Hi Swistle,
I’ve been reading your blog for as long as I can remember and I’m so excited to finally be writing to you with a baby name question of my own!
Ok, so here’s the lowdown: I’m Allie (short for Allison), my husband is Chris, and we’re expecting our first child, a girl, in March of 2021. Our last name sounds like Spiers, but with an M, and we plan to have two to three children. We both grew up with very common, fairly generic names, so would like to bestow something a little more interesting and fun for our little one. We like short, easy to pronounce and spell names that are unique, meaning there won’t be three other kids in their class with the same name. The middle name will be Anne, after my dear grandmother who passed away when I was in college.
Which brings us to Ferris. Cute, spunky, and fun, with a hint of an eighties vibe. The Ferris Bueller association does not deter us, but tickles us, it seems like a cute connection. Perfect, we thought. Ferris Anne (M)iers, it flows, and even the initials FAM are cute, and seem to be a sign that the name is meant to be part of our family. That was until we confided in my mother-in-law about the name. I know, I know, big mistake, but we were so giddy about Ferris we just had to tell SOMEONE.
The minute we said our daughters potential name, she recoiled in horror, and promptly began to explain to us all the reasons this is a terrible name. She mentioned its masculinity, the Ferris Bueller thing, the Ferris wheel thing, and just it’s general ‘ugly sound’. “The only Ferris anyone will have ever heard of is Ferris Bueller! They’re going to think my granddaughter is a boy!” She told us.
This shook us pretty badly, because even though we don’t care THAT much what she thinks (and Chris is pretty sure she’ll calm down once the baby arrives and love her granddaughter too much to care) this did get us to start considering the Pros and Cons of Ferris. Here they are:
Pros:
It’s unusual, but simple and has been heard of
Seems to only have one pronunciation
goes the middle name we want to use, Anne
has a bit of an 80s vibe but not too much
Chris and I went on a Ferris Wheel on our first date so it has a fond memory attached to it
We both love Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (also in the new generation is the Ferris Association fading. We are on the younger side, and born a few years after it came out. Surely many parents will know it, but will the kids think of it so strongly, or will it be a weaker reference?)
We both just love the name and cute nn possibilities (Ferri, Riss, Rissi, Fam, Fammi, for the initials FAM)Cons:
does the S at the end of Ferris sound clunky with the S ending of our last name? Ferris (M)iers?
We know Ferris is a masculine name, and we don’t mind that too much, but
Does the ferris wheel thing seem bad to the general population??????? Are we blinded by the cute story?
Is it hard to pair with sibling names? What even would those be, we have NO ideas. Eek!We just love Ferris Anne (M)iers so much and would hate to give it up, but feel it may not be right for a little girl. Maybe we can save Ferris for a boy??? Our style for girls is more gender neutral names.
Here are some other names we like for girls.
Gracyn
Finley (having trouble picturing an adult with this name)
Taylor
Peyton
Morgan (feels a bit harsh to me)
Cory
Jesse
Callahan (nn Callie. If we used Ferris for a girl then Callahan as a sister, will it seem too feminin in comparison?)
Garret
Teagan
Quinley
Sloane (but a definite NO with Ferris, for obvious reasons)
Darcy
Callum
Drew (Chris likes Drue, like true with a D, is that a thing???)
LoganMy favorites are probably Drew and Teagan while Chris’ favorites are Callahan and Garret. We really like Quinley but feel the rest fit into a category it doesn’t quite match. So far, none of these really feel quite right, and we are only lukewarm on some of them. I feel like our taste is a bit all over the place and I’m worried future sibling names will be a nightmare, boy or girl. Though some of these may be easier to pair together then with Ferris.
So my main questions are:
Are the cons issues or non issues?
Is the Ferris association getting weaker as time goes by?
Is Ferris a possible girl’s name? Has it ever been used for girls? Is it going too far with the unique thing?
What are some other names with a similar feel to Ferris that go with the mn Anne, or names that could serve as future siblings to Ferris Anne?
We would love some advice on this matter and suggestions for names like/that go with Ferris to see if it is the name for us and our daughter.Thanks so much!
Allie (M)iers
I too have a positive association with Ferris Bueller, but I know that in my circle, whenever the movie comes up, people IMMEDIATELY start quoting BATCHES of lines from the movie, and it isn’t long before someone says “Ferris Bueller, you’re my hero!” in the dippy Cameron voice, and then someone says “Bueller?…Bueller?…Bueller?…” in that Ben Stein voice, and I would be heartily sick of that whole routine after one single time.
