Rate and slate our names

Eleanor, Harriet, Juliet, Julia, Charlotte - yes I know it starts with C but it's a soft sound.

Still with George for a boy, I don't think it's common or dull etc, or matters there's a well known architect. To me it's timeless. Others maybe Benjamin, Sebastian, Matthew.

The only ones I really don't like on your list are Ralph and Ezra.

My favourites would be Jacob Lucas for a boy and Penelope Olivia for a girl. Jacob can shorten sometimes to Jake, and as you suggest, Penelope shortens nicely to Penny. I like Penny too.

Boys
Elias first, like Jacob and Lucas but not the double c sound....
not Ralph, nit sure about Ezra , really dont like Henry lots of not nice ones around here! Not keen on George

Girls
Rosie- but I would use Rosemary and have Rosie as a nn - that was one of our fav's
Like Lois and Olivia knew a super cool Erin , Evelyn is ok
not keen on Amelie. Elena, or Penelope

I have a very similar surname and some of our possibles were
Jasper, Theo, Oliver, Tobias, Christopher (kit), Edward, Stuart,
Girls
Meredith, Elizabeth, Katharine, Caitlin, Clementine,
for some reason like longer girls names with the short surname

Meant to say congratulations for you expected due date - my post read totally wrong above! Sorry.

Your boy names are fine, except Ezra.

Girls - not keen on Lois. It’s dreary to me. Amelie is twee. And Rosie, though not so bad. Erin only if you have Irish links.

You can afford to go longer if you like longer names.

Like your lists - congratulations!

For a girl, how about Caroline or Jessica.

For a boy, I'd go for something longer like Jonathan, Thomas or Matthew. Most names seem to go but I'd avoid ones that end in a c/k sound. Luke Clarke sounds like Luke Lark.

I like James but it seems nothingy with your surname (apologies if your OH is a James)

I'm not generally a fan of surnames as first names but something like Hudson Clarke works.

Jacob. Like a lot
Lucas like
Henry like a lot
George. Love
Elias hmmm not sure
Ralph don’t like
Ezra Like

Girl:
Lois Don’t like
Penelope (penny) Kinda cute
Rosie love
Olivia. Like
Amelie like
Elena love
Evelyn love
Erin not too keen

Elias Clarke is lovely.

Lois Clarke
Penelope Clarke

• both beautiful

Boy:
Jacob - ok
Lucas - like
Henry - like
George - like
Elias - like
Ralph - don’t like
Ezra - don’t like

Girl:
Lois - no
Penelope (penny) - no
Rosie - no
Olivia - no
Amelie - like
Elena - no
Evelyn - no
Erin - no

Boy:
Jacob - ok, not so good with surname ( Jake Clarke)
Lucas - ok, not so good with surname (Luke Clarke)
Henry - ok
George - ok, why am I thinking about amazing spaces?
Elias - no, too long, too vowely
Ralph - no, dislike
Ezra - no, dislike

Girl:
Lois - ok, doesn't flow all that well
Penelope (penny) - ok
Rosie - ok
Olivia - overused
Amelie - no
Elena - no
Evelyn - no
Erin - no

General comment, you have a common surname and the first names are a bit ordinary.

George and Rosie would be my choice, but would probably go for something longer than George.

Love: Elias, Jacob, Penelope, Lois

Like: Ezra, Henry, Rosie, Olivia

Not keen on the rest.

Jacob - like
Lucas - really like
Henry - dull
George - even more dull
Elias - it's ok
Ralph - like
Ezra - really like

Lois - love this
Penelope (penny) - pretentious
Rosie - it's ok
Olivia - so bland
Amelie - pretty but getting a bit dated
Elena - boring
Evelyn - really like it
Erin - nice

I think they're all solid. Generally, since your surname is short and fairly recognisable, I like the slightly longer first names best.

Love Elias and really like it with Clarke. Henry and Ezra are nice too. George is OK.

Jacob and Lucas seem a bit too much C with Clarke, esp if they get abbreviated (Jake, Luc).

Ralph always confuses me as I never know if it's RALF or RAFE.

Like Penelope.

