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The name game


(Claire Louise at just a few days old in an unsmocked Miss Violet gown.)

Ben and I have been playing the name game for the last few months, we still have a boy name ready (Silas Franklin), but our girl names have been used up! We can't seem to agree on anything. If he loves it I like it, if I love it he likes it. We need a name that we both LOVE! We both tend to like old fashioned or little old lady names but we haven't found THE ONE. I like Penny (short for Penelope) and Fern, and he likes Beatrice (Bea for short). So do you guys have any suggestions? What's your grandmothers name? Or your great grandmothers name? We need some help here! xo, Sam

PS. We have never found out what we are having, so that's why we have to have both names ready. :)

Comments

Anonymous said…
My grandmothers names are Rebecca Eloise and Shelby Jean. :)
I was named after my great great grandma whose name was Caroline Rebecca. :)
Brooke said…
My girls' names are Lillon Adella (named after her great-great grandma and her great grandma's middle name) and Eden Rose(named after the garden of Eden).
Trina said…
My girls both have old lady names.Anna Josephine is named after my great grandmother. I wanted to name our second daughter Eleanor Elizabeth. My husband vetoed that and we decided on Ellery Kate. Ellery Is an old Welsh name that means "Smooth skinned".
6blessings said…
Grandma names in our family: Julia Elizabeth, Mable Adelia, Elsie Mae and Sarah Alice. Hope these help!
Jennifer said…
My kids played with an Adelaide at the park yesterday, I thought that was really sweet and old fashioned. My grandmothers were Gracie and Mary Louise. My great grandmother was Dorothy and went by Dot.
planty said…
We have, Odete, Joan, Nancy and Elizabeth but I would have used Sisley if we had had another girl!
Amanda said…
here are our older generation names . . .Alice, Hulda, Temperance, Irene, Loretta, Florence, Mary Anne, Emilia, and Betty. Good luck!
Emilee Klein said…
Emma, Emily (Emilee), Ruth, Anna, These were my grandmother's name..sweet and simple.
Christy said…
My grandmothers are Pearl, Eileen Daphne, Virginia Elma. My great aunts are Edna and Ella.
Donna said…
Here are some to make you laugh! These are a few of the names in our family- Xantha was my grandma and my husband's grandmother was Frena! We also have a Geraldine, Bedella, Mary Olivia, and Estelle.
Anonymous said…
I was named after my grandma who was named after her grandma and a cousin...Ruthanna...I don't know another one, I have only met Ruthann's. I love BEa, wanted to use it, but my husband Vetoed it. My other grandma was Belva (I didn't use that one, wasn't even tempted). Helen and Leona are the other grandma names in my family. I also love Pearl and Sadie.
Stephanie said…
I have a friend named June. I also know a young woman named Irma. I really like both bc they are a little unexpected but not totally weird.
Sarah E said…
My Great Grandmas name was Helena Claire. Had my brother been a girl he would have been named that, but he is Harold George after my great grandpa.
Laurie said…
My Grandma's name was Charlotte. I like Ella. I have new great niece with the name Lucinda Rae.
jenn said…
Fun! My grandmother's names are:
Georgette, her sister was Gabrielle (they are french)and my other grandmother is Greta (pronounced Greet-a)she was born in England. Can't wait to see what you decide.
Anonymous said…
My grandma's were Anna Louise and Sally Anne. My great grandma's were Nellie and Stella. I have a great aunt named Glenda. My in laws are Patricia, Margaret and Martha.
Anonymous said…
My grandmas' names as well as others I know are Ella, Mary, Martha, Vallie, Ruth, Naomi, Opal, Vivian, Clara, Lily ....

We have 4 girls so we've used up a bunch of names. We have Allison Elisabeth, Emily Anne, Lillian Grace and Caroline Belle.
Leslie said…
My grandmas' names are: Ruby Estella (my daughter shares her middle name) and Cleta Marie.
Vicki said…
We have a Lois, Flora Leigh, Patricia, and Deanna. I am quite partial to Delilah and Emery miyself. Good luck!
Mandy said…
My mother's name was Victoria Ann and my grandmother's name is Jessica.
Jen said…
my favourite Grandmother is Gweneth Lillian. my other Grandmother is Margaret.
Teresa said…
Hi! Grandmothers names Elizabeth Gertrude and Evie Lee. Great grand was Emma Gertrude, went by Gert or Gertie. I would have to look up the rest!
Unknown said…
My girls name was Darcey Mae (never used it as had two very handsome boys ) Darcey because I like it and Mae after my Nan Doris Mae - also like Georgia (Georgie if shes a tom boy), Charlotte (Lottie), Hannah and Scarlett - Hope this adds some more names to your pot :)
Meghann said…
I really like Alice. No grandmothers named that, but I just think it would go well with Claire, and it's a timeless name.

