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Baby names

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

Original poster

Baby name help

63 replies

sprinklyrache · 19/02/2022 20:17

Hi everyone. I’m expecting my first baby, I do not know the gender yet, but I have put together a list of names I’m considering for a boy and a girl. I really want to narrow it down and eventually have 1 girl name and 1 boy name picked out. I would like to know which name(s) are best and your opinions on each one if possible.

Boy names:
Carter
Logan
Lucas
Crew
Asher
Ash
Flynn
Ayden
August
Ayden
Braxton
Rhett
Rexley

Girl names:
Eliana
Maci
Piper
Ava
Avery
Luna
Darcie
Annora
Addison
Scarlett
Finley
Braelynn
Alana
Lilliana
Delilah
Braylee

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halfsiesonapotnoodle · 20/02/2022 15:23

Asher and Darcie. Really dislike a lot of the other names I'm afraid.

Notwithittoday · 20/02/2022 15:21

Lucas and Ava

scottishnames · 20/02/2022 15:15

I am a great admirer of many American things and many American people, but everything in America is not automatically a good idea or to be followed. Naming patterns are different there.

In the UK, Finlay is among the top 20 names for boys (it is 16th); there were almost 3000 boys named Finley or Finlay in England and Wales (and many more in Scotland) in 2020.
In contrast, there were 8 girl babies named Finley and zero named Finlay in England and Wales in the same year. names.darkgreener.com/#finl

That really does not make a name 'gender neutral'.

Yes, a FEW names have evolved, but, as is often said on this thread, there are very few names that are truly 'gender neutral'. And they are mostly modern names (often nature names or names of things or places) or they are surnames. Robin and Rowan are probably the two most often mentioned. Yes, there are some boy's names occaionally used for girls, but they remain boy's names. Names would only be truly 'gender neutral' if they were used approximately equally for both males and females.

Nicknames are another matter, but even they are often spelled differently. Think Jo (female) or Joe (male) or Billie (female) and Billy (male).

Of course, people should call their children whatever they like. But giving a girl a very popular boy's name does not make it gender neutral.

MysticCT · 20/02/2022 14:37

I like Logan, Asher, Lucas and Flynn.
I really like Avery but Scarlett and Piper are also nice.

Blubells · 20/02/2022 14:36

I think in the US Finley is more popular as a girls' than boys' name.

Names continue to evolve and several names that were traditionally used for boys have become unisex.

scottishnames · 20/02/2022 14:31

It really ISN'T gender neutral. It's a male name linked to a specific culture/ place and era. It has a male meaning: it would be like calling a girl 'Swordsman'. It's only 'gender neutral' if you think ALL names are gender neutral (and meaningless) - ie if you would call a boy Susan or Jennifer.

Blubells · 20/02/2022 14:26

Doesn't Lisa Marie Presley have a girl called Finley?

Original poster
sprinklyrache · 20/02/2022 13:50

I was thinking of using Finley as either a boy or girl name because it’s gender neutral

OP posts:
scottishnames · 20/02/2022 11:15

Finlay literally means 'fair-haired warrior'.
And on the whole, in spite of Boudicca and modern fantasy fiction, the Gaelic and Irish speaking peoples who created the name did not have female warriors. They used the name to describe a male.

irishimbasbooks.com/the-truth-about-irish-woman-warriors-when-celtic-mythology-goes-bad/

If you like the sound of Finlay there are related female names 'Fionnuala' (approx: Finoola), Finella, Fiona . Also Fiadh (Fee-ah), though that's not related.

I prefer Finlay as a boy's name to any on your list; for girls, I like your suggestion of Annora. It's not a mash-up, as some have suggested but a very old variant of 'Honor', which has an excellent meaning.

Luredbyapomegranate · 20/02/2022 09:40

@sprinklyrache

I know it’s a boy’s name, but I think it could also work for a girl as it sounds quite feminine.
I mean this kindly OP but you are naming a person. They have to live with it not you, and they will spend most of their lives as a grown up. Don’t give them a name that will be a strange liability for them just because you think it sounds cool. If you want something unusual, there are lots of names that are rare, but recognisably names, and gender appropriate.
Mumofgirls2017 · 20/02/2022 07:27

I love Flynn, August and Asher is ok. Really don’t like the others sorry!

Piper, Delilah and Luna are lovely for girls but again really don’t like the others! Sorry!

HopingForMyRainbowBaby · 20/02/2022 00:02

Boy Lucas or Rhett although personally I prefer Brett to Rhett

Girl Avery

Original poster
sprinklyrache · 19/02/2022 23:27

I can get past the disease thing, and Amelia is also a disease and many people still use that name.

OP posts:
curlingoneout · 19/02/2022 22:56

I like Avery and Finley for a boy
Addison is a disease

deadlanguage · 19/02/2022 22:51

Lucas and Ava would be my top choices. Rexley, Braelynn and Braylee sound like what someone would come up with as a joke when talking about keyboard smash names.

Chasingthewind11 · 19/02/2022 22:45

I love August & Asher! The rest of the boys names seem quite American to me August was on my list but DH vetoed it

WeasilyPleased · 19/02/2022 22:41

Asher and Alana are my faves. Asher is biblical not American as a pp said and I prefer the Alannah spelling but both good names.

Aquamarine1029 · 19/02/2022 22:36

Rhett and Avery.

mathanxiety · 19/02/2022 22:35

Braylee and Braelynn are awful.

mathanxiety · 19/02/2022 22:34

For girls:
Avery
Annora
Alana

Not keen on the rest.

Buttons294749 · 19/02/2022 22:34

I love Rhett and eliana

mathanxiety · 19/02/2022 22:33

For boys:
Lucas
Asher
August

I don't like the rest at all.

Luredbyapomegranate · 19/02/2022 21:54

For a boy I like Lucas best, August and Flynn are ok. The rest are mostly too made up/faddy for me.

For girls, Ava is lovely, Delilah ok, Alana just about. The rest are again mostly too made up / faddy for me.

Tulips21 · 19/02/2022 21:43

I only like Lucas from your Boys list.

Girls~ Maci but I would apell - Macie, Darcie and Alana

Wednesdayafternoon · 19/02/2022 21:39

I love August and Delilah 🥰