I think the issue isn’t that the associations aren’t positive, but that there are so few and so strong, and that Ferris is not much used as a name in the United States at all: in 2019, it was given to 29 baby boys and it is not in the data base at all for baby girls. So this would be a change from the style and popularity of the names you and your husband were given, but is this how far you want to go with that goal? Looking at the other names on your list, I don’t see anything as unusual or as strongly-associated as Ferris.
And I think you’re very wise to take future sibling names into account. Once you’ve used (1) an almost-unused name (2) for the opposite sex it is exclusively associated with, it seems like it could be very difficult to find a follow-up.
I do think the name Ferris makes an awkward -smi- sound with the surname, not that I’d consider that a deal-breaker—and I’m about to include similar names in suggestions below.
I know that just because a name sounds similar doesn’t mean it has the same feel, but I wonder if you would like any of these options:
Carys
Ellis
Florence
Frances
Hollis
Iris (I find this hard to say with the surname)
Maris/Merris (this may be far more alliteration than you’d like)
Verity
I especially like Ellis and Hollis for you: both are unisex names that lean boy, but have feminine nicknames (Ellie/Holly) if your daughter ends up preferring that; both are unusual but simple and seem to have only one pronunciation. Both go nicely with Anne. Both create the same issue with your surname as Ferris does, but again, I don’t think that’s a deal-breaking sort of issue, and I think everyone would get used to leaving a little pause in between. Hollis, unfortunately, gives you the initials HAM, which WOULD be a deal-breaker for me. Ellis still works, and Ellison would resolve the issue with the surname.
I also like Carys (it is ALMOST Ferris), but worry it’s too feminine with most of the other names on the list.
And Frances is interesting to think about. I don’t think it’s right with the rest of the names on your list, but the unisex nature of Frances/Francis, plus the nickname Frankie, plus you’d still have the initials FAM—well, it’s interesting to think about, but doesn’t seem Right.
I think you have a lot of other good options on your list. Probably I would steer away from Garret just because it’s another name used exclusively for boys in the U.S. And Jesse, though it is sometimes used for girls in the U.S., feels like a spelling specifically intended to communicate the male version of a unisex name, similar to Frances/Francis and Erin/Aaron. And Taylor and Cory feel a little dated, though not unusable.
I think Finley will feel right on adults by the time they grow up: it’s just that most of them are still children, so it still feels like a child name.
I have seen the spelling Dru/Drue before, but I think only as a nickname (like for Drusilla), not as a stand-alone name. I just checked, and to my surprise, in 2019 there were: 36 new baby girls named Dru, 14 new baby girls named Drue, 44 new baby boys named Dru, and 18 new baby boys named Drue. (For comparison, there were 184 new baby girls and 547 new baby boys named Drew.)
I’d be interested in what sorts of names you’re considering for future sons. If you haven’t made a list yet, I think it would be a good idea to make a quick list now: not that you have to decide on names for future children when it’s hard enough to decide on a name for this one, but it’s an exercise that can help clarify the current decision. Do you like unisex-leaning-girl names for boys? or traditional/classic names for boys? or do you like the same unisex-leaning-boy names from your girl-name list, and so you might want to choose now which you prefer for girls and which for boys?
And mixing and matching little groups of sibling names (just for fun, no pressure to ACTUALLY decide) can start to give you a feeling for what sounds like Your Kids. Picture them putting a puzzle together at the table, or getting into the car, or eating breakfast, or doing some other normal daily thing: are they Ferris and Callahan and Teagan? are they Garrett and Callum and Hollis? are they Gracyn and Sloane and Malcolm? Look at pictures of yourselves as children, and at kids you see on TV or in public: which names feel like they FIT well on those kids? Imagine filling out kindergarten registration paperwork; imagine announcing the name when you arrive at the pediatrician’s office; imagine telling another parent at the park which child is yours: which names feel like Your Kids?
I’d also think about which names on the list might rule out other names on the list (such as the rhyming Quinley and Finley), to make sure you use your favorite in each case. For example, would you use both Logan and Teagan, or does one -gan name mean not using the other? Similarly, Callum and Callahan: after using one, would the other be off the list? Do you have any feelings about not repeating initials? If so, you’d want to think ahead of time about Gracyn/Garret, Finley/Ferris, Cory/Callahan/Callum, and so on. It can be especially tricky if you prefer one name for a girl and another for a boy: you could accidentally use one of several favorite girl names, realizing only later that it ruled out a name you felt even more strongly about for a boy. (As when a friend used Eva for a girl, without realizing until later that it ruled out her top choice of Evan for a boy.)
