Dear Swistle,
I’m due in two months with a second daughter. My first daughter is Eleanor Blue Berryhill (our blueberry girl) who goes by Ellie but we also sometimes call her Elle or Ellie Blue.
My husband and I picked that name out over a decade ago when we were just dating. Naming our second has taken most of this pregnancy and we still can’t land anywhere for certain. My husband was dead set on Freja/Freya because of his Scandinavian heritage but I couldn’t do it. I’m a third grade teacher and, though it is a pretty SOUNDING name, the look is just too unusual for me especially because he preferred the spelling with the j.
We are liking Mia (pronounced mee-uh) but need help with the middle name.
My husband loves Mia Black Berryhill. I love the name Mia Black because it sounds badass but as a full name, not paired with our last name. I cannot name both of my kids types of berries.
I do kind of like the idea of having a subtle color theme with both the girls. I suggested the names Violet or Ruby. My husband wasn’t hot on either.
So far I like:
Mia Jean (a family name but also because of Hermione Jean Granger.)
Mia Eileen (my sister’s middle name)
Mia CarolineI love the name or middle name May/Mae but again, it rolls right into Berryhill. May Berryhill sounds like an homage to the Andy Griffith Show, right? No thanks.
I’m not a particularly indecisive person so all this waffling is quite annoying to me. I’d love to have a name set so I can have the chunk of my brain that’s always thinking about it freed up!
Thanks for any help!
I’m missing the reason why you can’t use berry names for both kids. I’d understand wanting to avoid berry references entirely for all the kids in the family; and I’d understand if you thought the berry thing was terrific and wanted to do it again but didn’t like Straw or Black or Rasp or Boysen or Logan or Huckle or Cran as names and so now felt stuck coming up with something as cute/namelike as Blue; but I don’t understand leaning into the name Eleanor Blue, and then loving the name Mia Black for many reasons but thinking “We went for a berry thing ONCE, but absolutely CANNOT with it a second time.”
I do think I’d at least hesitate before using Black as the specific berry-referencing name. It’s so archetypally iffy to begin with, and then the contrast with the sister name is additionally iffy: Ellie Blue sounds so sweet and good, and then Mia Black sounds, as you say, badass. In a picture book, Ellie Blue is wearing a gingham dress with matching hair bows, and standing in a field of daisies with her little berry-picking basket and maybe a fluffy lamb gamboling nearby; Mia Black is wearing a leather jumpsuit with matching sunglasses, and sword-fighting in space with lightning bolts and shooting stars just everywhere. It feels unfair to one sister, though I’m not sure which sister it feels unfair to. I guess it’s that it seems unfair to both, by assigning roles.
If you are set on avoiding berries a second time, I advise looking for something approximately as distinctive as the wordplay you went with the first time, especially since it sounds like you bring up that wordplay frequently with “Ellie Blue” and “our blueberry girl” and so forth. I am not sure what I’d be looking for if I weren’t going with berries, but something distinctive enough to feel an equivalent amount of special. Mia Hermione works well for this, I think; Mia Jean is nice but not enough: I love Hermione but didn’t remember her middle name was Jean.
Mia Mae also works for me: I’m not catching the difference between “Blue Berryhill / blueberry YES PLEASE!” and “Mae Berryhill / Mayberry NO THANKS.” They seem like similarly appealing wordplay to me, with pleasingly parallel nicknames of Ellie Blue and Mia Mae. I would in fact lean hard toward this idea: wordplay both times, but DIFFERENT, so you’re not boxed in if you have more kids.
I like your idea of at least doing a color theme, if you don’t want to do berries or Griffith show; it’s much less distinctive than the Blue Berry thing, but it’s something, and it lets you act as if colors was the plan all along and the berry thing was a coincidence. Violet and Ruby are very nice choices; there’s also Garnet, Olive, Scarlet, Coral, Silver, Teal, Lilac, Emerald, Lavender, Grey, Jade, Sage, Amethyst. (Rose feels too common a middle name to work as a color name here.)
The name Freya hit the Top 1000 in the U.S. in 2013 and has been rising rapidly since then; in 2018, it was #266.
(image from https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/)
I think it’s completely usable already, and will be increasingly familiar as your kids grow up. I even think the Freja spelling would work, if you’re willing to deal with the minor but steady hassle of it. It’s a nice short name to spell, and “It’s the Norwegian spelling” is such a nice easy explanation. On the other hand, if you’re already using your husband’s family surname, perhaps there could be a search for first names representing your family’s heritage for balance.