Opening up my account on ancestry, let's see. . .Lydia, Mable, Carrie, Olive, Loie, Genevieve, Ida, Lillian, Louisa, Eva, Celia, Hattie, Eliza, Antonia, Lizette, and Francesca. (Those are various first and middle names of my great-great grandmothers.) :)
Anonymous said…
We have two girlies named Gwendolyn & Evelyn, who have gone by Gigi (middle name Grace), & Evey. After naming them we found out that my husband's great grandmother Hazel had two sisters with those names – I think it was subconscious on his part, but I love their names even more so. We had a few names that one of us loved & the other liked, but when mentioning the above, we both just knew that those were their names! Congratulations & I hope there is constant joy with your growing family!!
Rebecca said…
Some names in my family: Helena, Katherine, Christine, Margaret, Anne, and Francesca (my daughter's middle name is shortened to Frances). I also like Abigail, Adelle, Eloise, Josephine (that's the name of my niece too), and Bethany.
All the best with the rest of your pregnancy!! Hope you're feeling well!
Anonymous said…
Grandmothers in my family were: Esther, Ilo, Freda, Tessis, Joyce, Sybil, Daisy
Unknown said…
I know whatever you pick she is adorable and her name will be perfect. I did like the name Grace and Lidiya Elizabeth(Lulu Belle)
Eileen said…
My Clare's middle name is Frances and I also have a Julia Rose. If we had a third girl it would have been Brenna Maeve. What about Lauretta?
Anonymous said…
Named my daughter Rebecca after her greatgrandmother and we call her Becca because we didn't want a Becky. My latest gdaughter due iany day is going to be Evelyn Sophia and will be called Evie.
Jeannie B. said…
Hi Sam, I must have been away when you shared this news!!! Congratulations to you all and hope you are well. I like Beatrice! My daughter had your same problem. She named my last granddaughter Emma (after my great grandmother) and Rose after her husbands grandmother. So Emma Rose. Personally, I was pulling for great grandmothers full name. Emma Florentine but I do love the name Rose. And wish I were named after an old fashioned flower. You can call me Rose, or Lilly or Violet or Primrose or even Petunia!
Goosegirl said…
My grandmother's names were Norma Gertrude and Esther Grace. My grandma Norma never liked her own name but she was a wonderful grandma! But I loved my grandmother Esther Grace's name.
Anonymous said…
Hi there I'm in South England and I really love your post! My Grandmothers names = Charlotte and Dorothy (Doll for short). My daughter is called Ruby.... Good luck with this pregnancy!!!! XXX Katie Jo.
LV said…
Ah, names! My grandmothers were Hendrika and Bertha -- neither nice names! How about my name - Lois? Or Anna? Or Lucille? I must say I love your choice of Penelope with the nn Penny. That was on our list for our last daughter and because it was just too different from our other kids names (Chelsea and Cara) we didn't go with it and chose Teagan instead. Have fun!
LV said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
LV said…
How about Marika pronounced with a long "i"? That is my daughter Teagan's middle name and she is named after her Grandma. Our other girl middle names are: Chelsea Claire (which you've used already!!!) and Cara Kathleen
Rhetta said…
My mother's and my granddaughter's middle name is Grace. I have always loved the name Kathleen, which is my daughter's middle name. Then there are flower names-Rose, Daisy, etc. Best wishes!
LadySnow said…
My grandmother's were Peggy Rosemary and Dorothy Kay. Can't wait to hear what you come up with. :-)
My grandmothers' names are Carol Frances and Barbara. I have always liked Dianna, Catherine, Elizabeth and Julia.
Oh and my husbands grandmothers' are Veronica, Madeline, and Betsy.
Anonymous said…
I vote for Grace! Or Gracie as my family called me :-) How about Elizabeth? Its a beautiful name too!
Katrina said…
My grandmothers names were Angeline Therese and Lena Katherine. Some of their sisters names in no particular order were Cecelia, Angelica, Alice, Josephine, Mary, Ann, Gloria, (and more I can't remember).