More names to consider, just for the fun of making the list:
Campbell (cute initials-spell-the-nickname situation)
Carrigan
Carsten
Casey
Crosby
Darby (initials spell DAM)
Elliott
Emlyn
Garnet (initials spell GAM)
Jensen (initials spell JAM)
Keaton
Keegan
Kellen
Keller
Laken (initials spell LAM)
Locklyn (initials spell LAM)
Lowen (initials spell LAM)
Sterling
Winslet
Winslow
Name update:
Hi Swistle,
Thank you so much for posting and answering our question! It was really helpful to see everyone’s thoughts on this matter and get some more helpful insight into our conundrum. It was also really fun to read!
After seeing your and your readers responses, we had a long talk about exactly what we wanted our naming style to be. We agreed Ferris was our favorite name, but the cons outweigh the pros, although if we planned on having only one child she would probably be Ferris. That said, we used your idea of imagining our children and what we thought they may be like and trying to picture calling them. We had several rounds of:
“Campbell it’s time for dinner!”
“Drew, set the table!”
“Teagan, we have to leave in five minutes!”before we came up with a few ones we liked. These names were on our original list, but embarrassingly, we overlooked them. We decided that despite our love of the more unisex boys names, we felt our girl was more unisex girl leaning. We planned to go into the hospital with the two names we loved, and decide there. Well, baby girl decided to come early, and after the scariest and most painful but also happiest day of my life, our daughter was born at thirty three weeks on January 19th, 4 pounds, 5 ounces, 17 and a half inches long. She is the joy of our lives!
When she arrived we were debating between Gracyn and Teagan, me favoring Teagan and him Gracyn. I actually broke down in tears when I saw her and realized that she didn’t look like either. Oddly, Chris agreed. So we were scrolling through comments and recreating lists to find an appropriate name for our girl. But I just knew she was our Ferris the minute our eyes locked, and just couldn’t shake the feeling.
Our daughter is Aven Louisa Ferris (M)iers, and she is the love of our lives! We realized that Ferris is perfect for our little girl, but we know she may outgrow it at some point and not want it as a first name. Thank you to the commenter who mentioned Ferris Olin, we think she is a beautiful namesake for our girl. Louisa entered late in the game, and we had never even had it on our lists, but when we met our girl, a Nurse named Louisa was there, and my mother commented on how that was a family name, and then it just clicked!
As for her first name, my mother actually suggested Aven when I was in tears over having no idea what to name our girl, and it felt perfect from the moment we called her that. We are sad we were unable to use Anne, but are happy with our choice and are in love with Ferris and the rest Aven’s name. I have never met anyone named Aven, and according to social security it’s not even in the top 1000, which I love. For now we are calling her A, Avie, Avie Lou and Muffin.
Thank you so much to Swistle and all the readers who helped us! We are obsessed with both our little Aven and her name!
Allie, Chris and Aven Louisa Ferris (M)y-ers
Ferris Anne gives me a STRONG association with Anna Faris. I like Anna Faris! But it feels like it’s worth noting.
I was smiling so much, reading the beginning of this, I really like the name Ferris! I’m sorry it got messed up for you, I could TOTALLY see that dampening my spirits about a name. I loved the name Dominic for a boy but I told my MIL and she screwed up her face in such a way that it completely took the wind out of my sails for it and I didn’t use it and I have – not regrets, exactly, but I wish I was confident enough to just say, meh, she’ll get over it. Because she would have, everyone does once that sweet baby is here! I’d stick with Ferris, and maybe – I don’t know if this appeals to you or not – you could use Ferris Anne, and just say it like that. It immediately takes away from both the Bueller and the Wheel of it all AND solves the ends in S situation. I hope you still use it, it’s so adorable!
I like this idea, or even hyphenating it: Ferris-Anne
Maybe it’s because my personal syle is less unisex, but I love Carys for them! I do think it may be rare enough that it doesn’t read as super feminine but I could be mistaken about that. Cute initials, the sound they like, definitely rare, perhaps less than intuitive spelling…
Or how about Paris? Obviously this one has some more recent associations but it is also classically a male name…
I love Greer… maybe less so with Anne though?
Arden? I love Arden Anne together.
I strongly associate Ferris as a male name and with the movie (positively) but after reading your letter and how much you love the name I think you should use it for your daughter. If you decide not to, I agree that Carys is a great replacement.
What about Fallon?
I like Ferris, but as a mom to Frances nn Frankie I must make the pitch for this. I love her name so much and I think it is lovely and spunky.
Also, Frankie’s best friend at school is a girl named Drew and the name is so great and fresh.
I love Ferris, although I agree that the “Bueller” thing would get old.