Name update:
Here is Mia Wren Berryhill with big sister Eleanor (Ellie) Blue!
I too am confused. Was the blueberry thing an accident that you noticed afterward and happened to like? If not–or even if so–wouldn’t it feel a little lopsided to have one “blueberry girl” and one with a completely straightforward name that doesn’t play on the whimsy of your last name? It seems unlikely that you chose Blue without specifically going for blueberry, so as a spectator to your kids’ names, I’d find it vastly more satisfying for you to do it again on purpose than for you to skip it on purpose.
I did some light googling and discovered there’s something called a “tayberry.” Mia Tay? Tay sounds like Mae, and if you’re REALLY uneasy about doubling down on berries, I’m guessing many other people who are familiar with the blueberry are ignorant to the tayberry, so you can choose to deploy it in conversation or not.
If that’s too strange, then Logan is a perfect suggestion.
Because “Blue” Berryhill has such a strong and obvious connotation, I don’t think it can be replicated equally with an alternative color or berry.
I would give both girls the middle name “Blue.” It’s a fun middle name, you don’t have one middle name with a radically different feel than the other and it’s something they can share as sisters.
Freja is great and not at all obscure or hard to pronounce to me. (Live in the US) It is also to me equally substantial to Eleanor while Mia feels less so.
Sisters:
Eleanor Blue Berryhill
Freja Blue Berryhill
Love
My vote is to lean into the berry connection—it’s such a fun one! My first thought was Marion for Marion berries. Razz would be fun for Raspberry. Also Lingon, June, Juniper, Mull. I googled Norwegian Berries and found Cloudberries which might be a fun nod to heritage.
Honestly, I LOVE Cloud for kiddo’s middle. It’s a word in its own right, like Blue, plays with the berry theme without being too “on the nose” for me, the actual call name(s) have the same fanciful feel (without your last name) for me of Ellie Blue, and it’s a nod to baby’s heritage.
Honestly, I’m swooning for Freya Cloud, but I do like Mia Cloud too, if you’re sure Freya is too funky for you. (I agree with Swistle, that it’s becoming more common and recognizable to U.S. folks, and it’s lovely.)
If Cloud is too funky, I like Juniper as well, for that subtle whimsy. I’m all about family names, but Mia Jean or Mia Caroline feel off as the sister of Eleanor Blue, your blueberry girl.
I was coming to say this too. Cloud!
I so love the Juniper idea!! Mia Juniper is SUPER cute and still matches “Blue” without being too much.
What about Briar? It avoids a specific berry but still seems to fit with the berry genre. I don’t know how it rolls with Mia, but it seems less cut throat than Black probably thanks to Sleeping Beauty.
Or you could go with a nature theme..
– An animal… I’m thinking something like Lark. Ellie Blue and Mia Lark.
– Or location. Mia Lane Berryhill.
– Or natural feature. Mia Brooke Berryhill.
– Or plant. Mia Bay Berryhill.
Seems like a few ways you can play with your unique last-name. Congrats on your little one.
Briar also came to mind for me. It has a similar charm and a nature association but without the literal berry connection.
If the Mayberry reference bothers you, would you consider Rae? It’s short, sweet and a little unique like Blue.
Another color name, which I think makes a great nickname or middle name, is Roux pronounced roo meaning “red”. I can’t decide if rhyming middle names makes a fun sib set or if it piles too many similarities on the name choice.
100% agree that their middle names could both be Blue. It gives them a connection, and does not require one to have the more whimsical name than the other and then the other a “less” favorable Berry name — or not one at all, which makes me feel a little sad! I also like Freja a lot (and think Freja Blue is adorable). What about marching a longer first name with a nickname like with Eleanor “Ellie” Blue:
Margaret “Mae” Blue
Amelia “Mia” Blue
Or Miranda, Magnolia, Camille?
I love Amelia to veg the nickname Mia and I think Black is really cool with it!
Eleanor Blue and Amelia Black
Ellie and Mia
<3
Veg! I typed get. Thanks autocorrect!
FREJA CLOUD BERRYHILL!!!!! Please use that one!!! I adore it in every single way!
Best name!!!
Freja Cloud is pretty amazing too.
I agree with Swistle but I’ll take it a step further and suggest a middle name that is a shade of blue. Mia Indigo Berryhill.
