# names for twin girls **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 13, 2004, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986 "2004-10-13T12:03:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/61 "2004-10-14T22:13:07Z")
First of all, congratulations. > [@China Guy](#): > > -Prefer classic names > -standard spellings > -no goofy or cute twin names While I’m an identical twin, I’m going to be the one in the thread to suggest something slightly silly. Family lore has it that our mum and dad argued at great length over what to call my brother and myself. What was subsequently pointed out to them - by the pair of us, years later - was they’d, apparently unconciously, managed to select the two most popular boys’ names in the country in that year. So much for their imagination and effort. But I’m going to propose adopting an equivalent strategy deliberately. What are the two most popular new girls names in the population they’ll grow up in? For, regardless of your best efforts, throughout their childhood they’re going to be “the twins” to all your family, friends and acquaintences. Giving them the currently most unexceptional names satisfies your rules, but twins will naturally stand out during childhood anyway and you shouldn’t be wanting to emphasise that any more than is inevitable. The names will (unconciously) seem a natural pair when people want to refer to them together, but will otherwise be distinct. [The parents did deliberately follow the Scottish tradition of giving the firstborns middle-names based on the given names of our grandparents. That’s a vaguely similar principle: nobody can _resent_ a middle-name bestowed on that basis.] ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/62 "2004-10-14T22:56:19Z")
Two of the best women I ever knew are identical twins named Pamela and Diana. The names are classic, not cutesy-poo, but dignified without being stuffy. Little girls with such names _must_ grow up to be truly fine women. These two sure did. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/63 "2004-10-15T03:59:06Z")
Kate and Duplikate ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/64 "2004-10-15T04:08:29Z")
How about Madeline and/or Rachel? ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/65 "2004-10-15T05:03:23Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > Kate and Duplikate bwahahahahahaha… BTW, they will have full Chinese names as their middle name. In Chinese, names are generational and matching anyway. Something like Jade Sky, Jade Flower, Jade Cloud. For example, my eldest is actually Jacqueline Caoyutian. Audrey I like but it doesn’t have any real “nicknames” that go with it. Someone mentioned Penelope and that’s one I like a lot too. Keep the suggestions coming. Will be discussing this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/66 "2004-10-15T07:56:21Z")
Jane and Grace Lucy and Hannah Serena and Josephine Gabriella and Victoria Abigail and Eleanor Julia and Lily Clare and Eve ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/67 "2004-10-15T07:57:12Z")
> [@DesertGeezer](#): > > Two of the best women I ever knew are identical twins named Pamela and Diana. The names are classic, not cutesy-poo, but dignified without being stuffy. Little girls with such names _must_ grow up to be truly fine women. These two sure did. Pamela Mitford did but Diana Mitford was a bit of a problem. Congratulations on the babies! I don’t have anything to offer except I love the Thing One and Thing Two t-shirt idea. ---
**Author:** ![YoudNeverGuess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a587f6/32.png) [@YoudNeverGuess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoudNeverGuess)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/68 "2004-10-15T09:30:00Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > You may not believe this (since you were obviously joking when you recommended it), but I actually _know_ a Tamar. I’ve always wondered why, if her parents wanted to go with something Biblical, why not Rebecca or Elizabeth? Mary? Rachel? Anything but Tamar! Or Jezebel. One time I was watching TV and this guy (some actor/celeb being interviewed - can’t remember who) was talking about friends of his who were thinking of naming their son ‘Lucifer’ - apparently seriously 🙂 It’s a pity though because it actually _is_ a pretty nice name IMO ☹ Shame it’s unuseable ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/69 "2004-10-15T10:11:32Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > You may not believe this (since you were obviously joking when you recommended it), but I actually _know_ a Tamar. I’ve always wondered why, if her parents wanted to go with something Biblical, why not Rebecca or Elizabeth? Mary? Rachel? Anything but Tamar! Or Jezebel. Now that I think about it, there an NBA player named Tamar Slay. I guess it’s a unisex weird name now. ---
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/70 "2004-10-15T11:24:30Z")
I’ve always liked the names Olivia and Kate, but Audrey and Vivienne are lovely classic names - I’d go with them. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/71 "2004-10-15T11:32:12Z")
Buffy and Gertrude. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/72 "2004-10-15T14:51:25Z")
> [@YoudNeverGuess](#): > > One time I was watching TV and this guy (some actor/celeb being interviewed - can’t remember who) was talking about friends of his who were thinking of naming their son ‘Lucifer’ - apparently seriously 🙂 > > It’s a pity though because it actually _is_ a pretty nice name IMO ☹ Shame it’s unuseable Lucifer means “bringer of light”, which, sadly, is tarnished by a bad association. Isn’t Lucinda a derivative of the same “light” word? We are talking about girls’ names, after all. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/73 "2004-10-15T15:08:07Z")
Whatever you name them, if they ever complain about it, tell them to be grateful they’re not my kids, because boys or girls, I would’ve named twins Romulus and Remus. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/74 "2004-10-18T12:23:53Z")
hmmm, back to the drawing board. Seems like Mrs. China doesn’t like Vivian or Vivienne, and she really really really doesn’t like Penelope. Audrey is still in the running though. Audrey is more of my default than one I think is awesome. Lack of a nickname. What do people think of Serena? Keep in mind my last name starts with an S. Nicole, Adrienne, Kelly, Isabella… ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/75 "2004-10-18T12:27:17Z")
Abby and Emily? They sound cool together. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/76 "2004-10-18T12:35:57Z")
> [@DesertGeezer](#): > > Lucifer means “bringer of light”, which, sadly, is tarnished by a bad association. Isn’t Lucinda a derivative of the same “light” word? We are talking about girls’ names, after all. Yeah. Lucille (Lucinda came later, apparently coined by Cervants) comes from Lucius, and they’ve obviously all got the same root. This from [Behind the Name](http://www.behindthename.com). ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/77 "2004-10-18T18:14:51Z")
Audrey & Joanne Audrey & Beatrice “Bea” for short. Just typing out loud here. What about if name Audrey is one that you really want, her nick name could be her Chinese Name. Audrey Moo Goo Gai Pan Lastname. 🙂 Thus concludes Shirley’s entire Chinese vernacular repetoir. Now, I am hungry. Oh, you know what I mean. Audrey Little Flower. Audrey Small Berries. Audrey Stands With Fist. Audrey Little Horse. Hey…I want to be chinese too. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/78 "2004-10-18T22:07:23Z")
Eva. Nina. Pretty, simple, classic, easy for others to spell. –gigi, whose first name is so often misspelled ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/79 "2004-10-18T23:01:35Z")
Do you know if your daughters will be identical or not? ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986/80 "2004-10-19T03:57:22Z")
> [@China Guy](#): > > hmmm, back to the drawing board. > > Seems like Mrs. China doesn’t like Vivian or Vivienne, and she really really really doesn’t like Penelope. > > Audrey is still in the running though. Audrey is more of my default than one I think is awesome. Lack of a nickname. > > What do people think of Serena? Keep in mind my last name starts with an S. Nicole, Adrienne, Kelly, Isabella… Serena is a very beautiful name IMO. It happens to be my small daughter’s name. 🆒 Pluses: Not too common Easily spelled Easily pronounced Clear gender Pleasant connotation from the word Serene Minuses: Easily confused with Sabrina/Selena Betwitched reference No clear nickname although we’ve nicknamed her Sir 😃 Personally I just love it. I think it’s elegant, understated, tasteful, pretty, unique without being weird and works as on a child or adult. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-twin-girls/268986.md?page=5)