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Name shortlist help please

39 replies

OliveOrTwist · 24/05/2018 13:52

We've been finding it so hard coming up with names. We've got a shortlist but I'm still not convinced any are the 'one'. Can you let me know what you think of the names. Good or bad? I've listed them in our current order of preference:

Girl
Lois
Francesca
Naomi
Melissa
Megan (I'm not sure we'd use this because we don't want to look like we're naming after Markle)

Boys
Joshua
Conrad
Nathaniel
Isaac
Felix (I dont think we'd be brave enough to go for this as a 1st name. Maybe middle though)

We will give the baby a middle name but there's no family name or anything. We'll just go with names that we like and sound good together.

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Sophronia · 24/05/2018 13:56

I like Naomi, Melissa, Conrad and Nathaniel best.

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SleepingStandingUp · 24/05/2018 13:59

Francesca - lovely and pretty but not too frilly, can be shortened which I like
Rest are fine but wouldn't personally wouldn't.
Midday well get lots of puerile asking you re Megan if baby is due this year

Nathaniel - love love love
Isaac - I like, would nn to Zac
Felix - It's honestly fine as a fist name

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BabloHoney · 24/05/2018 14:01

Love Melissa! With Lissa as a nickname, I think it's long overdue a comeback!

And all your boy names are fabulous. Specially Conrad.

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MikeUniformMike · 24/05/2018 14:04

Girl
Lois - ok but a bit plain
Francesca - ok but a bit too long and flouncy
Naomi - I dislike people saying it as Nigh-Oh-me
Melissa - lovely
Megan - No, I like Meg.

Boys
Joshua - no. Too popular in the 1990s.
Conrad - yes but not keen on Con.
Nathaniel - no. Too long, Not keen on Nat or Nate.
Isaac - ok. Not keen on Ike.
Felix - ok

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Awwlookatmybabyspider · 24/05/2018 15:14

Love all your girls names. However I only like Francesca in its entirety. I don't like Fran/Frankie/Franny

Conrad is just gorgeous. The others are not my cup of tea though

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Peachbubble · 24/05/2018 15:24

I really like Melissa and Felix. I don't know any children (or adults actually) with either name.

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Proudmummy2MA · 24/05/2018 15:52

Lovely name choices! My favourites from your list are Francesca and Isaac :-)

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MammieBear · 24/05/2018 16:17

Nathaniel and Francesca

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AdaColeman · 24/05/2018 16:29

Melissa and Francesca are my favourites.
Naomi is my least favourite.

Felix is my favourite by a long way, Joshua and Isaac are extremely popular.

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MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 24/05/2018 16:46

Lois- love it, pretty but not too girly
Francesca- lovely, as long as you don't mind it being shortened to Frankie which is probably inevitable.
Naomi- I'm not keen on this one. I think it's a bit dated.
Melissa- same as Naomi
Megan- it's a nice name but I agree with you about the Megan Markle association and would avoid for this reason.

Joshua- lovely name, timeless
Conrad- I'm not a fan of this one. Will get shortened to Con or Conny but that may not be an issue for you.
Nathaniel- I love this. Its on our list.
Isaac- Nice name, there are a lot of them but that may not be an issue for you.
Felix- Great name, cool and unusual but not too out there. A bit wasted as a middle name imo.

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OliveOrTwist · 24/05/2018 17:05

Between you all you've all touched on some of my concerns on the names and things that make me doubt them. But no one has said good god that list is hideous, so that's a plus. Its just a big decision giving a human a name! Grin

Lois - I go between thinking its pretty and simple and then I doubt myself and think its a bit boring.
Francesca - I also prefer it Francesca as a whole but I don't know if its a bit much
Naomi - We would say it nay-o-mi. Like PP I also don't like nigh-o-mi. Concerned that would be a constant problem.
Melissa - I like it, I just dont know if its the one
Megan - I'm not sure we'd use this because we don't want to look like we're naming after Markle

Joshua - This is DPs current favourite. It would be Joshua at home not Josh
Conrad - This is my favourite but DP worries it is a bit harsh sounding. I'm happy to see some people also like it!
Nathaniel - Is it too long? I don't love Nate
Isaac - I like it, I just dont know
Felix - I was worried this was a bit trendy and will date badly

I don't think we'll add anything else to the list. Really, we both like all of the names and those things are just us trying to talk ourselves out of them. I'd like to maybe get it down to 3 of each and I'm hoping that when baby is here in September, it will just look like one of them and that will decide it.

