consultation: bessie's girl-boy twins

(images: 1 - by Sayaka Minemura, 2 -by little flower school, 3 by Jutta of Kootut Murut, 4 by Bessie of Sisserman Sable,)

Since this is my last consultation for a long while, and I'm really going to miss doing them, I went a little overboard with suggestions. But maybe this family (and others) will benefit my need to over indulge a bit. 


Bessie, of Sisserman Sable, needs you to rally round to help her with the name-lover's ultimate dream: girl - boy twins!  


 Sister-brother twins are being welcomed by siblings:

William Sorrel Vermont  

Stella Primrose Plum

Phoebe Ottoline Nell

Lowe Ivy Moonstone

  

Bessie writes:

-- " My philosophy for names is to use something simple and straightforward for the First Name, and then party-in-the-back for the Middle. We need help creating combinations of names that work not only together but with our other childrens'. Here are some names we like:

Girls: 

Agnes  

Olive

 Edith 

Helena

Eleanor 

Julia

Cleo 

Tess 

Elle 

Luna 

Lyra 

Hera 

and for baby boy we think we've found *the* name:

Rupert 

For Middles, I spotted Honey-Myrtle on your site and we both really like it. And also Pear as a middle name is awesome. 

Finnally, there are a few ideas we'd like to represent:

- My Finnish Heritage. For these two babies I'd like at least one to have something to do with Finland or Summer {I used to spend summers with my grandparents in finland}.(Ed. Bessie wrote a beautiful post on her childhood summers in Finland, and this will guide some of my suggestions)

- Lots of Flowers/Plants! As you can see from my children's names we have tried to include nature into their names. My mother was a florist and she is one of my favorite people, so I like to think we are honoring her by giving our children flower related names.

 - Anything to do with Family and Sibling bonds!

- Lastly, our family is about to embark on a new 'journey' we are moving and creating a whole new life for our selves so any names representing spring and a new beginning are welcomed suggestions."  

                ************************************ 

Bessie, I love the names of your children! And this is one of the funnest naming challenges I've ever been part of. Congratulations, and thank you for bringing your quest our way! 

Since Bessie and I have spent some time discussing our tastes, and we have such similarities in our naming styles, I'm going with many of my personal favorites here today (extra fun!)

Baby girl:

UPFRONT NAMES: 

From your list, I most love Agnes, Edith and Olive. You can't go wrong with any of them. 

Additionally, I think the following would be nice considerations for their consonant endings, syllable-balance, or harmony of meaning with the siblings' names:

Jane -- I would so love to see her hyphenated with something Finnish. You mentioned that you guys really like Sisko. I'm particularly fond of 
Jane-Sisko Rosalie. 

Miriam 'Mim' -- I am just going to keep suggesting her until someone grabs her up, but truly, this is a stunner with your bunch.

Mildred 

Artemis -- this is another that I'll just keep on suggesting, but it's particularly cozy in your family with it's roots, meanings and three syllables. Artemis and Rupert? yep.  

Berenice

Claudine -- Remember, there's debate on the meaning; not everyone thinks it means 'lame'. This is another that I suggest frequently, and she fits in so well here. 


Clemence


Cypress -- you could always save her for a middle slot, but I think she works well upfront, too, and offers something of a bridge between Lo and the rest. 

Fernandine 'Fern' ("adventuresome journey")(pronunciation) 

Gladys -- really love her for you. 

Helen -- If Helena's ending is too similar to sister Stella's, I think Helen is a great choice. Helen Honey-Myrtle (or Honey-Rose)is alliterative, which I know you fancy, and her seriousness balances the playfulness of the middle name you both like so much.


Hesper -- Do you like that she matches sister Stella's "star" or is this off-putting? 

Maude


Malgosia -- if not upfront, then a nice middle for her many syllables. Malgosia Omena Jane has a nice flow. 

Sigrid 

Tabitha

Opal  -- especially if born in June! and she ties to Lo's Moonstone.

