Beryl

I started off reading this thread with the same attitude about Beryl as most of the others, however I'm starting to get used to the name now. I've never known a Beryl either and for me that gives the name a huge plus point. I am SO sick of names in the top 20-or-so that frankly even names I don't like but are less usual are better.

Having said that, I don't think Beryl and Pearl go nicely together.
I fear Mildred would become yet another Milly. Thisbe is lovely, but I wouldn't be thrilled with Priscilla being shortened to Prissy or Cilla. Shame your DH has vetoed Tabitha, it's lovely.

I must confess I'm not a fan of Beryl either. It sounds dreadfully old-lady-ish to me.

The Pearl makes no difference either way IMO.

I can't believe this made it to discussion of the day! I also can't believe the stick the OP is getting. Have you seen some of the offerings on the two awful-name threads going at the moment? Dolce and Gabanna? Cortnee?La-sha (Ladasha)? Beryl is a beautiful compared to these!

The only way for such names to lose their 'granny' associations is for more young children to use these names. People will then start to associate these lovely children with these names, especially as the younger generation won't know any old Beryls. Just like what is happening with names like Arthur, Archie, Clementine, Quentin, Margaret etc.

I think Ursula is definitely the best one of the bunch. Beryl and Pearl - oh dear! Not good

some dear friends have a beryl (they are french, so the pronounciation is more like bear-reelle). didn't like it at first, but it has really grown on me.

But Ruby is so overused has lost some of its 'sparkle' in the process (yes, I don't like names that are very popular ). And Emerald will inevitably get shortened to Emmi, again which is very popular already.

I like Beryl (perhaps because I don't know any old Beryls, having not grown up in the UK) and think it has a pretty sound. Berry is a lovely nickname imo. I agree with previous poster that once the 'old' associations are lost over the next 10-20 years it may well become popular again.

And to answer the OP's actual question I think Pearl and Beryl are fine together, most people won't know that they're both gemstones and even if they do, it's a lovely connection that they'll share .

Ursula, on the other hand, has a very ugly sound to my ears, I really don't like it very much.

fwiw although i'm not keen on beryl , i love gladys and would use it if i could persuade dh . it was ,however ,pretty much universely despised on mumsnet . it had much the same response as beryl is now getting . still wish i'd used it though . so if you love it and dh is happy go for it .

good luck

Maud sounds good with Pearl-how about that?

Beryl was popular once so why can't it be again? I think most people are too dim to realise that Beryl and Pearl are both gemstones. if they were twins it might be a bit too quaint but as they are quite far apart in age it really doesn't matter.

don't stop posting, it is much more interesting to reply to you than loads of other posters.

love jane, underused as a first name, love margaret, consider mary? I like your vein in underused classics rather than ones that are bit too much of a stretch. Also, Jean, Joan for similar reasons.

Do it if you like it. Beryl and Pearl aren't as alike as all that.

I'm just surprised at people saying Ursula is a beautiful name! It's usually one people make fun of.

I like Thisbe or Priscilla. The last because I had a doll called Priscilla :o

I think gem stone names in general are lovely though personally I would go for Ruby rather than Beryl. I think Ruby and Pearl sound good together. Most people probably don't even know Beryl as a gemstone name.

Some old names are fine excellentadventure, like James - a classic
Others like Cyril or Beryl possibly remind you more of old people !
I know a lovely Beryl though, and would almost be tempted in her honour, but actually I think it would have to be as a middle name !

Actually, I think Jane is really out there these days.

My grandpa was a James, what's wrong with naming a boy after his grandpa?

Dean. Genius :)

My grandpa was a Cyril, so no, I couldn't call a baby that !
Even he didn't use it !

I just hope the baby is a boy. Then OP can call him Dean

Have you gone off Wendy? I love that. Mildred reminds me of George and Mildred and Mildred te Crockle-Bog from Bewilderwood.

Ursula reminds me of Friends. So does Susan come to that.

I like Cyril. I know of someone called Sirrell (but this may have been a 'surname' name). I do think spelling can affect people's perceptions of a name.

Susan is nice, especially the nickname Suzie.

Also, Ursula, not exactly to my taste, but Sula as a nickname is very nice.

Now I like a good granny name - my two DDs both have them, but I find Beryl a bit ugly (sorry) and makes me think of fat women a la Beryl Cook or else Beryl Reid.