I found your blog a few weeks ago when I was researching names, and I'm really enjoying it. We have two boys, Grant William (almost 4) and Andrew Dean (we call him Drew, and he's almost 2). Now we're due with a baby girl on October 18. I thought girls' names would be so much easier because there are so many that I love, but that is exactly our problem! Instead of narrowing down our list, I keep adding more names to it! And even though there are so many good choices, nothing seems quite perfect for us.
Our last name is Sloan, so thankfully a lot of names go easily with it. I'd like to choose a classic name that everyone knows, but that isn't super popular or trendy right now (I'd like to stay away from at least the top 30 or 40). And I like alliteration, which draws me to names starting with "S" or to first and middle names with the same initial (although I don't want all three names to begin with "S"). Some of the girls' names that I love (and the drawbacks I see in them.....this is where I need feedback!) are:
Lauren: I've always loved this but I'm wondering if it was too popular in the 90s, and now is mostly associated with college-aged girls?
Molly: Adorable, but does it age well?
Caroline: Will people mispronounce it as "Carolyn" all the time?
Madeline: I'm afraid of the "Maddie" nickname, and people assuming she is ANOTHER Madison
Sarah: I think this sounds great with our last name. But it is always popular, and part of me wants something a little more "exciting."
Susanna(h): Another "S" name that I've always liked. I don't know if I'm brave enough to use it, though!
Meredith: My husband has loved this one since I suggested it months ago. But is it a little dated?
Jenna: I adore this name, but I don't want people to assume it's short for Jennifer.
We love Claire as a middle name, and we could also use Madeline (or some of these others) as a middle name (for example, Sarah Madeline or Molly Madeline). I also like the combination of Caroline Claire (going back to alliteration again!). I also love Catherine Claire but it belongs to the daughter of one of my very close friends. So Catherine is probably out.
Do you have any suggestions or thoughts?? Additions to our list? Thanks so much in advance!
Oh, I had that SAME problem with girl names! I kept thinking of more, and More, and MORE!
From your list my favorite is Meredith. Meredith Molly is adorable, and lets you use Molly without the concern about it maybe not aging well.
If you like Lauren, maybe you'd like Laurel. Laurel Susanna Sloan, maybe.
I too love the sound of Sarah Sloane. AND, two traditional nicknames for Sarah are Sally and Sadie. Sally Sloan! Sadie Sloan! Can you stand the cuteness?? And I think fun nicknames make the name feel a little more exciting to use. Sarah Madeline Sloane is so pretty, and gives you Madeline without Maddie/Madison problems. Sarah Meredith has an appealing repeating "air" sound.
Sabrina Sloane would be pretty, too. Or Stella Sloane.
I THINK Jenna is safe from sounding like a Jennifer nickname, but I'll be interested in input from the commenters on this. There's also Brenna, which was on my own list. Brenna Meredith Sloane, or Brenna Madeline Sloan. (I'm avoiding Claire as a nickname here, because of the tendency for a first name ending in an -ah or -ee sound to combine with Claire to make "eclair".)