Two alternative suggestions (on top of Swistle’s excellent list): Wallis or Farrah. I know Farrah is not the gender neutral type of name you normally gravitate toward, so that could be problematic. But it’s SO NEARLY FERRIS. And it doesn’t have the issues of eliding with your surname… or the Bueller thing. And I think it’s cute with Anne.
The con column would be too much for me to overcome. I think since you do want more then one child, I would save Ferris for a boy. You have a lot of great names on your list and I think choosing Ferris for your first and for a girl is painting you into a corner.
Also, try the Starbucks test. Say your name is Ferris and see how that feels to you and the reaction you get.
Best of luck!
You are so clearly smitten with Ferris Anne that I really hope you use it. It’s fun and sometimes practical to consider the hundreds of different facets and consequences of every name, but loving a name and being excited to use it for your child trumps everything (in my opinion). I also get the sense from the way you wrote your email that you may often call her Ferris Anne–which addresses the masculinity issue and I feel like it changes the name. If I heard “Ferris Anne!” on a playground, it would feel distinctly different to me than the Ferris of Buller or wheel fame.
Trust your instincts and go with what feels right.
Faryn! Faryn is the answer here. Faryn Anne is a LITTLE bit heavy on the N’s, but worth it I say. It’s unusual enough without being common, but still heard of and familiar. Unisex-sounding but feminine-leaning.
Is Faryn “heard of”? I am just one person but I am a name-obsessed person and I’ve never heard of this.
It wasn’t familiar to me, either (except as sounding similar to the surname of Bobby Ferrin), so I looked it up, and it’s currently very rare in the U.S.: only 8 new baby girls given the name in 2019, and not in the data base for boys.
A data point – my husband used to work with a Farron, which I imagine would be pronounced the same so not unheard of, if not common.
I think you use the name you love. My only question would be how to name future boys?
I have read a book lately where Garrett was used as a girls name. I thought it was a great idea at the time.
From the suggestions. I like Francis. I think Francis Anne is adorable. You have so many nickname options that are similar to what you like.
Regionalism strikes again! I know two Faryns under the age of 12 (which is more Avas or Emmas than I know), so it feels common-ish to me. I definitely didn’t think it was that rare statistically!
I agree with Ariana! I know an adorable little girl named Faren. No, it’s not common, but it reminds me of both the names Farrah and Maren, so it doesn’t feel too out there to me.
Maybe because I had a piano teacher with Ferris as her last name and have only seen the Ferris Bueller movie once – I don’t see a problem with using it as a first name and don’t strongly associate it with the movie. It’s not my personal naming style, but I think it’s totally usable as a first name.
What about the name Forrest? It’s used almost exclusively for boys, but there are a scattering of girls with the name (it made it into the charts in 1907 with 16 girls named Forrest that year). It’s a surname name, as is Ferris and many others on your list. It starts with F, so gives the FAM initials. It doesn’t end with S, so it doesn’t clash with the last name, and yet is has almost all the other letters of Ferris.
Forrest happens to have a movie associated with it, starring the titular male character, that has a lot of quotes that people remember. I think it’s a lovely name, but doesn’t solve one of the main issues people are bringing up.
I don’t think Ferris passes the “would I want this name for myself?” test for me. I think it maybe works for a boy but probably not for a girl.
Also, I had a weird sense of deja vu, so I googled to find this old post specifically discussing Ferris: https://www.swistle.com/babynames/2015/06/11/baby-name-to-consider-ferris/
Swistle, I think this means I am overly invested in your baby name blog if I am remembering posts from FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AGO that clearly.
Ooh so interesting that it’s come up before!
Personally, I really like it for a girl :)
That post was *five* years ago?? Egads.
I would not want to be named Ferris. Maybe your kid will be but I’d sooner switch it for a middle name (Anne Ferris?) or pick something where Ferris could be the nickname (Farrah? Or two names like Felicity Marissa?)
Also, according to the Wikipedia page the Ferris wheel was invented by George Washington Gale Ferris, and a predecessor was the Sommer’s Wheel, so you could name her Gale (or Gail) Anne and just use the nickname Ferris. I think Gale/Gail or Sommer/Summer definitely fits with the unusual but recognizable as a name, easy to spell and pronounce, somewhat 80s vibe.
I was like “oh, Anne Ferris! But it would sound better if it were *Anna* Ferris!” And then I remembered Anna Faris.
I also like flipping the order to keep the sweet reference to your first date in the name. Anne Ferris M is nice, though if you had another girl down the road it might not go with the more androgynous style you favor. Maybe another name entirely, with Anne and Ferris as double middles?
