley feels like the wrong style.
Good luck!!
I think Swistle has made some great suggestions. My personal favourites are:
Isabel Jane. Sophie, Oliver and Isabel
Margot Jane. Sophie, Oliver and Margot
I know she’s a Sophia called Sophie so what I especially love about these two is that they tick the boxes of fitting in with the style of the first two AND having six letters while also having the bonus of different ending sounds, which is something I personally love. I’m less fond of same end sounds i.e. Sophie and Ellie.
Having said that, though, I wonder if you’d like Emilia or Amelia, which I think work nicely with the other two and have six letters. I like these, especially if you call her Sophie more than Sophia!
But Margot is my favourite of all. Margot Jane – absolutely charming.
Ooh… What about Esme?
Sophie, Oliver, and Esme??
Love.
A couple of names that were not on Swistle’s list to consider are Milana (nn Millie) and Adalyn. Both have 6 letters, too.