Do you like it when siblings have very "matchy" names (like Jason, Jasper and Jasmine), or do you prefer sibling names that are more subtly related (like Linden, Daphne and Vernon)?

If the understated approach is more your style, you might want to try looking for baby names that have similar definitions. Here are a few examples:

Irene and Salome (both mean "peace")
Bruno, Tawny and Duncan (each is related to the color brown)
Estella and Citlali (both mean "star")
Lloyd and Graham (both are related to the color gray)
Iris and Keshet (both mean "rainbow")
Chloe and Midori (both are related to the color green)
Leonard, Ariel and Haidar (each is related to lions)
Deborah and Melissa (both mean "bee")
Luz, Uri and Jyoti (each has to do with light)
Columba, Jemima and Paloma (all mean "dove")

By matching only meanings, you'll have an easier time finding sibling names that are more differentiated from one another. This matching-method could be especially appealing to parents who want their kids' names to be correlated somehow, but who don't want the connection to be very obvious (as with groupings like "Ursula, Ulysses and Umberto" or "Aoife, Siobhan and Tadhg").

The easiest way to find names with similar meanings is to scan lists of names grouped by definition. Many baby name books and websites offer thematic lists such as these (i.e., lists of names that mean "smart," or "attractive," or "famous"). When you skim through thematic lists, be on the lookout for names that have special significance or relevance to your children (in terms of country of origin, language of origin, and so forth).

Another way to find similarly defined names is to search online for names with particular meanings. If you do this, I recommend starting with very general search terms. Let's say you search for names that mean "tree" or "trees" -- you'll probably find names that:

• Refer to specific types of trees (like Pomona, Tamar, Bjork, Oren, Yves and Allon),


• Are actual tree names (like Aspen, Laurel, Rowan and Willow),


• Refer to groups of trees (like Grover, Forest, Sylvester and Norwood) and


• Refer only in part to trees (like Ashley and Ogden).

General searches like this will give you a good 'short list' of names from which you can then narrow things down. For instance, from a list of tree-related names, you might choose Nash and Ornella for your fraternal twins because both are related to ash trees. Or, you might choose to name each of your kids after a different type of tree (i.e., "Linden, Daphne and Vernon," from the lime tree, laurel tree and alder tree).