Ferris is not a name I would want for myself, but this is not my child. I do think it’s more wearable for a boy, but the Ferris Bueller association is still too strong for me. Would you want to be called Ferris? The answer may be yes for you, in which case it may be the perfect name for your daughter.
In regards to the Ferris wheel/Bueller association, I agree it is and will be strong. Often with unusual names, people have a pop culture reference they use to help people get it. I have a friend Uma, who will introduce herself as “Uma, as in Uma Thurman” when asked to repeat her name if someone doesn’t catch it the first time. Your daughter may resort to Ferris, as in Ferris wheel/Ferris Bueller.
I love Sloane from your list, as a subtle nod to Ferris. Also partial to Teagan, Darcy, and Callahan (plus Campbell from Swistle’s). Other suggestions: Adair, August, Bellamy, Blair, Blakeley, Collins, Fern, Hadley, Halston, Henley, Madden, Reagan, Rowan, Sawyer, Sutton, Tatum
Good luck! And if you do go for Ferris and get nasty comments, just say it’s a family name to shut them up (which it is in a way because of the Ferris wheel story)
I have lived 37 years with an unusual, actually-a-surname, sounds like other names name and I don’t think any of your cons should worry you. I think you might be a little ahead of a future trend, actually. I DO worry about inconsistent spelling – if there were a Ferris in my network, I would always be trying to remember if it’s two Rs and one S or is it two of each etc.
I agree that Ellis might be a nice alternative, or something in the Merit/Merritt family. Do you remember the show “Sisters?” The sisters were named Teddy, Alex, Frankie, and Georgie, which are also all very cute IMO!
The “FAM” initials could be saved for a future child if you think you’ll have one, as a nod to “Now our FAMily is complete.”
I, too, wouldn’t like to be named Ferris. I think it’s the combination of last name + male name + uncommon name. Nothing in the name makes me think of a baby girl. I second the suggestion of Farrah (but it doesn’t seem to flow too well with Anne).
From your list, I like Finley Anne, Cory Anne and Darcy Anne.
Other ideas: Marlowe Anne, Everett Anne, Saylor Anne, Winifred Anne (Freddie Anne), Dawson Anne.
Another idea is Damaris. Damaris Anne.
I know of a little girl named F@ris. She is named for her father’s last name, and she shares her mother’s last name. Different spelling as yours, but same pronunciation, same male vs female, and same last-name-first issue. She is only 5, so obviously her peers have not caught on to any movie associations. She is the younger sibling of a former student, so I can’t speak too much to her experiences, but I am not shocked by this name on a girl, and feel it should be used more!
Hmm I can’t decide my opinion. On the one hand, I say do what you want! On the other, I don’t know that I’d want to be named Ferris. I do, however, think a good way to avoid your con list is to either use the double name Ferris Anne or Anne Farris. Of course, the alternative suggestions are great, should you decide to go that route. I have heard of a girl named Harris, which was surprisingly cute. The name Ellis Anne is on my personal list of baby names! And I think Fallon, Carys, and Griffin would be good alternatives.
OR, this might be a little nuts, but since you know you want another kid or two, you could use another name for this first baby and see if you regret not using Ferris after all. Then you could use it for the next baby, regardless of the gender.
This is a quandary! Best of luck to you.
I think you should use Ferris if you both love it and don’t think MIL should get a say. However, the s ending that runs into your last name would be a deal breaker for me. If anything, I’d save it for a middle name for a future child. Or use an Anne variant for this child’s first name with Ferris as the middle. Annabel Ferris, Ansley Ferris, Elianna Ferris, Annika Ferris, Clancy Ferris, etc.
From the rest of your list, I think Teagan is best. Or Drew. Best to save Callahan for a possible future son IMO, esp since it sounds a little rhymey with Anne. But I do love the name. I don’t like Garrett or Callum on a girl.
A few other suggestions:
Merritt
Ainsley
Tiernan
Greer
Sutton
Bellamy
Blair
Britton
Quincy
Romilly
Windsor
Shae
Stevie
Tamsin
I had a colleague named Ferris, maybe 15 years ago, when we were in our early 20s. It was a good name, suited her well, and I never got stuck on Ferris Bueller. I really don’t think peers in the class of 2039 are going to be stuck on it either. Do it if after all this it still makes your heart sing.
Honestly, I really like it! My first reference is actually not Ferris Bueller, but the 90’s band Save Ferris.
I take name reactions before the baby is here with a grain of salt, but know how they feel. I will never forget the reaction of an acquaintance when I mentioned that we were debating between Hazel or Fiona for the baby I was carrying. I was completely in love with the idea of Little Hazel, but the face they made immediately started me second guessing and leaning towards Fiona. Now we have Fiona Hazel and her name is perfect for her, but I wish we came by it on our own instead of feeling bad. Outside input can be good, but it IS your decision.
