Just found out that I'm having a girl, and while I am SO excited. It's becoming a challenge for me. There isn't a single girl name that my husband and I both like.
We know what this baby's name would have been if it were a boy (Ezra Isaac). I have 3 more boy names on my list I love just as much (Jude, Collin, and Liam).
I want something that isn't very common, isn't fussy or frilly, and works well with the middle name Elizabeth.
My husband's top 2 choices are Hannah and Julia. My top 2 choices (that still don't feel quite right) are Norah and Holland.
There's an actress I love named Leonor. I think that, or Lenora, sound similar to what you like. They are definitely feminine, but not "frilly" sounding to me.
I think it depends on what you are going for in names. A lot of people are on this kick of needing trendy cutesy names and they are in fact God Awful for girls. Aside from that I think there are soooo many lovely girl names. We are using Giada for DD.
I don't care for Holland but the other three names you have discussed are all nice.
Just some random that aren't ending in anna or lee or bella or any other frilly thing suggestions
I think it depends on what you are going for. I like Norah and Julia is nice too. Maybe one is the first name and the other the middle name? I didn't know that Holland was considered a name, other than of a place. But if you like names that are locations, I think there's a thread for that. That isn't my forte personally, but I'm just saying.
Other suggestions: Sloane Helena Wren Alice Hollis or Holly Flannery Iris Ingrid Imogen Briar Maren Carys Esme Olive Margot Frances
Edited: added another cool name.
Married 10/4/2014 (10-4, good buddy!) Baby Boy #1 born 1/9/17 Baby Boy #2 EDD 11/4/18
"It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do." -Atticus Finch, To Kill A Mockingbird
Please not Norah! So. Many. Norahs. It's a pretty name, but very trendy. I keep advocating for noelle, I think it's such a lovely N name alternative. Holly, Hayley and Hillary are also H names I love. Holland is a country. I find it hard to get past that. Although I do know a girl named Canada so I guess this is a thing???
I'm probably in the minority but I actually really like Jude as a girl's name. I would say you could use Judith but Judith Elizabeth doesn't flow so well for me.
Norah Elizabeth is also very lovely. Julia is pretty but I prefer Julianna.
My favorite "non frilly" names that were on my long list are: Blythe, Darcy, Leigh, Paige, Etta, Maren, Arden, Adair, Jillian, Eden and Blair. I also have a "guilty pleasure" name on my list: Lark. I think it's cool. They're probably not everyone's style, but I love them all!
Ok first of all, don't name a child after a place. In other words, strike Holland.
Norah is lovely.
Name her Juno. I wanted that name but my husband thinks it's stupid. It's not a "place" name - That would be Juneau.
I'm not a fan of Holland but there are other really beautiful names that are places. I wouldn't take them all off the table.
Georgia
Carolina
Charlotte (NC)
Sydney
Madison
Virginia
To be fair, I think all of those except Virgina were name names first.
Really? I did not know this.
Yep. Georgia is a variant on Georgiana, feminine variant of George. Charlotte is a feminine diminutive of Charles. Sydney comes from the surname Sidney. Madison is another surname (literally meaning son of Maud which is pretty cool since most son of names are for other masculine names like James or Adam) The only reason Madison is even used as a feminine name is because of an 84' movie named Splash where a character adopts a new name for herself from Madison Ave in NYC.
And actually, Virgina qualifies as well. It apparently comes from a Roman surname/myth, and then was used for the Virginia colonies in honor of Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen. (Personally, this is why I don't care for the name, I find it SUPER AWKWARD to name a child a name that pretty much means Virgin. )
It's really easy to get hung up on making sure the first name and middle name flow perfectly. I did the same thing for awhile. Honestly, I would focus more on how the first and last name sound together. I've never called anyone by their first and middle name, apart from my husband when I'm annoyed.
Just my two cents.
I do like Norah, Julia and Hannah. And, I second the names Georgia, Violet and Leona.
What about Hollin? I haven't done much research on the name but I believe it's a variation of Holly. I know of a Hollin (friend of a friend). She's a cute and successful graphic designer and she pulls off the name well.
Re: Why are girl names terrible?
Naomi
Willow
Brynn
Lucille
Cora
Zelda
Isobel
Heidi
I also like Hannah and Norah from your list.
Sybil
Siobhan
Irene
Bernadette
Heloise
Holland is a region of the Netherlands, not a name. And nn Holly is very frilly.
Other suggestions:
Sloane
Helena
Wren
Alice
Hollis or Holly
Flannery
Iris
Ingrid
Imogen
Briar
Maren
Carys
Esme
Olive
Margot
Frances
Edited: added another cool name.
Baby Boy #1 born 1/9/17
Baby Boy #2 EDD 11/4/18
@op Norah is also a nice name. Chose whatever name you like best
Not-too-frilly choices for you:
Esme Elizabeth
Eva Elizabeth
Helen Elizabeth
Robin Elizabeth
Clara Elizabeth
Ivy Elizabeth
Edited for spelling mistake
Marriage: 4/2008
Baby Carriage #1: 5/2012
Baby Carriage #2: 1/2016
But, it IS the name of a really awful mid 2000's movie about a *~quirky~* teen who gets knocked up.
I'm sorry, I just can't deal. I think it's Jason Bateman's hair, mostly.
Well, he was supposed to be a super creepy douchebag
Violet. Savannah. Johanna. Theresa.
Just my two cents.
I do like Norah, Julia and Hannah. And, I second the names Georgia, Violet and Leona.
Caroline
Leila
Juliet
Natalie
Cara
I've not seen it. I've heard of it. I took the name from the 2005 horror The Descent.
Asha
Zara
Avery
Claire
Rowan
Lucille
I haven't done much research on the name but I believe it's a variation of Holly.
I know of a Hollin (friend of a friend). She's a cute and successful graphic designer and she pulls off the name well.