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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Girls name..just starting out..two polar opposite sets of criteria

54 replies

jaykay987 · 09/11/2013 08:51

Hi (apologies for rather long post - Id appreciate it if you manage to read to the end!)

We're still fairly newly pregnant - so have a very long time to decide. But DH and I are currently sitting at polar opposites of the "names we like" sphere, so would appreciate any ideas anyone has to bridge the gap.

So focussing on girls names.

I love unisex style /surnamey names (I appreciate not to everyone's taste). I also like modern and vintage names. I would prefer to avoid super popular names (though appreciate you can't predict the names of others in school). I grew up with a unisex name, and have only ever met three or four others with the same name.
So my favourites include:
Charlie
Harrie
Eddie
Denver
Ryan
Reyna

DH on the other hand is boring traditional. He had a popular name (top ten for our generation) and wasn't phased that there were many in his year at school. He hates the old people name trend. And all the names he likes (limited in number as he prefers to say no to names than to actually generate new ones!Smile) are the girls we went to school with:
Rebecca
Samantha
Grace
Lindsey
Katherine
Emily (meets my old lady criteria but is top 5)
Amy

So far the types of compromise that might be on the shortest are:
Charlotte (Charlie could be used if its suits her, but I still worry this is a little too girly)
Georgina (I love George - but worry about the prince and whether this will become super popular. We'll have to decide before next ons lists are published so won't be able to gauge impact).
Jamie (possibly)

So does anyone have any great ideas that'll help us both find a name we love?

FYI - Im not of the opinion woman pushes so gets to pick names! Im also aware of the issues some people have with unisex names.

Thanks very much!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
badtime · 09/11/2013 09:45

There are some unisex names which your husband might consider (e.g. Robin/Robyn, Rowan, Dorian, Darrell, Leigh?), but I think your best compromise would be to have a 'girly' name with a unisex nickname. TBH, although I like unisex names I dislike 'nickname' names so I am not keen on Charlie, Harrie etc.

Alexa/Alexis/Alexandra (Alex, Lex)
Davina (Davie)
Stephanie (Stevie) - a good 70s/80s name your husband should like!
Laura/Lauren/Laurel (Laurie)
Danielle/Daniel(l)a (Dani, Dannie)
Frances/Francesca/Francisca (Frankie)
Joanna/Josephine (Jo)
Judith (Jude)

ZingWantsGin · 09/11/2013 09:24

sorry, I'm with your DH! I like traditional names.

still I have friends who are Charlie (Charlotte), Phil (Philippa), Chris (Christine) and Sam (Samantha) and that's what it is.Smile

good luck, it's not easy but both of you might change your minds anyway - happened with us, even after baby was born!

jaykay987 · 09/11/2013 09:21

I love Harriet - but DH has an irrational dislike.

The others a probably still a little oldie worldly for him. But I'll run them past him.

OP posts:
TeaAndCakeOrDeath · 09/11/2013 09:08

Antonia - Toni
Beatrice - Bea
Constance - Connie
Dora
Etta
Frances - Frankie
Harriet - Harry
Mabel
Olive
Opal
Pearl
Viola

Any of those for a starting point?