Hello Swistle! I love reading your blog and appreciate your and all your readers help with names! I love baby names and am about to embark on naming our fourth, and potentially final, baby!
Our name is like “Diesel” but with C at the front! We have 3 children already and come November will be so happy to have 2 boys and 2 girls! Our first son is Calvin, daughter Susanna, second son is Bennett and our last will be another daughter! We love our kids names and enjoy the comments we get on how unique but familiar and nice each of their names are!
As soon as I found out I was pregnant all I could think about were two girl names. Jane and Laurel. I have always loved both. We weren’t sure if it was a girl but I desperately wanted to use one of these names so I really hoped it WAS a girl and we had no boy names we truly loved. Once we found out it is a girl-which we are thrilled about-we are having a tough time committing to either one. Can you help?!?
A little history of our names:
Calvin love NN Cal and it was not super familiar but still a “name” which is a big preference to me bc of my slightly weird, head turning name, Jancy. All middle names are family names-his is David after his father and grandfather.
Susanna was a name we thought of and loved as soon as we found out we were pregnant with her. Middle name Joy after my sister, her aunt. I didn’t realize until after she was born how truly unpopular this name is-not been in top 1000 basically ever-but everyone comments how beautiful and sweet this name is!
For Bennett we did not find out the gender prior to delivery so in the delivery room my husband made the final call which I was on board with “boy, Bennett and girl, Jane”. His middle name is Bradley after my father!
Now another girl! We still have this sweet name Jane but also this unique and never used name Laurel. One of my children don’t love Laurel because they have a hard time saying it which made us realize that most children wouldn’t be able to say it until at least 5! Is that something we are okay with?!
I also realized recently every single one of us has an N in our name name unintentionally. I don’t feel pressure to keep this going but all of the children’s names do come from some sort of historical figure who we have been encouraged by in our life. Jane would fit both of those catergories and Laurel would fit neither. Her middle name will be a name we are very excited about-Holland, after his grandparents who we are very close with and are very dear to each of our children.
Other names we like but for some reason are not jumping out to us as much this time in no particular order:
Helen
Ellen
Lucy
Katherine
Rachel
Caroline
AliceSometimes I wonder if I am missing something great because my mind and heart can’t get away from Jane or Laurel. What are your thoughts?! I don’t know how we will choose! My husband could probably like 80% of names he hears and I am only in a small 5% of liking names so he is held up by me on that end! We have 3 months left to figure this out!
Thanks for your consideration!
Jancy and Nathan
My own personal opinion, apart from other considerations and looking at this only as a naming exercise, is that Laurel fits slightly better in the sibling set. Calvin, Susanna, Bennett, Laurel. I think the name Laurel will get you more of the “unique but familiar and nice” reactions you like with your other kids’ names, and it gives everyone their own initial. If you’re pretty sure she’ll be your last child, I might suggest naming her Laurel Jane, giving you the option of using Jane whenever you please, and coordinating beautifully with her sister’s name Susanna Joy. [Edited to add: Multiple commenters mentioned the matching -el endings of Laurel with the surname, and I hadn’t noticed that, and it changes my mind: I would choose Jane.]
But what matters isn’t which name I personally think is slightly better in the set, or even which name IS better in the set (I love sibling names to coordinate, but coordination is only one of many preferences), but instead which name you want more to use, and to me every line of your letter is singing out that you’d rather use Jane. It sounds to me as if you think you ought to prefer Laurel, so you’re finding as many reasons as you can to argue for Jane instead—including the “We all have an unintentional N in our names” concept, which you’re not really arguing for but even the mention of it sends my eyebrows straight up: it is such a bafflingly slim reason to favor a name that it immediately catches my attention as a possible tell.
But I want to be clear that, as I start arguing for using the name Jane, it’s because I think it’s the name you want to use, and because I think it’s a great name and great with the sibling names. It’s not, for example, because I care one single morsel if some children have trouble pronouncing the name Laurel, which is a short-term issue at absolute worst. We are not going to start restricting ourselves to names that preschoolers can easily pronounce.