Pearl

Beryl

FINNISH NAMES for one of her middle names -- I love the idea of hyphenating Finnish nature names for the middle. And many of these are good on either gender, as well: 

Ilta (evening)

Tähti(star)


Suvi(summer) 


Kulta (gold)


Apila (clover)


Helmi (pearl)


Totta (true)


Laulu (song)


Runo (poem)


Satu (fairytale)


Satka (goddess of the sea)


Tuli (fire)


Valoisa (bright)


Pilvi (cloud)


Omena (apple)-- 


Lintu (bird, birdie)


Sulka - feather


Sisko (sister)


NATURE NAMES for a middle spot(these are my favorites for your family. I included non-plants/flowers for the ties they bring to other siblings):
Bloom


Clove

Egret 


Anemone


Gardenia


Mum


Zinnia


Forsythia


Meadowlark -- Oh man, do I love Miriam Meadowlark.


Nettle


Rosalie -- would be so great in there, with her three syllables, R connection to Rupert, flower connection, etc.


Rosevine


Swan


Sun -- my favorite combo right now is Sun-Margaret -- please someone use this in the middle. For you guys, I love Tabitha Sun Margaret 'Totta'(Finnish for "truth".) 


Sundew -- this pretty little flower sounds more adventuresome than most.

SIBLING/FAMILY BONDS NAMES:

Sisko (sister)

Adelpha (sister)

Pleiade (group of stars named after the "seven sisters" from Greek mythology) 

Merope (one of the aforementioned seven sisters)

Alcyone (one of the aforementioned seven sisters)

Ruth (companion/friend)

Thomasina (twin) **I would so consider this for a first name.  She can go by 'Totta' or 'Tess'!

NEW/SPRING/JOURNEY NAMES:
Beatrice (life voyager/blessed)


Dagny (new day)

Fernanda or Ferdinande (adventuresome journey)

Neoma (new moon)


Nova (new)




Baby boy:


UPFRONT NAMES (just in case Rupert doesn't work when you meet him, which you noted as a possibility):


Augustine 


Cassius


Claude


Crocus


Fergus 


Frederick


Gaspard


Junius


Sigmund




FINNISH NAMES for a middle spot: 

Veli (brother)

Talvi (winter) -- could be neat to have sister be summery and brother be winter?

Toivo (hope)

Kivi (stone)

Kielo (lily of the valley)

Jalo (noble)

Turi (god of the honey land)

Hirsi (timber)

Myrsky (storm)

Vuori (mountain)

Järvi (lake) -- I really think this would be special for you.

Metsä (forrest)

Setri (cedar)

NATURE NAMES for a middle spot:

Cotton

Carnelian  

Cedar -- ties to brother's a bit. Rupert Cedar Swan is lovely if you love that much nature, which I know you do! I also like Rupert Cedar Augustine.

Crocus --  Rupert Frederick Crocus or Rupert Crocus Constantine are nice. 

Evergreen -- Rupert 

Fig -- Rupert Junius Fig


Fieldfare 


Hickory

Oriole

Pear -- you're right, this is a beautiful middle name. I have a Swedish male neighbor wearing it, too. 


Aves -- bird natured

Rustylark 

Swan -- ties to sister Phoebe's bird appellation, and is also the national bird of Finland. I love Rupert Swan.

Whimbrel

Thistle 


Vine

SIBLING/FAMILY BONDS NAMES:

Adelphe (brother)

Veli (brother)

Pollux (twin)

Bonamy (good friend)

Gladwin (light hearted friend)

NEW/SPRING/JOURNEY NAMES:

Ferdinand (adventuresome traveler)

Neville  (new village)


Spring


Rothwell (red spring)-- not the season, itself, but sure brings it to mind. 

 Here are my favorite combos for you (because I just can't resist doing this), though Bessie-made mashups of these and other names will likely be better tailored to your unique tastes, of course. (boy's name first b/c we know it already):

Rupert Kielo Ferdinand   and    Miriam Suvi Gardenia 'Mim'

