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Baby names

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

Original poster

Opinions on my names

36 replies

nils28 · 19/02/2023 12:56

Hello, I am pregnant with my rainbow baby and just hit the milestone of 11w. Me and my SO have been thinking about baby names and we made a list. It's important for our baby to have sort of an international name and a bonus would be if it's easily spelled. Would love to hear your opinions and suggestions.

Boys:
Benjamin (love it but worried about popularity)
Damian
Felix
Elio
Luca

Girls:
Esther
Luna (same thing as Benjamin)
Matilda
Alma
Evelyn (again popularity concert)

For middle names we are considering honour names Sylvia and Andrea or their variations (Sylvana, Sylvan, Andreas). Another option is a middle name that means rainbow or wished for, such as Iris.

What do you think??

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KirstenBlest · 08/04/2023 12:16

Benjamin - it's not currently very popular, but was about 20 yrs ago
Damian - fine, but The Omen
Felix - not as popular as I thought, very popular on here
Elio - disappears into all the El-, and -o names
Luca - Lucas and Luca are popular, as are L- names

Esther - nice
Luna - popular for girls and pets, disappears into the Lola, Lily, Lila , Luca, Leo type names
Matilda - lots of Matildas and Tillys
Alma -ok
Evelyn - Evie, Eva, Ava type names overused

I'd picjk Benjamin and Esther

Mumofgirls2017 · 08/04/2023 12:03

Nice list. Favourite is Elio. I actually haven’t met any little Benjamins actually so may not be as popular as you think. Also like Felix.

I like all your girls favourite is Matilda. Love Iris. Not the best flow with a name ending in A but depends how much you’re bothered by that.

CocoPlum · 08/04/2023 10:18

I meet a lot of newborn babies. Benjamin is FAR less popular than Luca, I meet so many of those. Matilda way more popular than Luna (which to me is a puppy name, sorry!).

Agree you need to be ok with shortenings as once they're in school (especially secondary) it's likely their friends will shorten them. You don't have to use it, of course, but if it will really bug you to hear, you might want to reconsider.

Overthinkingmom · 08/04/2023 10:13

I love Benjamin❤️

Overthinkingmom · 08/04/2023 10:11

I added a middle name to my son and initials spell JAM. I am overthinking it and I can’t sleep. What do you think about the initials. Do they really matter?

shoopshoopdedoo · 22/02/2023 16:11

Congratulations!

My favourites are Benjamin and Alma. Love them.

I have a toddler and haven't come across a little Benjamin, for what it's worth. I've met lots of little boys named Felix and Luca, and girls called Matilda and Luna.

ourflagmeansdeath · 20/02/2023 15:57

Benjamin - Really do love this, wouldn't worry about popularity. Think Benji is super cute, and Ben for an older boy too!
Damian - Dislike, reminds me of Daman from TVD and it's also quite werewolfy.
Felix - Dislike - cat connotation.
Elio - Really like this actually
Luca - Absolutely LOVE!! I would go for this over them all. It's so beautiful.

Esther - I don't why but don't like this.
Luna - Also cat vibes, but lovelier than Felix. Also HP.
Matilda - Eh really plain. Matty and Tilly aren't nice nicknames either.
Alma - Awful. Like an elephant sound, just not a nice name.
Evelyn - I like how it looks written down, but the 2 pronunciations would cause issues. Evie's nice!

Emmamoo89 · 20/02/2023 08:11

I love Damien and Luna x

BankOfMaeve · 20/02/2023 08:09

Benjamin or Felix for me, with Evelyn Sylvie for me.

can I suggest Juliet, Josephine and Penelope, and some classic boys names, Philip, Simon or Paul.

oh and Xander, a very fave boys name of mine.

Hadtocomment · 20/02/2023 08:06

Really like Benjamin much the best of the boys' names list. It's a really nice name and not faddy. I like Esther too. Also like Evelyn, but Eve and Evie so very very popular for ages and as I'd only choose if a really favourite name. Matilda is nice but that's been super popular too and I'm not so keen on Tilly. Alma and Luna I don't like as much as the others. Alma just is not the nicest sound to my ear. Prefer some of the other short A names like Ava or Addie (Adeline/Adelaide?) or Anna or Amy.