Nor do I care which name the other children in the family prefer. It’s fun to consult the kids, and I loved it when my other kids had opinions about names, but in the long run they won’t care about the name decision as much as I will, and in fact later they’re unlikely to even remember having opinions, and in fact when they’re older they might have completely different opinions (if they have any opinions at all about it).
And of course the unintentional-N thing is going right straight out the window. We are using that only to give us a possible peek into your inner wants. Your family had an unintentional-two-syllable thing until Susanna was born, and an unintentional-A thing until Bennett was born, and I assume no one felt the long-term impact of breaking with those. And besides, if we are going to have to start coordinating entire FAMILIES’ names (rather than just sibling sets), I’m throwing in the towel.
Use the name Jane if you like it better and want it more. It’s great with the sibling names, it’s fabulous with the middle name Holland (much better than Laurel, in my opinion), it meets all your preferences, and you love it. I love it too. I think it’s a wonderful name. And if we’re mentioning small things that don’t matter much, I like that it mixes up the syllables in the group: two names with two syllables, one name with three syllables, one name with one syllable.
At this point, you could coast for awhile without making a final decision. You ideally have several months to go, and you have two excellent names you love: you could wait and see how you feel over the next few months, and even leave the final decision until you see her.
And see how you feel as you read this post and the responses: Do you find you’re hoping people will vote for one name over the other? Do you find yourself feeling displeased as you read support for one of the names, and getting a little thrill as you read support for the other? This sort of thing can be a good way to figure out which name you prefer.
One small thing I notice is how visually similar Jane is to the name Jancy (and it repeats an initial)—but I think that could be a sweet partial namesake. I love the name Jancy, too, and it would be fun to get a family-name thing going with that. Ooo—if you do go with Laurel: Laurel Jancy?? And that would leave Jane for a just-in-case future daughter!
While we’re still here, let’s do an aside about name popularity. According to the Social Security Administration, the name Susanna has been in the Top 1000 for 77 of the 98 years from 1900 to 1997—and even went as high as the 500s/600s. However, that IS still quite uncommon; and it’s been out of the Top 1000 since 1997. The name Laurel is of ballpark-similar popularity: it was in the Top 1000 for 105 of the 118 years from 1901 to 2018, and in 2018 was #623. To see that in real-baby numbers, in 2018 there were approximately 382 new baby girls named Susanna variants (154 new baby girls named Susanna, 114 named Susana, 62 named Susannah, 52 named Suzanna), and 480 named Laurel. There were 1,123 new baby girls named Jane that same year: more common, but still nice and unusual. For comparison, there were 18,688 new baby girls named Emma. If we look ahead to when this batch of babies is in school: for every 18 Emmas in their grade, there will be an average of 1 Jane, 1/2 Laurel, and 1/3 Susanna.
Name update:
Hello Swistle! We have a name update for you.
Our sweet little Jane was born November 6th and while we held her and ponderered what this little ones name should be we kept coming back to Jane. I still have my qualms and doubts that will, I am sure, subside as she grows and we get to know her better. Her namesakes were completely surprised and thrilled we chose their surname, Holland, as a middle name. Thank you to everyone for all the help-naming a child is the most difficult business!
I adore the name Laurel as a sister for you… Jane is beautiful as well but I love that Laurel’s popularity is more in line with Susanna than Jane is. Of the others on your list, I think Helen pairs nicely as well.
I love Laurel, but agree that Jane Holland flows better. If you with Laurel Holland sounds-like-Diesel, it’s L overload.
I love Jane with your sibling set.
Have you considered using Holland as a first name?? I adore the way Holland Jane works together. Laurel is one of my favorite names that I wish I could use, but unfortunately I don’t love it with your last name. The 2 consecutive names ending with ‘-el’ throws me a bit. It’s fine with a middle name breaking them up, but she won’t be introducing herself with all 3 names as she grows up. I made a mistake like this with my first daughter and I feel like when we say first+last it’s a bit clunky. When we were expecting I always said first-middle-last and never realized.
