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Some more unusual than others... thoughts on our list please?

37 replies

ThePartyArtist · 30/01/2017 12:58

Baby's arrival is now fairly imminent and we're still completely undecided on names. We don't know the sex.

Things to bear in mind:

  • We live in England
  • The name must go with a double barrel surname - first part of which is one you always have to spell and is frequently mispronounced; second part of which is very common.
  • We'd like something where people can pronounce it and know which gender it is.


Thoughts please on the following as first names or middle names?

Ruben
Douglas
Gwilym
Rory

Ruby
Arianwen
April
Iris
Ffion
Europa
OP posts:
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Sophronia · 30/01/2017 13:23

Ruben/Reuben is very popular and trendy at the moment. I'd avoid that one. I really like Douglas and Gwilym from your boys list, and Arianwen and Ffion from the girls.

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Awwlookatmybabyspider · 30/01/2017 13:24

I detest Ruben. I think its the most horrible name there is..
I don't like Douglas, but Dougie is cute.
Gwyliem is quite nice
Rory is by far the nicest
Rory Gwyliem would be nice.

I don't like any of your girls names.
I'm sick to the back teeth of Ruby and April.

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Pixilicious · 30/01/2017 13:26

Rory and Iris. I don't like any of the others

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HouseworkIsASin10 · 30/01/2017 13:27

Love April.

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1happyhippie · 30/01/2017 13:30

From your list my favourites are Rory and April.
I don't really like any of the others to be honest. I have never heard of Europa

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LuxuryWoman2017 · 30/01/2017 13:33

I really love Ruben and Iris is the best of a bunch I don't really like. I really don't like Douglas, it brings to mind a certain type of man (dull Doug who bangs on and on about boring subjects)

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HolisticAssassin · 30/01/2017 13:35

Rory Tardis
April or Avril if an April baby otherwise Ruby

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Loyly · 30/01/2017 13:38

I like Rory and Iris.

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EverythingEverywhere1234 · 30/01/2017 13:38

Rory and Douglas (Dougie) are cute. I kind of like April, but none of your girls' names jump out at me tbh!

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Schmoochypoos · 30/01/2017 13:38

Love Rory and Douglas from your boys choices and girls I don't love any of them but my most favourite is Iris.

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DramaAlpaca · 30/01/2017 13:38

I like Rory, Ruby and Iris.

I'm not mad on the rest, tbh.

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MarilynWhirlwindRocks · 30/01/2017 13:48

So I'm guessing you've got Welsh connections!

I like Gwilym, the pronunciation's straightforward, even though others may initially struggle with the spelling (Tough! They can learn).

I like Ruben (I've only ever seen the "Reuben" spelling here; is there any particular reason you prefer the Spanish way?). Again, pronunciation self-explanatory.

I like Rory. Gwilym Rory, perhaps?

Girls-wise, I really like Arianwen. So pretty. And Ari's quite a cute NN. Although it's not that familiar, it's easily pronounced and, actually, the spelling's logical.

Ffion's also nice; I guess your DD would get used to reminding people it's double F! (I never knew it meant "Foxglove" until looking it up just now...every day's a school day Smile)

Ruby and Iris are both lovely. Pretty popular, if you're bothered by that sort of thing?

Arianwen Iris gets my vote.

Europa is a name that would definitely attract attention: could really suit a very confident, outgoing, quirky kid (am thinking perfect for budding actor/ singer/ writer) who could 'own' it. The Greek mythology background's interesting.
On the other hand, a less extrovert girl might struggle. The only NN is "Ropey" (and potential for lame Brexit jokes from adults?).

Hope that helps a little...Best of luck for a safe and speedy delivery Flowers

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willconcern · 30/01/2017 13:51

Rory and Iris

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newroundhere · 30/01/2017 14:00

I have to say I'm not familiar with Gwilym and wouldn't immediately know how to pronounce Blush Is it Welsh?

I really like Rory and Arianwen. Europa sounds a bit grandiose and I can't imagine it as a baby name.

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minipie · 30/01/2017 14:12

I like all your boys' names. Ruben is probably my least favourite but it's ok. Love the others though.

Girls' names - I like Arianwen and Iris. The others are ok, except Europa which sounds like a product rather than a person.

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CancellyMcChequeface · 30/01/2017 14:18

I like Douglas, Ruby, Arianwen and April. Arianwen is probably my favourite.

I like Reuben but am not keen on the Ruben spelling, sorry! Europa makes me think of either the moon or of Europe. I'm not familiar with Gwilym and wouldn't know how to pronounce it. (That doesn't make it a bad name! But it's less intuitive than the others.)

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Pipilangstrumpf · 30/01/2017 15:05

Douglas and Iris would be my choices

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CakeRattleandRoll · 30/01/2017 15:53

I like Douglas and Rory from your boys list.

Love Arianwen and like Iris too from your girls list.

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Allalonenow · 30/01/2017 16:07

Rory is my favourite from your list, with Reuben a close second.

I like Ruby, but not keen on any of the other names, Iris is very popular just now, I'd only use April if she was actually born in April, and Europa is just trying too hard.

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pilates · 30/01/2017 16:14

Rory and Ruby

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JessieMcJessie · 30/01/2017 16:26

Europa sounds like a very deliberate political statement in the a country on the verge of Brexit

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reapercrew · 30/01/2017 16:33

Europa sounds very much like a hire car provider!!
I'd be going with April or Ruby for a girl both nice names, if it's a boy Rory not because I like but it's the most preferable from your list

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JournosAreLazy · 30/01/2017 16:35

Ruben - ok but prefer it spelt Reuben.
Douglas
Gwilym
Rory

Ruby
Arianwen
April
Iris
Ffion
Europa

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JournosAreLazy · 30/01/2017 16:38

Sorry - posted above before I finished typing! Douglas and Rory are also OK. I really dislike Gwilym.

I like Iris and April is OK too. Dislike the rest of your girls names especially Europa. It's the name of a hotel in Belfast which has the honour of being the most hotel in Europe. Agree with a PP that it also sounds like a car hire company.

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JournosAreLazy · 30/01/2017 16:39

*most bombed hotel in Europe.

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