If you love name threads, thanks for reading! (If you hate them, I apologize!)

[Lyndzies]

This has been such a headache, and since we're having such a rough time thinking up and narrowing down names for our baby girl, I thought it best just to write and get the suggestions of all you helpful lovelies!

Our last name is (phonetically) will-HELL-mee. Our first child - a baby girl - is due in late September / early October, and our finalist names are currently:

Sophie
Jamison ("Jamie")
Rowan
Nola
Riley

Sophie (DP's grandma's name) is the current front-runner and always has been, but we want some others in our back pocket, and also are concerned that Sophie might be a little too "girly" for her and for us Our possible middle names include:

Ellen (my grandma's name)
Nelle (Ellen backwards)
Kate
Nola (it's both a first name and middle name finalist).

We definitely like gender-neutral names, and tend towards the classic as opposed to the trendy. Celtic/Gaelic names are always welcome for consideration since we are both of Irish decent, but we don't like spellings that are too outlandish or impossible to pronounce (like Siobhan or Roisin). We tend to prefer names under three syllables, but if it's a really good one, it can be considered (which is why Jamison is still hanging by a thread on our list).

We've rejected many "-yn" names (think Jadyn, Kalyn, Kamryn, etc.). Other names that one or both of us liked but ultimately rejected include: Sadie, Carlie, Avery, Madison ("Maddy"), Grace, Charlotte ("Charlie"), Josie, Tegan, Ryan, Posey, Presley, Maisie, and Mina.

Thanks so much for any help you can provide! We really like Sophie, but want to decide on some alternatives we like just as much to have in our back pocket when our little girl arrives!

[MammaB21]

I don't know if this matters to you or not, but Sophie and all it's variations are extremely popular right now. I believe it's number one on the charts. We like to chose names that aren't in the top 500, so number one for me would be out in a heartbeat.

Rowan and Riley are both growing in popularity as well. I like Riley better for a girl than Rowan. I believe Rowan is originally intended to be a boys name and I see it that way. I'm not crazy about Nola because it seems incomplete (it just makes me think of Nolan for a boy). Jamison is a liquor and one that many of my male friends enjoy, so that would be out for me as well. So I think my pick from your front runner list would be Riley.

Sorry, I know that isn't a lot of positive feed back. However, I love Sadie and Avery from your vetoed list. I think both are pretty, girly yet strong, they aren't super trendy or too out there but aren't super popular either. Maybe you could use Sophie as a middle name so that you can still honor the family name?

[pycelan]

I like Nola Ellen...

[suzywan]

My favorite girls name is Elizabeth - classic, strong, womanly. Elizabeth Kate is beautiful. Of course it's more than 3 syllables, however, in its favor, it also has an abundence of possible nick names: Eliza, Bette, Tess(a), Betty, Beth, Liz(zie), Bess(ie).

Full disclosure: it's a family name and my middle name. It's also a front runner if we ever have a girl.

[Lyndzies]

Originally Posted by MammaB21

I don't know if this matters to you or not, but Sophie and all it's variations are extremely popular right now. I believe it's number one on the charts. We like to chose names that aren't in the top 500, so number one for me would be out in a heartbeat.

Rowan and Riley are both growing in popularity as well. I like Riley better for a girl than Rowan. I believe Rowan is originally intended to be a boys name and I see it that way. I'm not crazy about Nola because it seems incomplete (it just makes me think of Nolan for a boy). Jamison is a liquor and one that many of my male friends enjoy, so that would be out for me as well. So I think my pick from your front runner list would be Riley.

Sorry, I know that isn't a lot of positive feed back. However, I love Sadie and Avery from your vetoed list. I think both are pretty, girly yet strong, they aren't super trendy or too out there but aren't super popular either. Maybe you could use Sophie as a middle name so that you can still honor the family name?

Thanks for the feedback. Sophie is actually #65 in 2009, although Sophia was #4. If she is Sophie, she'll be just Sophie (not Sophia).

Nola is both a Gaelic name we like and an abbreviation for the place where DP and my relationship began (New Orleans, LA). But I definitely see what you're saying.

The liquor is spelled Jameson, but again, I understand where you're coming from.

Unfortunately Sadie is definitely out (DP says it reminds her of a dog's name) and one of DPs friends recently named his daughter Avery, so it probably won't make it back on the list.

Any suggestions besides those we've thought of / rejected that are sort of in line with our criteria?

Thanks again! Just talking about it is helpful (we aren't really talking to too many people IRL to get their opinions... )

[Ianthe]

From your list, I only like Sophie, but I wouldn't actually use it because of it's popularity (being close to Sophia is enough for me not to use it). I'm not a fan of boys names on girls, so if I had to choose from your list of the remaining names, I'd go with Nola.