Side note: I knew a Holland growing up and have a super positive association with that name! She was/is smart, kind, successful and completely gorgeous :)
Yes!! Holland Jane is beautiful.
Team Jane over here! I’m not so fond of Laurel Diesel-with-a-C – I’m personally not a fan of the two el ending sound. But Calvin, Susanna, Bennett and Jane – I just love it. I love it!
I’m Team Jane! Tipping points for me: I don’t love the repeating -el of Laurel Diesel-too sing-songy for me. I DO love the one-syllable-ness of Jane functioning like a period or explanation point in the sibling lair: Calvin, Susannah, Bennett and Jane!
And look, since you have Bennett and love Jane, with a Katherine on your backup list, I think we’d be remiss if we didn’t pull out some more Pride and Prejudice alternatives for you to peruse. Lydia? Elizabeth? Charlotte?
Love love love Laurel Jane!!
Jane is one of my favorite names – I knew a wonderful woman with that name, and it wasn’t an option for me because we needed names that worked in English and Spanish (also I ended up with 2 boys so REALLY never an option!). Jane is so lovely, I hope you use it.
I agree that Laurel “C”iesel is a tough combo. If she’s always going to go by Laurel Jane (ie, if she doesn’t have a middle name and it’s a double or hyphenated first) especially if you plan to use the nickname LJ, it seems doable, but if you just want her to go by her first name I’d go with Jane.
I love Jane and I think it fits a little better with the sibset–not so much in popularity, but Calvin, Susanna, Bennett, and Jane all seem like classics, while Laurel is a bit more modern. It’s a lovely name but I think Jane works better, especially with the surname too.
Well, that indeed is a tough choice! But I probably lean more towards Jane. Not only because I personally really like this name, but also because it sounds a bit better with your surname (as well as middle name Holland) than Laurel. I don’t think you can go wrong with either name, but Susanna & Jane would make a wonderful sisters set!
Some other names that I like with your sibset:
Ingrid
Loretta
Clara
Livia
Lena
Francesca
Rosemary
Veronica
Juliette
Rosalind
Marianne
Ruby
Natalie
Aurelia
Helena
P.S. Polish Susan/Susanna (Zuzanna) is currently parents’ favorite name for a girl – it was no. 1 in terms of popularity in Poland in 2018. So maybe the time will come when more US parents will also appreciate it!
Oh, Eugenia Jane “Diesel” would also sound nice! Calvin, Bennett, Susanna & Eugenia
I had the same thought as Swistle, that you seemed to be leaning toward Jane. Jane Laurel would be a nice way to get in both of your favorites if you didn’t mind the repeated end sound of the middle and last name, which would come up less often that if it were the first name.
I’m not fond of the combo Laurel Diesel, since it’s a bit rhymy. ‘Course, you could also call her LJ or Laurie most of the time, and that’d ease the similarity. Jane is my favorite of the two you prefer.
I seriously thought of naming my daughter Susana, but ended up keeping strictly to her namesake’s name Susan. Because of my high chance of twins, we came up with twin names for Susan/Susana, which included Rebecca, Lucinda, Rachel, and Alys. (Spelled like my best friend’s middle name)
Ok, hear me out, I think it would be so cool if you did another “normal” name with the first initial changed, like Jancy. How fun would it be for your last baby girl to have that connection with you? If I think of any cute ones, I comment back with suggestions!
I hate to be that person, but I really love both names! And I think they work equally well with a “familiar but uncommon” sibset theme.
I agree with others who point out that Jane goes better with Holland and the last name. Typically I’m not too worried about first/middle coordination, but it can be helpful to break a tie. So I lean a wee bit more towards Jane for you.
I love Jane Holland. Laurel Holland is a few too many “l” sounds
I’m firmly on team Jane and I think the name really brings you happiness. It fits in just fine with your kids’ names, sound great with Holland, and sounds good with your last name too.