Rupert Rothwell Swan     and    Edith Rosalie Lintu 

Rupert Barnaby Crocus    and    Artemis Ilta Maude 

Rupert Frederick Myrsky  and    Cypress Omena Ruth   

Rupert Cedar Vuori       and    Hesper Valoisa Sundew  

Rupert Setri Swan        and    Helen Omena Bloom  


Rupert Veli Pear         and    Jane-Sisko Rosalie  


Rupert Jarvi Fieldfare   and    Suvi Gardenia Maude 


Rupert Hickory Claude    and    Gladys Tahti Fernadine 


Rupert Junius Toivo      and    Sigrid Sun Margaret


Rupert Kivi Ferdinand    and    Opal Omena Lou


Rupert Gladwin Evergreen and    Eleanor Mëtsa Mum

Rupert Bonamy Swan       and    Omena Mildred Sundew

Rupert Veli Balthasar    and    Agnes Anemone Sisko  

Rupert Adelphe Fig       and    Thomasina Honey-Rose 'Totta' or                   


                                'Tess' (though if she goes by  


                                'Tess', you'll want to get a 


                                Finnish middle name in there - 


                                Thomasina Kielo Swan or Thomasina         
               
                                Tuli Rosamond?)

Additionally, Bessie, stay tuned for my next post -- it will be the last in my Finnish names series and will be comprised of more Finnish nature names. It will also suggest a way of organizing the three names you select so that they're in keeping with Finnish naming practices!   

Readers, I'm sure you can see beautiful, clever pairings that I didn't, or come up with even more names. What names or name combinations from Bessie's required categories do you like for this family? Which would you pick for yourselves?  Thank you! 

Consultation: help name baby S.

That's Anouck Lepere (first photo above) playing Zelda Fitzgerald in the photo shoot named after her husband's novel, This Side of Paradise.  F. Scott is one of our feature's favorite authors, too. And, of course, the last photo is of the lovely Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, from one of our feature's favorite films (Holly is also the name of a plant associated with her mother's birth month.)  Lots of name awesomeness there! 

UPDATE in comments: They picked the name!!

A. and her husband are welcoming their fourth child, a girl, and they'd like some help with the name! A. loves the smells of Lavender, Musk and Orange blossom. She and husband most enjoy 80's music like The Smiths and The Cure, for example.  They love films Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Sound of Music, Amelie, Star Wars and A Clockwork Orange.

Just imagine Maria in her flowered hills, arms opened wide, spinning in circles, or maybe dancing at the Von Trapp estate.....to the music of Disintegration.  Now imagine all this through the mind's eye of Holly Golightly and I think we'll have the right feel here to get us started.

** New baby girl will join siblings (they don't wish to repeat first initials with first names):

Raphaelle Elowyn

Jasper Ellis

Ariadne Magnolia

** They have some family names they might be interested in using, but they aren't quite sure how to incorporate them, as the surname starts with S:

Contstance

Beatrice

Agnes 

Josephine

** They would love to honor A's mother (born in the month of December) with some sort of botanical name because she was an avid gardener. While she loved any flower that looked pretty in her garden, dahlias were her favorite.

**Husband is fond of Florence, Siena, Figline, & Rome to honor the time they spent living in Italy. A. is not super keen on any but Florence, but she worries that Florence is just a touch too ripe for popularity.

**Finally, A. has a degree in English literature, so she'd love to incorporate something from a favorite book, if it's the right name.

Amongst her favorites:

To Kill a Mockingbird

Wuthering Heights

Pride and Prejudice

Tess of the d'Ubervilles

Pillars of the Earth

Jane Eyre

Love in the Time of Cholera

The Great Gatsby

The Beautiful and the Damned

Thank you, A, for reaching out to us here at Marginamia, and congratulations on the coming birth of your daughter!  Your children are beautifully named, and given your interests, I think there are some amazing options that will fit well within your family!

** all of your family names are absolutely stunning! I would pick any of them right up front. This said, I get the feeling you might want something more under the radar, and given your daughters' names, these may not be the best fits for a first name.

** I really think a name that ends with the -s sound is okay flowing right into a surname beginning with S, and Florence is such an amazing name, but you don't seem too keen on hubby's Italy themed names. I suggest that if you want to pursue this, you look to Italian names, like Cosima (correction: Cosima is actually Greek in origin! but is used in Italy a lot.) There's also an Italian place name (and potential faith name) that has really grown on me lately, partially because it sounds like it's always been a name, and it does have a history of usage: Vallombrosa. I could see this working in your family.

