He didn't like a single bloody one!

[JessicaRRRabbit]

DH has written off my lists. Entirely. We're not expecting DC2 for several months yet but now I'm worried we won't agree on anything. Please give me your opinions (and tell me he's off his rocker not to like them!)

DS has a traditional name that always gets lovely comments but I'm not particularly bothered about DC2's having traditional or modern: DH wants more traditional but could be talked round with the right name I think. It just has to be a fantastic name, preferably not top 100 and fit with the surname G r a n g e r. TIA

My lists:

Benedict
Evan
Jonathan
Marcus
Nicholas
Patrick
Quinton

Annabel
Cecile
Halle
Joely
Juliette
Marianne
Rosaline

DH's lists:

Alexander (actually really like but will have the -er sound at the end of both names!)
Matthew (meh)

Helena (as Alexander)
Ophelia (beautiful name but can't like it for DC2 for some reason! Also an -er name)
Viola ('Vile-a'? - beautiful name but again not too sure. Also an -er name)
And yes DH is a Shakespeare nut!

[Jewelledkaleidoscope]

I like Viola.

Point out to DH that you have several Shakespeare names on your lists too?

[AlansCatalanCat]

What about Rosalind, wouldn't he go for that?
Although Rosaline is Shakespearian too IIRC, isn't she Romeo's first crush?

[UpTheFRIGGinDuff]

Hermione

[CarriMarie]

I like Jonathan, Marcus and Matthew or Annabel, Juliet and Helena.

[JessicaRRRabbit]

So no-one else so far thinks the -er sound at the end of both names merits a veto then? Interesting...

Jewelled and Alan DH knows I've included Shakespearian names but still immediately vetoed .

I've tried to explain why I'm vetoing so we can come up with new ideas but am just getting 'I don't like it' from DH. We wouldn't be going round in circles so much if he told me why he didn't

Lol at FRIGGin - Hermione would've been a contender if not for HP!

[bananamummy]

Love your lists, in fact our childrens' names are all on your lists (although we have a Quentin rather than Quinton). Love your names much more than your DH's , although Helena is very nice too.

[rachel234]

I like most of the names on your lists (except for Matthew/Matt). My favourites are
Marcus
Quinton (also prefer Quentin)
Patrick
Cecile
Marianne
Helena

[exoticfruits]

Jonathan, Nicholas, Matthew,Juliet,Helena all lovely.

[Sparkeleigh]

I like both Helena and Viola, but I think I'd pronounce them differently..

Helena would be either He-lane-a or Helen-ah..

Viola would be Vi-o-la like the flower.

That way neither of them would end in an -er sound... Maybe it's a difference in accents though.

[AlansCatalanCat]

I don't think an -er or -a ending should be ruled automatically. It depends on the overall sound. For instance, I prefer Julia to Juliet and I think that sounds fine with your surname.

[JessicaRRRabbit]

Bump for the evening crowd.

[runninggirl85]

My dc will have the same surname :-)

No name ideas yet though..going to wait to start thinking until i know the sex.

Quinton is a good name :-)

[Oubliette0292]

I really like Marianne and Rosaline from your list (isn't there a Rosalind somewhere in Shakespere?). How about Octavia (Quite similar to Ophelia)?

I like Patrick and Jonathan from your boys list (quite like Quintin too). Does he want a Shakespearian boys name too (if so I quite like Duncan)?

[BlueChampagne]

I don't think the -er thing is a particularly big deal. Thinking about it, it's rather nice. Love Alexander; Alasdair is Scottish equivalent if it helps. Helena is fab too. Would avoid Viola because do vile. How about:

Miranda
Meredith
Meryl
Corinna

Conrad
Lysander
Corin
Torin

[AurorasShoes]

I like Alexander and don't think the double 'er' is too much.
Girls' names:
Annabel
Cecile (I also like Celia, Cecilia and Cecily)
Helena
Juliette
Marianne
Rosaline (although do prefer Rosalind for some reason)

[mathanxiety]

Well he can't just veto after you've put your heart into choosing selections. That is a mug's game for you to play.

What you need to do is both of you write a list of 20 bona fide names, maybe 10 each boy and girl names. No ridiculous/outlandish names. This means nothing like Journey, Dave, Chardonnay, Echo...

Then each gets to strike two or three names off the other's list, no questions asked.

At that point you discuss the remaining names in good faith. Don't forget middle names.

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Claudius and Gertrude. Push for those and he might reconsider your list HTH.

[JessicaRRRabbit]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone - much appreciated

Also for your suggestions - some lovely ideas:

For those who prefer Quentin, I was the other way round and just preferred the sound of Quinton with our surname - different strokes I suppose

Oubliette Yy there is a Rosalind too - def prefer Rosaline though. I like how the long 'I' sound at the end makes it a 'softer' name iyswim? In the same line of thought, I would veto Octavia and Duncan because they sound harsh to me. Just mentioned the name to DH and he vetoed because 'it sounds like octopus.' And because he's actually given a reason for vetoing!

Miranda - mutually vetoed due to the marmite comedienne.
Meredith - On The List - score!
Meryl - It seems too old a name to me; DH - a flat out no go.
Corinna - Corinne was on my long list but DH hate hate hates both names
Conrad - As Meryl
Lysander - I love it - DH worried it's too unusual
Corin - As Corinna
Torin - On The List

Donkeys I tried Claudius and Gertrude out on DH for the crack and pmsl when he started and spluttered at Claudius, which is an 'old man's name' apparently. Gertrude he liked but thankfully vetoed because other kids would call her Dirty Gerty Off to try Pyramus and Thisbe...

Blimey - what a long post! Please keep the suggestions coming - we have two more names already! again everyone.

[wiltingfast]

Thalia?

Julia?

Clara?

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Pyramus and Thisbe were my next suggestions!

Of the genuine ideas given I like Torin and from your list, Marianne.

(I was going to put forward Marina but I guess you won'tlike it paired with your surname).

[Vijac]

My favourites are Alexander, Annabelle and Juliette. I don't think the er thing really matters, yes it doesn't sound like a perfect match but it is not bad in any way either.

[ShowOfHands]

Josephine goes very well with your surname plus it's a classic name, not massively popular and has lots of lovely shortenings- Josie, Jo, Sephie, Phin etc

If DS had been a DD, he'd have been a Josephine.

[mathanxiety]

I would pronounce Rosaline as Rosaleen, never with a long I at the end. As in Josephine..

How does Torin make a list but Meryl and Conrad don't because they are too unusual??

[JessicaRRRabbit]

Oh Show I love Josephine/Josie but it was a real lemon for DH - if we went for math's veto system it'd be bottom three for sure.

Sparkle and math we just go with the pronunciations we grew up with iyswim. We grew up on opposite sides of the country but we've never had quibbles on how the names we've discussed should be pronounced.: the -a in Helena in both our accents sounds like -er not -ah and when we each read R&J at school we were both taught the pronunciation Roz-a-line.

As I wrote upthread math, Meryl and Conrad sound old to me - not unusual - too middle aged. Torin I love because it sounds youthful and is ancient at the same time. Does that explain it?

[nightcircus]

Merryn
Elodie
Cordelia?!