A reader named Debra would like some help naming baby número três:
We are just not finding THE name. I’m American, husband is Portuguese and we live in the states. We have two boys; Diogo and Cruz. I am due any day with #3 a GIRL. We definitely want a Portuguese name.
Our criteria…the name needs to be relatively easy for Americans to pronounce. Don’t want a name in the top 100 in the states. I prefer names that aren’t automatically shortened to nn – Debra to Debbie, Kimberly to Kim. I don’t usually care for names that end with the “e” sound, ex. Zoe. The name should be beautiful and sophisticated, more than cute.
I really like Sofia and Isabel, but they are just too popular in the U.S. right now. Other names we like are Beatriz (too hard to properly pronounce in US?), and Mara.
Please help us. I’d love to have a name before she is born! I’m 38 weeks today!
I think Mara would be a great choice, based on the criteria. Here are some other names that might also work:
- Ana
- Aurora
- Carla
- Clara
- Flávia
- Gloria
- Lídia
- Luísa
- Magda
- Marina
- Marta
- Monica
- Paula
- Rosa
- Sílvia (a good alternative to Sofia?)
- Teresa
Do you like any of the above for the baby sister of Diogo and Cruz? What other (preferably Portuguese) names would you suggest to Debra?