# What should I name my baby girl? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2011, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136 "2011-03-10T04:48:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/81 "2011-03-11T03:44:38Z")
> [@Sarabellum1976](#): > > How about Evelyn? Kind of a cross between Eve and Eden, and it sounds good with Alton. Not too popular, but classic enough that people know how to spell it. I was going to suggest this; I’ve also seen it spelled Eveline. Not too many young people have it, either, and the one young person I know likes her name a lot. Olivia is my middle name…would have been a strange first name back in the 70’s. I was named after my grandfather Oliver. If you actually like the name, don’t stick it in the middle. Sure, I could go by Olivia, but I don’t, since I’ve been called by my first name my entire life. Expect the middle name to never be used except on official forms. I thought Madeline was too popular a name when my daughter was born, but she does not know a single Madeline in her class now. Sometimes these things vary by neighborhood. On the other hand, there are about 5 Kaylas, which isn’t a name that was even on my radar. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/82 "2011-03-11T04:11:13Z")
> [@Anchuldigs](#): > > Eden Doesn’t have any religious significance to us; we just like the way it sounds. Do you folks know actual porn stars/strippers named Eden? > > And for those holding off on voting until you get my last name: Alton oops - I hadn’t seen your surname when I voted Eden. I like your other selections, except for Olive/Olivia. Do you really want to name your daughter after a food? & I’ve never cared for the name Olivia. Madeleine Alton or Olivia Alton (even though I don’t like the name) sounds best. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/83 "2011-03-11T04:18:55Z")
Evelyn is #34 and climbing, FWIW, which makes it pretty common. It’s been a top 100 name since 2002, although I agree that it seems like it ought to be less popular - I haven’t met any little Evelyns either. ---
**Author:** ![ZapDevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/35a633/32.png) [@ZapDevil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZapDevil)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/84 "2011-03-11T04:25:39Z")
My youngest daughter’s name is Madeline Marie (no extra ‘e’, although your choice is the most common spelling, I believe). She has been the only Madeline (of any spelling) in all of her classes thus far (she’s in the 4th grade now), although this year there is a Madison in her class, so I don’t think it’s hugely popular although obviously that’s anecdotal. Olivia was our second choice, interestingly enough. A couple things to note with the name: The nickname Maddie is very cute, I think, but it sounds a lot like ‘Daddy’ so I sometimes think one of the kids is calling for me when they are looking for her, and vice versa. You will get every Madeleine book, doll, tea set, video, etc. from grandparents and other well-wishers. “In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines…” It’s cute the first half dozen times. People will constantly ask her how to spell it (with all the variations, including mutant ones like “Maedylyn”). That said, we chose it because it was a very pretty name, with a cute nickname, that will sound better than “Caitlyn” or something when she’s a powerful CEO :-). ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/85 "2011-03-11T18:39:10Z")
I don’t like the diminutive “Maddy” at all. I do, however, like the diminutives for Evelyn (Ev, Evvie, Lyn, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/86 "2011-03-11T20:10:08Z")
I choose Madeleine becuase I think it sounds best with Alton. Also you should make her middle name Brown for good luck. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/87 "2011-03-11T20:50:08Z")
I saw Eden for the first time in a Barbara Vine novel. She was a beautiful, scheming, evil, interesting character and I liked her. So, Eden. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/88 "2011-03-11T20:54:53Z")
> [@GilaB](#): > > It tends to really annoy me, actually - characters who are in their twenties through forties will be given names that are common for babies now, but almost unheard-of when the characters should have been born. Gail Godwin’s [_Unfinished Desires_](http://www.amazon.com/Unfinished-Desires-Random-Readers-Circle/dp/0345483219/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299783090&sr=8-1) is a great book, but her characters born circa 1910 have names like Suzanne (a 1940’s-50’s name if there ever was one), while the characters born in the 1940s have names that are popular now, like Chloe. It kept yanking me out of the narrative. That’s annoying considering how easy it is to find out how popular names were when the character would have been born. That sort of thing matters to me too, which is why, for example, my 40-something cop character is named Lori (name #19 in 1965, but not on the top 1000 after 2001), not Ava (#5 in 2009, #649 in 1965). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/89 "2011-03-11T22:26:59Z")