RebeccaCloud9 · 20/02/2023 06:16

I'd never heard of Elio until I read a thread here about it being the name of an upcoming Pixar film. That would affect my choice as otherwise it's a lovely name. Same with Luca!

I'm a teacher, and unless it's changed drastically in the last 4 years, Benjamin is absolutely not that popular, in fact I think I've only taught one in my whole teaching career! So, lovely and classic but not too overused.

hadenoughforever · 20/02/2023 06:08

I’m with @17caterpillars1mouse with the exception of Alma which I don’t care for, it seems a a tad frumpy to me.

Love the name Benjamin/Ben and 24 yrs later still wishing ex/h hadn’t had say on final name.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and hope all goes well.

user1492757084 · 20/02/2023 06:01

My faves, inspired from your list

Matilda Iris
Esther Indigo
Dawn Sylvia
Benjamin Andrea
Luke Sylvester
Felix Andreas

jalu47 · 19/02/2023 23:00

I've got a 2 yr old Benjamin (Ben) - haven't bumped into even one other at playgroups, softplays, nursery yet. I think it's a classic that suits every age but maybe not as popular as you think - not like Oscar and Oliver, Thomas and Noah!

Twoinapod · 19/02/2023 22:36

I like Benjamin and Felix. love Benji

i love Esther and like Evelyn depending on how it’s pronounced.

I really liked the name Iris as it’s the name of my favourite song. it’s become incredibly common with rainbow babies due to its meaning, which has put me off because I don’t want that immediate assumption for their whole life. It’s a beautiful name though.

Mumofgirls2017 · 19/02/2023 18:17

Benjamin ok (love it but worried about popularity)
Damian dated
Felix like
Elio love
Luca ok

Girls:
Esther like
Luna like but May date (same thing as Benjamin)
Matilda love
Alma ok
Evelyn ok but too many Evie’s again popularity concert)

cassiatwenty · 19/02/2023 14:12

Oh yes, Damian deffo linked to the Omen 😕

cassiatwenty · 19/02/2023 14:11

I like your Felix/Esther combo

MyCatIsAnnoyinglyCute · 19/02/2023 13:53

Evelyn will just be yet another Evie and it’s been done to death.

mistermagpie · 19/02/2023 13:29

Benjamin is lovely and a real classic, a proper solid name. I think with those kind of names you don't worry so much about the popularity thing because it's such a timeless name, unlike all the Jude's and Zac's everywhere just now.

Esther is lovely too, another classic name but not very common now - I've never met a child called that and I've got three kids so meet a LOT of children!

They would be my choices.

20viona · 19/02/2023 13:28

Luca and Alma are nice.

17caterpillars1mouse · 19/02/2023 13:24

Benjamin - love it, especially with the NN Benji. It was top of my list with dd1. I only know if 1 child Ben who is now 7 so it doesn't seem too popular, not in my area anyway

Damian - too 'the omen'
Felix - too cat for me
Elio - never come across it before but seems a bit brand name-esque. I like Eli
Luca - nice but seems popular where I live

Girls:
Esther - I really like it, NN Essie
Luna (same thing as Benjamin) - very popular on both children and dogs. I'm not a fan personally
Matilda - I know more girls named Matilda / Tilly than any other name so it's a no for me
Alma- nice enough (have you considered Elba - there is a cute Elba in my dds swimming class)
Evelyn (again popularity concert) - nice but Evelyn and Eva are soo done to death

Barleysugar86 · 19/02/2023 13:21

nils28 · 19/02/2023 13:12

@Barleysugar86 I prefer Benji and that's what I would call him, but if his friends or he himself opts for Ben, I don't mind it. Ben is also lovely.

Benji is lovely and actually quite unusual, I know a few young Benjamin’s (all now Ben) but I think Benji is short enough it would possibly stay that way. I’ve never met a Benji but I like it :)

Amdone123 · 19/02/2023 13:19

I love Benjamin, too. Benedict is also an option.
Love Esther, Alma and Matilda.

BeeBB · 19/02/2023 13:19

Matilda or Benjamin. I also like Arthur or Albert for a boy.