But “Save Ferris,” the band name, is a reference to Ferris Bueller, the movie character! :-)
I mean I’m pretty sure that band name is a reference to the movie! So funny!
Love the suggestion of Sterling! I know a little girl with the name and it is perfect. I really like the suggestion of Hollis too!
I think you should use Ferris if you really love it (Risa, pronounced “Reesa” might be a good feminine-sounding nickname should she want one in the future). I think it wouldn’t surprise me, even on a girl, because we are living in an age of unusual names, for sure. But I also wanted to point out that I love the suggestion of Frances because while it probably IS too feminine for your naming style, as Swistle says, it also has an eighties connection – Frances “Baby” Houseman from Dirty Dancy. If I had to pick a character from an eighties movie to name a girl after she would be it, and I LOVE the nickname Frankie for a girl.
I love Hollis and Ellis but could not persuade my husband to go for it with our second son. I think they are great for girls names. A friend called his daughter Ellis.
I also know a woman named Dru. Just Dru. And a woman called Ryan. (How about Lee? Or Leigh?)
Our second kid is Angus and we had lots of horrified reactions which didn’t stop me. Once the name is on the baby, they like it.
I met a girl named Ferris about 10 yesrs ago. She was 12 at the time, and liked her unusual name. Even then, the Ferris Bueller association among her peers was nonexistent. It struck me as a unusual and unique and adorable girl name. If you love it, use it.
I forgot – an acquaintance of mine is named Farrell, not sure if that would appeal? She seems to suit it well.
Oops, and it’s pronounced like the start of Ferris, not like the singer Pharrell.
I think Ferris and Ferrell are both adorable!
Ferris would be an avant-garde choice, so it’s more of a risk than other types of names. Personally, I would look for a name with fewer complications and less potential to be burdensome. BUT maybe this is a time to be bold!
I was just reading old entries in Swistle’s journal, and people 10 years ago or so were talking about names they loved but thought were too odd to actually use. And some of the names were things like Ivy and Phineas which seem very familiar now. Maybe Ferris will be the hot new girls’ name of 2030, and this whole conversation will seem silly!
That said, I’m going to pitch another idea in case it is of interest:
PERRY. With the option to call her “Perry Anne.” PAM. It’s gender neutral and sounds nice with the last name. Could be good!
I love Perry Anne (M)iers. Love it.
I, too, would not want Ferris as my name. Even if I were male. I don’t want ‘my’ name associated so strongly with 1-2 things. I am okay with many associations a la Anne, or scattered but multiple associations like Isolde, but Wheels and Bueller are just…much. As adorable as it is when I picture it on a 5yo, it doesn’t feel cute if I imagine it on me, an adult.
I used to work in a mystery book store, so my immediate thought was of author Anne Perry, but sure!
I think you should go with Ferris, but the conversation around “Dru” variations interested me. I know a Dru (only EVER goes by Dru as far as I know) whose legal name is Drury. Honestly super rad.
I really like Ferris for a girl.
But just in case you don’t use it, what about Farrah?
I love Ferris Anne, adorable! Ran it by my husband, he agrees. Super cute.
“Bueller?…Bueller?…Bueller! This is a boy’s name. Save it.
I’d toss any of the Cal names that get you to Callie. Allie and Callie. Too saccharine. There is a repeating Anne-Anne sound if you use Teagan, Morgan, and Logan which would make me hesitant to use them.
I’m drawn to Drue/Drew on your list. I prefer the Drew spelling mainly because it calls to mind Barrymore with Ferris in a cool 80s way without being overdone. I’d add Neve to the list, just on the off chance it is snowing on your way to the hospital.
Drew Anne is my favorite.
The only time Grandma gets a say is if she associates that name with trauma. I would have emotional trouble if my kids named one of the grandkids Edward, because I suffered trauma when we lived on Edwards Ave, and even the street sign makes me shudder. 5 years later and I’m still in therapy. It would be …unkind… of my children.
Now, if they named their child something I dislike, well, that’s not my call. Maybe you could suggest a nickname just for Grandma? My nephew has one. Sib chose LJ for Little J (he shares first names with his father) but our grandmother, LJ’s great-grand, felt he would be terribly insulted later, so she got permission to call him JR. (His first and middle initials.) LJ, for the record, is 13 and is still cool with the family using it.
Farris is a family surname and I’ve always loved the idea of using it for a given name for either a girl or a boy. The “a” gives it less of a direct Ferris Bueller connection. That being said I didn’t see Ferris Bueller’s day off until I was an adult so the connection isn’t that strong for me to begin with.