Lois Clarke reminds me of the explorers Lewis and Clark (I only saw the Superman connection when PPs pointed it out).

Rosie seems incomplete to me - would use as a diminutive. Lots of choices but my personal favourite is Rosalie (or Rosario, but that might be a bit much).

Olivia, Amelie both nice but popular. Amelie for me gets lot a bit in a sea of Amalie-Amelia-Emilia-Emily (but not sure it matters).

Ezra is lovely. Penelope is one of my absolute favourite girls names but I can't bear it shortened to Penny, which is why we didn't use it. All your other choices are quite over popular and whilst they're very classic, I wouldn't think oooh that's a good name choice. If that makes sense. But many would.

Can we suggest names to go with your surname?

From your list, the boys names are a little 'meh'
I like
Zachary
Zach
Zeke
Sebastian/Seb
Owen
Jude

On your girls list..
Lois is the nicest.

Also like,
Elise
Ava
Harper
Freya
Darcey
Penny
Willow
Lottie

They all go nicely with Clarke.

I love love love Amelie & Ralph. Also think they sound lovely as siblings (if you have anymore!) xx

Putting a spanner in the works here, but whilst I like the name Henry, and your surname, I think together they sound and look boring. Both with other names are fine. Same applies to Harry, although that is slightly better together. So as I said up thread, it would be George for me!

None really to my taste but all ok. I’d go for Jacob or Henry (like Harry Clarke) Penelope or Amelie

Elias and lois my faves.. lois is super lovely

Jacob - I like this. Popular but pleasant
Lucas - OK. I prefer Luca.
Henry - nice. Again popular but pleasant
George - not a fan but there's nothing wrong with it, just boring to me
Elias - I really like this
Ralph - I like Rafe but prefer it spelt like this. Not keen on Ralph if pn Ralf
Ezra - I like this. I know a few babies with this name though so I think it will massively increase in popularity

Lois - ok, I can't get over the Superman reference especially with your sn
Penelope (penny) - not a fan personally
Rosie - I like Rose or Rosa or Rosamund or Rosalind - - not keen on Rosie as a given name
Olivia - less popular now but still very popular. It's ok
Amelie - I love this,
Elena - not keen. Prefer Eleanor
Evelyn - too many of them, boring
Erin - not keen on this

I would use Elias or Amelie

Jacob - really like! I think it suits all ages.
Lucas - don't like. Any name with a 'Luke' kind of vibe is quite wet-sounding imo.
Henry- great name but very popular if that bothers you; I know many little boys with this name.
George - one of my favourite boys names ever! I wanted this for ds1 but unfortunately DH didn't like it. This is my top pick for a boy from your list.
Elias- really like this too.
Ralph - don't like.
Ezra - not a fan.

Lois - no, don't like, I think it's an ugly name.
Penelope- love! My top pick from your girls list. Also on my shortlist if I ever have a girl.
Rosie - lovely, like a lot.
Olivia - really great name, suits all ages. It is popular too but for good reason.
Amelie - not fussed. It's ok I guess.
Elena- again, it's ok, I wouldn't use it personally.
Evelyn and Erin - have the same thoughts for both so will put them together: both seem to be becoming more popular but I don't understand why, I find them very bland / dull names.

You have lovely names, OP. My thoughts:

Jacob - have always loved this, shame it's quite popular
Lucas - love (also love Luke and Luca)
Henry - fine, but a bit boring
George - ditto
Elias - I want to like this but it's not my fave
Ralph - love it pronounced Rafe, but otherwise hate, just think of The Simpsons
Ezra - love this name a lot, would be on my list if not for popularity/knowing a few little Ezras personally

Girl:
Lois - gorgeous, my favourite by far but agree not the best with your surname
Penelope (penny) - love, my choice for you as I think a longer name with your surname works well
Rosie - lovely, but I'd go Rose or Rosa on BC as I prefer a name with flexibility
Olivia - not for me, too popular
Amelie - ditto
Elena - never warmed to this name
Evelyn - like in theory but too popular for me
Erin - good solid name but reminds me of a nightmare boss (obviously that's a personal objection not everybody will have!)