there is a girl at dd's nursery called beau. we've always presumed it's because the parents are a bit dense.

Don't mind Bo. I entertained the idea of Melody for dd1 for a while until dp convinced me that I was being hormonal. I still must admit to being quite partial to it though!

SO - Bo Melody is fine imho.

Timothy is lovely - and so rarely heard nowadays.

Axel - sorry but I absolutely hate it.

Loufish, it is the MASCULINE form of beautiful. The feminine form is Belle. If you call a girl Beau everyone will think you are a twat bit thick. Please don't. Belle is a lovely name.

So is Geneveive. And Axel and Bo have really grown on me lately.

Please don't listen to anyone who tell's you you can't call your child something you love. So long as you love it and it won't cause the child to be teased, i think it is your choice.

I love the name bo or beau for a girl. Of course you can call a girl beau - it means beautiful! thinking of it for my own (just found out i'm pregnant.

My mum has always seriously regretted not calling me Genevieve (Genny for short) and all because her sister said 'you can't call your child Genevieve' why not? it's a beautiful name. Whatever you call your child, some people will love it and some will hate it. You'll never win everyone over.

If you like it, do it, i say. So long as both parents like it, what's it to do with anyone else? eh.

Bo is a very masculine name for a girl..
(i dont like it on boys either fwiw)

not keen on axel sorry. maybe rex? or monty? both go with caspar?

bo.... not sure. think it could be quite sweet. how about flo (short for florence) -that way you get your pretty name and your dh gets his shorter snappier alternative? (love clara and flora btw)

Surely Bo is not a real name. Can you find a name that can be shortened to Bo?

I love Axel!

I LOVE Axel. Really, you need to use it if you have a boy.
I don't like Bo though, sorry, it would work for me as a nick name though.

I'd think Axel was a typo for Alex. I'd annoy you immensely by 'correcting' it. Thinking I know better than everyone else not being one of my more endearing characteristics.

Particular!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I am still completely undecided but have some food for thought.... Think we need a forum where we can ask kids if they will take the piss if they hear a paticular name....

Ha ha!!! just read sizidee's post about debbie does dallas....and when I hear double-d names I always think of dirk diggler from boogie nights!

Axel and Bo are both popular in Belgium. But Bo in english is dreadful.

What about Axelle for a girl? Axel was very high on my boys names list.

Oh god....Axel.....do it.
Unfortunately, Hunkermunker's right about Bo, although it means "life/live".
DS' middle name was nearly Axel, but DP chickened out and chose Henrik instead.
Do it....do it.

Much prefer the spelling 'Beau' for 'Bo'.

I'm not sure about Axel.

How about Bede for a boy, if you like unusual names.

I love Orla for a girl.

Ooh I love the name Dulcie - that is a lovely name. You say that your surname is D - I suppose that it depends what it is. Dulcie Davis sounds fine, Dulcie Dibble less so

I like them both. I know a tres cool Axel.

I like Melody as a first name. Lovely.

Axel's too mechanical. Bo's alright.

Thanks for all the replies IMO Mary and Bernard are not that nice!

I like Otis can't do Cassius as DS is Casper and I will not be able to handle that!

Take the points on Bo though, my concern was the length of the name.

I do like Dulcie but surname is a D name so not sure if it works.

Honestly I don't mind people hating my names! I like to hear the opinions I think that traditional namers and alternative ones will never understand each others reasoning!

Both names are not at all nice imo.

Axel. Nooooooo. Not a nice name. Reminds me of that moron from Guns N Roses Axl Rose (anagram of oral sex, fact fans).

Bo. No again. Really don't like it.

Sorry but you did ask! What's wrong with Mary and Bernard?

Axel is a girls name.

I don't like either at all, Bo would get B.O.

I love the name Bo and wanted to use it for my DD but was worried about the spelling... decided on Bonnie and so can shorten it to Bo.

Sorry, but I dont like Axel.