I would vote for Ferris if you decide you really do love the name. I personally would be happy to be named Ferris. It’s a feminine-sounding, 80s movie reference name (I’m a screenwriter so maybe don’t trust my bias)! Yes, it is extremely associated with Ferris Bueller, but I think Ferris Bueller’s first and last name are so connected it would take me a minute to think about the movie if I met a little girl Ferris. I do think of Ana Faris, but to me, that association helps. I can picture Ferris on a girl because of her.
You could do some name tests to decide if you really want to take that plunge. Say your name is Ferris the next time you order coffee. Imagine writing it at the doctor’s office, imagine her in roll call on the first day of class at different stages, imagine calling her to dinner, etc. If none of those phases you, dive in and name your daughter Ferris!
I do love the other suggestions of Carys, Faron, Ellis, Farah and Fallon for you.
I know someone who has a last name similar to yours and her daughters are Maren (mare-in, rhymes with Karen) and Kaelyn (like Katelyn without the T). I think Maren Miers sounds fab. I like the alliteration. Maren Anne Miers. Taryn is another good choice. Taryn Anne Miers.
I find that names that end in S sound weird when you’re using possessives. “Put this in Ferris’s room…change Ferris’s diaper…these are Ferris’s socks” etc. the “ises”’sound bothers me. For that reason, plus other reasons, I’d avoid Ferris.
I say go for it. I have never heard of it as a first name, but it flows nicely. You both love it. Wait to announce it until after her birth to anyone else.
If for some reason you decide against it (but I don’t see any reason to) use it in the middle and make “fun middles” a thing for your family. Places, memories, etc.
Also: as someone with two kids solidly between the 300-600 range on the social security baby name list (not super common but clearly not unheard of) it doesn’t matter what the name is—your MIL (or another family member or friend) would probably find a problem with it or give the wrinkled nose of disgust/furrowed brow of confusion/etc. We would all have the same 5 names if they had to please everyone. Thank goodness our tastes are so varied. What a fun world it makes! You do you, mama—good luck.
I think Ferris would be cute on a girl. However, I noticed the repeating “riss” sound with your husband’s name, Chris. That would be too much similarity for me if it were my family. My other thought is that it might be often misheard as “Paris”. I love Cory, Darcy and Drew from your list.
To me the major issue with a first name ending in “s” is the way it will blend into your last name to sound like Ferra Smears. I would look for a way to avoid a first name ending in “s.”
Forgot to say, I love the above suggestion of Perry, or even Percy.
I recently enthused about Farris Buellers Day Off to my nieces and nephews (ages 12-14). They watched it based on my recommendation with friends and ….. didn’t get it. They didn’t really think it was funny. So maybe “bueller” won’t be a thing 30 years from now
Swistle do your kids like the movie?
I literally watched this with my older kids (9-15) last night -due mainly to this post. The review was pretty blah to be honest. The incredibly inventive tech was laughable now (answering machines, intercoms, landlines!!). They also didn’t get the teen love story ( Marry her!!! In high school!!!! As if!!) Based solely off their reaction I doubt the movie will be as popular with the next generation as some others from the era. To me that makes the name more usable not less.
I also commented on the other Ferris post – apparently I’ve been here a while.
I also like Zoey for you. Zoey Ann Miers. ZAM!
Hadley Anne is also really cute. The initials spell HAM which could be positive or negative, but really no one cares much about what initials spell out unless it’s something funny like BRA or SEX.
Teagan is a great choice. I know a family who has a Teagan and they sometime call her Teags. Teagan Anne might be slightly repetitive because they both have the “an” sound in them.
I’m so sorry your MIL reacted that way, but I’m glad that you guys were active in your response, sitting down and taking it seriously. I’ve seen people completely brush off other people’s comments about their name choice, when I’ve agreed with the critiques. But it doesn’t excuse the immediate dislike.
My rule, when I dislike a name, is I ask why they picked it. And then, if I feel it’s still Bad, I start pushing a little (do you usually like boys names on girls?) instead of just coming out with it.
I’ll be open, I don’t care for the movie, and that is always my first association. I actively dislike Ferris as a character. I do think that it’s a bit silly to assume no one remembers it based on age- this movie came out in ’42, but if you met a girl named Casablanca, you’d think about Sam playin’ it again. And if you met a girl names Dorothy, there’s a little part of you that would want to put her in red heels and a gingham dress at least _once_ for Halloween, even if the movie came out in ’39. I’m only a bit younger than you, but I’m fairly confident that it’s still a film people are aware of, is my point. ;)
If you specifically want to reference the ferris wheel, which I think is ADORABLE, my immediate thoughts were Gale or Georgette, for George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr
Chicago, for the location of the first ferris wheel
or Columba, since it was the World’s Columbian Exposition.
