Choosing the perfect name for your baby can be overwhelming — mainly because there are just So. Many. Options. If you’re not already starting with a favorite in mind, one thing that can help narrow down the field is to decide if you want something short and sweet, or long and elegant. Now, we love us some short, funky baby names. They’re fun and trendy, especially among celebrities, who frequently go with some unique baby name choices. But it’s also true that classy and sophisticated (read: long and fancy) baby names will never go out of style.
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For baby names that will stand the test of time and look beautiful in a cursive signature — or preceding the letters MD, PhD, or Esq. — we’ve got just the list for you, below. Keep reading, and find your perfect baby name!
Long & elegant baby name pairings
Long and elegant baby names pair great with a shorter last name; they sound like they really belong together. If you have a two-syllable last name, you can balance it out with a one-syllable middle, and vice-versa. But, of course, there’s no real reason to avoid a long first name if you also have a long last name — just look at the ever-cool Benedict Cumberbatch.
Nicknames
Even if you love a longer baby name, will your daughter love that you named her Cordelia when she’s learning to spell her name? Maybe, maybe not, but fortunately almost all of the names listed below have an easy-to-create nickname lurking within its string of letters. Cordelia, for example, may want to be known as Cora, Corrie, Delia, or even Dolly. Your son Constantine, who may have been known as Connie if he were born a few decades ago, may prefer to go by Andy, Stan, Tanner, or Connor.
It’s a smart idea to have a ready-made nickname at the ready just in case your child isn’t totally wild about the name you choose. On the other hand, she may love nothing more than growing up with a fancy name that’s a little different from those of her peers.
Here are some of our favorite long and elegant baby names — maybe they’ll find their way to your list of favorites.
Long & elegant names for baby boys
Alastair
Atticus
Augustine
Benjamin
Cameron
Constantine
Delaney
Dominic
Estevan
Gabriel
Hamilton
Harrison
Jamison
Jonathan
Julian
Kingsley
Laurent
Lawrence
Leopold
Lucienne
Malachi
Maximus
Napoleon
Nathaniel
Nikolai
Prescott
Quentin
Sebastian
Long & elegant names for baby girls
Alannah
Annabelle
Anastasia
Caroline
Charlotte
Colette
Cordelia
Elenora
Esmeralda
Evelyna
Elizabeth
Evianna
Gabriella
Genevieve
Gwyneth
Jacqueline
Josephine
Imogen
Isabella
Lorelei
Lucinda
Madelina
Mahina
Mallory
Marielle
Morganna
Samantha
Victoria
Vivienne
Zahara
A version of this article was originally published in July 2013.
Want more baby name inspiration? These unique celebrity baby names never fail.
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