Dear Swistle,
My husband and I are expecting our first child, a baby girl, in March. We are completely stumped when it comes to her first name, but we know that her middle name will be Ellen. My middle name is Ellen and I am the 5th generation woman on my mother’s side to have this middle name. In addition to wanting to carry on the tradition, we really like the name, too, so it doesn’t feel like a burden. Our last name is pronounced “hour” like a time of the day, but begins with the letter A.
Requirements for her name:
1. Must not be popular/trendy or the name of a friend’s baby
2. Must sound good with Ellen
3. Should also sound good with our surname, though I haven’t found our surname to be much of an issue with any name we like.Names we like but have ruled out for the above reasons: Violet and Iris (too popular); Olive, Margot, Ruby, and Esme (have friends who have used these names); Eloise, Lilah, and Lola (sound strange next to Ellen).
Our favorite name for our baby is Mabel, but we can’t decide if that sounds weird next to Ellen (two “el”s in a row). Other options for our baby are Poppy, Clementine, June, Opal, and Florence.
You can see we have a preference for old fashioned names that are not popular, but are also not “weird,” but we aren’t afraid to embrace a quirky name. If our baby were a boy, he would probably be named Archie.
Also relevant, the names of the “Ellens” in our family all end in a ‘y’ or ‘ie’, which I think makes me question the names on our list. Only Poppy fits with that pattern. Mallory Ellen (me), Kimberly Ellen (my mother), Dixie Ellen (my grandmother), Gertie Ellen (great grandmother), and Lucy Ellen (great-great grandmother).
Please help us name our sweet baby!
Warmly,
Mallory
I think when you’re already working with one important requirement (this nice middle name tradition), it’s better not to accidentally add a second requirement (e.g., -ie/-y endings)—especially if you are hoping the next generation will continue to feel it’s a fun tradition and not a burden. If your favorite first name happens to end in -ie/-y, I wouldn’t rule it out—but if I were you, and I ended up with two finalists, and one of them ended in -ie/-y and the other one didn’t, I would be swayed toward the one that didn’t.
I have said “Mabel Ellen” roughly one million times and can’t decide if it’s totally fine, or if it’s just a little odd but basically fine. Either way I think it’s fine. Do you think you’re a family that will say “Mabel Ellen” pretty often? If so, then you may want to test it out a bit: “Mabel Ellen, I told you to clean your room!,” “Mabel Ellen, are these your socks on the kitchen floor?,” etc., just to see if you like the feel of it. I found I was in favor: the little bounce of the “bel/ellen” reminded me of other names I enjoy saying, such as Belinda. But I had Paul test it, and he said for him he found it just a little uncomfortable to work his mouth around it.
Speaking of which: I find Opal Ellen and Opal Hour both a little uncomfortable to work my mouth around. I would think “Mabel Ellen” and “Opal Ellen” would be almost exactly the same (the b/p are nearly the same, the e/a are nearly the same), and yet the first one feels nice in my mouth and the second one doesn’t. I suspect this will vary considerably from person to person, with some having the same experience as me, and some having the opposite experience, and some not liking either one, and some having no idea what any of us are talking about.
Trying out Poppy with your surname, something about the sound of it was reminding me of something else, which turned out to be “Happy Hour.” Not a deal-breaker, but just the sort of thing I like to have thought about BEFORE the baby is named.
The name that leaps out to me (because it’s on my own list) is Florence. I am so ready for that name. Florence Hour—does it make the word “sour,” accidentally? If it does, do we mind, or would we just make sure to put a teensy little pause in there: “Florence. Hour is here for her 9:45 appointment.”