I also like Winifred and Dorothy, which have that same rarely-heard vintage charm of Susanna, but I think Jane is the name.
We have similar taste in baby names – I love all your kids’ names AND the ones on your “maybe” list and I actually have a little Helen myself. Jane Holland (D)iesel / Jane (D)iesel has great flow and I think it’s lovely with your other kids’ names, too.
If this is a vote, I’d go Laurel. To me, Jane seems too spare after Calvin, Susanna and Bennett. Like Swistle, I think Laurel fits right in. And I think the repeating sound at the end of both Laurel and your last name is a thing about personal preference. It doesn’t bother me, and feels like it was intentional.
Honestly, I also read your note to indicate that you prefer Laurel otherwise you’d be going with Jane already … It was the girl name last time, right? Maybe that is part of the hang up…. You feel that giving this baby the “left-over name” isn’t fair? I personally don’t think this is true, but could understand that concern. Sometimes a name becomes tied to a specific pregnancy and it is hard to transfer that over.
So, you wrote to ask for new options. Here are a couple ideas.
Helena – it feels more romantic than Helen and that extra a makes it three syllables, making it a good counterpart for Susanna. Helena and Susanna.
Laura – this feels a lot like Laurel and has the same wide recognition of Jane. Might bring the best of both worlds.
Heidi – again familiar but not common. Heidi “Diesel” sounds pretty spunky. Heidi Holland is parallel to Bennett Bradley.
Maren – this sweet but uncommon name gets you the N if that is important for you. Maren “Diesel”
Marion/Marian – if you want traditional and rare, these could work too. I know Marion/Marian can take some time to love (this has recently been growing on me in a big way) but think of the elegance and moxy of Maid Marian. Technically the o is the boy spelling but this is a very rare boy’s name in the US. I personally prefer the o like French actress Marion Cotillard.
Clara – I love this name and if you are okay with the repeating C of Calvin and your last name … Clara Holland could be perfect.
Best of luck!
Love the suggestion of Maren above. Maren Holland is lovely.
I immediately thought of Jane Bennett of Pride and Prejudice and it seems to me like I’d think of it all the time. “Bennett! Jane!” would be like calling roll.
Team Jane, because of the -el rhyme with Laurel, and because Jane is lovely, classic, and underused.
Other ideas with your sibset, around the same popularity as Calvin or less popular:
Juliana
Lucia
Cecelia
Molly
Clarissa
Joanna
Rebecca
Vanessa
Mariana
Camilla
My nieces are Susannah and June, which makes me EXTREMELY partial to Susanna and Jane.
Susanna makes me think of Clementine. She’s bright, sweet, and rare.
Clementine Holland C”Diesel”
Calvin, Susanna, Bennett, and Clementine
Maybe you don’t want to repeat initials?
How about Jemima?
Jemima Holland C”Diesel”
Calvin, Susanna, Bennett, and Jemima
Congrats and best wishes on your growing family!
PLEASE consider Holland as a first name. Holland Jane. I know a teenaged Holland who is wonderful and I’ve never heard anyone comment unpleasant way about her unusual name. What an honor that would be for the grandparents.
I Initially read “C”iesel as starting with a Kee sound, rather than a See sound. Reading through again, I’m pretty sure it’s See, but I want to point out that Jane “Kee”sel is difficult for me to say with the N/K back to back. It comes out almost like Jay “Kee”sel or at it’s worst Jake Easel.
Oh you are all so lovely to respond and help us out! To be honest, I WANT everyone to like (love) Laurel but hearing how much you all really love Jane is helping me love it more as well. I think my husband prefers it of the two. I never thought Laurel with our surname sounded too odd so that is helpful for you to all point out and for us to consider. I can’t say how much I appreciate your feedback! We will report back in about 2 months with our conclusion! Swistle thank you for your response!
Yay! Jane is so elegant and clean and bold as a name. It’s my very favorite girl name and I’m so pleased when people get to use it. (Boy mom here). Congratulations on your baby!
Thanks Sarah! It does help when other people say how much they love it!