Dear Swistle,
We are currently pregnant with our third child, due in spring. We’re waiting to be surprised with the sex of the baby.
Your readers helped us out tremendously about 3 years ago naming our first baby. You introduced me to the concept of sibling sets—trying to name your kids with their whole sibling set in mind and aiming (hoping!) for them to all flow well together. Now that our third (and likely final) baby is coming, we need some naming help once again!
We have a very short list of names that we are intrigued by for each gender, which I’ll share below. But what we really want are some fresh name ideas that flow with our sibling set. We’re simply bored with all the lists floating out there and feeling generally uninspired.
This baby will be joining older sisters Savannah and Hadley. Our last name is the Peanuts character who plays the piano.
Boy names we like:
– Wells
– Theodore (Too popular?)
– End of list. Help.Girl names we like:
– Penelope (nickname Nell/Nellie)
– Eloise/Louise (my husband isn’t the biggest fan of these but trying to give you a sense of where my head is at!)
– JuneOne sibling set I saw mentioned (here, maybe?) a while ago that lit me up: Edward (Teddy), Eloise (Ellie), Philippa (Pippa), and Harriet (Hattie). I mean, get out of town! So good!
Hoping you and your readers can help us customize a fresh new list to complete this sibling set!
The similarity of Theodore to your surname is catching my attention more than the popularity. Both start with an -h consonant blend; both have the E and O and R in the middle; both end in -der/-dore. It feels like too much to me. But this is the sort of thing where, when I am concentrating on it too much, I find it useful to leaf through a yearbook: so many names I would have thought were too much if they appeared as candidates on this blog, and they didn’t register that way with me when they were used on actual people! I heard those names at graduation and didn’t say boo to a goose!
Theodore is Top Ten, as of 2021, according to the Social Security Administration. Somewhere I have a post I wrote defending/encouraging the use of Top Ten names, and I stand by that; but I do think it is best to go in KNOWING it is a Top Ten name. I think Theodore sounds great with Savannah and Hadley.
I like your description of hearing a sibling set that lit you up, and I wondered what would come to mind if I imagined encountering a sibling set of Savannah, Hadley, and ______. What would give me that zing? For me, the name June would do it: Savannah, Hadley, and June.
I wondered, if you like the repeating sounds of names such as Theodore, if you might also like Claudia. I like the way it shuffles some sounds from both sibling names plus the surname, but also has some sounds all its own. Savannah, Hadley, and Claudia. I find I want to say the names together again and again, relishing the way Savannah and Claudia both have three syllables and end in -ah/-a, but Hadley and Claudia share the L and D and long-E sounds.
Similarly: Cassidy. I just went and looked it up to see what its popularity path has been like (I felt as if I had last heard about it a couple of decades ago, and yet for some reason it wasn’t striking me as dated), and it looks like it had a little surge after Kathie Lee Gifford named her daughter Cassidy, but then the usage drifted gradually back down. It’s in that pleasing familiar-but-uncommon range. Savannah, Hadley, and Cassidy.
Belinda? I heard this recently and found it utterly charming, and fun to say, which is also how I feel about the name Penelope. Savannah, Hadley, and Belinda.
Delia, or Dahlia. Savannah, Hadley, and Delia. Savannah, Hadley, and Dahlia.
Long-time readers are just WAITING for me to see Eloise/Louise on your list (I love both of those names) and mention the name that comes to my mind like a reflex: Eliza. Savannah, Hadley, and Eliza.
Or Estelle. Savannah, Hadley, and Estelle.
Bianca. Savannah, Hadley, and Bianca.
Would you want to launch out into something like Clementine? I considered that name fabulous except for a lack of nickname options, until someone mentioned they use the nickname Minnie. Savannah, Hadley, and Clementine; Savannah, Hadley, and Minnie.
I see I have launched from Theodore into girl names and only girl names. Let’s fix that.
Elliot. This is a name of my heart, but Paul and I could not agree on a spelling (I’d be okay with adding a second T, but Paul wanted Eliot). I mention it particularly because of Ellie and Harriet in the sibling group you liked. Also, I like it with your surname. Savannah, Hadley, and Elliot.
Frederick. Brings in some repeating sounds, like Theodore does. Savannah, Hadley, and Frederick.
Gideon. I know you never said anything about wanting repeating sounds and here I go with one name after another, but I seem to have gotten on a tear. Savannah, Hadley, and Gideon.
Franklin. Savannah, Hadley, and Franklin.