Thanks for your input though

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OliveOrTwist · 24/05/2018 17:08

Is Isaac really popular then? I don't know many young children so I'm a bit clueless. Being a Sarah and so growing up always as one of many, I'd definitely like to avoid something super popular.

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AdaColeman · 24/05/2018 17:52

I'd say Isaac was in the top twenty names, not as popular as Noah though.

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bridgetreilly · 24/05/2018 19:00

In order:
Lois
Francesca
Naomi
Melissa
Megan
Hah! I promise this is my order of preference, not just c&p.

Felix
Isaac
Nathaniel
Joshua
Conrad

Felix and Isaac are both top of my boys' name list, because I love their meanings, as well as their sounds. I don't like Conrad at all. I think a Conrad would be a cold, ruthless, business tycoon. Like a Rupert Murdoch. Apologies to all lovely Conrads!

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OliveOrTwist · 24/05/2018 19:11

Its so interesting getting other opinions. We don't want to discuss with others IRL so MN is great.

Bridget Ha so you've got the exact same order for girls and the boys is almost upside down Grin

I must admit I do really like Felix but I thought it might be a name that people raise their eyebrows out. But you're all making me reconsider that. Its staying firmly on the list for now.

It really is bloody difficult. Especially the having to agree with DP part Grin

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InkSnail · 24/05/2018 19:36

Lois - OK, a bit abrupt, prefer Louise/a
Francesca - not keen on Fran or Cesca so the nicknames would put me off
Naomi - like
Melissa - like
Megan - I bet everyone avoids the name because they think it will now become overused... so it won't, and you're safe Grin

Joshua - like
Conrad - dislike
Nathaniel - like
Isaac - OK
Felix - great

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TroubledLichen · 24/05/2018 19:44

I really like Joshua, Nathaniel and Issac from your boys names. I don’t think we share the same taste in girl’s names as I’m not wild on any of your choices. I really want to like Francesca but it would probably get shortened and I don’t like Fran/Franny/Frankie.

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17caterpillars1mouse · 24/05/2018 19:59

Lois - I want to like it but it just makes me think of the mother on family guy

Francesca - love it. My favourite of your choices

Naomi - lovely underused classic

Melissa - pretty but a little dated

Megan (I'm not sure we'd use this because we don't want to look like we're naming after Markle) - lovely name and I dont think anyone would think that


Boys
Joshua - lovely but I dislike Josh which always puts me off using it

Conrad - nice and uncommon

Nathaniel - love it
Isaac - I like it but know alot

Felix (I dont think we'd be brave enough to go for this as a 1st name. Maybe middle though) - makes me think of cats. Saying that I know quite a few so wouldn't view it as a name you need to be brave to use

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pilates · 24/05/2018 20:14

Francesca and Nathaniel

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deptfordgirl · 24/05/2018 20:16

They're really nice. I particularly like Naomi and Lois and Isaac and Felix.

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OliveOrTwist · 24/05/2018 20:26

caterpillars I've never watched family guy. If it comes on the TV by accident I can't even bear the characters annoying voices. So I don't associate Lois with family guy. But its off putting to know one of those characters is called Lois!

Like some of you I'm not a huge fan of Josh/Fran/Nate so with family they would be known the full name. This actually wouldn't be a problem. We have adult Thomas Charlotte and Fredericks in my family and they are always known by full names within the family despite being Tom Charlie and Fred to friends (not real names)

I know I can't control school and nursery but I'm ok with them having shortened names there, I would just prefer not to use them myself.

Thanks again for all input. Its really helpful

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Ohcomeonn · 24/05/2018 21:25

Lois is the top of my list if mine is a girl. I also adore Francesca and like Melissa. Not mad on Naomi (I just think Campbell) and I find Megan a bit drippy.

I'm not particularly keen on your boy names but Isaac can be shortened to Zac which I like.

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Sugarpiehoneyeye · 24/05/2018 21:58

Melissa is very pretty !
Conrad is cool, love Rad as a nick name.

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ellalouise90 · 24/05/2018 22:17

Issac Nathaniel sounds beautiful as a full name💙
Out of your girl list I like Megan , would you consider Meggie 💖

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ABitOTT · 24/05/2018 22:44

I'm going to stand up for Naomi. I love the name!
Least favourite is Melissa. I knew plenty growing up (70/80s) & all were moody spoilt brats. Lois is a gentle & pretty name & I can see why you like it.

Conrad is a cool name & one my cousin chose 30 years ago for her DS. It was out of fashion then & the family all hated it. Conrad is a great name that deserves a revival. Also like Isaac.
Least favourite is Felix. That's a cat's name in my book.

Just shows we all have differing opinions.

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