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Original poster

Some more unusual than others... thoughts on our list please?

37 replies

ThePartyArtist · 30/01/2017 12:58

Baby's arrival is now fairly imminent and we're still completely undecided on names. We don't know the sex.

Things to bear in mind:

  • We live in England
  • The name must go with a double barrel surname - first part of which is one you always have to spell and is frequently mispronounced; second part of which is very common.
  • We'd like something where people can pronounce it and know which gender it is.

Thoughts please on the following as first names or middle names?

Ruben
Douglas
Gwilym
Rory

Ruby
Arianwen
April
Iris
Ffion
Europa

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Downstairspoo · 30/01/2017 21:11

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caffelatte100 · 30/01/2017 21:07

I like Rory, Ruby and Iris.Not at all keen on most of the rest and find a few of the names quite odd, especially as you want them to be easy to spell and for people to know the gender.

Jooni · 30/01/2017 20:52

I like Rory, Ffion and Arianwen best. Arianwen is particularly gorgeous!

Rory Gwilym and Arianwen Iris would be lovely.

FantasticOwls · 30/01/2017 18:18

I like Douglas, Ruby and April.
I'd avoid Gwilym, Arianwen, Europa and Ffion living in England. I'd have no idea how to pronounce or spell them

soundsystem · 30/01/2017 17:10

Arianwen gets my vote from your girls names, but I'm biased as I have one! Also in England, also with a double-barrelled surname, half of which always needs spelling out.

I like Gwilym and Douglas best from your boys list (we have similar tastes; we liked Douglas for DS but there's a specific reason we couldn't use it).

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 30/01/2017 17:05

Love Rory and April.

BreezyThursday · 30/01/2017 17:05

Europa? No.
Ffion Double-Barrel is very posh and too much to have to spell out two names with those f's.

I like Ruby and April; Reuben (spelled that way). Don't love Douglas, but Doug is OK... Particularly Welsh names likely to be awkward in England (although nice names).

NameChange30 · 30/01/2017 16:58

"The name must go with a double barrel surname - first part of which is one you always have to spell and is frequently mispronounced"

In that case, I suggest you avoid Ruben/Reuben (because of the two possible spellings), Gwilym and Ffion (because the spelling will be difficult for most people in England).

My favourites from the remaining options are Rory and Ruby.

I don't like Europa, as it doesn't sound like the name of a person to me - sorry!

girlelephant · 30/01/2017 16:54

Rory & Iris. I'm unsure how to pronounce a couple of them who I puts me off, particularly with part of your surname being pronounced incorrectly by people

mum2bejen · 30/01/2017 16:53

I like Rory and Douglas from your boys list and Iris and Ruby from your girls list. Favourite two are Rory and Iris (I love that Iris means rainbow!)

ChocoChou · 30/01/2017 16:51

(Just re-read and You didnt mention spelling, my mistake)

I like Iris and Ruben Smile

ChocoChou · 30/01/2017 16:50

In your OP you said you want the name to be easy to pronounce / spell ??
That would mean a no to Gwylim, Arianwen and Ffion (I'm on the app and I can't go back to check the spellings I'm so sorry I'm not doing it on purpose 😆😩)
Also Arianwen might sound a bit fussy/too many syllables if you're going for a double barrelled surname too?

JournosAreLazy · 30/01/2017 16:39

*most bombed hotel in Europe.

JournosAreLazy · 30/01/2017 16:38

Sorry - posted above before I finished typing! Douglas and Rory are also OK. I really dislike Gwilym.

I like Iris and April is OK too. Dislike the rest of your girls names especially Europa. It's the name of a hotel in Belfast which has the honour of being the most hotel in Europe. Agree with a PP that it also sounds like a car hire company.

JournosAreLazy · 30/01/2017 16:35

Ruben - ok but prefer it spelt Reuben.
Douglas
Gwilym
Rory

Ruby
Arianwen
April
Iris
Ffion
Europa

reapercrew · 30/01/2017 16:33

Europa sounds very much like a hire car provider!!
I'd be going with April or Ruby for a girl both nice names, if it's a boy Rory not because I like but it's the most preferable from your list

JessieMcJessie · 30/01/2017 16:26

Europa sounds like a very deliberate political statement in the a country on the verge of Brexit

pilates · 30/01/2017 16:14

Rory and Ruby

Allalonenow · 30/01/2017 16:07

Rory is my favourite from your list, with Reuben a close second.

I like Ruby, but not keen on any of the other names, Iris is very popular just now, I'd only use April if she was actually born in April, and Europa is just trying too hard.

CakeRattleandRoll · 30/01/2017 15:53

I like Douglas and Rory from your boys list.

Love Arianwen and like Iris too from your girls list.

Pipilangstrumpf · 30/01/2017 15:05

Douglas and Iris would be my choices

CancellyMcChequeface · 30/01/2017 14:18

I like Douglas, Ruby, Arianwen and April. Arianwen is probably my favourite.

I like Reuben but am not keen on the Ruben spelling, sorry! Europa makes me think of either the moon or of Europe. I'm not familiar with Gwilym and wouldn't know how to pronounce it. (That doesn't make it a bad name! But it's less intuitive than the others.)

minipie · 30/01/2017 14:12

I like all your boys' names. Ruben is probably my least favourite but it's ok. Love the others though.

Girls' names - I like Arianwen and Iris. The others are ok, except Europa which sounds like a product rather than a person.

newroundhere · 30/01/2017 14:00

I have to say I'm not familiar with Gwilym and wouldn't immediately know how to pronounce Blush Is it Welsh?

I really like Rory and Arianwen. Europa sounds a bit grandiose and I can't imagine it as a baby name.

willconcern · 30/01/2017 13:51

Rory and Iris