Baby Name Poll Results

Carly/Caroline Winslet
Emma Windsor
Johanna Camille
Cheyenne Josephine
Stephannie Elizabeth
Leah Kensington
Susanna Grace
Mary-Jo Lucille
Bonnie Annemarie
Ruby-Mae Gentry
Norma-Jean Delaney
Laurel Penelope

Bonnie!

Susanna Grace
Mary-Jo Lucille
Bonnie Annemarie
Laurel Penelope

Norma-Jean Delaney

I love Susanna and Carly! GL

Susannah Grace and Bonnie Annemarie for sure

Caroline for sure! Bonnie and Susanna also are nice.

Bonnie, Susanna, Ruby Mae, & Norma Jean!

Definitely Bonnie Annemarie.

Susanna Grace sounds the most like a southern belle to me

Bonnie is a definite no. Susanna Grace gets my vote

Susannah, Johannah (I prefer this spelling), and Mary-Jo.

Bonnie is lovely!

Susanna Grace for sure. I’m a southern belle myself!

I really don’t like Bonnie. Laurel is the best.

Susanna Grace!!!

Coming from a Southerner, none of these are actual Southern belle names. They are more in line with stereotypical names--you’d be hard-pressed to find a real Southern belle with a name like those. The only one that would actually be used (and is quite common) is Caroline.

Southern belles tend to come from upper-class, old money families. Surnames (mom’s maiden name, grandma’s maiden name, etc) are quite common. So are the names Elizabeth, Caroline, Charlotte, Madeline, and Margaret. Double names such as Mary (family name), Jane (family name), and Ann(e)/Anna (family name) are very common as well. In addition, traditional "Mary" names such as Mary Margaret, Mary Elizabeth, and Mary Catherine/Katherine are quite common. More uncommon double names such as Hannah Katherine or Abby Claire are not as common, but heard of.

Look at your family tree. Are there any names that are repeated a lot? Any surnames that you like? Use those. Those are more authentic than Ruby-Mae or Stephannie or Mary-Jo.

And don’t hyphenate the names. If you use a double first name, don’t give a middle name. Often times, if someone is named, say, Mary Winslow, on her birth certificate, Mary is her first name and Winslow is her middle name, and she is just called by both. Or ’Mary Winslow’ is listed as her first name, and she has no middle name.