Claire and Luke are expecting their second child -- a sister to join Greta.
Claire writes: "My husband and I have one 3 yr old daughter "Greta Claire" and despite knowing the sex early on and debating names for months, she was still nameless for nearly 5 wks after birth! The main reason being, we both loved Greta but foolishly told family that it was in the running and they all hated it and turned us off it so we tried to call her other names but none felt right. As it turns out it's the most perfect name for her, strong and feisty yet pretty and feminine. It also has a European vibe to it which I love because I work as a translator (French and Italian) and have spent quite a bit of time in France and Italy.
We like uncommon names but not too out there. Luke prefers short names (for example, I like Felicity but he can't stand it) [...and...] would prefer one or 2 syllables.
The girls names in the running are:
Cecily - my absolute favourite, can't express how much a love this name but sadly my husband isn't a fan.
Nora - my husband's favourite - I far prefer Annora (nn Anna/Nora) but that's a bit of a mouthful with our surname. I also like Leonora (nn Lea/Nora)
Lucy/Lucille - always liked it but wonder if it's a bit dull and popular in comparison to Greta
Emma - as above
Iris - love it but too tricky to say with surname [strong 'rid' sound]
I’m currently drawn to Nola and Lana.
We also considered Tess, Anna, Susanna when Greta was born."
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You have a really solid list to go from, and I have to say, there are many names that I think work really well with Greta and your style.
Firstly, Lucy is such a sweet name, and far from being too common-place, its increasingly becoming sweetly unexpected. It is now #43 in England and Wales and on a downward curve, which means you won't meet too many little Lucys around. I also like that it is a nod to Luke's name. Greta has your name as a middle name, so perhaps Lucy could be used (even as a middle name) as a variant of dad.
Nola and Lana are also jazzy vintage choices which hold their own next to feisty Greta and I don't think you can go wrong with either.
Lucia – If Lucy is too common for you, how about the Latinate from Lucia which combines the drama and romance of Cecily with the sleek style of Iris and Lana.
Willa – A combination of the the jazzy vintage style of Lana and Nola and airy softness of Lucy and Cecily. Its roots are also regally ancient: Willa of Provence was an early medieval Frankish queen and Willa of Tuscany (d. 970), was queen consort of Berengar II of Italy. Willa is a rare name at #1241 but its profile is rising thanks to the likes of actress Willa Holland and, as a further bonus, serves as a perfect feminine form of family name William.
Flora – The sassy sounds of Nora with the sweet softness of Lucy, Flora is the stately ancient goddess of flowers and a bonny Victorian gem.
Cora – Another ancient goddess name which has a lady-like vibe thanks to the heroine Cora Munro in The Last of the Mohicans and Lady Cora Crawley in Downton Abbey as well as a sassy retro style.
Orla – A simple yet striking name, meaning "golden ruler," that was borne by several queens and princess in early medieval Ireland.
Pippa – Bouncy and lively Pippa is a shortened form of regal Philippa which now stands proudly on its own. Ranking at #127, the name is uncommon but widely familiar.
Esther – An amiable gem, borne by a Biblical queen and beloved by both the Georgians and the Victorians for its homely charm.
Mathilde – A European twist on feisty, bold and queenly Matilda which strikes a familiar-yet-uncommon balance.
Romy – A top 100 choice in France but much rarer here, Romy is a sassy vintage short form of Rosemary in Britain and Rosemarie in Germany and Austria (where it has several namesakes such as actress Romy Schneider).
Olive – A vintage botanical gem in the same vein as Iris. It's more pared down than Olivia but still retaining a lively style.
Leonor – A sleek Spanish variant of Eleanor (and the latinate Leonora) which was borne by several medieval princesses as well as the current heir to the Spanish throne as queen regnant.
Nova – With Nora and Nola on your list, I can't pass the chance to mention Nova. This Latin word for "new" was first used as a given name in the 19th and peaked in Britain in the 1930s, most likely thanks to the fame of British actress Nova Pilbeam. It is currently in the top 30 in the Netherlands and Sweden which also gives it Continental flair.
Lumi – Part Lucy, part Cecily, Lumi is a sweet Finnish name which means "snow." It is very rare, but totally accessible and wearable.
Alba – Alba is the Italian, Spanish, Romanian and Catalan word for "dawn, sunrise," but has even longer use as a Roman given name and place name. Today it is a fashionable European choice, ranking #246 in England and Wales and rising.
Audra – A chic variant of Audrey, in use since the Late Middle Ages which makes the name feel fresh yet historic at the same time. Audra is also a Lithuanian girls' name meaning "storm."
Rhea – A Greek goddess of the earth and later borne by the mother of Romulus and Remus, Rhea is a a truly ancient name with a pleasingly modern sound.
Wren – A sweet nature name of a pretty bird which is still uncommon but gaining more attention and now ranks #334 and rising in England and Wales. The surname Wren derives from the name of the bird also, as it was once used as a nickname in the Middle Ages.
I hope this has been helpful. Best of luck choosing the perfect name.
