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Baby names

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

Original poster

Please help; DH has rubbish taste in names!

38 replies

GreatJoanUmber · 01/01/2014 17:32

I'm 39w pregnant with DC3. We made name shortlists a while ago, but had another name conversation a few days back with DH which made me despair!
I think we are pretty much set for a boy name, but really cannot agree on a name for a girl. The problem is that DH has awful taste in names likes names that I'd say are 70s to 80s names: Rebecca, Beth, Natasha, Emma; to name a few. Nothing wrong with those, only to me they are too much names of my generation and I couldn't imagine naming a baby one of those (with the exception of Emma which is a bit more timeless, but still not my cup of tea). It's like naming your baby Brian or Howard!! (No offense to those who named their baby any of those).
Now I like names like Cecily, Cordelia, Mirabel, Thalia, Lorelai, Viola; which he finds too 'hoity-toity'.
Middle ground ideas include Susannah, Beatrix, Iris; which I find ok but don't love.
Any other suggestions??

Oh and DS1/2 are Theodore/Albert respectively.

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Mim78 · 14/01/2014 16:49

Oh - just read the end! Never mind then. Ignore me.

Mim78 · 14/01/2014 16:48

I way prefer you dh's names. Natasha is lovely and not 80s at all - frankly all his choices are nicer and classier. Emma is my least fave.

Beatrix is nice and so is Iris so maybe go for one of these?

emmyloo2 · 14/01/2014 07:22

No advice from me because I went through the same thing with my DH. I just wanted to know how you got him to agree to Theodore and Albert which are both fabulous names!!

I love Cordelia and Cecily. Particularly Cecily.

Other names I like:

Josephine
Mabel
Henrietta
Agnes
Miranda (close to Mirabel??)
Victoria (my DD's name)

natandmat · 13/01/2014 08:24

Congratulations! Perfect name! x

thepobblewhohasnotoes · 13/01/2014 02:59

Congratulations! Flowers And great name :)

What are your thoughts on middle names?

Original poster
GreatJoanUmber · 13/01/2014 02:46

Just updating - luckily we had a boy; so Ferdy it is Smile Now we're working on middle names!

OP posts:
MyNameIsKenAdams · 02/01/2014 22:52

Hebe
Aoife
Leah
Penny
Willow
Sara
Kate
Nina

Grumblelion · 02/01/2014 22:14

Sorry, prefer your DH's names overall - though Cecily is lovely.

Imogen is probably my favourite of the other suggestions, would have seriously considered it for DD but it's my cousin's name.

How about Arianna? Or Cecily made me think of Gwendolyn (nn Gwen) - I love Oscar Wilde Smile

Original poster
GreatJoanUmber · 02/01/2014 21:52

KenAdams, this is definitely going to be our last baby, so no chance of using both Wink Juliet was on my list though, but DH didn't like it!

Juno is one of my long term favourites! Again, DH isn't keen Hmm

And, yes, Hester! The strange thing is that DH and I both really really like the name, but can't imagine naming our baby this?! I suppose we are both a bit weird?

OP posts:
Alisvolatpropiis · 02/01/2014 21:20

Hester?!

Imogen and Iris are both lovely, if we're just talking the names in the middle ground Smile

pootlebug · 02/01/2014 21:09

I guess the choice is:

  • Pick a middle-ground name that neither of you loves but neither of you hates
  • Toss a coin....winner picks the name. At least that way one of you loves it.
MyNameIsKenAdams · 02/01/2014 21:04

Ursula
Juno
Ramona
Juliet

Actually, Ferdinand and Juliet has a ring to it,.incase you ever use both names.

Original poster
GreatJoanUmber · 02/01/2014 20:58

Thanks for all your (very mixed!) opinions; I'm glad there are a few who agree with me!
Of the suggested middle ground names, there are a few I /we like: Susannah, Iris, Edith, Hester, Imogen. We discussed all of those, I think the problem is that while we like them, neither of us "loves" them.
NatandMat, our boy name is most likely going to be Ferdinand(Ferdy), which I think goes well with our older boys' names although the Becky/Beth/Tash/Vicky lovers will probably hate it and flame me some more for it

I'd really like to stay outside the top 100 and would like a name that's not too plain or bland. If you can think of any more, keep them coming! Grin

OP posts:
CarryOnDancing · 02/01/2014 08:42

How about Laurel? That feels like it's more in the middle of your choices.

I prefer your names (just) but they do feel more "on trend" than your DH's, which means they will be the future names that age them to a certain decade later on.

AGoodPirate · 01/01/2014 20:57

You already have your answer. Use one of the compromise names. It's the only way!

Islenka · 01/01/2014 20:50

I like a mix of your names actually (Emma, Beth, Lorelai, Thalia).

I think Isabelle/Isabella might work?

FigEater · 01/01/2014 19:57

Mirabel is prissy

Volume121 · 01/01/2014 19:37

I prefer your DH's names. I like Emma and Beth(any).

Of your names I only like Cordelia, but don't love it (frilly)

Sundaedelight · 01/01/2014 19:33

Your names are much nicer. Faves are Cordelia and Cecily!

BunnyLebowski · 01/01/2014 19:23

Your DH is wrong.

Your names are much much nicer and classier.

His are very 80's and boring.

AnAdventureInCakeAndWine · 01/01/2014 19:21

You like older, frillier names; he likes plainer, more recent though currently out of vogue names. One obvious potential area for compromise names that you both like is the plainer (hence less 'hoity-toity') end of vintage names -- perhaps

Grace
Eleanor
Bella
Susannah
Isabel
Lily
Rose
Alice
Ada
Tessa
Ivy

Puddles1234 · 01/01/2014 18:56

Your names are much better in my opinion.

How about:

Isabelle
Arabella
Araminta (NN Minty)
Cosima
Romilly
Penelope
Celeste
Harriet

We have Cecily on our Baby List. Beautiful Name.

5HundredUsernamesLater · 01/01/2014 18:49

Sorry but I also prefer your husbands choices.
And definately not Mirabel, makes me think of the elephant on cbeebies.

Showy · 01/01/2014 18:29

Oh I much prefer your names. DS would have been a Josephine had he been a girl. It was our compromise name and we would have used Sephie as a nickname. DH liked names like Sarah and Emma (classic but popular when we were at school) and I preferred slightly more interesting/unusual names.

Our list for ds was...

Josephine
Aphra
Mirabel
Cordelia
Genevieve
Jessamy
Miriam
Hester
Norah
Willa

PaperBagPrincess · 01/01/2014 18:23

The middle ground names are the best. Love Susannah and Beatrix.