I tried to pretend my name was Mia and my sister was named Eleanor “Ellie” Blue. And for me, I immediately wished I had a more formal name like my sister so my nickname was Mia. I loved the earlier suggestion of Amelia. And then I wondered if my sister had the cool middle name of Blue, what would I want my middle name to be. And I decided something along the lines of Bird (or Finch or Sparrow). I think Mia Bird Berryhill is lovely. Amelia B Berryhill. Or even Birdie. Ellie and Birdie?
I love Amelia Bird. Birdie.
Also love Amelia Black
I love the suggestion of Mia Marion, could be shortened to Mia Mary. Ellie Blue and Mia Mary!
I know two little ones named Freya now (in Alberta, Canada), and (as far as I know) all response to this name has been warm. :)
Cloud is a fabulous middle name.
June might also work for the middle? I wasn’t too sure what a “juneberry” was (I live in Europe), but Google led me to this: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/mar/26/juneberry-the-blossom-with-benefits. I gather there may be some US-Canada disagreement over “juneberry” vs “saskatoon”, though…
I think June (like Cloud) could stand alone as a middle name, with rich connotations other than the berry – but the potential for whimsy would still be there. As part of an ongoing mission to make Hermione happen, I suggest Hermione June or Hermione Cloud, with the nickname Mia or Maia. Eleanor Blue and Hermione June; Ellie Blue and Mia June. Eleanor Blue and Hermione Cloud; Ellie Blue and Maia Cloud.
Also think Freja (either spelling) is gorgeous.
I didn’t get past the title of the linked article before thinking “Blossom” might make an appropriately whimsical middle name.
And I do like Mia as a nickname for Hermione.
I like Blossom with Mae/May as the first name. You have MayBlossom and BlueBerry girls. Same whimsy, but doesn’t have to play off the last name every time.
I also love Hermione with Mia as a nickname.
I agree you need something distinct in the middle. Like Golden. and I like Freya and Mia. I don’t know where you live but I think Freya is the perfect mix of outstanding and unique but not unheard of and also sounds like other common names, like Mia.
Freya Golden and Eleanor Blue
Mia Golden and Eleanor Blue
I also love Lydia with Eleanor if you want another suggestion.
I’m not even a big fan of JRR Tolkien’s work (sorry, just couldn’t slog through any more of his writing after the fellowship of the ring) but this immediately made me think of Tom Bombadil’s wife, Goldberry. Could be a nice thing for our OP? Or perhaps something she’d like to avoid…either way, just wanted to point it out so she’s aware :)
I’m afraid my constant Polish inputs may already be a bit annoying, but I can’t help myself and have to suggest Malina. It means “raspberry ” in Polish (and apparently several other languages), and is used as a girls name here. It may be a bit of a stretch, but I guess Mia could work as a nickname for Malina too. Malina Jean Berryhill would sound really nice!
We also have a name Jagoda, which literally means “blueberry” in Polish, but it may sound too harsh/weird for English speakers (J is pronounced like “j” in Freja: Ya-goh-da). Well, and it also brings Yoda to my mind :)
From earlier comments, I particularly like the suggestion of Amelia Bird, nn Birdie – just lovely!
Love the Polish inputs! Not annoying at all. Your comments are great :)
SIgned,
The person who always says ‘here in Australia…’
Oh, thank you! :)
I really like learning about naming customs and fashions in other countries (including Australia!)
I have long loved the name Malina and agree with you that this would be perfect!!
And please continue the Polish inputs in more posts – I love learning about new names, and in particular Polish names are a favourite. The name Agnieszka is one I would absolutely give a future daughter, but I worry it would sound silly if I don’t actually have Polish roots (and neither does my SO).
Agnieszka is a great name! One of those timeless classics that sound good on a toddler, a teenager, middle-aged woman, and an old lady…
My grandma had a sister with that name and they called her “Neszka” at home (even though Agnieszka is usually shortened to Aga or Isia – it might have a been a regional thing or so).
If you feel like you need a good reason to “justify” using a totally foreign name, a famous namesake could be a good option! Hm, if you’re into sports, you can say that you liked this name upon hearing it on Agnieszka Radwańska. And if you like cinema, there’s famous Polish movie director Agnieszka Holland. Oh, and you can also check out Agnieszka Osiecka, who was a renowned poet, journalist and songwriter.
Thank you for your kind words, and if you have any questions concerning Polish names, I would gladly help!
