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Rachael is down to the wire and has yet to find a girl name that she loves and honors her late mother Nancy. Should she abandon the search for the right N name and instead find a name connected to love and remembrance? Or has the perfect name been under her nose this whole time?

Rachael writes…

We are a few weeks away from having a little girl, and can’t agree on a name we love. In an ideal world, I’d love to honor my late mother, whose name was Nancy, but no N names are really resonating.

So, I was thinking we could honor her through name meanings — flowers that represent love or remembrance (e.g. Lily) or names that have origins/meaning toward love and memory.

Trying to find names with more than one syllable that aren’t too “out there”…

Nameberry Editor-in-Chief Sophie Kihm responds:

Creative honor names are some of our favorite puzzles, and lucky for you, Nancy offers a wealth of inspiration.

Before we get into etymologically related names, let’s talk about girl names that start with N. I’m sure you have considered the obvious options — Nora, Naomi, Natalie, Noa — but there are plenty of neglected choices that may have slipped under your radar:

Nadia is timeless and international, Nomi is unique yet on-trend, Nella is vintage and sweet, and Novie is totally fresh.

Not convinced? Time for an onomastics lesson.

Nancy was originally derived from the name Agnes via its medieval form, Annis. (Middle English is how many nicknames starting with N arose, including Nell from Eleanor and Ned from Edmund). In the 18th century, Nancy also began to appear as a nickname for Ann.

That gives us two origin names — Agnes and Ann — that we can use as jumping-off points.

The most fashionable variation of Agnes today is Ines, but you could also consider names that share a meaning with Agnes — “pure” or “virginal”. Katherine and variations mean “pure”, which could inspire names like Kit, Kaya, or Kate. Virginia is another possibility.

St. Agnes — and thus, her name — is often associated with lambs. The stylish Irish name Oona means “lamb”.

Ann offers even more room to play. Classic names like Anna, Annie, and Hannah are related to Nancy, along with chic international Ann alternatives, like Annika, Anouk, and Anais.

It’s a stretchier connection, but names that start or end with Anna, like Annora, Anastasia, Orianna, and Savannah could work, as well as compound names that include Ann, like Anneliese and Annabelle (which, bonus, means “loving”).

Your Lily idea is a good one. Lilia, Lilias, and Lilou are unique but not unheard-of variations. You could also consider Calla — as in calla lilies — which has a familiar feel but didn’t even crack the Top 1000 last year.

Nameberry Editor Grace Royal responds:

I love this way of honoring someone — for me, it’s appealingly subtle, gives you the chance to use a name you actually enjoy, and provides your daughter with a name of her own and a story behind it!

On reading your dilemma, my immediate thought was Susannah. Not only does it mean “lily” but it also contains that ‘an’ sound of Nancy. The two names do have different origins, however since Nancy derives from Ann or Agnes, but the end sound of Susannah feels connected to it. The name is currently outside the Top 1000, but it is recognizable and classic too. 

If Susannah isn’t quite what you’re looking for, here are some more ideas, based on meaning:

Carys — a sweet Welsh name meaning “love,” Carys is distinctive but contains familiar sounds. Alternative forms of the name include Cerys and Caris and it is well used in the UK. If you like the idea but worry it might be too unfamiliar where you are, there’s also Carina and Cara which mean “beloved” and “friend” from their Italian and Irish roots respectively — and might be more user-friendly where you are. 

Anya — bright and international feeling, Anya may not be connected to remembrance or love, but it does share the same meaning and sounds of Nancy. Also a diminutive of Anna and Anne related names, it could work as a more direct honor. 

Mabel — cozy yet sassy Mabel means “loveable” and shares that same revived vintage feel of Nancy. 

Robin — in folklore, it’s said that “robins appear when loved ones are near,” leading some people to believe that spotting a robin may be a sign that a lost loved one is present and watching over them. If you like the idea of this symbolism — or if your mother particularly liked bird-watching — Robin might be a fun possibility.

Halia — popular in Hawaii but quietly used elsewhere too, Halia means “cherished memory” or "remembrance of a loved one”, which is a very appealing meaning. The name also appears in Greek mythology as the personification of sea salt, making this an interesting possibility if your mother happened to have a special love for the sea — or an interest in mythology!

Kerensa — also spelled Kerenza, this is a Cornish name meaning “love.” It’s a bold choice but with a great meaning and the possibility of familiar nicknames like Kenzie, Kenna, and Ren, it might not sound too “out there.”

Zinnia — zippy yet sophisticated, Zinnia is a floral choice that symbolizes remembrance and tribute, along with friendship and affection too. It’s rare but growing more familiar in the US.

Amara — a multicultural choice with meanings including “grace”, “immortal”, and “tribe”, Amara is also connected to the word for “love” (amar, amare, amor) in several languages such as Galician and Portuguese. Amara gives you a similar meaning to Nancy then, and the love connection you’re hoping for. 

I’ll also add in one final suggestion, not a name but another possible avenue to explore: if you like the idea of honoring through meaning, you could consider a name that is specifically related to your mother rather than love and remembrance in general. You could take inspiration from her interests, work, or hobbies, by the values you admired in her, or her favorite place, song, flower, or book. 

Best of luck in finding the perfect name for your daughter.

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