Baby Girl Foyle-with-a-D, Sister to Z0e and Penel0pe

37 Replies

Hi Swistle,

Please help with our third baby girl for last name sounds like foyle with a d.

We have a Z0e Cecili@ and a Penel0pe Pe@rl who we have nicknamed Lulu.

My husband and I can’t decide on the perfect name as we like too many but don’t “love” any.

Our number one choice was Amelia with the nick name Millie but am worried about the popularity of Amelia and whether it is special enough.

Names I like but my husband doesn’t are:
Daisy
Camilla
Mila
Mabel
Remy
Scout
Indie
Imogen

Ones my husband finds okay are;
Evie
Isabel

Names I love but can’t use
Polly
Poppy
Jemima

Looking for something unique and beautiful but not strange.

Thank you – we are lost.

 

The Social Security Administration reports that in 2017, the name Penel0pe was the 24th most popular girl name in the United States; Z0e was 41st, but it’s a little complicated because the spelling Z0ey was #29 and would contribute to the perception of how common the name was; and Amelia was #8. Those rankings put the names all within reasonable range of each other, and I think the name Millie helps give the name an extra freshness. If Amelia is your number one choice, and you both agree on it, and you are feeling lost trying to come up with anything else, then I think you are all set: you have already found the name you both like best. If you would find it enjoyable to continue looking, we can do a little of that, with the comfort of knowing you already have a good name lined up if the exploration is fruitless.

I suspect that the reason the name Amelia is not sitting quite right with you is that the names Z0e and Penel0pe are more recent to current usage: the name Z0e didn’t settle comfortably into the Top 1000 until 1983, and only hit the Top 100 in 2000; the name Penel0pe had a more rapid and even more recent rise, getting back into the Top 1000 in 2001 and the Top 100 in 2013. By comparison, the name Amelia hasn’t been out of the Top 1000 a single time since the SSA online records start in 1900, and in fact it’s never been out of the Top 500. That kind of long-term familiarity can make a name feel less exciting than a name that still has a smack of surprise. Still, I don’t think that’s enough reason to take it off the list, especially when you are struggling to agree on anything else.

To try to add more possibilities to the list, I would look for other names that have come back into style more recently. Bonus points for names with something a little interesting about the spelling/pronunciation, as both Z0e and Penel0pe have with their Greek endings, and as Z0e has with the interesting initial Z, and as they both have by being fun to say.

Annabel
Aria
Beatrix
Calista
Camille
Celeste
Cleo
Eleanor/Nora
Eloise
Esme
Felicity
Fiona
Genevieve/Evie
Hazel
Iris
Isla
Ivy
Josephine
Juliette
Lila
Lydia
Phoebe
Ruby
Stella
Violet
Vivian

I left in some options I’m not sure about: some might be too big a popularity gap with Z0e and Penel0pe; and I’m not sure about the ones that duplicate the surname’s ending L-sound; and names like Lila and Isla and Ruby are not great with Lulu. But this is the kind of list I’d be looking at.

One of my top choices for you is Annabel. It’s fun to say, and its current level of popularity (along with the similar Annabelle, Annabella, etc., as well as the El-/-elle/-ella sounds in general) is relatively recent. Z0e, Penel0pe, and Annabel.

I also like Genevieve. It’s familiar but retains a freshness, and it gives you the nickname Evie from your husband’s list. Z0e, Penel0pe, and Genevieve; Z0e, Lulu, and Evie.

If this will be your last child, I might suggest going all-in with Phoebe. (I would also have suggested Daphne, but the alliteration with the surname seemed one notch too far.) Z0e, Penel0pe, and Phoebe. Visually, though, it bothers me how close it is to Penel0pe.

I like how Fiona splits the difference between Z0e and Penel0pe, syllable-wise, and echoes the long-O of Z0e. Z0e, Penel0pe, and Fiona.