Edmund. Savannah, Hadley, and Edmund.
Edward/Teddy, from the Lit List. Savannah, Hadley, and Edward; Savannah, Hadley, and Teddy.
Calvin. Savannah, Hadley, and Calvin.
Malcolm. Savannah, Hadley, and Malcolm.
Emmett. Savannah, Hadley, and Emmett.
Miles. Savannah, Hadley, and Miles.
This is where I clicked the link at the top and went back and looked at your first letter from a few years ago. I see that back then you were thinking of Macklin or Macallister, nickname Mac, but felt it worked better for a second or third child. IS THIS PERHAPS THE MOMENT?? Savannah, Hadley, and Mac.
Similar possibilities: Declan, Cormac, Isaac, Caleb, Malcolm, Kieran, Lachlan, Merritt.
Sixteen-year-old Henry was around, and chatty, so I asked his opinion. He suggests Elijah. Savannah, Hadley, and Elijah. He is also very in favor of Wells. And he mentions Weston, which he likes with the surname, and he likes the nickname options Wes and West. He says he would like to see Stephen/Steven being used again for babies, but I was not sure it works in this sibling set: repeats a first initial AND the V sound of Savannah, and also feels like a different style. He likes Lane with the surname, for either a boy or a girl.
Love Swistle’s suggestions of Elliott and Cormac ‘Mac’. How about Calloway? Or Merrick? Everett? Griffin?
For girls how about Maren? Blythe? Tallulah?
Your style hits me as southern tailored, so that led my suggestions!
Tallulah! Definitely gives me the zing.
Other nicknames I’ve seen used for Clementine are Clem and Lemon.
Several of my ideas have already been mentioned, so I won’t repeat all of them.
For a boy you might like:
Bennett — I really like Bennett with your last name, but the initials aren’t the best.
Calvin
Desmond
Edison — this could lead to Teddy as a nickname.
Griffin
Malcolm
Possibilities for a girl:
Caroline — I think Hadley and Caroline are especially nice together.
Mabel or Maeve
Meredith
Willa or Willow
Best wishes to you!
Bennett is great with Savannah and Hadley!
Frederick nicknamed Fritz!!! This was on my shortlist for our last kid, and I still think about it three years later.
I love the suggestion of Delia. I’d also like to put Lorelei on your radar. It’s beautiful, lots of nicknames and puts a fresh twist on Savanah and Hadley.
Do you like numerical patterns? Is this for sure your last child? Cause you have an opportunity to do 3,2,1 syllables, which has a nice rhythm to it.
Savannah, Hadley, and June
Savannah, Hadley, and Wells
Or instead of June, maybe Mae? Or Ruth? Your sibset that lights you up suggests an unrequited love for old timey nicknames (Unless Savannah is called Vannie and you didn’t mention), so maybe you’d like to have a little Ruthie, or something similar.
Love the name Ruth!
A friend has two daughters Hadley and June. Their son is bamed Blake (but could be unisex) so thought I would mention that idea.
Not coming from the USA your names do far have a particularly ‘American girl next door’ feel for me. (That’s a compliment – they sound open and friendly to me, fresh). Names with a similar vibe in my mind:
Sienna
Summer
Julie
Cassidy
Ryan
Naomi
Riley
I’m sorry but I don’t know what boys names fit the vibe. I do like the recurring sounds in Theodore peanuts character.
Darby
Felix
Finn
Penelope is my favorite of the girl names you listed. I would use the nn Penny or Poppy—so cute!
But, if I were trying to match the sibling names with a blank slate to choose from, I would pick Sawyer for a girl, even though it repeats an initial with Savannah. I really like a gender neutral girl name with this sib set, and a feminine middle name. Sawyer Eloise.
But it sounds like you lean toward feminine names, so here are other favorites that I wish would get a second look:
Briony
Mara
Geneva
Petra
Francesca
Camille
Lucia
For a boy name, I think Theodore is perfect. I work with children and hear a lot of boys’ names but I don’t think popularity equals over-saturation. Lots more of people like it, but not all are using it. Theo or Ted are my favorite nicknames.
If you look up the meanings for Savannah (large, grassy plain) & Hadley ( field of heather) there’s some nice overlap in the theme. With that in mind, I find these names charming in the sibling set:
Blair (meadow/field)
Lorna (laurel tree)
Leland (meadow land)
Walden (wooded valley)
Whittaker (wheat-field)
Warren (park keeper)
.
Oh my goodness, this is some good sleuthing. What about just Field? Too out there?