Let’s look for some more candidates! You’ve got a nice wide range there from Poppy to Florence, so this list will aim for similar width:
Azalea; Azalea Ellen; Azalea Hour
Belinda; Belinda Ellen; Belinda Hour
Bianca; Bianca Ellen; Bianca Hour
Clarissa; Clarissa Ellen; Clarissa Hour
Claudia; Claudia Ellen; Claudia Hour
Cordelia; Cordelia Ellen; Cordelia Hour
Felicity; Felicity Ellen; Felicity Hour
Genevieve; Genevieve Ellen; Genevieve Hour
Imogen; Imogen Ellen; Imogen Hour
Louisa; Louisa Ellen; Louisa Hour
Magnolia; Magnolia Ellen; Magnolia Hour
Marigold; Marigold Ellen; Marigold Hour
Maisie; Maisie Ellen; Maisie Hour
Meredith; Meredith Ellen; Meredith Hour
Minerva; Minerva Ellen; Minerva Hour
Nadia; Nadia Ellen; Nadia Hour
Persephone; Persephone Ellen; Persephone Hour
Polly; Polly Ellen; Polly Hour
Sally; Sally Ellen; Sally Hour
Simone; Simone Ellen; Simone Hour
Tilda; Tilda Ellen; Tilda Hour
Veronica; Veronica Ellen; Veronica Hour
Winifred; Winifred Ellen; Winifred Hour
I wanted to suggest Millicent and Harriet and Celeste, but I wasn’t sure about those with Hour: it seems like it makes the word “tower,” though that’s not a NEGATIVE word so maybe that’s fine. And it’s not as if it makes the first name into something else: no one would think they were hearing Harria Tower, for example, the way Liam Mason can turn into Leah Mason; they just might sometimes think the surname was Tower, which would be fine and we would all move on with our lives. (Winifred/Marigold Hour could similarly make the word “dour”—but do people know/use that word often enough for it to spring to mind? I know it, but I read old British mysteries. And I still don’t USE it.)
I prefer initials not to spell things; I mind less if it’s something neutral/innocuous, but I still prefer to avoid it. So with the middle/last initials _EA, I would probably at least want to think ahead of time about first names that made the words PEA, SEA, TEA, YEA. On the other hand, I have an acquaintance whose lifelong nickname Mia came from her initials, so I might be favorably inclined toward initials such as BEA, LEA, MEA.
Name update:
Dear Swistle and readers,
Thank you so much for your input on our baby’s name. She was born on March 18th and we named her Florence Ellen. We decided to wait to meet her to choose her name and she just looked like a little Florence!
Warmly,
Mallory
I wonder if you’d like Martha? It’s not a -ie ending, but it has a similar rhythm, and is similar to Mabel but I think is a few steps further from being the next big thing than Mabel is. Also I really like it.
Or if not Martha, maybe Matilda?
Ohhh Matilda nicknamed Tillie
Tillie Ellen, Tillie Hour
*swoon*
I also came here to suggest Matilda!
I think Mabel Ellen works and I lean toward it because it’s your favorite. From the second string, I like June Ellen and Opal Ellen best.
If I had had a girl, I would have called her Elizabeth Ellen, with the sassy nickname of Betty! (All three honor names!)
Florence! Nickname Flossie! Ready for a resurgence! LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
definitely Florence — the best nickname is Flossie and would grab the IE without making it “official”
Cecelia!
I find Mabel Ellen flows nicely, but I agree with Swistle that Opal Ellen doesn’t work as well for me – funny how that works! From the rest of your list I like June and Florence a lot. I also think Minerva, Maisie, Polly and Sally are excellent suggestions.
A few more names that might fit with your list:
Fern Ellen Hour
Dorothy Ellen Hour
Enid Ellen Hour
Jessamy Ellen Hour
Maxine Ellen Hour
Vita Ellen Hour
Doris Ellen Hour
What about Mary Ellen? (Not sure if that’s too close to mom’s name considering it has the same first two and last two letters, haha… but it’s a different sound and style?) I really do think it’s a classic combo, there are so many great Mary nicknames if desired, or she could even go by the full “Mary Ellen” if desired!
Adding Harriet & Margaret to the conversation, with lovely “ie” nicknames.
Harriet Ellen, Harriet Hour
Nickname Hattie … Hattie Ellen, Hattie Hour
Margaret Ellen, Margaret Hour
Nickname Maggie … Maggie Ellen, Maggie Hour
(Just realized Harriet was suggested. Oops!)
If you like Florence, but are worried about the “sour” coming through how about Flora?
I also love Mabel and it sounds great with the middle and last.
I find Flora Hour hard to say, FWIW.
Gemma Ellen Hour
Mary Ellen Hour nn Polly
Eve Ellen Hour
Phoebe Ellen Hour
Scarlett Ellen Hour
Edith Ellen Hour nn Edie
Louisa Ellen Hour
Eleanor Ellen Hour. You could call her Ellie for short. I have a soft spot for alliteration.
Beatrix Ellen Hour. And her initials would spell the ahort form of her name.
Ada Ellen Hour
Edith Ellen Hour
Chloe Ellen Hour
Eva Ellen Hour
Heidi Ellen Hour
Rose Ellen Hour
Oh I love all the names on your list so much!! And that you have a sweet middle name tradition to pass down. I hope you fall in love with one of these names enough to choose it when you meet her.
