Should we stay safe, or go for the name we love (that's seen as 'made-up' and 'chavvy')?

I'd prefer Olivia out of the two. I don't really know what a chav name is right now. (I don't keep track just remember the ones considered common when I was at school.).

Amberleigh will a difficult name to learn to spell and your DD will probably become bored spelling it. I have an unusual name and am also now finding it harder as sometimes get asked to say it for automated calls. They do take you through to a person eventually but it's a pain. My phone voice recognition did hear the word - it spelt it Amberly.

My parents gave me an unusual name. It is a pain in the arse.

My name is Rowenna. That's row (like the boat) wen (rhymes with hen) ah (short a like in apple.)

Here is a typical conversation.

Roweeeena?
No, Rowenna
Row-Anna?
Rowenna
Joanna?
Rowenna
Roxanne?
Rowenna

I've also had Rihanna, Rwanda and RoseAnna. People just don't seem to get it - they either substitute an 'a' for the e or just default to Rowena ('roweeeeeeena.')

I will sound ridiculous but it has made me utterly miserable. I dread introducing myself because I know there will be a palava every time. Some people never get it right and then you have the irritation of being called a name that's not yours tempered against sounding rude correcting people constantly. Moreover though, it just makes me feel like a stranger. I automatically stand out, and sometimes I really, REALLY want to blend in and be a nice anonymous Rebecca or Sarah or Helen.

*You'll never be able to get a sign saying

Amberleigh's room*

I could never find my name as a kid - always so disappointing

Darn it, I thought I was going to be the first to mention race horses! What about Ginger instead?

I like Amberleigh. Lot nicer than Olivia, awful overused name.

I think it's fine. As soon as she's born it'll become 'her' name and people won't be able to imagine her as anything else.

Don't get some of these OTT reactions. People call their kids far worse!!

nice pub in Amberleigh. Gardeners Arms think xx

I really don't like it - it's surprising your alternative is Olivia!

What about Amelie or Emily?

go with the name you love, but think about it being used in everyday life and see if it still if you like the sound of it, also people will probably end up shortening it to Amber to which you will have to be prepared to correct a number of times ( if you don't want it shortened that is ) but other than that I'd say go for it, Olivia is a very used name so I wouldn't go with it because of that

Ooft. Amberleigh
I am generally a fan of unusual names, and would say just go with your heart. But:

1. Google it with your surname first. As an unusual name you want to make sure you're not giving your kid the same name as a famous/well known person

1. I work in criminal justice and the first thing my mind jumped to was the Amberleigh centre for boys who have issues with "inappropriate sexual behaviours". It's a national centre as they take children who have committed really very serious sexual offences, and well known even up here (Scotland)

But if you love the name then just go for it. Maybe consider changing the spelling ever so slightly?

You'll never be able to get a sign saying

Amberleigh's room

I like Olivia better.
Who the F cares what I think?
Go for what you love, OP.

Never ask MNers to make decisions for you. NEVER. Trust yourself.

Amalie has the same kind of sound but is an actual name.

Hyphenate it and job's a good 'un! Amber-Leigh is lovely.

Oh no. No no no no no no. You cannot call your child Amberleigh. Truly hideous.

Olivia is such a lovely name. Go with that.

I don't think it's that "out there". I know of an Emmaleigh

How about Everley instead?

Olivia Amberleigh is nice and gives her lots of choices.
I was at school with a beautiful Leigh so I like it on its own as well.

If you go with Amberleigh, she may find herself constantly saying "Spelt like Amberleigh House, the Grand National winner from 2004". If you pick Amberley, it'll be "like Camberley, only without the C". Both options provide a fair chance of being used to tease her. If your only alternative is Olivia, then, honestly, I'd go for that - it's pretty timeless and not easy to spell wrongly or mispronounce.

I don't particularly like Amberleigh but do you know what? Who cares!

It's a perfectly fine name, it's not some dreadfully embarrasing name and most importantly you love it!

Be bold OP and go with your heart

I like it.

However I think Olivia is dull and pretty yuck.

I know a girl called Amberley - it's also a village near us.

Amberleigh sounds like a child from Teen Moms USA!
Olivia much nicer

I would feel sorry for her when she has to learn to write her name at school it's so long! Also with long names, her friends will shorten it to Amb or something. Like Kim/ Kimberley.

I went to Amberley Chalk Pits on a school trip. It's a place of natural interest.