Fussy parents need names advice!

[tumdedum]

I've got about 5 weeks to go before my second child arrives. It could be a boy or a girl. I'm really panicking that we haven't settled on any names that we both like yet. We're very fussy and I seem to find an excuse not to like anything

We want something unusual, but not silly.

The considered list so far goes something like this:

Girls
Alice - Not unusual, but I like this as it was my Great Grandma's name. Husband isn't keen. (Although it could be a middle name)
Orla - We both loved this but we have no Irish connections. Also, I went off it when I realised it would probably spellcheck to Oral.
Francesca - Possibly a bit too 'posh' for us. Although like the nn Frankie
Clara - Love but a good friend recently used for her daughter.
Lilou - Like a lot, (it's French for Lilly) but I think people might not realise it's pronounced Leelou and think of Lilo-Lil.
Lydia - Nice name, but doesn't feel like the one
Eleri - Nice name, but doesn't feel like the one
Eliza - This is in my family tree so there's a nice connection, but again, it doesn't feel like the one


Boys
Rocco - We were quite settled on this, until we realised that a google search for this name with our surname returns hundreds of hardcore porn websites
Oakley - I like this but Husband isn't too keen. Wouldn't want people to think son was named after a sunglasses brand.

That's it. Any help or suggestions gratefully received.

[raisah]

how about Alicia instead of Alice?
Anyaa
Anna
Eleanor
Serena

[NotADragonOfSoup]

To me, both your boys names border on "silly" rather than unusual.

However, the only one I hate from your girl list is Lilou which does indeed make me think Lilo. :) The names you don't think are "the one" may seem right when you see your baby (if she is a girl)

[cakebar]

If you want unusual rather than silly I'd rethink Lilou and Eleri. The rest are nice. FWIW there are a few Francesca's in my dd's reception year. There are none of the other names (although we do know other children with the other names, but they are not common).

I agree the boy's name nborder on silly rather than unusual.

[noblegiraffe]

Isn't Oakley the name of the tree in Everything's Rosie?

[CruCru]

For girls, if you like Clara would you consider Lara? Or Claudine? Or Eleanor?

For boys, if you like Rocco, what about Milo? Or Rufus?

[soontobeslendergirl]

Girls:
Carla instead of Clara?
Carenza/Kerenza
Celeste
Delia
Francis

Boys
Emerson
Innes
Kirk
Romeo
Jenson
Miles
Piers
Austin

[Blanketsandpillows]

I agree with notadragon-to me both of your boys names fall into the 'silly' camp. Love your girls names-particularly Orla and Lydia

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Coralie perhaps?

Love Orla and Alice/Alys

For boys how about Reid, Drake or Cole?

[outtolunchagain]

Lorelei
Leonie
Christobel

Not sure about boys not keen on either suggestion really but if you like them that's all that matters

[tumdedum]

Thanks for your comments and suggestions everyone.
For the girls name Orla, do you think it matters that we have no Irish connections?

I've been convinced all the way through this pregnancy that I'm having a girl. It's only really hit me in the last few weeks that I could equally be having a boy - I need to put some more work into thinking about boys names!

[Blanketsandpillows]

I don't think it matters that you don't have Irish connections. If you like the name, go for it!

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Doesn't matter. Look how popular the name Connor has been, lots of those boys' parents don't have Irish connections I bet.

Going back to Frankie what about Frances if Francesca feels OTT?

[lljkk]

Go for Orla I hate it but don't think that matters. I don't know any little Islas or Isobels whose parents have obvious Scottish connections.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Like Alice and Lydia; like Eliza as a nn and love Clara.

Don't like the boys' names at all, sorry.

[gillian88]

I don't think Orla matters if there's no Irish connections, I'm from Ireland, the usual Irish spelling is Órlaith or Orlagh

[DickdastardlyAndMutley]

Love Lilou but none of your boys names

[DessieLou]

The Irish thing doesn't matter so I'd go for Orla. What about Una? Francesca was on our list. Francine?
I don't like your boys names, I'm afraid.
Phoebus
Fletcher
Fifer
(I have a thing for F's!)

[aufaniae]

tumdedum are you me?!

I'm also very fussy and like unusual names. Before we has DS, I read 8 baby names books and rejected all the names in all of them!

We've considered some of your names too.

DP is keen on Lilou too, and I do really like it the way Milla Jovovich says it. But I think in reality people will end up saying it Lee-Lou, with the same emphasis as see-saw IYSWIM, and I don't like that nearly as much.

Eleri - I agree it's a nice name, we did consier this, but it doesn't feel like the one to me either

Alice - is a family name for me too, my mum would be delighted if I used it. But it's too ordinary IMO. Maybe as a middle name.

How about some of these?

Eira (snow)
Esme
Milla
Nia
Siobhan
Aoife (prnounced Ee-fa)


Inigo
Oisín (Irish - pronounced Ush-een)
Osian / Ossian ( Welsh / Scottish - pronounced Osh-an)
Cerith
Torin

[NotADragonOfSoup]

For the girls name Orla, do you think it matters that we have no Irish connections?

Personally, I only think it matters if you go for one of the names with really complicated proper Irish spellings.

I have three children, one has a Scottish name, one Irish and one Welsh - all fairly normal names and Anglicised spellings though. Only the Welsh one has any sort of legitimate claim behind it :)

[BikeRunSki]

Innes for either sex.

[mewkins]

How about Eddison for a boy? Oakley is a bit naff imo - not keen on names that sound like a brand.

Or Francis for a boy, Frances for a girl?
Instead of Clara, a Claire? Or a Constance?

Any good to you?

[iheartmycat]

Thea?
Xanthe?

Fwiw, I actually really like all the girls names on your own list!

[mathanxiety]

Cora
Cara
Carys
Camille
Camilla
Laura
Lyra
Laurel
Lara
Leonora
Eleanor
Eloise
Elodie
Elsa
Elisa
Ellen
Helena
Rowan
Rowena
Willow

I love Alice and Frances though. I like Orla too -- it's an easy name to pronounce, soft sound, would travel well. (All the Irish Orlas I know spell it just plain Orla).

Leo
Arlo
Ezra
Raphael
Gabriel
Cormac
Owen
Ronan
Fintan
Fergus

[Shr0edinger]

Lydia and Eliza are lovely.

Have you Italian ancestors? Rocco ok, but I prefer Roscoe
Oakley sounds stupid. Sorry.

[buttercrumble]

Love Orla its a beautiful name...