[Lyndzies]

Originally Posted by suzywan

My favorite girls name is Elizabeth - classic, strong, womanly. Elizabeth Kate is beautiful. Of course it's more than 3 syllables, however, in its favor, it also has an abundence of possible nick names: Eliza, Bette, Tess(a), Betty, Beth, Liz(zie), Bess(ie).

Full disclosure: it's a family name and my middle name. It's also a front runner if we ever have a girl.

It is a good, classic, strong one. I had thought of it before, but there's the 3-syllable thing (although you're right, lots of nicknames!) and I was concerned it's too "common..." But now I'm reconsidering. I will have to add it to the list for consideration and see what DP thinks! Thanks!!!

[enigo]

Originally Posted by Lyndzies

Unfortunately Sadie is definitely out (DP says it reminds her of a dog's name) and one of DPs friends recently named his daughter Avery, so it probably won't make it back on the list.

Sadie is my dog's name

[JessieBird]

I love love love Nola. I've heard it before but I'm not sure where. I'd never thought of Jamison as a girl's first name but I really like it and Jamie. I prefer either both Nola and Jamison over Sophie just because of Sophie's popularity.

I like all of your middle names but Ellen gets my vote because it has historical significance to you. You could use both Ellen and Sophie as middle names. Or save one for the next baby.

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by Lyndzies

Any suggestions besides those we've thought of / rejected that are sort of in line with our criteria?

Since it looks like you are leaning towards gender neutral (besides Sophie), have you considered Harper? It's my favorite neutral name

[Lyndzies]

Originally Posted by enigo

Sadie is my dog's name

Well, there ya go, then! She was right.

[NorthernPixie]

I'm not a big fan of the 'ee' sound at the end of Sophie and then your last name - same with Riley. But I do like Sophie on its own. What about Noelle? Sort of fits in with Nola and Ellen, but certainly sounds French rather than Irish.

[Lyndzies]

Originally Posted by pycelan

I like Nola Ellen...

We do, too! Thanks so much for the feedback!

Originally Posted by JessieBird

I love love love Nola. I've heard it before but I'm not sure where. I'd never thought of Jamison as a girl's first name but I really like it and Jamie. I prefer either both Nola and Jamison over Sophie just because of Sophie's popularity.

I like all of your middle names but Ellen gets my vote because it has historical significance to you. You could use both Ellen and Sophie as middle names. Or save one for the next baby.

Thanks so much for responding. I hadn't even though of Nola until reading it an article a few days ago... I mentioned it to DP and we realized the New Orleans connection, so it's staying on our list.

Jamison was originally on the list as Jameson, because we thought it would be nice to name her after DP's dad (James) and because we liked James so much for a boy name. But we like the "i" spelling better.

Anyway, thanks for you suggestions! I think we'll probably only go w/ one middle name... How to choose, how to choose?

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

Since it looks like you are leaning towards gender neutral (besides Sophie), have you considered Harper? It's my favorite neutral name

You know, we haven't (though it's come up in the Nymbler.com suggestions many times and I always pause when I see it). I guess I don't want people to have an instant association with "To Kill a Mockingbird" when we tell them her name? Not sure if that's a good enough reason to NOT consider it, though. Thanks! I think I'll add it to the list and see what DP thinks!

Originally Posted by NorthernPixie

I'm not a big fan of the 'ee' sound at the end of Sophie and then your last name - same with Riley. But I do like Sophie on its own. What about Noelle? Sort of fits in with Nola and Ellen, but certainly sounds French rather than Irish.

Interesting... we actually like the "ie" sound with our last name, but that is PROBABLY because DP's grandma's name was Sophie OurLastName, so we're used to hearing it! Interesting point, though.

We are not religious at all, and Noelle feels too "Christmas-y" to me. I like the combining of two names to make a unique one, though (I typically don't like "made up" names, but fancy me digging this idea!).

Hmmm.... Is Soelle too out there? Elphie? Oh wait, there's the "Wicked" popularity/connection. Lol.

Thank you so much for the suggestion (and for reading!).

[Qbear'smama]

I love Jamison and Rowan of your list of first names (Rowan is on my short list thus far). My name ends in the "ee" sound and I find it sounds "kiddie".

May I plug Quinn for unisex and celtic-y? It is DD's name and I it. What about Maeve? Ainsley? Jut throwing ideas out there, I know you already have your short list.

As for middle names, I think Kate sounds nice with Sophie.