Ooh, going to look up Agnieszka Osiecka right now! I am a journalist and always am on the lookout for strong female journalist role models. And I DO like Agnieszka Radwanska too, she is fierce and fabulous – thank you for the justifications :)
PS Neszka is a gorgeous nickname!
The name Freja doesn’t seem oddly-unusual to me at all — rather fresh, easy to say and remember, and pleasing. I like the “j.” Thinking of reading off my class list on the first day of school, I believe I’d pronounce it correctly the first time without hesitation. Or at least, once corrected, I’d never hesitate again and would find it easy and natural to spell it that way. (I’m wondering if there might be other common words in English where the j takes a y sound — it seems natural and obvious to me.) I think the spelling gets points for being cool while not overdoing it. For example, some relatively common Irish names are spelled so differently from how they’d be pronounced in English that even after seeing them 100 times, I still can’t remember how they’re pronounced, let alone would I be able to even make a stab at spelling them. Freja is pleasingly Scandinavian-looking and -sounding while still being easy, easy, easy to spell and say.
As far as the berry/color connection for middle name, I think I’d go for it, but not “black” for the reasons others have mentioned. On the other hand, a non-color/berry name like Mae sounds adorable and flows well with Freja. I do with there were a real mayberry (there isn’t, is there?) other than the fictional town — that is, an actual berry — but … mighty sweet name. “Ms Ellie Blue and Ms Freja Mae, come with me, please!” If I were one of the sisters, I don’t know which name I’d like better — they’re both perfect!
Since your husband compromised on the name Mia instead of Freya, I think you should let him choose Black as the middle. Maybe Miriam Black Berryhill nn Mia Black, to mirror Eleanor nn Ellie Blue.
Another B middle name is Bay. It’s less obvious but bayberry is still a fruit.
You can keep the theme going for future children, including boys (Huckleberry, Loganberry).
I wouldn’t recommend giving the dad more choice on the middle name just because Freja was vetoed: each parent having names vetoed by the other parent is so normal to the process.
Your daughter’s name is so FUN! I really enjoy it.
I also love the name Freya! I especially like Freya Cloud, and I’m happy to see someone already brought cloudberries up! I like Mia as well, but one problem I have with Mia+a noun (or even an adjective) is that it sounds like “Me a Cloud,” “Me a Blackberry,” etc. It’s possible that that is only something that would bother me though, and I still think the name sounds nice. I do like the suggestion of Amelia and going by Mia.
I like Amelia Sparrow, Amelia Lumen, Amelia Ruby. I even think Amelia Black works a little better than Mia Black—Amelia has just a little touch of whimsy to it that counterbalances the coolness of Black. I also want to add that I would LOVE to meet someone (or be someone!) with the middle name Blackbird—Amelia Blackbird Berryhill is about as fun of a name as I can imagine.
Anyway, you have the best last name imaginable and no matter what you pick, it’s going to sound awesome. Good luck!
I, too, am for “leaning into” having a middle name with spunk, style, or sass. Something from nature would be a bonus.
Wren
Acacia
Lark (second previous poster)
Birdie (another second)
Juniper (another second)
Hazel
Scarlett
Opal
Iris
Cedar
Willow
Nova
Clementine
From left field can I suggest
Aurelia… nn Goldie? “Mia Aurelia”. Oooooo! I love.
I love so many of your suggestions! Mia Wren is currently our top contender! Willow or Willa and Hazel are names I’ve always loved!
I like the idea of using the same middle name for both girls, or at least giving them equally whimsical names.
If husband likes Freja, what about Astrid? Or Ingrid?
Signed,
The mother of 2 girls with the middle names of “morning” and “summer” :)
Cloud is pretty amazing.
I like Freya/Freja, but (for me) it’s a little too mismatchy with Eleanor.
Amelia Cloud Berryhill — Mia Cloud and Ellie Blue
Amabel Cloud Berryhill – Mabel Cloud and Ellie Blue, Mae and Elle
Adelaide Cloud Berryhill – Ada Cloud and Ellie Blue
If you’re not into Cloud, other nature names might be the way to go as others have mentioned:
Josephine Moon Berryhill – Josie Moon and Ellie Blue, Jo and Elle
Beatrix Moon Berryhill – Trixie Moon and Ellie Blue, Bixie Moon and Ellie Blue, Bix and Elle
Henrietta Moon Berryhill – Henny Moon and Ellie Blue, Henn and Elle
I knew someone who’s middle name was Dew (she blamed hippie parents). It’s kinda cute (?) but it also reminds me of Mountain Dew, like it should be a drink. Josie Dew — “It’s Refreshing!!!”
