Hello,
We are thrilled to be expecting our second child in February, a little sister for Sophie! This will be our last child. I prefer short names. We love Sophie’s name. My only issue with Sophie is that she is often mistaken for Sophia (I think since Sophia is a top 10 name). Sophie was born in 2017. Below are names we have considered for this baby:Names I like, but have been vetoed:
Lucy
Mia
Josie
Olivia (Liv)Names my husband likes but have been vetoed:
JoAnna
Ellie (this was a front runner for our first baby, but we chose Sophie).Mutually Agreed:
Zoe
ClaraWe think Zoe is the front runner, but are there other names we should consider? Also, our daughter has a family middle name (after my mother in law who has passed on), is it necessary to have another family name for this baby? We don’t have a particular person in mind.
Thank you so much!
Katie
I vote for Clara, for two reasons.
First, the names Sophie and Zoe sound very similar to me: first the similar S/Z sound, then the matching long O sound, then the matching long E sound.
Second, I think Clara coordinates even better with the style of the name Sophie.
I would also be interested in bringing the name Ellie back into consideration. I like that both names would be the -ie versions of -a names, if you see what I mean: Sophie not Sophia, and Ellie not Ella.
More possibilities to consider:
Alice
Annie
Ava
Callie
Cora
Elsie
Eva
Grace/Gracie
Iris
Isla
Ivy
Jane
June
Libby
Lila
Lily
Millie
Myla
Nora
Olive
Rose
Ruby
It is not necessary to use a family name again this time, though I would be tempted to use Kate, after you. Or since you have Josie on your list and your husband has JoAnna on his, maybe Jo if it works with whatever the first name turns out to be.
Name update:
Hi Swistle!
Thank you to you and your readers! We took your suggestion to reconsider Ellie. We welcomed Ellie Rose to our family a few days ago. We chose Rose for a nod to Valentine’s Day.
Thanks again!
Katie
I agree that I like Clara more than Zoe but like Swistle, love the sister set of Sophie and Ellie. From Swistle’s suggestions, I also really like Callie and Millie. I also think Mae and Grace pair nicely with Sophie!
I’m drawn to Lily with Sophie.
I’d vote for Claire with Sophie!
Second this–was coming here to say so.
I ADORE Clara w Sophie!
Zoe & Sophie sound much too similar to me. And Zoe feels much newer.
I like the idea of Sophie with a sibling that doesn’t end in Ee sound. Many, like Ellie, don’t mature as well without an Eleanor to fall back on.
I like Sophie & Clara, Sophie & Rose-called Rosie, Sophie & Nora, Sophie & Jane-called Janie, Sophie & Ivy, Sophie & Mia, all very much. I think JoAnna could make a lovely middle name, with the right first…could this compromise get you more wiggle room towards one of your faves? Is your name Katie for Katherine? Katherine or simply Kate works well as middle w almost all the first names too & gives you a second “family middle.”
I actually prefer Zoe to Clara with Sophie but I do agree that they might share too many sounds. And I do think Claire is better with Sophie than Clara.
Re: middle names: don’t think it has to be another family name but it should have some sort of special meaning or significance other than you just liked it. If you do go the family name route, I think your side should get first preference. Could even be your first, middle or maiden name.
Others that I like with Sophie:
Estelle
Nora
Faye
Margot
Daphne
Phoebe
Ellie
Ruby
Nina
Ivy
Maisie
Maeve
Ainsley
Millie
Edie
Elise
Joelle
I prefer Clara. I agree that Sofie and Zoe are too similar.
I like for names to have some family meaning, but it isn’t a requirement. I’m also pretty open to what kinds of things count as family meaning. If an honor name is coming to you, maybe look at names of historical, religious or literary characters you admire. Nature or place names that have significance are also nice.
I agree with Swistle. I like Clara and Sophie. I also agree that Kate would be a great middle name. Clara Kate is just too cute!
I agree that Clara makes a bit better pair with Sophie.
But maybe you actually like the fact that Sophie and Zoe are similar in sound? If so, I would also suggest Sylvie. Sophie and Sylvie would make a very cute sisters set.
A few other options: Delia, Daisy, Fiona, Nadia, Annie, Jeanne, Louise, Marie.
And from earlier suggestions, I particularly like Lila, Elise, Daphne and Margot.
Clara hands down. Zoe is too similar. Clara Jo is adorable. Clara Joan would work too. Joan to me always sounds like a super capable name, with a side of gutsy.
I don’t think family names are required. In fact a lot of first babies get family names and later kids don’t. So this isn’t weird or offensive. You have satisfied the need to continue a family names. Done your part. Feel free to find a name you love.
I love the idea of a Cora Jo! Sassy!
Sophie and Nell
Clara! Sophie and Zoe would inevitably come out Zophie or maybe Soe for me. I wonder if the reason you like it so much is because it sounds so much like Sophie, and it’s notoriously hard to name second children when you love your firstborns so much.
But Clara is so complementary and doesn’t sound like the same name with a modern twist.
I also used an honor name (for a firstname) for my firstborn and didn’t use an honor name in either spot for my second. We didn’t like one enough to use in either spot, but we did agree on a name for both spots that has no meaning to us technically, but that we both adored. It has plenty of meaning now that it’s attached to our son :)
I like Zoe best objectively but agree it is very close.
You seem to both agree on the long O sound…
Olivia, Odette, Chloe, Opal, Rose, Clio
I love Claire with Sophie. My fave though is Clio (very Greek muse :)
My vote is for Clara; Zoe and Sophie sound way too close.
I’m in the minority in that the similar sounds of Sophie and Zoe don’t bother me, but I like Clara, too, about equally. Claire is also nice. Since this is your last, would you consider using both: Clara Zoe? Zoe Clara?
From Swistle’s list my favorites for you are Grace, June, and Lila, but I also like Alice, Ava, Lily, Nora, Rose, and Ruby.
It’s hard to pick a middle without a first so here are some hypothetical pairings (with some of the vetoed names snuck in as middles)
Clara Josephine
Zoe Olivia
Grace Charlotte
June Adele
Lila Mae
My preference would be to do a family middle name again if possible. Love the idea of using part of your name! Perhaps you have a middle that would go well with Clara, or Kate or your maiden (if you changed your name)? Or, if you prefer you could see if any of your husband’s names could be spun into a girl name that could be cute.
Ellie and Sophie sound like a good pairing for your family. Since you seem to lean towards classic names with “y” ending sounds, I would also suggest:
Elsie
Penny
Emmy
Vivi
Amelie
Marie
Evie
Of your options, I prefer Clara. Other names I quite like with Sophie
Edie
Sylvie
Claire
Mila
Pauline
Therese
Lena
Adele
Charlotte
Zelie
Corinne
Emilie
Lily
Thank you Swistle and readers! We feel that Clara is a much better fit after reading these entries. I am also trying to open my husband up to Cora. We are also adding Hannah to the mix of considerations. I really like the idea of a different ending sound than Sophie. Now we are stuck on a middle name. My husband is really only liking the possibility of JoAnna for a middle. I feel like the cadence is off with Clara JoAnna both ending in with -a. Same with Hannah JoAnna, Cora JoAnna. Several readers suggested included my name for the middle. My first and middle are Katie Elizabeth. Our last name is 2-syllables, begins with “j” sound and ending in “z” sound. Thanks!
What about Cora Beth or Clara Beth as a nod to your name?
If he likes JoAnna, maybe Cora Leanne?
Or Joan? Clara Joan, Hannah Joan, Cora Joan?
Or Josephine? Clara Josephine, Hannah Josephine, Cora Josephine?