Southern Girl Names!

[jdday94]

Hi there - we're expecting our first child. We're sorted on boy's names - but the girl's names have proved a bit tricky.

My husband and I live in San Francisco - but I'm Southern, with roots in Mississippi, Virginia, and Louisiana. And I come from a long family tradition of giving girls' "Southern" names - which usually means either ultra-feminine OR very a tomboyish surname. (I have a boy's name myself, and female cousins named Carter, Peyton and Emerson). Then there's the whole Greek revival faction - I even had a Great Great Aunt Clytie (as in Clytemnestra!).

So! Help me honor my baby's Southern roots without ending up with a too-obvious Scarlett or Flannery, or a too-country Bettysue :)

I want something creative without being TOO crazy, literary would be great too.

Some current favorites:
Fontaine
Clementine (is this getting too "done" among the hipster set?)
Cleo
Lucy (grandmother's name, and I've loved it since I was a kid - but is it too common now?)
Jane (my mother's name, but it could use more kick?)
Ella (other grandmother's name - but TOO popular and already taken by a cousin's child)

Also - 4 candidates for middle names (we usually use family surnames as middles) are:
Holladay (yep, that's the spelling)
Meriwether (is this too Lord of the Rings? It really is a family name, but...don't want to make ppl think of Hobbits)
Robinson
Land

Our last name is "Parker" btw.

Thanks for your help and opinions!

I was going to suggest the name Parker before I saw that it was your last name. I think the name Lucy Robinson Parker, is the best option from the names you provided. I would probably choose something like Dana Rose Parker, Lauren Grace Parker, or Addison Lynn Parker.

P.S. I really like Lauren Grace Parker.

[justthinkin]

Jane is my middle name, after my grandmother. I like it, but personally I wouldn't want it as a first name. I think it needs a little something extra. (My grandmother is actually "Jane Ann".)

Here are a few that I don't believe were yet mentioned:
Josephine
Arminda
Lexington (Lexi)
Lena
Julia
Belle (too obvious?)
Lucille
Eveline/a
Jessamine (mouthful?)
Adaire
Alessandra
Camille
Aurelia (I like it with an accent)
Clancy
Sheridan
Bentley
Blaire
Leighton
Flynn
Briley
Helena (girly w/ a Greek root)

I'm not sure how southern those are so it's fine if you hate them! ;)

[ktf]

I love all your ideas. I think Lucy Clementine is a real winner. One suggestion -- and this may not be up your alley, but I love the name Flannery after the Southern author Flannery o'Connor. (I think her birth name was Mary Flannery O'Connor.) Flannery Jane?

BTW, Charlie Parker doesn't bother me.

[careyjr3]

Actually, when you say Beatrice instead of Beatrix, it doesn't sound like Beatrix Potter.............So Beatrice is really nice!
I actually like the name Holladay (I forgot how you spelled it!) as a first name. It's one that my husband and I were considering.

[funnymom]

I love all your ideas. I think Lucy Clementine is a real winner. One suggestion -- and this may not be up your alley, but I love the name Flannery after the Southern author Flannery o'Connor. (I think her birth name was Mary Flannery O'Connor.) Flannery Jane?

BTW, Charlie Parker doesn't bother me.

[funnymom]

I've got a Flannery Jane and love her and the name to pieces!

[unicorngal]

Osceola nn Oscie
Magnolia nn Maggie or Nolie
Georgia nn Georgie
Shiloh nn Shi or Loh
Lexington nn Lexi
Camellia nn Cami
Savannah nn Annah
Atlanta nn Attie
Gardenia nn Denia


Perhaps with a classic middle name like Jane or Clare/Clair?
Lexington Clare/Clair Parker
Shiloh Clementine Parker
Fontaine Holladay Parker
Georgia Robinson Parker
Georgia Land Parker
Georgia Cleo Parker
Osceola Meriwether Parker
Osceola Cleo Parker
Osceola Clare Parker
Magnolia Jane Parker
Atlanta Meriwether Parker
Camellia Jane Parker
Savannah Holladay Parker
Gardenia Clare Parker

[kashed22]

As soon as I saw the title of this thread I got really excited and had to post! I am a Blair and N Carolina is the only place I have ever found my name on one of those license plates you buy at souvenir shops!

It looks like your going for more feminine options....and I love those too...I'll come back and give a more detailed response when I have more time because this theme is really fun!

Later!

[scarlettsmom]

Waverly
Evanelle
Avonlea

Sorry I'm not that great at coming up with lists... just wanted to add these. ;)

[jlm]

Have you considered the name Virginia?