I once met an elderly woman named Dovie. Of course, we had to have a conversation about her rare name. She gave me the gentlest smile and said, “My maiden name was White. I was born as Dovie White.” Then she nodded in that I-know-I’m-just-too-cool way. She LOVED her name. It gave her such distinction and joy.
Therefore!
Please, oh, please use Cloud!
Not feeling it? Use Golden! It’s a color AND a berry AND subtle.
If I were the little sister to the ‘sweet blueberry girl’, I would want a title equally special. ‘Our blackberry baby’ or ‘Juneberry miss’ or ‘Cloudberry kiddo’.
You are great namers! Excited to hear what you choose! Best wishes!
I love the name Dovie! I have a friend who named her daughter that and it is just darling.
I also would lean into the berry theme.
My favorites that I’ve seen suggested are:
Amelia “Mia” Black
or
Mia Juniper
Such a fun post! I love your daughter’s name! Regarding Freja/Freya; I wouldn’t worry about either spelling, especially not Freya. I’ve met several both my age (31) and toddlers. The Freja spelling I think could be easily explained once and gotten right away, I’ve met several Sonjas.
I think Mia is also a great name though, and sounds good with Eleanor “Ellie”. I agree with other comments, another color middle or fun word name would be ideal. I’m really digging the nature/bird names: Mia Lark Berryhill, Mia Wren, Mia Sage, Mia Cedar, Mia Sky or other colors: Mia Coral Berryhill, Mia Indigo, Mia Lavender.
Please update!!
If you didn’t want to go fully berry what about Berry in another language?
Aernon = “berry” in welsh
Airelle = “Blueberry/Huckleberry” in french
Fragola = “Strawberry” in italian
Fraise = “Strawberry” in French
Lampone = “Raspberry” in Italian
The other option would be another fruit or color name. I would probably go Clementine or Violet if you go that route.
I love Freya. One of my faves and not obscure at all. It is literally top 20 in my Australian state.
I think May, June and Juniper are my favourites. I could be swayed towards Cloud but I’m probably not brave enough in real life.
Personally I’d lean away from another berry but find something equally cute like Bee or Daisy. What about
Posie?
What about Mia Freja Berryhill?
I just realized that Mia Berryhill sounds like “me a berry hill”. I can imagine someone raising their eyebrows at a three-year-old and saying, “You are?!”
Maybe not Mia?
Sorry to bring it up! I’ve been thinking about this post for a couple days… your first daughter has such a great name!
Mia Berryhill is great! I don’t hear anything odd about it when I say it aloud, and I’m sensitive to that since I have a first-last that run together into a yucky sound. I really like the idea of Amelia or Emilia and using Mia for short. Also I might feel personally devastated if you don’t pick Juniper for the middle. :) Cloud would be a little too out there for me, and I agree with Swistle’s comments on Black. “Junebug” or “Junie girl” are such sweet matching nicknames to your blueberry girl. <3 Can't wait to read this update!!
I googled compound words with Berry. Snowberry / Dewberry / Cloudberry / Winterberry stood out to me. Amelia Snow and Hermione Snow, both with the nickname Mia Snow seem like winners.
Im back again because I can’t stop thinking about and checking this thread. In case OP is still checking, I feel like she’s getting a lot of fruit feedback when that’s just what she *didn’t* want. So I’m adding some ‘tough girl’ names that might live up to Mia Black but not have an edible vibe among them. (Possible repeats ahead)
Bijou, Sonnet, Tallulah, Alanis, Rhea, Soleia, Reva, Selah, Boheme, Revelry, Margaux, Beatrix, Ophelia, Quinlan, Maren, Tallulah, Blythe, Greer
Hello friends!
Original poster here! Just last night I finally felt peace and decisiveness about the name Mia Wren! And then this morning I remembered my email to the genius Swistle! The feedback and thoughts have been so lovely and fascinating. I’ve loved so many suggestions and my husband was very affirmed by all the positive reactions to Freja/Freya. I especially love the idea of Amelia Wren and calling her Mia for short.
Swistle,
Your storybook description of Ellie Blue & Mia Black could not have been more hilarious and perfect. Thank you for this great blog. I’ll send an official update once Baby Berryhill arrives in November!
Much love,
Amie
I ran into the OP today and came here to check out the responses to her baby name dilemma. I love the suggestions! Best wishes!