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Baby names

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

Original poster

Inspiration needed for classic, elegant, timeless names...

45 replies

Poppins2016 · 26/05/2018 23:36

We're aiming for a list of 3 favourites each for girl or boy (we didn't find out the sex), but just can't settle.

I keep changing my mind and feel that none of the options we like so far are 'the' name I can see myself calling my unborn child. We're aiming for classic, elegant, timeless names.

So far, we have:

Girls

Gwendoline
Meredith
Clementine
Carina
Madeline
Daisy
Genevieve
Evie
Luna
Hazel
Rosalie
Esme
Freya
Amelie
Amelia

Boys

Rowan
Archer (Archie)
Oliver
Leo
Theo
Fynn
Harry
Ralph

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

OP posts:
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hiptobeasquare · 27/05/2018 06:45

For boys I like
Henry
Charles
William

hiptobeasquare · 27/05/2018 06:44

Anne
Meredith
Victoria

userabcname · 27/05/2018 06:39

Esme, Freya, Amelie and Amelia are all very popular at the moment - I definitely think these will date.
Likewise Oliver and Leo (and also Archie and Theo - certainly in my area they are currently all the rage).
From your lists I like Genevieve, Clementine and Madeline for girls. I do like Leo and think Ralph probably best fits your criteria.
I would also suggest:
Elizabeth, Charlotte, Vivienne, Annabel, Juliet, Clara, Catherine.
Edward/Edwin, Robert, William, Jonathan, Thomas.

HeyDolly · 27/05/2018 06:24

I really like Meredith.

I’m struggling with boys names too at the moment so I’m no help there Grin

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 27/05/2018 03:43

As lovely as it is i wouldn't say Luna was timeless and classic. Like Freya I feel in few years it'll be dated
If you're wanting a classic you need a strong solid name that won't date.
Emma
Elizabeth
Kate
Emily
Catherine
Hannah
Sarah
Lydia.
Rose
Anna
Charlotte
.Vivienne
Megan.

Francis
Alexander.
Thomas
Michael
James.

Forfolkssake · 27/05/2018 01:18

Oliver and Harry are seriously overused and Luna reminds me of Lunatic.
I wanted to use Clementine and I still love the name but someone said "Clammy Clemmie" and it put me off. 😣 I really like all your other names though, especially Daisy, Freya, Leo and Ralph. 😊

NorthEndGal · 27/05/2018 01:17

Laura, Sarah, Marie, Anne, Helen, Clara

Peter, Jonathan, Simon, Gregory, Matthew, Michael

Scabetty · 27/05/2018 01:10

I think of names such as Mary, Marianne, Emma, Sophie, Eleanor, Rebecca, Christina, Emily and Maria as timeless for girls. For boys Edward, Anthony, Thomas and Andrew.

Sophronia · 27/05/2018 00:54

Vivienne
Rebecca
Margot
Alice
Cecilia
Alexandra
Emmeline
Georgina
Hannah
Philippa
Jennifer
Lucy
Rowena
Annabel
Claudia
Harriet
Naomi
Tabitha

Sophronia · 27/05/2018 00:50

Louisa
Helena
Susannah
Miriam
Caroline
Joanna
Eleanor
Sarah
Esther
Anna
Josephine
Rose
Julia
Catherine/Katherine

SheldonandPenny · 27/05/2018 00:19

Gwendoline
Meredith
Clementine
Madeline
Genevieve

Yes these are more timeless of the girls list. I'd add Marina rather than Carina. Marianne, Emily or Amelia rather than Amalie.

Leo
Theo
Harry
Ralph

are less 'now' than the others. Edmund (Eddie), Rex, Alexander, Frederic, Henry.

Original poster
Poppins2016 · 27/05/2018 00:01

Oops, sorry for the duplicate tagging... I clearly need some sleep!

OP posts:
Original poster
Poppins2016 · 27/05/2018 00:01

@RavenWings

*Imo some of those (Oliver, Theo, Evie, Freya, Luna, Archie, Amelia and Amelie - possibly Finn and Hazel too) will not come across as timeless, they're very much trendy and of the moment. Nothing wrong with that of itself but it will date rather than appearing timeless.

I'd go for Carina, Rosalie or Madeline (maybe Gwendoline instead) for the girls and Harry, Leo or Fynn for the boys.*

@RavenWings Your response hit the nail on the head regarding (part of) our issue, as we like the names now, but I'm afraid they'll date... Every single name you listed as 'likely to date' has been written off already, however I included them in my list here as examples of the kind of names/sounds we've liked so far.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far - please keep them coming!

OP posts:
blinkineckmum · 26/05/2018 23:56

I love Clementine, Rosalie and Ralph.

annandale · 26/05/2018 23:52

Anna
Emma
Jane

Henry
John
Peter

frasier · 26/05/2018 23:51

Charlotte
Harry/Henry

RavenWings · 26/05/2018 23:50

Imo some of those (Oliver, Theo, Evie, Freya, Luna, Archie, Amelia and Amelie - possibly Finn and Hazel too) will not come across as timeless, they're very much trendy and of the moment. Nothing wrong with that of itself but it will date rather than appearing timeless.

I'd go for Carina, Rosalie or Madeline (maybe Gwendoline instead) for the girls and Harry, Leo or Fynn for the boys.

FifthSparrow · 26/05/2018 23:47

Meredith and Oliver

FogCutter · 26/05/2018 23:42

I like
Frederick
Patrick
Alexander

Genevieve
Caroline
Clara
Penelope

LawDegreeBarbie · 26/05/2018 23:40

I love Theo for a boy (also Thea for a girl).

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