Help! Need to shorten the shortlist

[Malkofish]

Hello, I've got a few weeks left to go, and I was just wondering if anyone fancied throwing some opinions at our shortlist in the hope of shortening it further! Good/bad/dodgy possible nicknames I may have missed?! Also, any other ideas (esp. for boys!)?

Boys: Aneurin, Gruff, Cai, Victor, Ellis, Emrys
Girls: Eri, Gwen, Alaw, Erin, Marnie, Madeline, Anwen, Cerian, Eirian, Erianwen, Iris, Violet, Joni, Della

Cheers!

[MostlyCake]

Depends on your surname and any middle names you plan to use - we had a few names picked out then realised the first initials selled out MAD and DAD - not great!

Also, might be an idea to think where you are likely to live - are you prepared to have to spell out or explain how to pronounce your name choice over and over?

I think the names you suggest are lovely, but will the more ethral sounding ones suit the baby? We loved the name Willow but neither DP or I are willowy so the odds of having a willowy child were slim - we imagined little Willow coming stomping down the street which put paid to that idea!

[AnythingNotEverything]

My favourites are Gruff, Ellis (although I prefer it with one "l"), Iris and Violet.

Good luck!

[Malkofish]

thanks MostlyCake, It's a good point about the more ethereal ones! It's the DH who's more keen on those tbh.

We live in Wales, and I have a Welsh name which hasn't caused me too many problems so hoping that won't be too much of an issue, although you never know where we might end up so worth considering!

Middle names - argh! Even more to think about!

[specialknickers]

Not a fan of Cai, can't elp thinking of the Rooneys... Sorry!

That's one off the last for you hopefully...

I like Gruff and Della

[DessieLou]

Well that's quite a list! There's a few that really aren't to my taste...cai, victor & Joni. But the others are quite nice. My choice would be Ellis & Iris. Here's some that I think are quite similar...
Griff (much nicer than Gruff! I think gruffalo.)
Emmett
Everett
Delphine/Delphi

[specialknickers]

List, not last sorry. Also whist I'm at it, I REALLY like Gruff and Della!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Like Ellis only from your boys' list. Gruff looks awful to me, sorry - but I don't know how it's pronounced so maybe it's lovely really.

Love Gwen and Anwen is pretty. Quite fond of Della but prefer it as a nn for Adela.

[LadyWishfort]

Some lovely names there, although (not sure of Welsh pronunciation) Aneurin sounds a bit medical...reminds me of aneurysm. My gd's an Arwen, love that too.
Boys: Elijah/Eli

[kelou75]

Ooh exciting times ahead congratulations!
Ive gone on my insticts, here goes....
Ellis-I really like, Emrys- like, Victor-not sure,
Gruff-feels more like a nn to me, I agree Griff sounds better to me for some reason
Aneurin- not sure, the more I say it I get used to it, maybe because ive not really heard it before. Cai- not for me, sounds to short too similar to Kai.
Girls names i Love, love, love Madeline, iris, voilet, Marnie and Gwen (even Gwyneth) and Erin. Not so loving; Erianwin, Joni, Della
Dont like; Alaw, Eri, Eirian, Cerian
Anwen I really like but for me its unfortunately very similar to my fathers name but love the sound of the name.
I could go on and on with girls names but boys I'm never as decisive or indeed adventurous, Good luck narrowing down the list.

[Jojobump1986]

I love Anwen. It's probably my favourite girls' name but wouldn't go with the middle name we've chosen & we're having another boy so it's moot anyway! Gorgeous name!

I like Gruff but I think it may well get '-alo' added to it. Ellis is nice but Emrys is too Merlin-ish for me. Have you considered Dylan? Or Hywel?

[Malkofish]

Brilliant, thank you! I knew this would help. And thanks for the additional suggestions, I particularly like Everett. Right, will get my thinking cap on!

Specialknickers - I didn't know about Kai Rooney so that's definitely helpful to know!

[telsa]

Love Cai and Victor. Aneurin would be a wonderful tribute to the now deceased welfare state!

Girls, love Joni, Gwendoline, Cerian, Eri, Erin, Eirian...also love Eira, but with luck there will be no snow when she comes! Really dislike Iris...horrid combination of soft and harsh at same time, with mixed associations of flowers and eyeballs.

[thermalsinapril]

I like Victor and Ellis for a boy. Gruff = The 3 Billy Goats.

For a girl I like Violet, Della (short for Delilah?), Cerian, or how about Anna/Iona as alternatives to Anwen/Isla?

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Of your suggestions I like Ellis for a boy but I'm not Welsh so perhaps it's to do with lack of familiarity with names like Aneurin or Emrys?

For a girl, Erin, Marnie, Anwen and Della best - but do you have a favourite?

[BoyMeetsWorld]

Love Emrys, Cai, Anwen and Eirian...though love Eirlys more for a girl :)

[sleeplessinderbyshire]

I absolutely love Eirian but didn't use it for DD2 as we live in England and all the english people we mentioned it to said "ey- what?" repeatedly. Anwen is also lovely and like Cerian as well. What about Bethan?

I'm not so keen on your boys names. My favourite Welsh boys names are Rhodri, Owen, Iestyn and Ioan if any of those appeal...