Name for daughter #2

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2006
Name for daughter #2
15
Sun, 11-05-2006 - 6:02pm

We're expecting our second daughter and, as we thought we were going to be a one-child family until recently, are a bit stumped about names. Our first daughter, who will be almost 4 1/2 when our second arrives, is Maeve. Now we need to name her sister!

I'm curious to hear your comments about some of the names we're kicking around. We definitely favor names that are not especially trendy, but have some favorites that are. Our children have a hyphenated last name, Irish-German, though we don't care so much about having a particularly Celtic or Germanic name (we just loved Maeve for its simplicity and strength).

So, here's an early list, including submissions from our daughter, in alphabetical order. Love one of them? Hate one of them? Have other suggestions along these lines? Let me know. Thanks!

Abigail
Cecily
Claire
Claudia (nn Claude)
Fiona
Isobel (too popular, but....)
Isadora
Olivia (nn Liv - worry about popularity)
Phoebe
Romy
Vivian (nn Viv or Vivi)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2006
Sun, 11-05-2006 - 6:27pm
Phoebe
Mallory
Tatum
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2006
Sun, 11-05-2006 - 6:49pm
I think Claire would go good with Maeve
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Sun, 11-05-2006 - 7:56pm

Congrats-- to go with sister Maeve (a terrific choice, by the way):

Abigail-- far too common
Cecily-- alright
Claire-- growing in popularity; ordinary next to Maeve
Claudia (nn Claude)-- possibility; I see others as stronger contenders
Fiona-- a very fine choice; my #2
Isobel (too popular, but....)-- too popular
Isadora-- too frilly with Maeve
Olivia (nn Liv - worry about popularity)-- I'd go with just lIv (Scandanavian name in its own right; Olivia is too popular); Liv is my #3
Phoebe-- alright
Romy--pretty good with Maeve
Vivian (nn Viv or Vivi)-- my pic for you. Love nn Vivi.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-1999
Sun, 11-05-2006 - 8:43pm

Hi there. Congrats on #2! Maeve is a gorgeous name. That's definitly exciting to see being used. Here are my thoughts on the list:

Abigail-I like this, but it is really popular.

Cecily-That's lovely. I like it w/Maeve too.

Claire-Perfect w/Maeve. I like it.

Claudia (nn Claude)-I like Claudia, although Claude is masculine. I'd just call her Claudia or Claudie personally. It's a nice name, but I don't totally love it w/Maeve for some reason.

Fiona-That's excellent.

Isobel (too popular, but....)-Oh, I suppose. It is really lovely though, & great w/your dds name.

Isadora-Ooh, I like that. It has so many sweet nn possibilities as well.

Olivia (nn Liv - worry about popularity)-I love it, but it is way too popular.

Phoebe-Aw, very cute.

Romy-This is interesting. I don't love it, but can see it working. What about Romilly maybe nn Romy?

Vivian (nn Viv or Vivi)-This is nms, but it's not bad at all. I do like Vivi a lot.

I really like Claire the best for you, closely followed by Fiona, Isobel (Isabella is way more popular, if that helps you) & Cecily. You really can't go wrong w/any of them though. Here are a few more suggestions:

Annika

Belle

Celia

Clara

Cora

Elodie

Greta

Hope

Lucy

Lydia

Neala

Nora

Nola

Oona

Pearl

Rose

Roxy

Stella

Tess(a)

Hope this helps!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Sun, 11-05-2006 - 9:01pm

The only name on your list that I dislike is Romy. I adore the name Claudia, but I don't really like the nn Claude for a girl. The sound is too similar to "clod," as in clod of dirt, and I'd not want to bestow that upon a child, especially a girl. Claudia, however, is gorgeous. My favorites are Claudia, Isadora, and Phoebe, in that order.

I wonder, though, whether you've considered Blair. I think that Maeve and Blair would be beautiful sisters, and Blair seems to share Maeve's "simplicity and strength," which you noted among its attributes. Claire is nice, but a bit more popular; Blair seems to be comparable to Maeve in its uniqueness. I can picture Blair being just as beautiful on an adult as it would be adorable on a baby.

