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Baby names

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Help us decide between these names - baby due in 2 weeks

39 replies

snufkin84 · 26/06/2018 12:24

Our first baby is due imminently and we're not having much luck reducing our shortlists... Which of these names do you like best? Any similar names to throw into the mix? Any thoughts about first name/middle name combinations?

Our surname is very common, starts with G, and is only one syllable long so looking for multi-syllable first names. DH and I are both English but live in Scotland, with connections to France and Japan.

Alexander
Fabian
Farron
Julius
Lucas
William

Anna
Aoi (Japanese, pr. just as written: A-o-i)
Elise/Eloise/Heloise
Freya
Katherine
Penelope
Saoirse (pr. seer-sha)
Sophie

Thank you!

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JessambardKingdomBrunel · 29/06/2018 15:53

Our first baby is due imminently and we're not having much luck reducing our shortlists... Which of these names do you like best? Any similar names to throw into the mix? Any thoughts about first name/middle name combinations?

Our surname is very common, starts with G, and is only one syllable long so looking for multi-syllable first names. DH and I are both English but live in Scotland, with connections to France and Japan.

Alexander - classic
Fabian - poncey
Farron - like Tim "gay sex is a sin" Farron?
Julius - no, very pretentious, Julian is a bit better, but doesn't have any good nicknames - as Julie is a girl's name
Lucas - rhymes with mucus. I like Luca though
William - love it

Anna - plain and boring
Aoi (Japanese, pr. just as written: A-o-i) - it's not going to work in the U.K., people won't know it's Japanese, it doesn't sound great in English, it's just the first three vowels. It doesn't even sound like a name
Elise/Eloise/Heloise - love the first two, not so keen on the third
Freya - like it
Katherine - prefer it spelt Catherine. I don't like the inevitable nicknames Cathy/Katie though.
Penelope - hate it, so pretentious, not even nice sounding
Saoirse - hate the Seersha pronunciation, Sersha is much nicer
Sophie - classic and lovely

JessambardKingdomBrunel · 29/06/2018 15:47

Your surname isn't Green, is it?

Because if it is, Fabian has to be off the list.

Joeybee · 28/06/2018 05:37

Alexander - Lovely classic name which travels well
Fabian - Too poncey.
Farron - A bit harsh sounding, and could be a trade name.
Julius - Too grand and pompous.
Lucas - Love this name, and Luke/Luca are good nicknames.
William - Great name, but waaaay too popular.

Anna - Nice, simple, strong...a bit plain.
Aoi (Japanese, pr. just as written: A-o-i) - No-one would know how to pronounce it. Maybe use as a middle name to honour your Japanese links.
Elise/Eloise/Heloise - I feel these are three completely different names. Elise is very plain, Eloise is quite a good name and travels well. Helouise is awful.
Freya -Simple, nice name but a bit boring.
Katherine - Love this spelling of Katherine.
Penelope - LOVE this name, and can't understand why it isn't more popular.
Saoirse (pr. seer-sha) - People don't know how to pronounce. Plus it's a bit of a trendy name because of the actress, it sounds a little tacky to me and will date really quickly.
Sophie - This is a great name, travels well. It fits a girly girl or a not girly girl. Love it.

mothertobe789 · 27/06/2018 15:46

Lucas and Elise :)

Snipples · 27/06/2018 15:36

Alexander and Freya

loveshinealight · 27/06/2018 15:31

I love Lucas and Saoirse!

FizzyGreenWater · 27/06/2018 12:12

Anna.

William and Alexander good, best of all would be Julian rather than Julius - not seen much these days. Or even Jolyon, which I really like!

HJL2506 · 27/06/2018 09:37

It's completely up to you which you pick :) good luck and keep us updated on what name you go for!

snufkin84 · 27/06/2018 09:19

Thank you all! This is really helpful. So looks like William and Alexander are strong contenders if it's a boy, Katherine and Elise if it's a girl...

OP posts:
Pebblespony · 26/06/2018 22:22

Anna and William

Jj2431 · 26/06/2018 22:20

Alexander- like it but hate Alex. I'd have to use Andy as a nn

Fabian- no

Farron- no

Julius-no

Lucas- loved this until someone went 'rhymes with mucus'

William- no

I'd go for Alexander.

Anna- beautiful and classy
Aoi (Japanese, pr. just as written: A-o-i)- no unless you're Japanese
Elise/Eloise/Heloise- Eloise is beautiful and on my list.
Freya- like
Katherine- very nice
Penelope- no
Saoirse (pr. seer-sha)- not unless a strong Irish connection
Sophie- meh

NannyKasey · 26/06/2018 21:03

Katherine, (obviously Grin )but be prepared for it being spelled wrong all her life (been there, done that and have the t-shirt) I also like Eloise and Freya.

I like Lucas, Alexander and William, the others are a bit too much 'out there' for me - sorry

MadameJosephine · 26/06/2018 20:10

William or Alexander (or both in that order) for a boy

Anna or Elouise for a girl although I actually prefer Louisa. Perhaps with Aoi as a middle name

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 26/06/2018 20:02

Katherine Elise and Julius Farron.

auntyflonono · 26/06/2018 19:49

Alexander William
Anna Penelope

or the other way around, great names!

greendale17 · 26/06/2018 19:37

Lucas and Elise

YouCantBeSirius · 26/06/2018 19:32

I like Alexander and Saorise from your list.

dancingunicorns123 · 26/06/2018 19:29

William and Sophie

Mine and DHs namesWink

Cosmoa · 26/06/2018 18:35

I'm surprised you don't have the Japanese name/word Sakura on your girls list!

LuMarie · 26/06/2018 17:45

I grew up in Scotland and went to university there too... there is the general way of expressing fondness by teasing friends to keep in mind.

I'm very out of date as to what is typical for kid's names there now as family have stuck with classics so you'll know better, I think for the girl's names you can pretty much get away with anything, but maybe when it comes to boy's names keep in mind the wonderfully friendly affectionate teasing way of showing love where you live now!

Little people are fine, but once I got to university we were a free for all of that kind of love! I had a wonderful time with wonderful friends, but goodness was there a lot of joking around. I wouldn't want any easy opportunities with my name:)

MikeUniformMike · 26/06/2018 17:40

Alexander - yes
Fabian - no
Farron - no
Julius - not sure
Lucas - yes
William - yes

Anna - yes
Aoi (Japanese, pr. just as written: A-o-i) - not sure
Elise/Eloise/Heloise - no
Freya - another one
Katherine - prefer Katharine
Penelope - not keen
Saoirse (pr. seer-sha) - not sure. no irish connection
Sophie - yes

Sophronia · 26/06/2018 17:39

Fabian or Katherine.

LoveInTokyo · 26/06/2018 16:03

Anna Katherine is a nice combination.

AnyaMoondial · 26/06/2018 15:36

Anna is brilliant.

Alexander is my fave of the boy names.

Gazelda · 26/06/2018 15:33

Lucas or Alexander
Katherine (biased) or Anna

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