Which girl's name with my stupid surname?

[BabCNesbitt]

Said stupid surname is 'Mack', and I know it's probably not a fantastic idea to post one's real surname on a message board, but the trouble is that so many female first names (especially two-syllable names ending in 'a') sound vaguely absurd with that surname - like something you'd use to waterproof your roof. With that in mind, this is our shortlist so far:

Elizabeth
Frances
Gretchen
Hannelore
Hester

I like the longer German and English names! Thing is, I'm not crazy about any of these names (although I guess if we gave DD the name, I'd come to love it). All opinions/other suggestions welcome.

Konstanze Mack if you like German versions of names?

Mack is a fine surname, there is nothing at all wrong with it. Everyone can spell it, it is straight-forward and she can have pretty much any kind of name with it. I think she could have a name ending in a or a German name ending in e (which is then pronounced a as above) if it is 3 syllables long for instance.

Maybe google for German girls names and have a look at a list. There are some very nice ones, but you need to like them and roll them around your tongue

Gretchen is beautiful.

I like Gretchen.

There's an actress (in Smallville?) called Allison Mack, which is nice. A.Mack isn't obvious enough to be a problem I don't think.

I really like the surname Mack.

Anna?

I think it's a good name too.

Anna Mack sounds a bit like Anorak though.

I think the 3-syllable names go best, like Katherine and Elizabeth.

or 4 even

I think thinking about the rhythm of the whole name is the way to go. Mack is quite a sharp, short sound, so a first name that has perhaps three syllables and a bit of flow and bounce to the sound might help e.g

Isobel Mack (Is-o-bel Mack)
Julia Mack (Ju-li-a Mack)
etc.

Juliet?

Hocuspontas and Selks, I'm inclined to agree with the 3+ syllable idea (and yes, I spent my whole childhood being called Anorak. )

ZZZenagain, thanks for defending my name :) It's not really that bad, I guess, it just doesn't flow with a lot of first names. If we went for Hannelore, we'd be using the German pronunciation (so lore-uh), so I'll have a look for similar names (I liked the Lieselotte suggestion earlier, too).

What's wrong with Mack? I like it. How about an alliterative first name - Millie, Myra, Maggie (just examples), that would make her very memorable as an individual.

Eloise Mack

Henrietta? or Gretel?

I think a longer name works well with a snappy sort of surname. Also if you choose something more unusual then she's more likely to be known by her first name alone (I have a very unusual name and usually only use my first name as a consequence). Perhaps something like

Georgina
Penelope
Constance
Miriam
Angelica
Dorothy

I love Gretchen.

I like Amelia Mack - the "M" in Amelia is echoed in the first letter of your surname. Also like Elizabeth as it's so versatile - Lizzy Mack is cute, as is Libby, Eliza, Betty...I'm sure she and her friends will come up with something catchy too.

Jimmy?

Sorry! I do really like elizabeth, and agree Lizzy Mack is lovely too

Definitely Elizabeth, Lizzie Mack sounds like a fab name

Or....

Florence
Julia
Sofia
Carly
Fiona
Clara

There are lots of names that sound nice with your cool surname

I'm another vote for Elizabeth - I like Lizzie (although Liz is less good with the surname - could sound a bit like Lee Smack, rather than Liz Mack (if you see what I mean).

What about:

Genevieve/Jennifer (Jenny Mack sounds lovely!)
Emily
Antonia
Aurelia
Brigitta
Evelyn

I wouldn't have thought of Mack as hard to pick a first name for either, but now you come to mention it I can see your point.

Hannelore is a lovely name I don't recall ever seeing used, only in name books. It also shortens to Hannah, which is very normal- always a plus in a really rare name.

Lizzie/Elizabeth Mack works well too, I think it's a 3+ syllable thing too.

And Genevieve (who'd be called Gen or Jenny in school most likely) would also work nicely.

Of them all Elizabeth sits a bit better with your last name, but I'd probably go with Genevieve myself and daydream about being brave enough to use Hannelore.

Charlotte (Charlie) & Elizabeth (Lizzie) Mack sound really lovely & have cute shorter versions too.

I have a DD with a long name that can be shortened to a couple of names which I love, and like someone said its good to have a nice shortened name but then a strong sensible name for the Sunday name :)

My vote is for

Isobelle - Izzy Mack

or

Elizabeth - Lizzy Mack

I think Isobelle is the slightly prettier of the two names :)

Polly
Penny
Tessa
Kitty
Peggy
Martha (unless you don't like alliterative names)
Rosie
Josie
Rosa

I do agree that Lizzie sounds great, though.

Liesel?

I love Lorelai, but Im a Gilmore Girls junkie, I like it shortened to rory as well like they did her daughter, also like Katherine and Chloe and Elizabeth or Lisbeth, ooh and Corrine. I sympathise with the surname, my oh's is pants as well, at least my chosen girls name of Erin goes with yours :)

Teresa

Cheryl
Rosana
Rebekah
Eloise
Isabel
Serena
Katie
Iona