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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help us narrow down our baby name list please!

67 replies

Secretlifeofme · 01/06/2019 22:41

Not due until October but DH and I have got the list down to 10 names for each sex (chosen not to find out whether it's a girl or a boy) and we're stuck! Please critique our list :

Girls :
Alexandra
Cassandra
Catherine
Charlotte
Elizabeth
Felicity
Helena
Jessica
Madeleine
Nina

Boys:
Alexander
Benjamin
Daniel
David
James
Jonathan
Joshua
Samuel
Thomas
William

Please don't suggest any new names - we want to narrow the list down, not add to it! Thanks Smile

OP posts:
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Holibobsing · 01/06/2019 23:13

Helena is beautiful and the only one I like.
Love Thomas, James and Joshua
I'm very sorry but when I hear Cassandra, I think of only fools and horses

Davespecifico · 01/06/2019 23:11

Alexandra, Alexander and Nina

HolyBerry · 01/06/2019 23:10

Charlotte and Jessica for girls. James and Joshua for boys. Consider nicknames. For example, at school Daniel will
Probably become Dan or Danny. Elizabeth could become Liz or Beth or any number of other nicknames. You might not be bothered by something to think about. Also consider the heritage of each name.

NunoGoncalves · 01/06/2019 23:07

Jessica and Benjamin

ToCallHerOut · 01/06/2019 23:06

Catherine
Samuel

bridgetreilly · 01/06/2019 23:05

Top threes:
Charlotte
Elizabeth
Felicity

David
Samuel
Thomas

Original poster
Secretlifeofme · 01/06/2019 23:05

@RickOShay this is the problem, we aren't leaning towards anything! Confused
That was good advice from a PP to consider initials and nicknames. Last name begins with W so don't think initials will be too much of a problem, but maybe should avoid William as I'm not sure about alliterative names. I'm not a fan of deciding how to shorten the name before the baby is born, so I suppose that means we need to pick a name for which we like all the possible ways it could be shortened! I suppose that rules out Madeleine, which is a shame but I really don't like Maddie Sad

OP posts:
Fifthtimelucky · 01/06/2019 23:03

My girls have two of the names on your list. I like them all except Jessica, Felicity and Nina.

For boys, I like James, Thomas, Alexander and William. Joshua and Samuel are my least favourite.

RickOShay · 01/06/2019 22:55

Lovely names. Favourites are Helena, Nina, Alexander and William.
What are you leaning towards op?

HoppityChicken · 01/06/2019 22:55

Madeleine and Cassandra
Benjamin and Samuel

Just personal preferences. However I agree about the issue with Helena having more than one pronunciation I speak from experience of having that type of name!

donkey86 · 01/06/2019 22:54

I’d go for Elizabeth or Felicity, and James or William. But I like most of your names - we clearly have similar taste!

Malyshek · 01/06/2019 22:53

For girls I like Cassandra and Alexandra, the others feel too classic/dated/common. With a preference for Cassandra as less common. And I like Cass as a nickname (sorry, supernatural)

For boys, I like Alexander, Jonathan and Joshua, with a preference for Jonathan. I feel like it's not been used too much but at the same time isn't associated with a specific generation. And it just sounds good. Plus diminutive is Jon. Like Jon Snow ;)

JaneGlorianaVillanueva · 01/06/2019 22:50

Alexandra - love!
Cassandra - quite like, love the nn cassie
Catherine - nothing wrong with it but a bit old fashioned for my liking
Charlotte - really like and love the nn lottie
Elizabeth - same as Catherine, nothing wrong but not to my taste
Felicity - quite like
Helena - not too keen
Jessica - nice
Madeleine - really nice
Nina - sorry really not keen

Alexander - love
Benjamin - really like
Daniel - ok
David - really not keen
James - really like
Jonathan - really not keen
Joshua - ok but not my taste
Samuel - I like Sam but no Samuel
Thomas - nice
William - I dont get the love for this name! Its obviously not bad but I just dont think its very strong!

Penny4Thoughts · 01/06/2019 22:47

Alexandra- love but does feel a bit dated
Cassandra - nice - quirky
Catherine - nice but even more dated
Charlotte - lovely
Elizabeth - ok
Felicity - love this name- not as keen on flick
Helena - classy but 100 pronunciations would put me off a bit
Jessica - ok
Madeleine - beautiful name
Nina - not a fan

Boys:
Alexander - love
Benjamin - love
Daniel - ok
David - very dated
James - love
Jonathan - ok
Joshua - less classy than the above
Samuel - Same
Thomas - really like
William - love

I think I’d vote Alexander and Madeleine

Fedoratheexploreer · 01/06/2019 22:46

For a boy, Joshua, Alexander and Benjamin. For a girl, Helena and Nina

Wolfiefan · 01/06/2019 22:45

Consider the initials. Any to be avoided? Think of how they could be shortened. I like William but dislike many of the shortened versions. Some also have more than one potential spelling. Would it annoy you if people got it wrong?
And good luck!

RainbowPanda · 01/06/2019 22:43

Out of the girls I like Charlotte, Felicity, Madeleine, Jessica

Boys I like William, Thomas, James