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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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MondeoFan · 30/06/2020 10:27

Sorry just seen the surname is Smith.
Eden for me although it is becoming super popular

SoupDragon · 30/06/2020 10:27

Eden is far better than Shay. Shay is awful.

Ignore all the negativity on here

What's the point of asking for opinions then?

MondeoFan · 30/06/2020 10:25

Shay is a boys name I'd say. I don't like it, which one goes with the surname?

ShowOfHands · 30/06/2020 10:24

@clpsmum

Both Great names I'd use both and have Eden Shay.

Ignore all the negativity on here they're lovely names and so much nicer than the boring Evie, Isla, Freya etc

It isn't a choice between the op's two suggestions and three fairly popular, current names. That's a tad reductive.

The negativity on here is merely a reflection of general consensus in real life. Presumably, people ask because they want to know how a name is perceived. In real life, people won't tell the truth. Plenty of people will say "oh we only get compliments" but that's because people are good, kind and polite in most circumstances. It doesn't meant they aren't economical with the truth to avoid offence.

Should the op use the names if she likes them? Of course! But a lot of people will find them "downmarket" as evidenced here or assume it's boys names used as girls names which is increasingly popular. Sacha, Beau, Jamie for example. I know girls called these names and to me, it's like calling a girl Dave.

Lockdownfatigue · 30/06/2020 09:23

Shay is horrible, sorry.
Eden is ok. But Renee isn’t to my taste!

Why not Eden Olivia, Eden Alexia or Eden Thalia?

HPLikecraft · 30/06/2020 00:26

Shay Smith... sounds like “chez Smith”, i.e. at the Smiths’ house.

In any case I don’t like it, sorry.

Eden doesn’t exactly float my boat either, to be honest. As a PP said, it’s biblical, but not a biblical name (for a person, that is).

clpsmum · 29/06/2020 23:43

Both Great names I'd use both and have Eden Shay.

Ignore all the negativity on here they're lovely names and so much nicer than the boring Evie, Isla, Freya etc

EmmaC78 · 29/06/2020 23:26

Definitely not Shay.

BelfastNonBlonde · 29/06/2020 23:25

Eden

MyNameHasBeenTaken · 29/06/2020 23:24

The eden (7) I know says eden.
Eden renee is lovely.

worriedmama1980 · 29/06/2020 23:19

@Thisismytimetoshine I meant to say Shay spelled Shae, but yes 100% two Irish parents, with Irish language names themselves. Funnily enough, I think because of the spelling I thought 'oh that's unusual' rather than 'oh that's a boys name'. The only other little (male) Irish Shay I know of is actually spelled Sé, which I assume is a direct abbreviation of Séamus but I believe it's his full name.

DoTheMaccaroni · 29/06/2020 23:19

Shay! I absolutely love it for either ❤️

MaybeIDidMaybeIDidnt · 29/06/2020 23:19

Going against the general consensus here but I really like Shay and it can be a girls name i.e. Shay Mitchell. I think it's lovely 🤷‍♀️

Japa · 29/06/2020 22:58

Not Shay.
Eden is nice.

M0mmyneedswine · 29/06/2020 22:55

Shay is a boys name to me (and the ones i know are badly behaved ones!)i think eden is nice

aleC4 · 29/06/2020 22:51

Shay is definitely a boys name.
I like Eden though, it's pretty.

babychinoo · 29/06/2020 22:48

Eden. Really don't like Shay (sorry) but Eden is gorgeous

WithASpider · 29/06/2020 22:45

DD2 is Eden, she's nearly 15 and we've had nothing but compliments on her name.

I've only ever heard Shay for a boy, but then again I'd only heard James for a boy until recently too.

I think Eden is better with your surname.

123Dancewithme · 29/06/2020 22:41

Not keen on either for a girl, but Eden is better than Shay.

RoseMartha · 29/06/2020 22:38

Eden. I dislike the name Shay very much and it seems more of a boys name to me. Also Shay Smith doesnt sound right together.

Eden Smith sounds much better

mintich · 29/06/2020 22:35

Eden

ElevenSmiles · 29/06/2020 22:14

Yep I decided 12 years ago Shae was unisex, look it up the net agrees with me.

ttigerlilly · 29/06/2020 22:07

Eden Renee is pretty

IndiaMay · 29/06/2020 21:29

I dont like Shay im afraid, I would probably think it was a boy (Madeline Shaws son is called Shay) and I'm not keen on Eden. I do think Eden is a bit chavvy. Similar to Nevaeh.

wewillmeetagain · 29/06/2020 21:28

Where I live shay is very very downmarket. Dare I say, chavvy 😬