Help name my sister's DC1

[wisteria12]

My sister has a little androgynous bun in the oven and has asked me to post her shortlist for your derision.

Boys:

Gilbert (shortened to Gil)
Josiah
Edwin (shortened to Win)
Roald (Pronounced ROH-all not "Rolled")
Rudyard

Girls:

Arabella
Leonora/Leontine (shortened to Leo)
Adela
Christabel

Any thoughts/suggestions welcome.

[ragged]

Don't go with Roald spelt with a D and pronounced like that, everyone will mis-speak it and it will drive her batty (for years to come).

Is Rudyard to ever be shortened, will she mind Rudy (is that complete no-go in UK?). It's a mouthful-name for a child, otherwise. DS2 has a slight tongue-twister name, he had/has speech problems and even now at 6yo can't always say it properly (I feel guilty about that).

Calling a girl Leo is just asking for trouble. Tina? Nora?

They aren't my taste, but nothing else wrong with them other than the above said nitpicking.

[wisteria12]

Yes, that's what she's worried will happen with Roald. I suppose it's inevitable that people will pronounce it "Rolled" because nobody actually realises they've been saying Roald Dahl wrong this entire time.

Rudyard could be shortened to Rudy I suppose, but she didn't mention it.

And my good friend Leonora gets called Leo, she's never had any issues. It's like Alex or Jackie.

[SandStorm]

Although it's my favourite girl's name on the the list, there's a danger that Leonora might get shortened to Nora.

[ValiumSkeleton]

Gilbert (shortened to Gil) quite like it
Josiah - no, bibley. There's a limit. I like Saul though, it's not so of the moment right now.
Edwin (shortened to Win) I like it.
Roald (Pronounced ROH-all not "Rolled") - Well I do like Roald but pronounced in the normal way.
Rudyard - no I read some of Rudyard Kipling's stories and he was a racist and a sexist. Urhg.. Shudder.

Girls:

Arabella - No. Too lacey. I like Arianne though.
Leonora/Leontine (shortened to Leo) _ I love Leonora but not the other one.
Adela - Yes I like it, very pretty and unusual.
Christabel - LOVE it. Very Pankhurst.

[frakkinstein]

Gilbert or Edwin for a boy (love Win for short!)

Anything except Arabella or Leonora for a girl. I have a Dutch friend called Leontien - it's an amazing name, as is Christabel.

[wisteria12]

She just texted me to say she's edging towards Adela Christabel Leontine for a girl and either Gilbert Josiah Anselm or Edwin Josiah Anselm for a boy. Thoughts?

[ValiumSkeleton]

Adela Christabel is beautiful and it's enough. Rein her in now!! Overkill. You can over egg the pudding.

[RockBat]

Boys:

Gilbert (shortened to Gil) - love it
Roald/Rudyard/Josiah/Edwin - eek no!

Girls:

Arabella - too fussy, flowery
Leonora/Leontine (shortened to Leo) - Leonora lovely, Leontine, not great. Not sure about Leo though...
Adela - nice
Christabel - cutsy dolls in lacy dresses. no no no

[RockBat]

Adela or Gilbert then I think. She is in danger of sugar overload though

[wisteria12]

Yes I was thinking the same. She's still totally stuck on the Gilbert/Edwin conundrum though. I can't exactly help because I really like them both.