Names Inspired by Eloise

Eloise began in the Medieval era as Helwise, which was briefly popular in England. The name returned to the English-speaking world in its current spelling during the nineteenth century and was somewhat popular in 1920s America. It dropped out of the top 1000 for decades before returning in the late 2000s. Eloise is not only back in style, but it came back more popular than ever before. It entered the top 100 for the first time this past year. 

Of course, Eloise is the titular six-year-old girl of Kay Thompson's children's books. Besides its vintage style and literary heritage, Eloise has an exotic sound mixing bounciness and sweetness. Its French flavor and easy nickname of "Ellie" are a few more factors in Eloise's popularity. 

Now that Eloise is newly popular, parents who like the name might want something less common. Or else, Eloise could be taken by friends and family members. They also might search for a sister name.

This list of uncommon alternatives, all ranking below the top 100, will appeal to both those who fit the above descriptions and mere name fans. 

Arrietty

This exotic fun-to-say name connects to a character from Mary Norton's children's book series, The Borrowers.

Avonlea

This literary place name, which connects to L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Avonlea, has a similar syllable structure and bouncy sweetness as Eloise. 

Beatrix

Beatrix is a vintage-sounding name with easy nickname Bea. Plus, namesake Beatrix Potter wrote famous children's animal stories such as Peter Rabbit. 

Celestine

This sweet and bouncy French name has a similar syllable count to Eloise without being identical. Celestine is also the titular mouse from Gabrielle Vincent's Ernest and Celestine children's books.

Clementine

This vintage name is also French in origin and mixes a sweet sound with a multi-syllable structure. In addition to the song "Oh My Darling, Clementine," the name has a children's literature pedigree via Sara Pennypacker's book series. 

Coraline

French, bouncy, and sweet Coraline is the titular character of Neil Gaiman's children's horror novel along with a character in Adolphe Adam's 1849 opera, Le Toréador. 

Cosette

Cute Cosette hails from French literature as the illegitimate daughter in Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. 

Delphine

This is a sweet-sounding French name with a long history. While Delphine is not a kidlit star, she is the main character in Rita Garcia-Williams's novel One Crazy Summer.

Elodie

Elodie nearly rhymes with Eloise. It has the same French origin, bouncy sweetness, and potential short form of "Ellie."

Emeline

French and vintage Emeline is also sweet in sound and fun to say. 

Esme

Sweet Esme connects to J. D. Salinger's novel, For Esme, with Love and Squalor along with having some of Eloise's sounds. 

Estelle

Estelle is a French vintage charmer with a sweet sound and potential nickname "Essie," which sounds similar to "Ellie." It even ends in the "el" sound. 

Eugenie

The vintage-sounding French form of Eugenia has a sweet sound and bouncy pronunciation. 

Evangeline

Sweet Evangeline is the titular character of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem. 

Felicity

Felicity might only sound like a vintage name, but it has the same mix of bounciness and sweetness. 

Leonie

Regardless of pronunciation, Leonie is a sweet old-fashioned name with Eloise's French flavor. 

Maisie

Maisie is a vintage-sounding nickname-name that connects to the titular mouse from Lucy Cousins's children's books. It also has Eloise's soft "z" sound. 

Matilda

The titular character of Roald Dahl's children's novel has another vintage name with potential short forms "Mattie" and "Tillie."

Millicent

Combining vintage charm and sweetness, Millicent easily shortens to "Millie."

Odette

This sweet French name is the swan princess from Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake.

Ophelia

Ophelia may be the tragic lover in Shakespeare's Hamlet, but the name itself sounds sweeter and bouncier than its backstory.

Primrose

Vintage-sounding Primrose can easily shorten to "Rosie" along with being Katniss Everdeen's sister in the Hunger Games franchise.

Ramona

This vintage name is also the titular character of Helen Hunt Jackson's 1884 novel and Beverly Cleary's children's book series.

Rosemarie

Rosemary could work, but with Marie being French, sweet Rosemarie sounds like a closer alternative. It was a top 200 name in the 1930s, giving this vintage style. Like Primrose, it can shorten to "Rosie."

What alternatives would you add?

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