Josephine, too, is three syllables and repeats the long-O sound. Z0e, Penel0pe, and Josephine; Z0e, Lulu, and Josie. But Josie may be too similar to Z0e.

I like how Ruby brings out the sass of all three names, and repeats the long-E ending in sound while using a different letter to achieve it. Z0e, Penel0pe, and Ruby.

I like the way the middle D-sound of Lydia is echoed in the surname, and it’s fun to say.  Z0e, Penel0pe, and Lydia.

Eloise, too, I find fun to say, and this is another option that repeats the long-O sound. Z0e, Penel0pe, and Eloise.

37 thoughts on “Baby Girl Foyle-with-a-D, Sister to Z0e and Penel0pe”

  1. Marisa

    Cleo and Phoebe are my two favorite suggestions! I like Amelia too and don’t think the popularity is too big of a put off. Maybe you’d like Echo, Io, or Iona? Or Isolde, Zelda, or Azara? Cressida, Althea, or Antigone? Apollonia nn Polly? Phaedra nn Faye?

    Reply ↓
  2. Liz

    I love Swistle’s suggestions for you, particularly Ruby and Fiona. What about Avery? It seems like the same style as Amelia to me and though it is popular, I’ve actually never met an Avery. Both of your daughters’ names seem so happy to me. Another name that always seems joyful to me is Piper, though I’m not sure if two ‘P’ names would bother you.

    Reply ↓
  3. StephLove

    I think Amelia could be the name, for reasons Swistle outlines and it is a lovely name. But if your husband comes around to Imogen (it happens) that would fit into your family well, too.

    I like the suggestions of Annabel, Eleanor, Felicity, Fiona, Hazel, Josephine, Ruby, Stella, & Violet. And Genevieve (nn Evie) is a great idea.

    How about Audrey, Clementine, Jessamyn, Mae, Marjorie, Sophia, or Thalia?

    Reply ↓
  4. Lee

    I love the idea of repeating the “oh” sound. Maybe Odessa, Ophelia, Calliope, Niobe, Naomi, or Rosemary (nn Remy that you like?).

    I also like Florence, Thalia, Magnolia (nn Millie??), Cynthia, Linnea, Tabitha, and Cordelia (I love this with your last name).

    Since you like Amelia, Mila, and Camilla, maybe Carmel or Carmilla is the right note to get to nn Millie? I’m not sure if Carmilla is too connected to the vampire though…I personally hear it the same way I hear Dracula but to me that’s not a drawback.

    Reply ↓
      2. Annie

        Especially with a middle name that would keep it grounded and avoid the whole effect from being too cartoony: Daphne Joan? Daphne Jane? Daphne Greer? Daphne Claire?

        Reply ↓
    2. Ashley

      I love Daphne Doyle, too! That’s what I came to say! Oh, please use it. What a fun, fetching sibling set.

      Reply ↓
  7. Nathalia

    I’m wondering if Amalia, nn Molly, would suit? It’s close to Amelia, but fresher and with a different vowel sound. I’m also drawn to Genevieve, nn Evie. Congratulations and good luck!

    Reply ↓
  8. Jessemy

    Working backward from the name Millie, how about Millicent? Very very fresh and such a natural for a nickname you already love.

    Reply ↓
  9. Joanna Maria

    I would like to suggest Emilia as an alternative for Amelia.
    It has a familiar sound, similar to Amelia, it’s not too weird since it’s just Emily in other languages, it was number 74 in terms of popularity in 2017, and it still gives you Millie as a nickname option (as well as Emmy/Emmie, also cute).
    So, it’s basically a winner:)

    Camellia could be nice too, but it’s kind of more “adventurous”.

    Another name that I personally really like – and it would sound great with both Z0e and Penel0pe – is Ariadne! (However, it’s also a bit uncommon – number 773 in 2017.)

    Reply ↓
  10. Katie

    I liked swistle’s observation about the greek endings of your other daughters’ names. So I went looking for Greek names that might work.
    Gianna
    Helene
    Cassandra
    Theodora (maybe with nn Thea, which I love!)
    I also like the previous comment’s suggestion of Ariadne! And Ruby would be a good fit too.
    Congratulations!