My mom and her sisters are now "grandmothers" and her mother gave them all very old fashion names: Barbara, Philomena, Jacinta, Monica, Bernadette, Angeline (already mention above though), Madeline (but you already have your own!), Caroline, Celeste and Regina.

Hope some of these help spark inspiration! There are lots of lovely suggestions already.
Tami said…
Adeline, nickname Addy
Melissa said…
We never find out either picking the name is one of the most fun and frustrating things =) We have an Arrabella and Cecelia our next boy will be Silas as well. For grandmas we have Grace, Faye, Dorothy, Maude. Good luck=)
Kathryn said…
Our little girl is Elizabeth Marie. My grandmothers were Fannie Mahala (feel free not to use that one as she forbade any of us from using her name :-)she really didn't like it) and Kathryn Elizabeth (I was named for her). Great aunts included Agnes, Mary, Anne, Violet, Minerva, Catherine, and Marie.

Best wishes for a healthy end to this pregnancy!
Ashley said…
We have an Evelyn and call her Evie. People always ask if she was named after a grandmother... but we just liked the name. I also love Eleanor, Olive and Jane.
Cajunrose said…
My Great Grandma's name was Saydee. I always loved that.
waikikimum said…
My girls names are Jessica Kate, the Kate is after my name Kathryn and Lucy Grace, Grace after a great grandmother. My grandmothers names were Margaret and Maud.
Dawnree said…
Not my grandmother's name but my daughters name is Josephine Elaine. I really love it. Petunia is another I like with Tunie for short. My husband's grandmothers name was Sadie - Soo cute.
Jenlyn said…
Charlotte Louise and Carol Fae.
Kelly said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shell said…
My grandmothers names were:Gertrude Mahalie, Madora Jane & Olive Cecile. BUT I think Cora or Coralee is cute.
Kelly said…
My MawMaw's name was Lena. I didn't find out till she died that her real name was Antoinette, my mom's name. My dad's mom, that I never got to meet, was named Katey Lucille. My MIL's name is Kathleen Jane, so we continued the K's with my oldest daughter: Katherine Grace. We wanted something different with the second one, she's Giada Lauren, pronounced (JAH-da) I had to give my children an I somewhere in their name because I never had one. I always thought it was so cool to dot i's with hearts and stuff! My name is Kelly Lynette. Hope you both find a name you'll love!
Alisa said…
Carolin, Elizabeth, Sadie, Josephine, Grace, Mary, Clementine. Just some ideas... :-)
Nell said…
I love Poppy or Maisie. My own great grandmother was Daisy?
Bonnie said…
My daughter was named after her great and great great grandmother. Her name is Maggie Elisabeth.
Mama Lusco said…
We have an Abigail and Mallory, both family names. Our grandma names are Leah Berniece and Olive June. Congratulations!
Unknown said…
My daughters are Hannah Kate and Isabella Claire... Names in the family are Nancy, Ellen, Helen, Evelyn, Anna Francis, Barbara, Mary Leigh, Doris, Betty Jean. I've got four kids (2 boys and 2 girls), but if hubby gets his way and we have a fifth, I like Sophie, Lily, or Lola. :)
Tricia said…
I named my girls: Molly Ruth, Hollis Mae, and Adalyn Dale. My son is Silas Matthew.
Jan said…
Go through the baby name book individually and write down all the names you like, then compare the lists. You're bound to find something you both agree on. My two grammas were named Edith and Leora. My mom's name was June. If I'd had more kids I'd have chose classic names like Emily and Amelia. that's sweet of you to ask all your readers.
I cant stop looking at Claires photo , she was just 'the' most perfect looking miracle in a baby suit that there ever was....gorgeous.
I already commented today, but popped back in....x
Unknown said…
My grandma's name is Alice. I love it and would name our next baby girl that (if we were to have one) but my hubby says no :(
Anonymous said…
This post is funny to me because my daughter always says "Why did you give me a grandma name!?!" Her name is Audrey.