Mabel – agree it only matters if you’ll be using both names often aloud, and really I find when I’m being firm I say names more slowly and enunciate so I think it’s totally passable. Mabel is 100% the name I would choose if I had a third girl, so I obviously vote you stick with it!
Poppy spelling PEA is kinda cute actually. Your little Sweet Pea. You seem to gravitate towards fewer syllables but Penelope nn Poppy is also awesome with the middle and surname.
Clementine has a sweet song to go along with her and SUPER cute nicknames – Cleo, Minnie!
June is slightly clunky next to the surname but still so sweet!
Opal could be Polly to get you to an -ie nickname? Have you considered Pearl?
Florence is gorgeous. I like the suggestion of Flora too!
As for the -ie/y thing, does that only apply for name-on-paper? Like is Kimberly more regularly called Kim? Was Gertie Gertrude? Could you tweak your choices somewhat if that makes your heart happy? Ie spell Mabel’s nickname May, or call June Junie often?
Beatrice! It sounds good with the middle and last names, is (to me) reminiscent of Florence, and will give you the delightful initials BEA!
I was coming here to say this! I love that the nickname Bea would come from the name Beatrice AND from her initials. But honestly, there are so many lovely choices on your list, in Swistle’s response, and in the comments — you really can’t go wrong!
Her nn could be BeaBea!!!
Mabel Ellen Hour is a fine name. I have a 9 year old granddaughter named Mabel whose name is often pronounced as “MAY-bul”. With this pronunciation — or even as MAY-bell, I think Mabel sounds fine with Ellen. I’d stick with your favorite first name!
The rhymes-with-table pronunciation is the only one I’ve ever heard. I’m having a hard time even figuring out how to get the -ell sound in there while keeping the emphasis on the first syllable!
I personally think that Margaret Ellen is a wonderful name. I also think the nickname Maisie would meet all your requirements – ends in ie, sounds good with Ellen and Hour, and has a similar vibe to Mabel.
Ooh, I love Meredith Ellen Hour!
Margaret Ellen Hour
Dorothy Ellen Hour
Phoebe Ellen Hour
Beatrix Ellen Hour
Geraldine Ellen Hour
Bridget Ellen Hour
Ivy Ellen Hour
Mabel Ellen/Mabel Hour and Opal Ellen/Opal Hour are a bit tough for both my hearing impairment and speech impediment, so not my cup of tea. They blur to me. (That’s probably why I generally like a bit harder of a consonant in one of the names to help distinguish between them. Idk why I can handle Phoebe; I’m weird, lol.)
I really like Beatrice Ellen Hour (or Beatrix Ellen Hour). The nickname Bea aurally satisfies the ie/y ending, and the nickname Trixie (yes, I read my aunt’s Trixie Belden books as a child) is a subtle honor to your grandmother Dixie.
Sticking to the ie/y ending, with some long e endings thrown in:
Bonnie Ellen Hour
Christy Ellen Hour
Daphne Ellen Hour
Leslie Ellen Hour
Margery/Marjorie Ellen Hour
Phoebe Ellen Hour
Sadie Ellen Hour
Verity Ellen Hour
Best wishes to you!
I’ve got a Dorothy Elizabeth (kind of close to Ellen) and love her name so much – and love seeing people suggest it.
Also love the suggestions of Matilda, Margaret (all the nickname options! 😍) and Beatrice.
And from your family history, Lucy is such a lovely name.
Of Swistle’s list I like Felicity a lot. Would also add Coralie and Molly. Beatrix nn Trixie would also be great and give you the -ie/y in a nickname so I agree with PPs on that. maybe Hailey? Linnea?
Names ending in -a sound great with Ellen as a middle, so:
Clara Ellen
Fiona Ellen
Diana Ellen
Petra Ellen
But if you prefer names ending in -ie/y, here are a few:
Verity Ellen
Naomi Ellen
Daisy Ellen
Phoebe Ellen
While reading this I thought of Beatrice and Dorothy
Lillian! Lillian Ellen Hour. Nickname Lily.
With a short last name, a longer first name is nice, so a 3 syllable name is a great choice.
Just commenting to say I’ve just had a little girl and named her Florence, our surname is Heller and everybody loves it! Very biased but highly recommend!
Cassandra Ellen Hour
Lydia Ellen Hour
Rosemary Ellen Hour