Suzi, is your DH a big 80s film buff??

Please don't go with Bo, it is not a good name. DH has been saying that if we're ever successful in TTC DC2 & have a girl we'll call her Bo (Peep) .

I think Daisy Davies works beautifully

How about Otis for a boy? Or Cassius?

I like Axel
if your fmily is a bit 'alternative' I think you could get away with it and i mean that nicley!
But i love Axl Rose.
I love Ferris but I am big fan of Ferris Beullers Day off!

Ferris? Axel?

Just be done with it and call him Wheel

I much much prefer Ferris to Axel, but wouldn't actually use either of them. Really dislike Bo. It doesn't sound like a whole name to me - I like names with options. Caspar is cool and some of your rejected names are lovely. Lucky you have a few more weeks of thinking time!

Bo, as somebody said, spell that for me will you/

even though Beau is masculine, it's less bad, but still, not great.

Caspar is lovely though!

What about Dulcie?

I know of a Caspar and a Dulcie but you wn't run in to them.

What about Zane?

Axel just reminds me of Axel Foley and Eddie Murphy, who is an arse.

Bo is not great, especially as lots of boys are now being named Beau after Emma Bunton and Loiuse Redknapp used it.

Not keen on either, sorry - although I do love unusual names (I have a Phoenix and a Cassian and a poor, unsuspecting 3rd child on the way)

Bo - reminds me of Bo Brady from Days of Our Lives. Also the spelling - B.O is unfortunate

Axel - I had a lecturer at Uni called Axel Kruse which I thought was pretty cool, but mostly because he was an awesome lecturer (maybe I had a slight crush ) I now have a friend with an Axel (nearly 4 years old, I think, maybe 5) and I know that she's been ridiculed to her face and behind her back about his name. Which is not so bad, but I guess as the kid gets older, if the torment gets transferred to him, it could be an issue? Having said that. kids, will find a way to tease anyone about anything. Being called John/ Jack/ Richard is no guarantee of bullying immunity!!!

Good luck finding a name you love

Axel is lovely. Bo is rubbish. Imagine having a two-letter name... you'd feel cheated!

I know a Bo, I think it's vile, although may be swayed by the child! I also don't think it's feminine in the slightest, far prefer it as a boys' name Beau.

Lots of Axels here, in fact ds1 (Alex) is often called Axel which is v annoying. Still don't like it though, sounds bit 'hard' iykwim

burningupinspeed I actually like Ferris too, just don't know if I could do it.

Our surname begins with D too, always makes me think of Debbie does Dallas or some other XXX thing with the double d's! Shame because I LOVED Daisy and Dulcie

Daisy Davis is fine. Actually it has a nice ring to it.

Suzi I love Flora and Clara. Persist!

Axel isn't at all chavvy .

I DO like Bo but it depends on your surname.

I like Daisy but DP has vetoed it as his surname is Davis <pouts>

Actually I was at a work training session and the course leader was called Axel I just loved it.

Bo I just think sounds nice and is a pretty name, I like pretty names for girls DH has vetoed Flora, Clara, Maisie, Clementine, Anastasia, generally any other name I come up with.

Axel is quite a common German/Danish name isn't it? And over there not at all chavvy, and used by titled and royal familes.

And I am guessing Bo is Swedish - based solely on Ulrika. Is the more unusual of the two.

But personally I would not use them unless I had a connection/reason to use them e.g. lived in Sweden for a while or something.

Axel is OK.
Bo is not.

bo selecta (?!) you cant have seen it...!

axl rose.. hmmm

Hmm, I like Ferris.

How about Arya? There is to be a girl in dd1's class when she starts school in sept called Bo. I will look with interest at how children react to it- though assume at 4 they will just accept it for now!

BTW Custardo I love the idea that pregnant women shouldn't decide on names, I can't even decide what I want for breakfast

Don't worry I'm honestly interested in opinions I don't want my child to get bullied obviously. I have a friend called Toni who was bullied for her relatively normal name as she was called a man and I spent my school years with whatever would go before anna so piganna flatanna whatever I think kids can be creative whatever your name is!

