Caroline

[chickentwizzler]

I already have a thread on Stephen, and how we like boys names ending in -EN. DH has been given the task of choosing between Owen and Stephen when the child is born.

We now have girls names, and have decided we like names ending in -INE. DH loves:

Caroline

My concern with Caroline, is that I dont want it shortened to Carol, as I dont like this name.

I'm slighly more adventuous than DH, and also love Emmeline and Clementine. DH will not agree to either of these.

We are still liking the -EN ending names for girls, DH loves Seren (he's welsh), but our surname is similar to Getty, and I immediately think of Serengeti, which is probably why it sounds so good together. I suspect other people with think of Serengeti so I'd rather not use it. The other name we're considering is Lauren. We've ruled out the names Vivien and Bronwen.

I know its an odd thing, but we don't want a name ending in -ie/y or -a.

Anyone got any other suggestions. At the moment its between Caroline and Lauren. Also, I'd be interested to know which name you prefer of the two.

Again, we may have to wait till the child is born.

Thanks all

[loonyrationalist]

I proposed carolina for my dd1 & dd2 rejected both times by dh. I was planning the shortened names Caro &/or Lina. Caroline is lovely I think.

The thing with nicknames however is that once your child reaches a certain age you lose all control over it anyway...

[BuntyPenfold]

I have never known a Caroline called Carol for short.
I like the name Caroline.
A lot of people say Lauren is very chavvy now, although I don't really get that.

Anyway, I know a lovely Caroline, called Callie. Do you like that?

[KnitterNotTwitter]

The Caroline I know is called Caro for short which I like.

[moocowmrs]

Carrie is also a shortened version of Caroline, I am a caroline and have never been called Carol. Carolyne is another spelling that sometimes is used but pronounced the same as opposed to Carolyn which I find a but hard iykwim.

[chickentwizzler]

Thanks all, I like Caroline, unshortened. Our surname ends in a y (ie sound) and I dont like the alliteration of names such as Callie or Carrie with our surname. However, I love Carrie because of the sex and the city connotations.

I went to school with a Caroline, and we all called her Caroline or Caz. I dont like Caz, but it was only her friends who used Caz, rather than family, and I assume she uses Caroline at work.

Buntyfold, I didnt know Lauren is chavvy. I'm beginning to think you might be right, and so preferring Caroline.

[thirtysomething]

I wonder if Caroline may be due for a comeback? It sounds quite 70s to me, of the same ilk as Heather, Lindsay, Alison etc - all perfectly nice names just not very usual for babies these days!

It is a pretty name though - as is Lauren (which is definitey not chavvy in the Midlands!) Have only ever heard Caroline shortened to Caz or Caro. Lauren doesn't seem to get shortened..

Have you considered Rowan or Cerys as they seem to more or less fit your criteria?

[MimsyStarr]

Its lovely. Know two, one gets called Caro.

[MimsyStarr]

Whoops, forgot my '

It's

[Lizzylou]

Caroline never shortened to Carol, more likely Caz (during teen years), have heard of Carrie/Caro/Callie used as a nn as well.

My Mother never calls me anything but my full name.

[catinthehat2]

"I have never known a Caroline called Carol for short" moi aussi.

Frankly, there is no way anyone would DARE shorten either of the 2 Carolines in my life. Nope. NO way.

[chickentwizzler]

Thanks all, I'm pleased Caroline is so liked.

Thirtysomething - I considered Rowan for a boy, but not girl. Didnt know it was a unisex name. We ruled out Rowan as a boys name, and I dont like it as a girls names. Thanks for the suggestion, as it meets our criteria.

We're not having names ending in s, as I dont like how it sounds with our surname.

Yes, my first thoughts when DH suggested Caroline, was that's its 1970s and not fashionable, and was about to rule it out, until I said it outloud, with our surname. The name is continuing to grow on me.

Glad to hear Lauren isnt chavvy in the midlands. I am trying to avoid chavtastic names.

[KenDoddsDadsZombieDogsNotDead]

Caroline is a gorgeous name.

[yellowflowers]

I love Clementine

[fedupofnamechanging]

I love Caroline and it was on my shortlist when I had my DD. Never known it to be abreviated to Carol, only Caro or Caz(at school)

[LionOnTheFloorInAPoolOfBlood]

Caroline is pretty, the ones I know are shortened to Caro and 'C'

On the Welsh theme how about Ellen, Elin, Dwynwen, Eirawen, Gwen

[SaintAva]

My name is Caroline and I have never been called Carol! I sometimes get called Caz, but only very occassionally, mostly when I was a bit younger and only by friends. I love my name, I was the only Caroline I knew for a while, and it's still not too common. One other Caroline I know is called Caro.

Hope this is helpful!

We now need to agree on a boy's name, though we've got quite a few months to decide!

[SaintAva]

Oh and I was born in the 80s so maybe not too much of a 70s name

[chickentwizzler]

Too tell you the truth I've never heard it shortened to Carol either.

Righto, Caroline (I think) it is, you have got rid of my fears of it being a dated name.

LionOnTheFloor:

Elen (prefer with one l, rather than two ls) - I like. My best friend has gone and used it as a middle name for her DD. Not sure if I like it enough for dd.

Elin - I prefer Elen

Dwynwen and Eirawen - too Welsh, as currently live in England. Would be constantly advising people on how to pronounce it.

Gwen - I quite like this, but not enough to call my daughter Gwen.

[chickentwizzler]

SaintAva, missed to thank you for your comment. It is helpful.

[RockBat]

It's my favourite name. DD was going to be Caroline but I have a close cousin with the same name and my mother was getting upset over the whole thing so DD has it as a middle name :(

[SaintAva]

It can be so tricky choosing a name can't! DD had name picked instantly, but could only just get a boy's name we both liked but neither loved so good job she was a girl!

[SaintAva]

sorry - mean't "can't it "

[ValiumSkeleton]

Caroline is dated because of Princess Caroline I think. There was a rush on Carolines about 40-45 years ago! But dated isn't BAD. It just means it doesn't occur to people when they're compiling a list. It doesn't make it a bad choice.

I also like Stephanie btw. Really don't like Stephen though. NOPE, sorry, that one is too dated. Maybe in ten years.

[LiquoriceLila]

I like Clementine, Caroline seems a bit dated to me