Other "grandma" names in our family: Ida, Kathryn, Elizabeth, Eva, Mary, Maxine.
Anonymous said…
My grandmothers were Margaret and Queenie May! (but she later changed it to Patricia)
My mum is Nora Patricia, and I am Eve Mary. All old names!
Anonymous said…
Here is a list: Esther (my fav), Murlia (my aunt), Myrtlelee (aunt), Ruth (grandmother), Joyce (grandmother), Lilian (another fav), Mae Ree (aunt), Julia (great-grandmother), Barbara (aunt), Avie (aunt), and Navie (aunt). How is that for a list of older names? Congrats again on your new little bun in the oven.
Sandra said…
My grandmother's names were Mary Emma and Ileen.
Becky said…
my grandma's names were Elvira and Violet. some of my aunts are Mildred, Marcelle, Elsa, Edith..i always thought they were oldish names...
Amy grandmothers were Virginia eve, whom I names my daughter after with my husband mixed in, she is Virginia Rae eve, we call her Virginia Rae, my other grandmothers were ruby, Gussie, and Maggie.
Anonymous said…
O, I LOVE all the old names!!!! Please not Edith - that was my mom;s name and she turned into a MEAN old lady!!! I vote for Teresa (Theresa) It was my Grama's name and is my oldest daughter's name (Teacher Daughter) and they are two of the nicest, sweetest, just basically GOOD people I have ever known!
From Sparkle aka Barbara O
Haws Family said…
I LOVE reading your blog! We are very into "Old Lady Names" around here, and we are expecting our 6th baby girl!! We have a Phoebe, A Zenna, and we are trying to decide between Charlotte and Lucy for this next little lady. I also love Ruby, Elizabeth (eliza), clementine, Lorelai, I could go on... Here's to hoping I get to use them all!! ;)
Anonymous said…
My MIL's name is Magdelene. When I was expecting the name choosen for the little was Abigail Malena....didn't get to use it.
Megross said…
My Grandmother's names were Erna Fanny and Caroline Louise. If we had been blessed with another girl... I liked Martha Louise... Martha after my Great Aunt and Louise (which you have already used) is my Mom's middle name, my middle name and my Grandmother's. My Mother is Erna Louise and my MIL was Hallie Ruth.

Blessings on you and your family as you await this new little gift.
kris said…
love the names! my girls are faith eliza and leah jane, the middle names are both greatgrandmother/grandmother names. other grandmother names are sally francis, kathryn juanita, rency and aileen.
Lady Violet said…
How about choosing a name and spelling it a little differently. For example Sofia or Larissa. Then I think of a family here who have girls called Jerusalem and Jireh-Shaddai meaning "the Lord will provide" (see Genesis 22:14). A girl who lived in the same street as us was called Nazareth and Belen is Spanish for Bethlehem. I personally like Sharon, like the beautiful,fertile valley mentioned in Isaias 65:10 (also in Song of Solomon).
Blessings and have fun choosing!
Anonymous said…
My grandmothers name was Ruth. She named two of her daughters Ruth and Marjorie:) Have fun deciding!!
charlsie said…
I was named after my great grandmother. Charlsie (charl-see). Other grandmas: Loraine, Jane, Anna, good luck!
Janet said…
My grandmas were Florence Mary & Marie Oma Elizabeth. Great grandmas were Flora Estelle, Ida Marie, Etta Grace, & Ella. Can't wait to hear what you pick for your new bundle!
Anonymous said…
My daughter is Elizabeth Rachel (biblical/grandma)...what I really wanted was Margaret Ruth (beautiful women I admired/gr grandma). The Margarets I knew were so kind, gentle, generous, loving, gracious and just so much fun to be around - very strong character, loved Jesus so much -- just like my grandma Ruth.

Your quiver is getting fuller - blessings on you. RSmith
Dawn said…
My grandmothers names were Lucy and Vista. (No middle names that I know of.) Love them both and am kicking myself around the block that I did not use either one in our two daughters' name combos.
I also love Eliza.
All the best as you choose a name.
Jessica said…
Let's see, my grandparent-type people: Betty, Roselea, Lucy, Mary, Martha.

I have a friend who named her baby Elsie and I think that is SUPER cute and old timey.
Unknown said…
My grandmother's name were Mavery and Irene.

I named my little girl Anastasia LeVonne'. We call her Ana for short. I have always loved the name Anastasia, it seems elegent and femine to me. The LeVonne' is a name that has been handed down, it was my mother's middle name (her first name is Sharon), she then passed it on to me and I passed it on to my little girl. If we had another little girl we were going to name her Heidi Michelle.