    Reply ↓
  11. AJ

    I know your husband isn’t on board with Mabel but I love it with your sibset, especially with the nn Billie, which my grandmother used.

    Reply ↓
  13. Kendall

    What about Noelle? Gets you the long o sound of Z0e and Penel0pe, but gets you lots of sweet nickname options including Nellie.

    Reply ↓
  14. Liz

    I love Phoebe with Zoe and Penelope.

    Amelia nn Milly is lovely, and I think you should stick with it.

    I’m dittoing Matilda as a first name, but you can use Milly as a nn for it!

    Reply ↓
  15. Evie

    I love love love Ancient Greek girls’ names with a long e ending. My daughters’ middle names are Ariadne and Nephele. I also like for you Selene, Danae, and Persephone.

    Reply ↓
  16. TheFirstA

    I like the idea of going all in, but agree Phoebe seems too much. I think something like Chloe would be a better fit. Or the previous suggestion of Calliope.

    Like Swistle, I also thought of Beatrix and Anabel (though I prefer that spelling). Some other ideas-Agatha, Amalia (more surprise factor than Amelia I think), Talia,

    Reply ↓
  19. A

    I don’t know why but I quite like Emilia over Amelia, especially with Zoe and Penelope. Amelia seems so old fashioned where Emilia feels fresher and more on point with Z and P. Emmy and Mila are both very nice nick names.

    My other suggestion would be Miranda. It has some similar sounds and the same rhythm as Amelia but doesn’t have the issue of crazy popularity. Its meaning of “admirable; wonderful” is so lovely and it offers a plethora of nick names. It has that same spunky sassy vibe as your other daughters’ names as well.

    Zoe, Penelope (Lulu), and Miranda
    Zoe, Penelope (Lulu), and Mira
    Zoe, Penelope (Lulu), and Miri
    Zoe, Penelope (Lulu), and Andie

    My favorite is Miranda nickname Mira. It’s perfect along with Zoe and Penelope.

    I also like the suggestion as Margo as well.

    Reply ↓
  20. Ali Cat

    Another vote for Phoebe :). I also want to suggest Xanthe… though maybe it’s too close to Zoe? You could call her Xanna, which is sounds less similar.

    Reply ↓
  21. Bkb

    My favorites of all the suggestions are Fiona, Margot, Miranda and Matilda. They seem just the right amount of spunky to go with your other daughters’ names.

    For what’s it’s worth, though, I run into similar numbers of Zoes, Penelopes and Amelias, so they don’t seem out of line in terms of popularity.

    Reply ↓
  22. Jaime

    See, I love the alliteration of Daphne D___ and love it with her sisters’ names as well. Phoebe is a great stylistic match but repeating first initials would bug me. I also think Calista would be a great choice. Or maybe Sybil, nn Sybi or Zelda or Zella? I could totally get on board with Annabel as well. Wanted to suggest Camille, nn Millie or Susannah, nn Sosie or Zan.

    Reply ↓
  25. Jd

    What’s about Monica? It has Greek-ish orgins, more unique than Zoe/Penelope but still is familiar. Fresh, fun to say, and could have fun nicknames Minnie, Mina, Nica or Mona.

    Reply ↓
  26. Kate Mo

    I second (or third) Daphne. Love the alliteration with your last name. From your daughter Penelope’s middle name, perhaps you are a fan of alliteration as well? And I like that each girl has her own letter, which is a cute way to decorate and distinguish things. Congrats and good luck!

    Reply ↓
  27. Erin Beth

    Amelia is lovely and works well with the sister names. I only know one and she is a teenager. If you love it, you should use it. That said, I adore the suggestion of Fiona for you. It connects with the sister names while having its own distinctive sound, and it appeals in a lot of the same ways as Amelia and Imogen. Good luck!

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.