> [@Anchuldigs](#): > > I don’t think kids nowadays ever heard of Olive Oyl. Besides, I like Olive Oyl. Sounds like some kind of lubricant. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/90 "2011-03-11T23:07:57Z")
> [@GilaB](#): > > Evelyn is #34 and climbing, FWIW, which makes it pretty common. It’s been a top 100 name since 2002, although I agree that it seems like it ought to be less popular - I haven’t met any little Evelyns either. I have a one year old niece named Evelyn. My other, older niece is a Sophia(different sibling is parent.) I’m attracted to really outside the top 1000 names that my hypothetical SO would probably hate, if I ever have kids. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/91 "2011-03-11T23:21:14Z")
> [@GilaB](#): > > Evelyn is #34 and climbing, FWIW, which makes it pretty common. It’s been a top 100 name since 2002, although I agree that it seems like it ought to be less popular - I haven’t met any little Evelyns either. I didn’t even know. I just know an Evelyn my own age and have always liked the name. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/92 "2011-03-12T00:08:27Z")
I like Olivia of those. When my daughter was born, we narrowed to two in 25 minutes. We took another four months to decide between them. ---
**Author:** ![RainGrowsBrite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@RainGrowsBrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RainGrowsBrite)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/93 "2011-03-12T00:08:37Z")
EVA!!! Definitely. I’m pregnant…but having a boy. Were we to have a girl we were going to name her Eve or Eva. Specifically tho we were going with Evangeline. I’m stoked that we’re having a boy but I SOOO loved my girl name! I know tons of kids named Olivia and Madeliene or Madison (all being called Maddy). So I’m opposed to those. Eden would be my second choice on your list. ---
**Author:** ![Gil-Martin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Gil-Martin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gil-Martin)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/94 "2011-03-12T02:12:28Z")
I voted Madeleine. I think Olivia is all right, but I sincerely think your daughter will have problems with Olive. And congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/95 "2011-03-12T03:35:20Z")
Another vote for Madeleine. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/96 "2011-03-12T12:17:06Z")
I like Eve/Eva. To be really annoying you could use the Irish spellings- at least she would stand out. Aoibh (EEV) Aoife (EE-fa) I think Aoife Alton looks quite nice on paper. We’re having thoughts about trying for irishbaby 2.0. Boy name is sorted, girl names, we’ve got 2 middle names (Emilia Rose) but no idea of a first name. irishbaby is Maya- rapidly becoming a common name, unusual when we chose it. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/97 "2011-03-12T12:23:50Z")
> [@irishgirl](#): > > Boy name is sorted, girl names, we’ve got 2 middle names (Emilia Rose) but no idea of a first name. Guinevere (Gwen). ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/98 "2011-03-12T15:35:07Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Guinevere (Gwen). I knew someone by that name. Definitely the only one in her class - no problems like being Guinevere 3 or anything! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/99 "2011-03-12T20:26:15Z")
> [@RainGrowsBrite](#): > > \ > I know tons of kids named Olivia and Madeliene or Madison (all being called Maddy). \ Does it confuse the ones named Olivia? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136/100 "2011-03-12T21:25:08Z")
I’m coming to really like “Olive,” but it took me a minute. It goes from a cute little baby name (our little olive) to a quirky but sophisticated teenager. I’m not sure about “Olive Alton,” though. Olivia seems to flow much better. Maybe Olivia on paper and Olive as a nickname? Eva Alton doesn’t work phonetically. Eden Alton is also not great. The combination of two syllables plus two words starting with vowels sounds too much like a line from a rhyme-y kids book or something. Madeleine Alton is okay, if a bit plain. Eloise Alton doesn’t have any special magic to it, but there is nothing wrong with it. So I say go with Olivia. It doesn’t matter too much that it is popular. I’m a “Jennifer” from the 80’s and was always one of four in my classes. You just use a last initial or your last name and it’s fine. And the effect doesn’t really last once you are out of school- in the wider world you interact with a wider age range. She won’t be the only Olivia in her class, but she’ll probably be the only Olivia in her office. I’m also not a big fan of second guessing nicknames or potential for teasing. My mom named me “Jennifer” so that she could call me “Jenny,” which I immediately decided I hated and refused to answer to. And then someone with my exact name committed an infamous act- suddenly my insanely bland name subject me to a lot of teasing. You just can’t predict this stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-name-my-baby-girl/574136.md?page=4)