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Original poster

Short list for girls names

37 replies

TheWicketKeeperIsDown · 31/01/2012 00:33

I'm 37 weeks with DC2, so time is getting short, and DH and I have been struggling to agree. We've narrowed it down to a few now and I'd appreciate opinions. I'm not putting the boys' names as my favourite is generally shot down on here (it's a Scottish name which Scots seen to like but English people don't get!) so here's our girls list:

Tess
Rebecca
Beth
India

If it helps, DD is called Naomi.

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Original poster
TheWicketKeeperIsDown · 01/02/2012 10:12

Thanks for the suggestions, but we've been through endless fruitless discussions over the last few months, and these 4 are the only ones that we both like enough to consider, which is why they're on the shortlist!

OP posts:
PopcornBiscuit · 01/02/2012 09:00

How about Melissa, Jessica, Joanna, Grace, Joy, Abigail, Hannah, Leah, Catherine, Sophia, Lucy, Chloe, Rachel, Lily?

Original poster
TheWicketKeeperIsDown · 01/02/2012 08:16

Oikopolis - I'd been thinking exactly the same things re origins.

Bethany is actually a New Testament place name - its where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived.

But I don't think we have to have such an exact fit as all that!

OP posts:
oikopolis · 01/02/2012 01:30

Bethany is v old testament too, it certainly matches Naomi well. Though I prefer Rebecca. Bethany is a place name, not a personal name. Whereas Rebecca is a proper girls' name with a history as such.

oikopolis · 01/02/2012 01:17

Here comes my needlessly detailed cultural analysis of your list...

Tess -- nice, prefer Theresa/Therese, nn Tess. But none of these fit with Naomi. Theresa's quite Catholic/Mediterranean, Naomi is Hebrew/English Protestant in style.

Rebecca -- lovely name, also a Hebrew/Prot style. Fits best with Naomi out of your list.

Beth -- nice, prefer Elizabeth. Though a biblical name, it's a new testament name, whereas Naomi is old testament. Rebecca is old testament too, so fits better with Naomi than Elizabeth does.

India -- like this name but it's an entirely different "type" to Naomi. V modern/trendy in style, Naomi is classic though somewhat uncommon.

Rebecca's a lovely name & it fits so nicely with Naomi. I would go with Rebecca. (Though all the names are great!)

awomenscorned · 31/01/2012 23:35

Like tess and india

PiedWagtail · 31/01/2012 23:32

I have a Rebecca age 8 who is the only one i her school - not a common name atm! I call her Becca as I'm not keen on Becky and she really suits it. School calls her Rebecca and it's cool too.

Of your other names. I think Rebecca goes best with Nai=omi.
Tess - Tess of the D'Urbervilles - what happened to her :(
Beth - nice but has to be short for Elizabeth in my book
India - like it too but poss chav connotations....

Original poster
TheWicketKeeperIsDown · 31/01/2012 23:21

I like Lydia but it has already been vetoed by DH.

OP posts:
blameitonthecaffeine · 31/01/2012 22:43

I have Rebecca who has never been shortened to anything else.

mistressploppy · 31/01/2012 22:42

What about something similar to India then? Like Lydia?

Original poster
TheWicketKeeperIsDown · 31/01/2012 22:32

Thanks everyone!

This is helpful and not helpful, as there seems to be a relatively even spread of opinion!

I'm generally v much of the opinion that the "proper name" goes on the birth certificate, as is DH. But I have a problem in that I'm really not a fan of either Elizabeth/Bethan/Bethany and while I love Tess, I detest Theresa/Teresa/Therese. So if we went for one of them, I think it would be Bethany on the birth certificate if it were Beth, as that's DHs favourite out of those. Beth is my least favourite out of those four, I think. But if it were Tess, I would have to go against my grain and put Tess on the birth certificate.

Agree I'm not sure about some of the diminutives of Rebecca (although like Becca). And I wondered if folk would think India a bit pretentious - we don't have any connection to India, just love the name and it would go brilliantly with our surname. India is actually DHs favourite.

Decisions, decisions! Thanks for the comments, though - it is helpful.

OP posts:
Kayano · 31/01/2012 21:58

Tess!
Grin

littlemonkeybix · 31/01/2012 21:45

I like Beth and Rebecca Smile

chummymummy7 · 31/01/2012 21:39

Tess or Beth/Bethan/Bethany. These seem in a distinct category from Rebecca/India. Tess is best imo. Good luck with it all

mistressploppy · 31/01/2012 21:30

Rebecca is a wonderful name. They're all nice names though

I know a 3yo Tess who is a delight, so quite fond of that name too.

phlossie · 31/01/2012 21:07

I love Tess too!!

NotnOtter · 31/01/2012 20:58

love Tess - itching to know what your boys name is!!

m1nn1em0u5e · 31/01/2012 20:57

Love Tess, my friend has a little girl called India, she is lovely :)

melliebobs · 31/01/2012 20:47

I don't like Rebecca just cos what people sometimes shorten it down too. Ie bex, becky, becca

But my gave onthat list is Tess and then India

LaFilleSurLePont · 31/01/2012 20:44

I love all of them,which isn't terribly helpful I know. Beth or India would be my first choices, then Tess then Rebecca.

girliefriend · 31/01/2012 20:43

Don't like India, like Rebecca but don't like Beccy! Beth - not sure, like Tess though also Tessa Smile

patsdeadfrank · 31/01/2012 20:42

i like beth. its on our list to.

rnbsmum · 31/01/2012 20:41

Definitely like Tess best - gorgeous name!

Hulababy · 31/01/2012 20:41

I like Beth and India.

PDog · 31/01/2012 20:39

I love Tess - just suggested it to dh but he is a bit meh. Sad

Like your other choices too - India is the only one I am not really sure about.

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