These are not necessarily to your name taste, but they might trigger a thought to something else, so I figured they were worth mentioning.
Now, in times like this I imagine one of my friends coming up to me and enthusiastically telling me. And I decide if I’m really going to try to turn her away. Lilith? Yes. Annie-May? Yes. Ferris…no, probably not, as long as her taste is unusual boys names (or boyish adjacent names) on girls. And yours is. If you like it, if it makes your heart sing, proudly go for it. But…maybe do the Starbucks test first?
On the topic of initials, I have ones that spell something that isn’t a word, but could be one. (For example, like DUC) I happen to like it, I used my initials all the time when labeling my documents on our family’s shared computer (DUCassignment12-16, DUCspanishquiz5-30). I bring this up because if I made ones that spelled a neutral word, like ham or jam, I’d totally lean into it as a parent. Imagine getting her a little piggy plush as a baby? Fruit themed clothing and jam jar decals? Eeeee, too cute!
If they’re any where close to Ohio, perhaps they could use Cedar, after Cedar Point, an amusement park well known for roller coasters, but they do have a cool Ferris wheel, too.
I think if you love Ferris this much you should use it!
That being said…
I do like Teagan and Drue as well. I’ve never seen the spelling Drue, but why not!
Like Swistle, I also thought of Ellis and Hollis, but I think Ellison is too close to your name.
Other ideas:
Rory
Holland
Saylor
Quinn
Morrigan
Tatum
Darby
Colby
Rowan
Sage
Oh, good catch with Allison/Ellison—I hadn’t noticed that.
I’m sorry if this has already mentioned upthread, but have you thought about doing (Swistle’s??) Starbucks test? Go in and order a drink and say that your name is Ferris. See how it feels. Or, call in your curbside order with the name Ferris. See if you still like it and if it seems like a usable name.
For the record, I think the name is super cute, but I think it would be a useful exercise since your own name is so much more common. Also, my mother in law mimicked barfing (BARFING) when I told her my unborn daughter’s name, and that only made me like my daughter’s name more. We went with that name and it makes me happy every time I hear my mother in law say it. :)
Lots of great thoughts and names here…. but if an alternative is just as unusual or uncommon as Ferris… then just go for Ferris!
Another option is Cerys. It’s a Welsh girl name, like Carys. It’s even closer in sound to Ferris!
I usually agree with Swistle, but not his time.
I love the name Ferris! I know a 2 year old boy with this name and not once have I heard any movie quotes while with him, and I see him a lot. My sister also had this name on her list, which leads me to believe more people are going to be using it, making it a bit more familiar (but still very distinctive).
I think Ferris on a little girl would be amazing. It’s an upbeat, friendly name.
If you both love Ferris than that should definitely be her name! It’s so rare to find a name both partners love and I think sibling names are definitely doable from here forward!
If you don’t know of her, google the completely awesome feminist scholar Ferris Olin. She’s 72! This name is not a new idea! And she rocks her name, just as a new baby Ferris would.
personally I love it. I think its adorable and you should use it!
Some names with a 80s vibe that might fit your style are Mallory and Fallon.
My first thought for you was CLEO!! Cleo Anne Miers!!! Would sound perfect with future baby Callahan! I also love Sloane Miers
Other suggestions:
Flora
Sterling
Elle
Maeve
Andie
Sutton
I don’t often post but I feel like I have a particular perspective on this one because I have a daughter named Murphy. I expected to get “like Murphy Brown?” much more often than I do! This is a little difference since Ferris might be less recognizable as a name, but overall the response to Murphy’s name is positive.
I love the Ferris Wheel connection and think it would be interesting to do some research about the man after whom the Ferris Wheel is named…
I have struggled with sibling names, to be honest, but less with boy names and more with sibling girl names!
I will “second” some of the other names options that others have noted
-Holland (hmmm, maybe not because of HAM :)
-Greer (this is my favorite)
-Crosby
-Campbell
-Carlisle
I am obviously in minority, but I adore Ferris. I would say go for it. Yes it is more commonly used for boys, but it’s so rare there as well that I honestly don’t see that being a major issue.
If you are still looking for options, I would highly recommend-
Perrin
Congratulations, and I’m so happy you two settled on a name you love! It’s gorgeous, and you got to keep your favorite name and a wonderful story. :) Aven really hits those marks of familiar, but unique, and I’m sure she fits it to a T.