We're quickly approaching our due date, Nov. 14th, with no name that we can agree upon. My husband initially wanted to use a family name, either Caroline or Katherine. I don't care much for either - they are beautiful names but I don't want our girl to be named either.
Half way through the pregnancy, his mother tells us that each first born daughter on her side has had the first or middle name of Elizabeth. "No pressure", though, but also no real alternative. Baby Girl's middle name will be Elizabeth. Though we should name her what we want (versus what she feels appropriate), Elizabeth as a middle name is 99.9% non-negotiable.
This left me wanting to use a family name from my side for her first name. My initial idea was Violet but my heart isn't set on it. The other family name is Barbara but we won't be using that.
We both liked Mari for awhile -- we liked it was a name seen in different cultures, such as Scandanavian and Japanese. We live on a Japanese island so we felt it'd be a neat tie for her when we returned to the States. Recently, though, we decided against it because of the alliteration and similarity to his mom's name, Mary.
I like 'old' names (antique if you will) but would like something bordering on uncommon. A name I recently stumbled upon was Genevie, a variant of Genevive. Vivienne is also pretty, as is Charlotte - for examples - though the names haven't reached out and said, "This may be the one."
Our last name is Malmberg, pronounced Mall-m-berg. Can you think of any names that are on the traditional side that have an antique feel? I am open for any other suggestions you think may fit as well.
The tricky part of what The Baby Name Wizard calls "Antique Charm" names is that the entire category is in style. Vivienne, Charlotte, Genevieve---all getting more popular each year, and with the potential to get VERY popular. This doesn't bother me very much because any name that's a "revival" is a name that's likely to wax and wane over the years but always be a good solid choice. I'm mentioning it only because you'd like something bordering on uncommon, in which case I'm worried this category will lead to later disappointment if a name continues to get more common. I recommend using the Social Security Administration's baby name site to track the recent progress of each name: is it making huge startling leaps, or just a slow gradual increase reflecting the increasing popularity of its category?
It's too bad the name Elizabeth means Eliza is out, because I love it with your surname: Eliza Malmberg.
I also like Stella, but it's what I consider a "startling leaps" name:
(screenshot from the Social Security Administration)(click picture to see it bigger)
("a" = "not in the top 1000 names for that year")
Clara is rising, too, but not as startlingly. Clara Malmberg, Clara Elizabeth Malmberg.
Cecily is a name I'd EXPECT to see rising, but instead it's fallen completely out of the Top 1000. Cecily Malmberg, Cecily Elizabeth Malmberg.
Fiona isn't quite what you've asked for, but I wonder if you'd like it? Fiona Malmberg.
But here is my #1 choice for you: Felicity. I don't know why this name isn't increasing with the other sweeties like Emma and Madeline and Abigail, but it just ISN'T. Felicity Elizabeth Malmberg.
Name update! Raechel writes:
Thank you so very much for your suggestions -- and thank you to those who commented with suggestions as well!
Evelyn Elizabeth was born on November 18th at 13:41 at 20" long and weighing 6lbs 12oz. She didn't have a name until Friday afternoon as we couldn't decide but we are happy with our choice now.
Thank you again!
