A reader named Baccara has a daughter named Cecily. She’s expecting a second baby girl in May, and she’d like some name suggestions. She writes:
To give you an idea of our style, we like feminine names. We also tend to gravitate towards more unusual names, or at least ones that are not trendy.
Here are three names she and her husband are considering:
- “Charlotte has always been a contender (during both pregnancies), although its popularity is now becoming somewhat of a deterrent.”
- Camilla. “However, after reading your December post on sibling names, I am concerned that both names are too overtly similar (first initial, number of syllables) to work well together.”
- Adele, though Baccara’s “husband is concerned with it having a religious affiliation (Hebrew).”
Their surname is a one-syllable N-name, so short names and names that end with n are out.
First, a couple of thoughts:
Cecily and Camilla do have the same first letter and number of syllables. But they don’t start with the same sound, and they don’t have the same rhythm. So I agree that they’re similar, but I don’t know if they’re too close. I think they might work pretty well together, in fact.
I also like Adele with Cecily. The name isn’t Hebrew in origin, though. It’s based on the Germanic word adal, meaning noble. (The first half of Adelaide comes from the same place.) I’m not aware of the name Adele being strongly associated with religion. (Am I overlooking something?)
Here are some other names that I think sound good with Cecily:
| Allegra Althea Anastasia Augusta Aurora Bianca Dorothy Eloisa | Fabiana Felicia/Felice Flora Francesca Gemma Geneva Genevieve Isidora | Junia Leona/Leonora Lydia Marcella Margot Minerva Miranda Miriam | Muriel Phoebe Portia Rosemary Therese Valencia Wilhelmina Yvette |
(I omitted Amelia, Evelyn, Vanessa and Victoria because I thought they might be too trendy/popular for Baccara’s taste.)
Which of the names above do you like best with Cecily? What other name suggestions would you offer to Baccara?
Update – Scroll down to find out what the baby was named!
Ooh, ooh! I know two sisters named Cecily and Carly (nn for Carlisle, I think). I think Carly would be a great alternative to Camilla. But of course you have a bunch of great suggestions above! =)
Cecily is one of my favorite names! I read it first in The Story Girl and its sequels by L. M. Montgomery. The other names in the books are also wonderful, and Cecily’s sister (or cousin, I can’t remember exactly) is named Felicity.
I have a really good friend named Charlsie… it’s a unique name that I haven’t heard that often so just thought I would share. One the other hand I have to agree with Colleen, I think that Cecily is one of my favorite girls names. What do you think about Celia?
There is a completely unrelated male name from the Hebrew Bible, Adalia/Adiela, but you’re right Adele is of German origin.
Anyways, I think Camilla and Cecily are quite a nice combination, but some other ideas:
Beatrice
Imogen
Jamila
Johanna
Leora
Marina
Mina
Noelle
Raphaela
Scarlet
Viola
Willa
Camilla and Adele are both excellent choices. I’ve always loved Camilla since I was a camp counselor to a beautiful Italian girl in day camp. I agree entirely with Nancy about Camilla’s sounds and flow. Adele seems somewhat more trendy–especially the nickname of Addy. On Nancy’s list, I’m really liking Margot or Althea with Cecily.
Thanks, everyone, for your ideas/suggestions! I’ll let you know if I hear any more from Baccara.
Anastasia and Aurora and Rosemary are cute :). Maybe Leila or Eileen?
I adore Cecily! Here are my suggestions for equally adorable, frilly Victorian girls names:
Violet
Eliza — I think Cecily and Eliza make a perfect set of sisters!
Annabel
Lucia
Adelaide
Clementine
Flora
Alice
Liliane — I prefer the French spelling over Lillian, I find it so much more femme!
Cordelia
You’ll notice that all of these names contain the letter “L”. I find sibling names flow so much nicer when they carry a similar consonant (in my humble opinion hehehe).
I myself have a 2 year old Ceciley. I am started to thing of baby names myself for a boy its going to be Griffin Slade and a girl I am leaning toward Mallory, Fiona, Claire, or Kadence.
Just heard from Baccara! Her baby girl arrived in May and was named Charlotte. Congrats!
I came across this post whilst searching for “Cecily sister names.” Well, 2 years after the last post, I enjoyed reading through it all! We are expecting another in June.
It was especially funny reading all about Adele, because our first child is Cecily Adelaide. We also have a one syllable last name and it’s SUPER common! So we shy away from anything really popular.
Unfortunately we LOVE Abigail. But it’s likely destined for baby sister’s middle name because of it’s popularity. That being said… we are considering a pattern of matching initials. If we hadn’t given Adelaide to Cecily’s middle name we would have instantly named baby sister Adelaide.
Right now our front runners are a hodge podge of names:
Charlotte (funny how that’s what Baccara named her second daughter!)
Celandine (VERY obscure)
Coraline (a huge favorite, BUT, FOR THAT WEIRDO movie…)
Other names we love are: Eleanor and Lillian… but they are so stinkin’ popular!
Thoughts anyone?