Double-Barrel Buffet Part 2

Double-barrel baby names for girls have a lovely blend of cheerful and polished, a nice mix of spunk and spirit blended in. As you may recall from a few days ago, I wrote a Double-barrel buffet part 1 which outlined some girl names perfect for the first part of a double-barrel name. Now, I’m going to do the second. The ending of a double-barrel name is almost always one syllable, brief and often skipped when it comes to using double-barrel names in a real life situation. Given that most of us have only one name, the second name seems rather insignificant. However, a second name can completely alter the feeling and sound of a name. Whether a second name brings a more professional touch to your first name of choice or adds some more spunk, these names are just as important as the first. As someone who’s tried going both by a singular first name and a first-middle combo that is actually quite a popular double-barrel name, that second name can really make all the difference for the vibe and popularity of the name. Dear readers, take out your buffet plates and wander into the second aisle. And no, it’s not one of those disappointing buffets where the other side is just a duplicate of the first. With that being said, let’s take a look!

Past Picks

Past picks essentially draw from a pool of favorites from decades past, particularly from the middle slot. Often feminine and simple, these names offer a nice, clean feeling. If you’re going with a name with plenty of personality in the first spot of a double-barrel choice, choosing one of these calmer, less spunky or sassy options may be the way to go for a name that has a more professional energy. These past picks will give your first name full of cutesiness a classic overlay. For instance, Ellie has an abundance of adorableness, but Ellie-Ann might feel more grounded and potentially slightly more grown up.

Paige- Arguably a tad dated but still a straightforward way to get to the prettiness of the double-barrel style, Paige works well with a wide variety of names. For instance, something Kennedy-Paige leaves the unisex spark of Kennedy but adds a nice neutrality with the more classic Paige. Although I would avoid pairing Paige with a word name (something like Scarlett-Paige sounds a bit like a reddish color page,) she otherwise feels appropriate with pretty much every name. At #226 as a first name, Paige doesn’t feel too unbearably common, either.

Lynn- In the 80s, Lynn was the middle name. Well, next to Anne/Ann. Now, our daughters wear her through names like Lailynn and Evelyn, making Lynn a great potential double-barrel ending, a way to include this trendy ending without going for something wildly popular like Evelyn or making up something that likely won’t stand the test of time like Lailynn. Hadley-Lynn is stunning and completely trend appropriate, yet the Lynn makes Hadley seem much more classic as a whole. The only downside? Caelynn-Lynn or even Carrigan-Lynn, for some examples, don’t sound great, so Lynn is a very delicate ending for a double-barrel name if you do choose her.

The Obvious

The obvious range from common filler middles to double-barrel endings commonly spotted in name rankings worldwide, and in many cases, both. Consistently one syllable, no -a endings, and as simple and traditional as they get, the obvious are obvious for a reason. These contain every quality necessary to make a beautiful double-barrel ending, and parents have certainly discovered this aspect. Perfect for making a double-barrel name really sound fluid and consistent, and keeping all of it seeming like a single name, the obvious are a great place to start when looking for double-barrel endings.

Mae/May- Short and cheery, Mae and May resemble the sweet and hopeful season they resemble. Whether you’re pairing Mae with something just as bright and jovial like Felicity-May or something slightly more grown-up like Annika-Mae, May brings a cuteness and a sweet touch that enhances any name for a parent who is looking to bestow a happy, optimistic sounding name on their baby girl. With Mae on her own ranking at #584, she isn’t too popular as a first name. However, looking at the data on British Baby Names, it appears that she’s probably the most popular second name for a double name, giving her a familiarity of sorts.

Rose- A stunning flower name that feels grand and classic despite her diminutive length, Rose has long been used as a middle name, beloved for her glamorous touch and ability to pair with practically any name as a middle name, first name, double-barrel name, or even a last name. Creating classically beautiful combos like Charlotte-Rose or Phillipa-Rose, Rose feels like a no-brainer for most families who don’t mind popularity. If you’re looking for a name that’ll give your baby name of choice a traditionally feminine twist, then Rose may be for you! Among the “filler middles” of the past decade, Rose ranks at #115.

Grace- Virtuous and elegant, Grace has the love as both a first and middle name from Europe and North America, ranking at #28 for baby girls in the US as a first name. As the second part of a double-barrel name, Grace offers whatever name she’s coupled with a sophistication. An example of this would be a name like Ainsley-Grace. The frilly and lively Ainsley is given an elegant coolness when placed next to Grace. Grace also has a wonderful blending quality, always making the names she’s coupled with seem like a single name.

Kate- Kate strikes a delicate balance between the cheery effect of Mae and the sophisticated effect of Grace. She’s not quite traditional, thanks to the popularity of Katilyn and Katie in the past couple decades, but she also isn’t necessarily childish either. Kate is mostly influenced by the name she’s with, making her a lovely go-to if you love the personality of a certain name, but don’t want the second name to drown out that vibe. Take Annabel-Kate, for instance. Or something like Emma-Kate. In both cases, Kate only elevates the feeling of the names before her, and doesn’t erase the name you love, but instead adds an endearing bit of length.

Unexpected Unisex

Want to tone down the feminine sounds or very frilly feeling you get from your favorite name? Want to bring an unexpected and unique ending to your predictable or common baby name choice? Then this section is for you. Adding a unisex ending to your double-barrel name can help prevent a name that is obnoxiously cutesy for your family, and pushing a rarer double-barrel ending can make the name you’re choosing for your daughter even more unique. Something like Sabrina might feel too girly for a family of River and Cooper, but an unexpected unisex second name could bring the styles closer into alignment.

Wren- This sweet unisex nature name that would make a glorious second name in a double-barrel choice, Wren currently ranks at #428 and is definitely on the up and coming in recent years. Although overlooked when it comes to this area, Wren has the brief and tailored aspect needed for a second double name as well as a simple sound that pairs well with most trendy sounds today. If I were to take a name like Cindy-Wren or Addilee-Wren, you’ll find that Wren does a brilliant job of adding a little something special to every name.

Rain- Or Reign, if you’re feeling like your little prince or baby princess deserves something a bit more royal. However, the nature name Rain feels solemn yet playful, a dreary yet beautiful rain against a grey sky or a cheerful toddler splashing in puddles as the rain pours down. Rain has been used more plentifully for girls but also wears some use for boys, with 34 little boys compared to 144 little girls recieving the name. For a combo like Charlotte-Rain, the name brings a soft and unexpected nature name boost. For a combo like Hattie-Rain, with more energy, Rain helps the rain boots in messy puddles come through.

I hope your plates are piled high! It’s time to combine your first and second names into a wonderful double-barrel one! I challenge you to come up with at least one from this series, and maybe comment your favorite down below, regardless if it’s components were mentioned in this article. I will too! Now have a lovely day, dear readers. It was fun going to a buffet for the first time in over a year, especially with you!

Sincerely,

-Delphina Moon