Congrats on your new blessing!
Anonymous said…
I alo like old names. My great Grandma's name was Grace, and we used it or our Anna Grace. We alo have an Elizabeth Hope, and middle names of Faith, Joy, and Love. I love literary or botanical names, so Josephine, Juliet and Ivy are some of my faves.
You'll pick the perfect name!
Anonymous said…
Stephanie Adeline
Debbie B said…
My Moms name is Beatrice Louise, but my favorite was one of my great great grandmothers names. Araminda (Mindy) Clementine.
hope2 said…
Hi My Name is Ada it is a very old name. My grandmother's names were Lona, Clara, and Chrissa Lee.
hope2 said…
Hi My Name is Ada it is a very old name. My grandmother's names were Lona, Clara, and Chrissa Lee.
Anonymous said…
We have a girl name picked out that's very old fashioned (but, I think shortens cute for a girl) - Henrietta (Henri for short).
Julie W. said…
Barbara Ruth, Virginia, Lily....these are all names from my family.
Anonymous said…
Family names that we have used or would use: Libby, Emma, Margaret, Sophie, Lucy, Ruby Adeline, Annabelle, Lillian(Lillie), Susannah, Helen, Florence and Matilda. Family names that won't get used: Lula, Arvella, Delores, Joyce, Maude. Other favorites: Beatrice, Charlotte, Jane, Tess, Caroline and Isabelle/Isobel.

Happy Baby to you all!!!

Nest Blessings
Anonymous said…
Edith is a really cute, old fashioned name. I like the name Alice too.
jackiep1975 said…
I have several ggg grandmothers whose name was Sara but my favorite one is Sara Cade I think it has such a nice old fashion ring to it. My only other suggestion would be Permela yes that is a name my gg grandmothers to be exact
Sarah said…
We just named our new little girl Genevieve Clara. Both were great-grandma/great-aunt names. We call her Evie(said like E-V)for short.
Molly said…
We like old fashioned sounding names, too, but we've had to think about the Spanish issue, too, with living in a Spanish speaking country. My grandmothers were Dorothy and Lillian, hence our oldest's name Liliana (the old fashioned with a Spanish twist!). :) Our second's name is also old fashioned (in English) but very common still in Spanish, Claudia. We call her Claudi for short...or sometimes Daddy just calls her Claud. :p Our oldest, my mom, and I all have the same middle name...Laurelle, which is also old fashioned sounding by many standards today. Happy name hunting!
Kelli-Ann said…
My great grandmother was Ivy Amelia, which I've always loved and I also love the name Esme for a little girl. I love pretty, traditional names for little girls too but it's always been the perfect boys names that I struggled with. :)
Samantha said…
Elsie Marion is one grandmother. My other was Bonnie. Elsie had a sister Lola which is fun. Another aunt Wilsie and her sister Winnie. There is Gailya and Myrtle.
Debbie S. said…
Adalyn, Adalaide, Elsie, and Georgia (nickname "Georgie")
Cindy said…
Nadine, Helen, Muriel, Alma
Anonymous said…
I know this post is a month old, but if you are still searching for names.. I loooove old fashioned ones. My children are Audrey Madelynn, Esther Amelia, and Elijah James. If we had more we were thinking of Reuben (Bible name) for a boy and a girl would have been Evelynn. :) Congrats on the new baby :) I'm enjoying reading your blog. Found you via pinterest!
Anonymous said…
I named my daughter Emaline after my beautiful 99 yr old great grandmother. We call Emaline Ema or Em for short.
Valeri Jones said…
my grandmothers name is LaVee and we call her Vee. i've always loved it and am proud that its my middle name. sometimes i wish it was my first name.
Anonymous said…
I love old fashioned names! My son is Felix Martin, and my 7 week old daughter is Blythe Marion. Other girl contenders were Eloise (nn Elsa), Georgia, Penelope (nn Nella)... my gramma's name is Antonia, and it will be a future middle name for the next girl :)
Crystal said…
We have 4 girls and we chose Hazel, Sage, Ivy & Holly.
Hazel was a great-great-aunt.
Grandma names: Laura Jean, Victoria Louise, Zina, Marie, Bertha, Vivian, Faye, Fern, Janet, Barbara, and Salina.
Anonymous said…
Did you ever pick a girl name? My daughter's name is Gwendolyn Grace (nn Gwen, Gwendy, Gwendy-loo, Gwendy-loo-hoo and all sorts of silly variations) and my son's name is Josiah James. I never would have imagined picking those kinds of names but I LOVE them - they're different w/o being weird. I'm currently pregnant with #3 and these are some of my girl name ideas: Adeline, Emeline & Eliana.

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