 ** From your literary and movie loves, several names appeal to me, some because they are also botanical and some just for the name, even if the characters, themselves, might be less than super essential or have some undesirable traits (don't we all?) Of these names, only a few stand out to me as real contenders for a first name due to cohesion issues with the siblings' names. I'll put a star by ones I think work up front:

Myrtle 

Daisy (would be better as a nickname from something longer, more robust and more indulgent)

*Zelda (the "first american flapper,"author, painter, and F. Scott Fiztgerald's wife, which he based a character on....)

*Gloria (said character)

*Zillah (though I'm not super keen on the meaning)

Maud ( I so love it, and I love the one syllable with sibs', but I think there are better fits. It's a great middle name, though, and I'm really, really loving it as a second middle. I think it's totally fine for the forth child to have three names, even if the others don't!)

Eliza (I think this might be more common in your neck of the woods, and I don't think you want that, but it's still lovely, so you might consider it.)

*Louisa 

Mockingbird

Finch

*Leona

Rosamond (ditto Eliza?)

Holly

** I love that you want something botanical to honor your mother. The birth flower for December (her birth month) is the Daffodil, but also associated with December is Holly and Poinsettia. I tell you, though, her favorite flower, Dahlia, is so, so lovely a name, I almost (almost, mind you) wouldn't even need to think of another. You might also consider the birthstones associated with December as  middle name options: Turquoise or Topaz.  Or consider birthstones associated with her astrological sign, Sagittarius: Sapphire, Amethyst, or Beryl.  This said, I absolutely love the idea of honoring someone by borrowing from the thing they most loved, so I prefer the botanical for this purpose.

 Most of these work better in the middle, given siblings' names, but some are great right up front. Again, I'll star the ones I see as first name options:

Garden  is one I would normally suggest (Gloria Garden sounds nice to my ear!) but just say this one out loud with your surname (it ends up sort of smooshing with it and sounding descriptive, so I don't think it will work, unless you use a second middle name behind it!)

Dahlia

Daffodil

Poinsettia 

Holly

*Gardenia (who doesn't love these? I think there are better first names, but it could work if you love it.)

Delphinium (I love this for it's ties to both the botanical and ancient greek worlds. there's also
Delphinia and Delphine.)
Larkspur (another version of Delphinium)

*Hesperis (might be too close to brother Jasper's, though?)

Begonia

Betula

Bluebell

Bloom

Celosia

Chrysanthemum (appropriate for this time of year, too.)

Cleome (cle-OHM-ee) (I'd love this as a first name, but the ending sounds too similar to Ariadne's)

Omena (finnish for 'apple'. another time-of-year-appropriate name.)

Yarrow

Holly

*Zinnia  (Zinnia Agnes is divine.)

*Forsythia 

Golden  (the second half of the above name)

*Viola

*Eglantine

Glory or Morning Glory

Lilac

Iris

Marigold

Moonlily 

Primose

Saffron

Violet

Tigerlily (Nook of Names profiled this one recently, and I went gaga, thanks Nook!)

Tulip

*Verbena (an all time favorite of mine)

*Rosalie (this is a repeat initial, but it's with the sibling with the most space between them. I think with this many kids, an initial can repeat.  I think it really brings balance and harmony and closes the sib set so well.)

Rosevine

Julep (the dew on a rose)

Snowdrop

Lavender 

Fleur

Flora

Fern

Freesia 

*Ursinia

*Shoshana (lily)

Chloris

*Philantha (one who loves flowers.)

*Eden

** Now, I have additional suggestions, as well, not really based on familial, literary or botanical references, but which I think would be  such good fits for your family. I think these are the best first name options for you, but it just depends on your priorities regarding tributes and how many of them you want to get in there. Let me say right up front that I really indulged in playing with all sorts of middle name combinations (all of them botanical, family, literary or some combination;) it was just too much fun not to. and these are sort of in order of preference. sort of.

These are my top picks for you:

Endellion (Indy or Endi. I love Endellion Viola, Endellion Maude, Endellion Cleome, I also love Endellion Gardenia, but this feels way too similar to big sister's.)

Cleona (I love Cleona Rosalie Maud. I should say that I love even more Cleone pronounced klee-OWN, but sources aren't clear on the history of this name, and several disagree on the pronunciation, so research well and use with caution.)

