Back again - Esther, Agatha, Clara, Cora or play it safe with Rose?

[emmyloo2]

Still no decision made about our DD due now in 3.5 weeks. Despite discussing for the last 9 months.

I now like Esther or Agatha (Aggie) and DH has said both can be possibilities although he is not particularly thrilled with either to be honest.

He also says he will consider Clara and Cora but finds them a little hard. I think I prefer Esther and Agatha to both.

He wants Rose or Isobel or Alison (which is a family name). I love Rose but it really is too popular for my liking and Isobel is definitely too popular. I really wanted Alison for a while as it is my late aunty's name but I can't shake the feeling it's not my style and is a little dated for me. I love the old-fashioned names, most of which have been rejected by DH..

I honestly don't know how we are going to resolve this. It's getting closer and closer and we are not getting any resolution.

Help!!!

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Hi again hope you're keeping well and calm in spite of all the name crunching.
I bet if your DD arrived tomorrow you and DH would agree on something in a heartbeat.

Just a suggestion what about Hester instead of Esther, or what about Dora instead of Cora?

I have heard Sally used as a nn for Alison btw but that doesn't sound the kind of style of name you're after.

[SarfEasticated]

We had a definite shortlist for my Rose when she was born, but it didn't include the name 'Rose'. As soon as we saw her it just seemed the right name for her, so maybe wait and see how you feel when she arrives.
Or you could call her Esther Rose and he can call her Rose and you can call her Esther! good luck with your decision

[MyNameIsSuz]

What about a variation on Rose if you think it's too popular? Rosa, Rosalie, Rosemary etc? I think Rose is lovely.

[emmyloo2]

Thanks all. Donkeys - I prefer Esther to Hester I think and I love love love Dora. I don't think that will pass the gatekeeper though, although I will check. He is so conservative it drives me up the wall!

Suz - I have proposed all these but no go. I really also prefer just Rose to any of the longer versions. I do love Rose, I just think it might be a little safe for me....

He did the same thing for our son - he wanted Thomas and that was it. Again, I like Thomas but it's way too popular so I put my foot down and said no to Thomas. He came around to my DS's name which is George and of course now he thinks it's the best name in the world. See I just need him to see my taste is fabulous!!

[mummybare]

I love Esther and Rose. Perhaps you could use Alison as a middle name if it has a family connection?

[wiltingfast]

To be honest, Rose, Isobel and Alison are a lot nicer than Agatha, Esther, Clara and Cora.

You say Alison is dated but the names you have said you prefer are part of the current "old names" fad and could well seem a bit odd in years to come. (Agatha? Really? Instead of Rose?)

So go with what you genuinely like rather than what mn tells you to like!

[mummybare]

Actually, I love Clara as well. Cora is a little too nicknamey for me (although I know it's a name in its own right, I do prefer Coralie or Coraline) and Agatha is a little 'granny chic' for my tastes, but altogether some great choices.

Good luck whatever you decide, OP.

[wiltingfast]

There's also roisin (rosheen) and rosaleen just in case you haven't thought of those.

[emmyloo2]

Wiltingfast - you make a very good point. Very good.

See - it's like I have two arguments in my head at all times!

Hmm....

[telsa]

I love Agatha. That is the name of my never to be DD!

[thegreylady]

Rose is a beautiful name and I don't know any child with Rose as a first name-several with mn Rose though. If you like trad how about Dorothy nn Dora or even Dorothy Rose which sounds so pretty and gives options.

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Not stalking you honestly OP but saw in another Baby Names thread you like Felix. Did you consider Felicity?

[littlemonkey2013]

I really like Clara. I think it's unusual but not so much it can be made fun of. Rose is also nice

[AThingInYourLife]

Clara is my favourite of the names you've listed.

I agree with you about Rose.

[FingersCrossedLegsNot]

Love Agatha

[MummyBurrows]

I think Rose is more popular as a middle name or hyphenated first name like Lexi-Rose rather than a stand alone first name,I think if its a name you both like then go with it,its a beautiful name :)

Of the other names you listed I like Clara :) FWIW I know an Esther,she's 22 and absolutely hates her name because "its a shitty old ladies name"...she gets everyone to call her Esme (ez-mee) instead,much to the frustration of her parents...

[lottiegarbanzo]

I really like Esther and Clara. Agatha is very 'old lady trendy'.

Esther is great, it's in that classic category of 'everyone's heard of it and can probably spell it but it's not widely used or linked to a particular point in time, social class or anything else'. I knew one nn Bess. I don't like Hester.

Clara has a nice sound and is one of the names that pops up in my head unexpectedly when I'm thinking about what names are nice, along with Cleo.

Alison is desparately dated and linked to babies of the 70s-80s, it will be quite a while before that's fashionable again. For now, it sounds as though you're naming her after a school friend.

I'd go for Esther Isobel or Clara Rose (or the other way around but I like how you repeat the S sound in one pair, R in the other).

[Ham69]

Clara and Esther are beautiful names.
I think Esther Alison is lovely.

[diddl]

I like Isobel the best.

Elsa?

[night1971]

Agatha is much more interesting and goes v well with George.

Agatha Rose?

[brackengirl]

I had an Esther Madeleine a week ago and love it (obviously!) Have had lots of good responses. Also have DD1 Rosanna so I think Esther Rose would be perfect!

[ZolaBuddleia]

I love Esther and Cora. Honor? Coral/Coralie?

[Leafmould]

Have I understood right? Is Rose your oh's only choice? That's a bit limited. I would be asking him for a list of 10 suggestions.

If he is being lukewarm about all your ideas, perhaps that choosing a name together website is what you need.

[Gingerbreadlatte]

Esther. Love this but was vetoed by my oh.