For what it's worth, I think Maeve is gorgeous! My grandmother's middle name was Mae, so I've always sort of held Maeve as a possibility for a middle name, myself.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sun, 11-05-2006 - 9:20pm

From your list, I like Claudia and Fiona best for a sister to Maeve.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Sun, 11-05-2006 - 10:47pm

Abigail -- beautiful and classic
Cecily -- love this with Maeve
Claire -- short and simple, like Maeve ... nice
Claudia (nn Claude) -- not my favorite with Maeve (just has a harsher feel for some reason)
Fiona -- lovely sister names
Isobel (too popular, but....) -- also has a different feel than Maeve IMO
Isadora -- ooh, I do like that much more (just a bit less "ordinary" KWIM?)
Olivia (nn Liv - worry about popularity) -- Maeve and Liv are too similar for my tastes
Phoebe -- nms
Romy -- nms
Vivian (nn Viv or Vivi) -- love the name, but too many Vs (Maeve and Viv are especially hard to say together)

As far as other suggestions go, I actually have a cousin Maeve, and her sisters are Meredith and Devin. Other family names include Devanie (mine -- I also have a Kaitlyn and an Abigail Fiora), Megan, Lauren, Shaye (not the spelling I would use, of course LOL), Shannon, Gwen (not sure if hers is short for anything, but Maeve and Gwyneth would also work well) and Dara. I could also see Branwen, Carys or Fallon as sisters to Maeve.

HTH

~Kelli


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2006
Sun, 11-05-2006 - 11:06pm

Abigail - I love Abigail - I'm sure you are aware it's pretty popular, but it's such a beautiful name it doesn't really matter.
Cecily - I love this one, too. It's actually the name of a lifelong friend (who's gorgeous, sweet, and smart, if that helps). She's the only "real" person I've ever met with this name. She did have an obnoxious kid in elementary school insist on calling her "sexily," And lots of people call her "Ces" (but her parents do, too so it isn't unwelcome). Anyway, a beautiful name.
Claire - Seriously, you have great taste. I like this one too.
Claudia (nn Claude) - My husband thinks this name is "too-supermodel" for a baby. I think it sounds smart and attractive.
Fiona - eh, nms - too frilly for me.
Isobel (too popular, but....) - I like this spelling, but she'd ALWAYS have to clarify.
Isadora - I'm a big fan of this one. Keep in mind "dora" as a possible nn - that took it out of the running for me.
Olivia (nn Liv - worry about popularity) - I have known several baby Olivias. It's pretty though, if that doesn't bug you.
Phoebe - Beautiful, and the "Friends" association will be gone soon.
Romy - I just think of Mira Sorvino in "Romy and Michelle" and maybe Roma tomatoes... It's pretty when I get past that, though.
Vivian (nn Viv or Vivi) - nms - like Fiona, it sounds frilly to me.

My favorites:

Abigail
Cecily
Claire
Phoebe

They're all beautiful, though - you're going to have a hard time choosing!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2006
Sun, 11-05-2006 - 11:17pm

Like everyone else I adore the name Maeve. You have started a great list. Finding a name equal to Maeve will be fun!

Abigail - I know a ton of little girls named Abigail - way to common
Cecily - this could work, I really like the name
Claire - too common, but Clara would be great with Maeve!
Claudia (nn Claude) - this is another great choice - it is strong like Maeve
Fiona - hmm...it just doesn't seem right with Maeve. This name is on the rise in popularity.
Isobel (too popular, but....) - yes too popular, but still pretty.
Isadora - not as pretty as some others on the list. You seem to like "I" names. what about: Iris, Ivy, India, or Isla
Olivia (nn Liv - worry about popularity) - you worry for good reason, too popular
Phoebe - great name! It seems perfect for a younger sister
Romy - nms, this seems like a nn and not a name to me
Vivian (nn Viv or Vivi) - nms, I just don't love this name.

My thoughts:
Adele
Alice
Bridget
Camille
Calla
Felicity
Nora
Sabrina
Tessa

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2006
Mon, 11-06-2006 - 8:13pm

Thank you all so much for your responses, especially those including comments about your perspective on the suitability of each name with Maeve or just in general. We're refining our list and will eventually have a poll to post. Meanwhile, keep the comments coming!

--Maeve's mom, looking for name for her sister

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