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Baby names

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

Original poster

Eden or Shay for our baby girl

114 replies

AutumnLoves · 29/06/2020 18:05

Hi everyone, my boyfriend and I are really struggling picking a name for our daughter who is due in September. My boyfriend has his heart set on the name Shay but I love the name Eden. If we choose shay the middle name will be either Olivia Talia or Alexia. If we choose the name eden the middle name will be Renée. The surname is Smith. What do you guys think.. Shay smith or Eden Smith?? Just thinking to think if the names will age well too.

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zingally · 05/07/2020 12:06

I see Shay as a boys name personally. And too many S sounds with Smith.

Eden is much nicer, but not to my taste personally. It's a bit... sorry... chavvy.

mathanxiety · 03/07/2020 07:44

I only know girls with these names, no boys. They are all UMC American children, teenagers, and young adults.

I prefer Shay. I wouldn't use Talia as a middle name for someone whose first name started with S.

redlaces11 · 02/07/2020 22:53

I know a girl called shay but spelt che

anotherpassword · 01/07/2020 21:39

Eden isn’t too bad but Shay is awful

KindKylie · 01/07/2020 19:48

There's a male Shay in my DC class at school.

We know a couple of Edens - both girls. It's not my sort of name but I'd def choose it over Shay for a girl.

TJ17 · 01/07/2020 19:37

I don't like Shay but love Eden

Shayisgreat · 01/07/2020 19:30

@alwaysundecided ☺☺

RuddyP · 01/07/2020 19:06

Eden. Shay is a boy's name.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 01/07/2020 19:02

We currently have two boys at our school called Shay. It's definitely a boy's name.

Eden is lovely, use that.

Alwaysundecided · 01/07/2020 18:59

@Shayisgreat Shay is a lovely Irish boy's name and one that will suit all ages.
If he isn't a teenager yet I'm sure he will love his name as it is very cool.
Please don't take notice of Mumsnet snobby comments saying it's down-market, it isn't reflective of real life.

AnnaSW1 · 30/06/2020 16:52

Eden. I only know Shay to be a boy's name too.

FizzyGreenWater · 30/06/2020 16:50

Shay is horrific, and a boy's name anyway surely?!

Shay Smith is even worse.

Eden's lovely.

And it's your choice- you aren't married. If Smith is his surname, give the baby yours anyway!!!

Whatsyourflava · 30/06/2020 16:43

@ElevenSmiles
I agree 🤣
Like both names but Eden much nicer with surname

ElevenSmiles · 30/06/2020 16:37

Bollox they are fucking snobs looking down their noses at a choice of name.

Quizeerascal · 30/06/2020 16:29

I love Eden Renee. I've only met a male Shay so doesn't seem to fit on a girl imo

florascotia2 · 30/06/2020 16:28

Just in case it matters - was mentioned up-thread - Shay Mitchell's given name is Shannon. Shay is a nickname.

ShowOfHands · 30/06/2020 16:21

I'm afraid that names have associations and while we could all stand to be a little more careful in how we phrase these things, these are reactions that will occur irl as much as they will on here. Only in rl, people tend to dissemble.

Siblings called Ludmilla, Tristram and Ptolemy versus siblings called Kaiden, Demi-Leigh and Jaxxon. There is a difference and that difference will elicit a reaction. To the name though I hope. Never to the child.

I still maintain that if somebody asks, they want to know. And sometimes it's important to know why. There are plenty of names I simply don't like because they're not to my taste but some names have associations. Does it matter if you love a name? Not at all. But somebody isn't a "fucking stuck up snob" just because they're honest.

ElevenSmiles · 30/06/2020 14:52

ShowOfHands....If ppl don't like the name fair enough, call it downmarket or chavvy then I'll call whoever a fucking stuck up snob.

wishing3 · 30/06/2020 14:28

I prefer Eden.

ShowOfHands · 30/06/2020 14:26

@ElevenSmiles

Both names are lovely OP, don't let the MN snobs sway you.
MN snobs? Or people answering honestly? There are people from all sorts of backgrounds on MN, answering a question.

Why ask if you don't want the truth?

ElevenSmiles · 30/06/2020 14:18

Both names are lovely OP, don't let the MN snobs sway you.

sanityisamyth · 30/06/2020 13:35

Neither are great. Shay is awful.

Ellmau · 30/06/2020 11:43

I think with Smith they both sound like a double barrelled surname.

Your middle name ideas I think would work better - could you use one of them as the first name? Alexia is lovely!

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 30/06/2020 10:52

Shay is a boys name in my experience, I know a Shaynie who is female (I was at school with her so she's in her 40s now). I think Eden is a lovely name.

coronabeer23 · 30/06/2020 10:49

I like both of them but along with Talia I see them all as very prettyHebrew names. I pronounce Shay as Shy and Talia as Ta-lia not Tahlia

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