don't like the name we chose!

[avariceandlatinos]

i had my baby 6 weeks ago and i don't like the name i've given her anymore: Willow. her father chose it not me and i don't like it because

1. it has no substence or strength(he hates 'classy' names like Valentina)
2. it sounds too girly and soft - which to be honest aren't things i personally value but that's just me.
3. I can't imagine a judge or a minister with this name (she should at least have aspirations lol.)
4. It's becoming trendy and popular
5. it doesn't sound great with the surname
6. it means nothing to me, it's just a tree.

Other names i considered were:
Haydee - hay-day
Valentina
Anastasia
Regan - ree-gan
Phoenix
Eugenie yoo-jay-nee
Emma
Blaise
Skye
Iona
Sophia - pronounced sof-eye-a
Seren
Aurora
Sapphira
Sasha

[avariceandlatinos]

So what i'm asking is, which of these other names could you imagine on a professional person, or someone with a bit of spirit? Which sound nice?

[meemarsgotabrandnewbump]

what does your DH think of your other suggestions? Does he like any of them?

[pinkfizzle]

Valentina or Sophia, ditch Willow.

[MrsVik]

Seren is a beautiful name with a nice meaning. Emma is a good, solid name, Iona is pretty.

Willow - it's nice, but it wouldn't be on my list. It reminds me of the girl from Buffy. I think you can change her name quite easily still, so talk it over with your DH. Maybe have Willow as a trendy middle name?

[preggersplayspop]

I normally like quite traditional names but I do like Willow. I think its normal to have second thoughts about the name as it feels like quite a responsibility to get it 'right'.

Like Valentina. Salma Hayek (sp?) called her little girl this didn't she? Its a very strong name. It wouldn't 'go' with my very anglo-saxon surname though, so depends what your surname is perhaps?

I love Emma though....

[ilikeyoursleeves]

Have you registered the birth yet? We have registered our 6 week DS but I'm in a similar situation to you, I still can't get used to his name and can't shake off the feeling that he has the wrong name

I like Skye & Iona.

[meemarsgotabrandnewbump]

Personally the nicest sounding ones are Seren, Iona, Emma.

I think ones like Phoenix, Aurora, Sapphira and Blaise are as 'out there' as Willow.

But really, i don't think it matters at all in terms of her future career. She will be what she is, whatever her name

[choosyfloosy]

I got put right here when I said that I couldn't imagine someone called Bluebell being Secretary-General of the United Nations, and on reflection that's quite right. Spirit and professionalism shouldn't be dependent on your name.

I really like the name Willow, but if you don't, I think you've got the right to say so to your dh and discuss changing it.

What does he feel about any of the names on your list? I don't see much point on keeping Valentina on the list if he doesn't like it? (I must say, to me the association there to me is not classy at all but the song Valentina Way by Al Stewart!)

I would have thought Iona might be your best bet for common ground with your dh.

[sarahsyrup]

Iona is nice but is one of those ones that can get tricky depending if she takes her prospective partners name...Iona Carr..Iona Whitehouse...but maybe that's just being pedantic.

I like Valentina and Sasha.

[meemarsgotabrandnewbump]

Oh, MrsVik we have the same taste

[Chequers]

Iona

[nigglewiggle]

I have a very good friend called Iona and I always think it is bold but pretty. BUT I aslo like Willow. I don't think it is too common, not in these northern parts anyway and I think it is a great name.

I agree with Preggers that it is normal to have naming wobbles just as your ability to change your mind expires. Stick to your guns, you liked it for a reason.

[theseboobsaremadeformilking]

Blaise is cool and sounds quite strong.
Even if you're registered the birth it's v easy to change within a year and only costs £7.50

[spiderlight]

I like Willow. Love Seren, Emma, Skye and iona too. Has your daughter got a middle name?

[BerylCole]

Haydee, Regan, Blasie - Christ, no. Stripper-a-rama. Willow is about a billion times better than these.

[Heated]

If you can say it's more than just a wobble but a firm conviction then do something about it. You can change it, I think, in the first year.

Only on here, and a couple of times to dh, will I admit I wish I had chosen another name for dd. Dh doesn't agree btw, but he's rock-like in his convictions. But it's her name now, she inhabits it, so I couldn't nor wouldn't change it, but I have since thought of two would definitely have used.

Out of your choices I really like Sophia, Seren & Iona which are strong, elegant, feminine names. Least favourite are Haydee, Sapphira, Phoenix & Blaise.

[DitaVonCheese]

Emma or Seren.

Willow is okay.

Not Haydee.

[ShowOfHands]

Willow's beautiful.

None of the others leap out though I do quite like Seren.

And Regan, lord above no. She'll get together with her sister and torture old men/pluck out their eyes and beard/generally let down her father. Though she may marry a Duke, so there's your aspirations covered.

[Pyrocanthus]

You can't imagine a judge called Willow because it's not an old man's name (though how about Cherie for a judge's name?).

I'm sceptical about names and aspirations - there was some research published a while ago which said that girls with 'girly' names achieved less in their careers than girls with strong, more masculine-sounding names. What constituted such a name seemed a bit arbitrary. My own DD's simple, classical, elegant (I think) name has apparently ruined her career prospects, but if I'd called her Abigail, she'd be heading for the bench. I've nothing against Abigail, but it seems quite girly to me - I think it had something to do with ending in a consonant.

Anyway - I like Emma and Iona on your list because they're not a million miles from my daughters' names, but obviously I'm a poor judge...

[MoominMymbleandMy]

I think it's a lovely name but it has definitely become much more popular than it was when we gave it to DD 11 years ago.

So, yes, change it. DD likes it being unusual .

[kentmumtj]

i prefer Willow out of them all to be honest

[paisleyleaf]

I always think Willows have to be of willowy frame - I guess you can presume what a persons build will be from their parents (and perhaps you're both willowy).

I quite like Regan, Seren and Emma off your list
You could keep the name her father gave her as a middle name?