Don't like Axel at all. Sorry to appear rude but I think it's a dreadful name! He will always get ridiculed at school and adults of over 30 will always think of Guns and Roses and Axel F. The simple word association with 'axe' would put me off calling my child that.

I do like some unusual names but I would be cautious of labelling you child. Children can be very cruel.

I can think of many cases of children who hate their odd names like Peaches Geldof and Zowie Bowie. He actually changed his name by deed poll to Ian.

Melody is really nice though- what about that as a first name? Unusual but not stupid or strange although it might get shortened to Mel.

No offence intended I've just never met an Axel.

Its like Tyler and Shane, you could only be called those names round our area if you have a shaved head and a staffie! Did say I quite liked it though, just not good for image I guess...

I think chavvy is a horrible term but I know what MFG means. The Axel in my village is more likely to spend his life dossing about than doing something worthwhile. Giving your dc those kind of names isn't the best start to life.

My cousin is called Bo (Dutch) so it doesn't have the same connotations as here in England. I think it's pretty but B.O. is just too cruel for a child to have to live with I think...

Axel just reminds me of Guns n Roses - it's not for me I'm afraid. But if you love them then who cares what others think?! Just try and be considerate for the child in school!!

Sorry and missed yes he loved the eighties, I wasn't taking the other suggestions seriously

Axel is nice - was quite popular in Germany when I was growing up.

Bo reminds me of Bo Derek.

How is Axel chavvy?

LOVE Aria I might have to suggest that one later.

I actually like the name Bo which is a real name, I am not suggesting Merlot or Chardonnay or Navaeh or whatever it is, I just love unusual names. I am not going to ruin my childs life by giving them a different name.

I like traditional names too I just have to find the middle ground with DH

I take it your DH is a fan of old 80s movies? If so, it's godda be Ferris really hasn't it?

Of forgot to add, Flash is a bathroom cleaner, ferris is a fairground ride, and Conan is just no. No.

Can I be really honest?
Whats with trying too hard with baby names? Bo is quite rediculous (sp), and Axel (though I do rather like it), is totally chavvy.
What the hell happened to traditional names, like Sarah and James!!!
(My two are called Grace and Robert btw-nothing tooooo offensive )
Please dont do it to the poor child!

I think Melody or Harmony are lovely.

How about Aria?

I am warming to Axel, but what about Alex?

I love Belle but can't as it rhymes with my surname, at least I am providing some entertainment and now know I can tell DH to sod off.

I thought Bo Melody was a really pretty name - that is until I read HunkerMunker's post! Ruined it for me I'm afraid.

Axel not really to my taste although I too like more unusual names.

Ah feckit and now Flash <ah ahhhh> is in my head.

Flash is an awesome name, btw.

You can't do Beau for a girl, it's a boy's name. How about Belle?

I now have Axel F in my head, dammit

Please please please not Bow. Beau is the masculine version.

Just pick Jane.

Not at all keen on Bo Melody.

Axel Anthony ok, goes with your ds's name.

Ha Ha I see they are unpopular... blame my DH he also wanted Conan, Flash or Ferris

I know could do Bow or Beau instead, Ulrika Johnson has a Bo don't know if that makes it better or worse.....

The local village troublemaker is called Axel so I can't see beyond that I am afraid.

Neither names are really to my taste though, but it is your baby and what anyone else thinks doesn't matter.

pregnant women should be baned by law from choosing names.

oooh forgot to say already have a Casper Timothy.

Spell "Bo" out loud.

Am a long way off having baby number 2 (27 weeks and counting) but already have the name obsession. I love lurking on here and looking at the suggestions and heated debates. I like unusual but real names, so far the only names DH and I agree on are

Axel Anthony for a DS

Bo Melody for a DD

What do you think? Any other unusual real suggestions?