[RedOakMomma]

Originally Posted by Lyndzies

Sophie
Jamison ("Jamie")
Rowan
Nola
Riley

Ellen (my grandma's name)
Nelle (Ellen backwards)
Kate
Nola (it's both a first name and middle name finalist).

My favorite name from all of your possibilities is Rowan Nelle. I love the symbolism (see here) of the Rowan tree in Celtic legend. I know it's traditionally a male name, but the history of the name is so wound up in fairies and magic and woods and healing that I think it makes a very natural female name. There is so much delight and magic in that name.

The others:

Sophie: Beautiful. I don't think you can go wrong here. It will seem popular, but not TOO popular I think (even the top 10 names are still used with much lower frequency than top 10 names were in our day).

Jamison ("Jamie"): The lastname-as-firstname trend is something I don't like, so I can't get behind this one.

Rowan: Lovely, strong, historic, magical...just perfect.

Nola: This is really pretty, too, but I like your others more.

Riley: Almost all the Rileys I know are boys. This is a VERY trendy/modern unisex name, and I don't care for it much. Sorry! Plus I think it sounds too cutesy for a grown woman. A 50-year old Riley? Can't picture it.

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by Lyndzies

You know, we haven't (though it's come up in the Nymbler.com suggestions many times and I always pause when I see it). I guess I don't want people to have an instant association with "To Kill a Mockingbird" when we tell them her name? Not sure if that's a good enough reason to NOT consider it, though. Thanks! I think I'll add it to the list and see what DP thinks!

I think as long as you don't name her Harper Lee you'll be fine

Originally Posted by Qbear'smama

May I plug Quinn for unisex and celtic-y? It is DD's name and I it. What about Maeve? Ainsley? Jut throwing ideas out there, I know you

Oh, I love Quinn too! Great suggestion!

[limette]

I love Sophie and Rowan, they are on my name list.

[Lyndzies]

Qbear'smama - Thanks so much for posting. I actually love Quinn in theory, but our best friend's cat's name is Quinn, and I have a name-association with a horrible, terrible girl from HS names Quinn, so unfortunately it's out. The other two are good suggestions, but I know DP well enough that she will veto both instantly.

RedOakMomma - you give such practical advice! I think Rowan is probably my second-favorite after Sophie, and we actually chose it because of the meaning associates w/ the rowan tree. Thanks for the link though! (I hadn't seen this page yet).

Limette - yay! I think they are my top two favorite at the moment.

LizzyQ - Lol. Definitely no Harper Lee.

[Grace and Granola]

I agree with a pp about the "ee" sound in both the first and last name seems a bit redundant and "cutesie". It's broken up with a middle name, but remember that you don't typically say the middle name.

Sophie is a very common dog's name in my circle of friends!

I really like Nola. My ds has a girl in his pre-k class named Nola (NolaBella), and I had never heard it before. I think it's very classic sounding and lovely. I think I would pair it with Kate. Nola Kate. I don't like when one name ends in a vowel and the next name starts with a vowel. Nola Ellen doesn't flow easily off my tongue. but obviously it must for you, because you like it!

[MammaB21]

Originally Posted by Lyndzies

Thanks for the feedback. Sophie is actually #65 in 2009, although Sophia was #4. If she is Sophie, she'll be just Sophie (not Sophia).

Nola is both a Gaelic name we like and an abbreviation for the place where DP and my relationship began (New Orleans, LA). But I definitely see what you're saying.

The liquor is spelled Jameson, but again, I understand where you're coming from.

Unfortunately Sadie is definitely out (DP says it reminds her of a dog's name) and one of DPs friends recently named his daughter Avery, so it probably won't make it back on the list.

Any suggestions besides those we've thought of / rejected that are sort of in line with our criteria?

Thanks again! Just talking about it is helpful (we aren't really talking to too many people IRL to get their opinions... )

Most of the lists of popularity are counting each spelling and variant individually. So Sophia is it's own name, Sofia it's own and Sophie it's own. To me, they are all a variant of the same name. Couple them all together, and the name Sophie/Sophia/Sofia is spot #2 in popularity right now. (I think). Again, that might not matter for you and if it doesn't it's a beautiful name.

As for Sadie, I was told 4 years ago when it was on my list for DD that it was a cows name. So I hear your DP there, but it didn't stop me from liking it.

How about Ainsley? It's similar to Avery but not too close that you wouldn't be able to use it. I also like Gwenlyn and it fits most of your criteria. Those two names are a bit less traditional then most on your list, but it's food for thought. Have you been to babynamesworld? Here is a link. You can do an advanced search and typed in everything you're looking for. It's quite the handy tool. Good luck.