Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, one reader’s name questions will be discussed.
We rely on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight!
Ashley writes:
We’re “those” people — we gave our daughter a very popular boy name. We get looks sometimes, but I don’t regret it. The choice has made naming our next baby harder, though.
Here’s how Liam’s name came about: we lost my husband’s dad right after we learned we were expecting. His name was William, and we planned to use William if the baby were a boy.
At the ultrasound we discovered we were having a girl, and suddenly we needed a different approach. Our last name is C0st@, so Willa or Willow felt awkward together with it. Wilhelmina felt too heavy, and Billie felt too cutesy.
In the middle of the night while browsing names again, I saw Liam and something clicked. I also had a sweet aunt named Leanne who died when I was in high school, and the sound of Liam reminded me of her. I expected my husband to resist, because he’s pretty traditional, but he loved it.
We chose Elizabeth as her middle name so she could use a clearly feminine name on resumes or official documents if she wanted. Sometimes we call her LeeLee, but most of the time she’s just Liam.
We’re due in December with another girl and stuck on a name. I like many names, but nothing seems to fit with our daughter’s name.
Here are the ideas we have so far:
Ryan – My husband likes Ryan for a girl because he remembers a woman named Ryan from high school. I, however, know many Ryans who are men and boys, and it’s hard to picture it on a sweet baby girl.
Lucy – My favorite right now and one my husband also likes. But when I hear Liam and Lucy together, I wonder if they’re mismatched.
Clare/Claire – A name I’m warming to. It’s on my side of the family and not overly girly. Still, like Lucy, it doesn’t quite feel like a natural match with Liam.
That’s all we’ve got. I know there’s time, but I worry nothing will feel right with big sister Liam.
Help!
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Ashley —
Congratulations on your new daughter!
This is a tricky but very common situation. You chose a name that fits your family story and brings you joy, and that’s the most important thing. Liam Elizabeth is a meaningful, well-chosen name, so there’s nothing negative to change about it. But it does influence the kinds of names that will feel right alongside it.
Your three options—choosing another traditionally masculine name for a girl, picking a clearly feminine favorite, or settling on a compromise—illustrate the trade-offs. Let’s look at each approach and some alternatives.
RYAN, OR ANOTHER BOY NAME ON A GIRL
Giving girls names traditionally used for boys is common and works well as a stylistic match for Liam. Names like Ryan, Parker, or Jordan would pair naturally with Liam because they share the same name-family vibe. If you love that look, go for it. If not, you might regret choosing a name you don’t truly love just to match.
LUCY, OR ANOTHER FAVORITE
There’s wisdom in naming a child the name you love regardless of match. If Lucy is your favorite, it’s perfectly fine to use it even if it feels different next to Liam. Some mismatched sibling sets are charming and timeless. The only downside you mention is occasional confusion or people assuming different genders; that’s usually a minor, temporary inconvenience.
CLAIRE, OR A COMPROMISE
Claire represents a middle road: clearly feminine but not overly frilly. That compromise approach appeals when you want balance between your two children’s names without leaning fully masculine or fully traditional feminine. If you like Claire, similar names might also fit this middle ground.
OTHER NAMES TO CONSIDER
Here are names that sit between the styles or pair well with Liam without feeling forced:
- Briar — technically unisex but leaning feminine; a nature name with a crisp sound.
- Eden — used mostly for girls in the U.S.; fresh and slightly modern.
- Lane / Laine — another L name that can work for girls (Laine) or feel unisex (Lane); matches Liam’s short, one-syllable energy.
- Liv — brief, Scandi, and contemporary; feels feminine without being fussy.
- Luca — more common for boys in many places, but used for girls in some languages; pairs surprisingly well with Liam if you don’t mind two names that have a similar feel.
- Maren — a streamlined, slightly Scandinavian name that reads feminine but modern.
- Quinn — unisex, gaining popularity for girls; strikes a nice balance between masculine and feminine styles.
- Rowan — nature-inspired and unisex; shares the gentle strength of Liam.
- Sloane — a surname-style name with a feminine usage in popular culture; crisp and tailored.
My top suggestion for balance is Quinn. It offers the neutral, slightly surname-style vibe that bridges a masculine-leaning Liam and a more traditionally feminine name like Lucy. Combinations like Quinn Caroline, Quinn Lucille, or Quinn Eleanor provide a classic middle name to anchor the contemporary first name.
If you prefer to lean into the match with Liam, names such as Luca or Ryan (if you truly like it) will create a cohesive sibling set. If you love Lucy, don’t discard it — many families happily mix styles and it’s more important that you choose a name you adore.
Finally, your story about why you chose Liam is meaningful and gives the name depth. That kind of personal significance matters more than perfect stylistic matching.
Readers, your advice could really help here. What would you name a sister for Liam Elizabeth?