Cosima (I really love the following:  Cosima Hesperis, Cosima Daisy, Cosima Holly, Cosima Garden Josephine or Cosima Cleome.)

Zelda (I love Zelda Gardenia Maude, Zelda Beatrice Bloom, Zelda Rosalie or Zelda Rosevine )

Concordia (Concordia Constance is super yummy, but may not work with surname. I also like Concordia Bluebell, Concordia Cleome or Concordia Rosalie. Cordi is so cute, too.)

Calypso (Calypso Verbena, Calypso Constance Rosalie, Calypso Dahlia, Calypso Gardenia or Calypso Louise Viola are my picks for this one.)

Theodosia (nicknames Daisy, Dottie and Doe are so fun. I love Theodosia Mockingbird &; Theodosia Bluebell. unless she goes by Daisy, in which case I like Theodosia Agnes or Theodosia Clymene.)

Ursula (Ursula Violet is lovely and I love nn Suli.)

Ondine (Ondine Ursinia is lovely.)

Olympia (Olympia Rosevine, Pia is precious, too.)

Delphine (I love Delphine Dahlia Maude, Delphine Tigerlily, Delphine Cleome or Delphine Saphira. I know this name has floated around in name nerd circles, but I would argue that even in that super small segment of the population, it still isn't being used a lot. I think it tends to be more of a name-I-wish-I'd-used name, or a name-I'd-have-used-if-not-for-husband name. I also think it's lovely within your family.)

Zinnia (Zinnia Agnes all the way! and Zinnie or Zizi are so sweet!)

Josephine (Posy, Effie, Pia, Poe, Fee) (this is another initial repeat, but not if she goes by a nickname. Poesy feels way too popular  for your tastes, but Josephine checks too many boxes not to mention it. It also fits your vibe, I think, the most out of all your family names. I love Josephine Endellion. I wouldn't pick a botanical middle unless you plan not to call her Posey. Say she goes by Effie, Pia, Poe, or Fee, then I like Josephine Rosevine, Josephine Chrysanthemum, or Josephine Saffron Maude. Maude is so perfect as a second middle, that I just can't let it go, and with this last one, she could also go by Saffie.)

Viola (Viola Florence Josephine! Viola Louise or Viola Clymene. Clymene, like Cleome, is another I'd love up front if not for it's ending sound being the same as Ariadne's.)

Malgosia (I like Malgosia Garden Josephine. Yes, there's a famous-ish model with this name, but really, have you heard it much? And models aren't really famous anymore, so... I don't expect this to see much use. It fits with your family, but could be too similar to Magnolia on paper, if not entirely in sound.)

Xanthe (I love Xanthe Gloria Julep,  and Xanthe Gardenia Maude.)

Enid ( I love Enid Tigerlily or Enid Dahlia Josephine...oh man, do I love this!)

Vallombrosa ( Vallombrosa Eglantine has a lovely sound, though it may be too much? Vallombrosa Daisy is nice, too. )

Decima (I love that this ties to mother's birth month.  I like Decima Daisy or Decima Rosalie Maude)

Eglantine (Aggie. I love the sound of Eglantine Agnes or Eglantine Louise.)

Estrella (Estrella Louise, Estrella Bloom,  and Estrella Agnes Cleome are super. I love nickname Estee.)

Philantha (I like Philantha Maude Beatrice, and nickname Pia works great, too, with the meanings of your girls' first names.)

Maude (I think it works beautifully. I love Maude Dahlia Agnes...yes, even with your surname. Agnes seems to fully stop before surname starts, and she's a second middle, so it won't be said often. I'm not sure why I put this last. Maybe because it might be my personal favorite, rather than the best fit for your family?)

What about it, readers? Any more suggestions? Should A. try to squeeze in all three or four tributes by using three names and names that work double duty, or should she go with the name she loves the most up front while using her top-priority tribute in the middle?  Should she go with a second middle? How would you prioritize the particular tributes she'd like to make?

(images: anouke as zelda, pink and red garden, flower image 3 by nicolette owen, flower images 4, 5 by Amy Merrick, bouquet (and adorable outfit) by Jaime Rugh)