I want to endorse the suggestions of Elliot, Franklin, Lane, especially for a boy, and Blythe. I would tend toward a more tailored choice for a girl to coordinate with Hadley. Some other ideas:
Benedict
August
Adele
Colette
Josephine
Celeste
Carys
I work with 3 Stephen/Stevens and there are even more in the same company so it’s funny to read Henry saying he doesn’t hear it often. Maybe that means we won’t be hiring any younger Stephens for a while!
Hmm! I don’t know….to me, Savannah and Hadley have a more contemporary feel, but most of the names mentioned feel a little more vintage. Cassidy is perfect…although it feels just a little too similar to Hadley in sound, imo.
Baby Name Wizard suggest Sierra, Cheyenne, Alexandria, Michaela, Shiloh?
Garrett, Dillon, Spencer, Caleb, Bryce, Carson?
My personal favorite sibsets: Savannah, Hadley, and June (LOVE the name June)
Savannah, Hadley, and Caleb, Savannah, Hadley, and Bryce, or Savannah, Hadley, and Dylan
With your last name and sister’s, Savannah and Hadley, I like
Pearl, Jasmine, Clare, Meredith, And Gwendolyn
Or
Cyrus, Nolan, Owen, Arlo, and Garrett
Some terrific sibsets suggested here! Though June from your list is so great in the set already.
The only name I have a potential issue with is Wells. When I say it, the last letter runs into the first letter of the last name, in a way that may have people thinking his name is Will (because Well is unlikely).
I especially like Bennett, Malcolm/Mac, Garrett, and Nolan with the sibset. Theo is also terrific with it.
I really like Cormac, with our without Mac as a nickname.
For a girl, I like Laurel.
To me, these both sound very natural with the surname and great as part of the set.
I like the names on your list and I think you’d be fine with any of them, but how about:
Caroline
Charlotte
Cordelia
Emily
Grace
Rose
Alexander
Charles
Louis
Matthew
Savannah and Hadley feel very lively and sparky to me, maybe a bit cowgirlish too for some reason? I love it! For boys, my first thought was Zane.
Savannah, Hadley, and Zane, yes!
Other ideas: Grant, Davis, Reid, Nolan, Callahan “Cal”, Cameron “Cam”, Garrett, Jude, Nathaniel “Nat”
For another girl, I think Eliza would be most excellent.
Savannah, Hadley, and Eliza!
I think June from your list sounds lovely too but does strike me as a bit more vintage than her sisters’ names but not in a jarring way
Other ideas: Josie, Zara, Lydia, Tessa, Zoe, Kiera, Mara, Eden, Kaia, Quinn, Lilah/Lila
Oh, I also forgot to add Jade! Similar to June but a bit more contemporary. Savannah, Hadley, and Jade!
And I’m going to add April, also vibing off June! I like the way it fits in the sibset a lot:
Savannah, Hadley, and April. They all have an A sound, and April is a bit more unexpected than June and sounds better with the last name, to my ear at least. Possible nicknames: Allie, Lillie, Pip, Pree.
Also Primrose (Rosie), Lark, and Dorothy (Dot!).
For a boy:
Wells
Maxwell
Cameron
Boyd
Miles
Drake
Everett
Graham
Liam
For a girl:
I think traditional/romantic girl names like Penelope and Eloise don’t match the style of Savannah and Hadley, so I suggest:
Keira
Paige
Iris
Addison
Alexis
Astrid
Piper
I just wanted to say that Henry has obviously gotten the Naming Gene from Mum Swistle – I LOVE his suggestions. West is fresh and handsome and I think it goes on my outlier list for sure!!
I am a HUGE Teddy fan, if I had a fourth it would very possibly be Teddy, but I too struggle with the popularity of Theodore, even though Im not as bothered by it with your last name as Swistle is. In my mind, bc of my current sibset, Edward or Edmund would be his full name, nn Teddy.
Savannah and Hadley are both on my outliers list, so I’ll mention the name I always wish I could have used (it’s at the top of my outliers list) bc it’s also a family surname, honouring my side of the family. Sloane. Savannah, Hadley, and Sloane. Love love.
I think all the readers’ suggestions and Swistle’s are excellent and you’ve already got an amazing 🤩 list yourself!! So I’m really excited to see where you go.
What about Annabel? Savannah, Hadley, and Annabel
Or another from my own list, Sebastian, but I’m a sucker for just Bastian:
Savannah, Hadley, and Sebastian
Savannah, Hadley, and Bastian