DH hates the name I want - Esme

Actually, maybe you don't have to agree. My parents didn't over my sister, so Dad registered her before Mum could get out of bed after her CS!

But Janeite - the one I wanted to call Rowan IS a girl!

You both have Anna in your preferences so why not go for that, a lovely, classic name. I like Esme and Sylvia/Sylvie as well but if he really hates a name you'll have to compromise. have to say am not keen on Elspeth but Elsa/Elsie/Elise are nice.

I adore Esme, it's a pretty and classic name, however I got one of those dreadful eternal mental links after reading Saki - grimly sardonic story, huge repercussions on naming choices

You are teasing me, you witch

I never slag off other people's name choices, but I feel defensive of Esme because I know a lovely one who could not be less pretentious, and it is a real name!

watchit Greeny
more than one MNer choosing baby names atm
(would LOVE to see Greeny's face when I announce new baby "Dull Anna")

Esme is beautiful

Anna is dull and Sylvia is a barmaid

and Elspeth is my old school librarian, nicknamed "Hellsbreath"

Oh my gosh Seeker - I am another one who regrets the Rowan I never had; but that's because I had two girls.

Isobel is lovely (I have one!).

I like Sylvie a lot (isn't she a fairy in The Magic Faraway tree?) but not Sylve or Sylvia.

Your great aunt elspeth sounds a fab role model!

i like esme best out of your list, but you cant call the baby something your dh hates!

i bet most people dont get to call their dc their very favourite name, you always have to compromise a bit!!

How about Sylvie? Nicer than Sylvia.
Love Esme, shame about him not agreeing.

I like Esme - but if dh doesn't then you really have to drop it - sorry. Names are usually a bit of a compromise - I still faintly regret the Rowan I never had but dp really didn't like it.

Elspeth is nice - but remember that Ellie is VERY popular so there'll be lots.

What about Isobel, or Imogen?

Apologies but Esme is far from pretentious (very much in the other direction TBH) it's very popular in the area where my friend lives as a name for cats and dogs. Sylvia reminds me of my mothers older sister (bleached blonde, fag hanging permanently from bottom puckered lip, every other word an 'f'), and Elspeth is just wrong (very old maiden aunt).

i love esme, and prefer it to sylvia or elspeth

Esme was my cat's name. Irrelevant but I don't like it for human beings (someone else suggested it to the cat when we first got her and it was the only one she reacted to). And agree the final 'e' against the initial 'a' of Anna is clumsy.

Sylvia is lovely but if you both like Elspeth, why not go for it? Some people think Elspeth is old-fashioned but older names are making a comeback - Ivy, Sydney, etc. etc. etc.

PS if Sylvia is the name you both like then it's an excellent compromise. It doesn't lack anything for being a compromise name.

Wow lovely list.

1. Esme Anna - I like Esme but I wouldn't put Anna after it. There will be an Esmeanna out there soon.

1. Sylvia Mary - This is beautiful. I really love this one. My son was to have been Sylvie Nina or Sylvia Pearl if he'd been a girl.

1. Elspeth Anna - I wouldn't choose this myself as Elspeth is a bit clunky but I really respect the name as a whole iykwim. Elsa would make a lovely nn for Elspeth. Anna 'pretties up' Eslpeth though.

I like Lois, Polly, Greta and Nancy and Margot which I see as being in tune with your taste. just a few more suggestions.

"Muddle" name?!!!!!

Middle is what I meant!

No you have to compromise - why should he "give in"?

Esme is indeed lovely (I like it much, much better than your other choices) but you can't MAKE him like it!

Esme Squalor is a character in the Series Of Unfortunate Events books, obviously named after the JD Salinger book - just thought I'd drop that in!

Maybe you could persuade him to use it as a muddle name, although it wouldn't work with Elspeth.

few very of us get to choose our favourite names for our babies. It's almost always a compromise.

You have to agree on a name. Dh has vetoed at least 5 of my favourite names, but there are still some that we both like. I'd say you are doing quite well to agree on your third choice.

Really sorry but you have to agree!! My dh and I loathed the other one's choices for dds so neither of us had our first choice - that's life I'm afraid!

You have to compromise, if he usually gives in and is sticking on this one then he really doesn't like it! Don't force it.Go for 3 which is similar and still has same second name. My 3 DSs have different names from the ones that I would have chosen on my own but I still like them. You will be surprised once they are here they seem to suit them better!

i love the name esme, my 7 week old is called ismay which comes from that name(my name and dd1s name start with e so didnt want anymore to)do agree though that you and your dh have to agree on it