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Baby names

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Can anyone find a middle ground between me and DH’s name lists?

213 replies

namepains · 25/05/2025 21:57

Have NC’d for this Blush

DH and I have very, very different tastes when it comes to names. I’ll give you our lists below, but we’re nowhere close in terms of taste. What sounds nice to me DH hates and vice versa. I apologise profusely if anyone’s name comes up, I am really not meaning to offend anyone but names are very personal and tastes are very different. Please don’t take any offence and fwiw, my name always comes up on outdated/names people don’t like threads Grin for context, we live in Scotland and DH is Scottish, I’m English. If there’s a specific reason for DH not liking mine, I’ve put it next to the name.

My list:

Lily- too twee apparently
Rosie- he’s said he likes it but not enough to say it every day henceforth. He doesn’t like variations such as Rosaline/d, Rosa or Rose.
Daisy- brief period of time a girl wasn’t nice to DS with this name
Jasmine - Aladdin (who honestly thinks that!)
Ophelia- apparently pretentious, although I love Hamlet!
Scarlett
Tara- his first dog was called that so apparently he can’t name DD ‘after’ his dog Hmm
Emily
Ruby

DH’s list:

Michelle
Siobhan
Lisa
Louise
Mhairi
Bernadette

I particularly don’t like Bernadette and Siobhan. But honestly, I don’t like any of them. No connotations or personal issues with people with these names but I just don’t like them. Does anyone have any suggestions for a middle ground? I’m not sure there is one! We had a boy name agreed immediately but we’re worlds apart on a girls one Sad

OP posts:
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Calliopespa · 02/06/2025 13:00

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 02/06/2025 12:36

You could also consider Lina, Lara or even Laura, which is the same sort of vintage as your husband's choices but still a nice name and maybe due a comeback?

Or for a slightly different vibe - Erin?

I like Laura

UnsocialMedia · 02/06/2025 12:49

I love a PP's suggestion of Erica. With the right surname that can be v attractive and striking.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 02/06/2025 12:46

Orrrr... Throwing a couple more into the mix.

Lucy/Lucie/Lucia

Lia/Lea/Leah

Both old names which were popular at the same time as the names your husband likes and are still popular now. Several variations/spellings possible for each of them.

I think Lucie could be the sweet spot between Lily and Lisa.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 02/06/2025 12:36

You could also consider Lina, Lara or even Laura, which is the same sort of vintage as your husband's choices but still a nice name and maybe due a comeback?

Or for a slightly different vibe - Erin?

Calliopespa · 02/06/2025 12:00

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 02/06/2025 11:29

Your husband's choices sound very dated, if I'm honest.

To me the crossover between your two tastes seems to be between Lily and Lisa/Louise.

How about the following:

Lila
Elise
Eliza
Ilsa
Elsa
Louisa
Ella
Isla
Lola
Lydia

They all have that Louise/Lisa sound, but are a bit more modern than your husband's choices.

There are some good suggestions here op, and I agree there is a lot of common ground in lots of those names. I know a Louise called Lily for short ( think it evolved from Lou Lou) and actually if I were going for Lily I’d probably prefer something a bit more “ substantial” on the BC.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 02/06/2025 11:29

Your husband's choices sound very dated, if I'm honest.

To me the crossover between your two tastes seems to be between Lily and Lisa/Louise.

How about the following:

Lila
Elise
Eliza
Ilsa
Elsa
Louisa
Ella
Isla
Lola
Lydia

They all have that Louise/Lisa sound, but are a bit more modern than your husband's choices.

Anewnamejustforthis · 02/06/2025 10:12

He is a nightmare @namepains! Although Heather is pretty I think I might struggle with it being a name he considered for someone else...with someone else...(but then I'm a nightmare for that kind of thing!)

If he would go for a variant on Heather but something totally different how about Erica - it's an old Norse name but also the Latin name for some heathers...so it moves it on a bit, and is pretty but strong...

Aria999 · 01/06/2025 18:35

namepains · 01/06/2025 10:08

I kid you not guys, I dreamt last night that we called her Lisa, woke up and told DH who said ‘I don’t like it that much’😐

lol, show him his own list again and ask if he still likes any of them 😁

ToadRage · 01/06/2025 11:07

Tbf i like all of yours and none of his. If you can't agree on a name that you both like choose a name that neither of you like? If he wants a Scottish inspired name my husbands cousin is Ailsa Cara, both her and her two brothers have Scottish inspired names cos their grandfather was Scottish.

kary42 · 01/06/2025 10:33

namepains · 25/05/2025 22:09

@NuffSaidSamthat’s fair, I still feel vindicated that his are worse Grin he does like Rosie but apparently because he likes Cracklin Rosie by Neil Diamond, he can’t call his DD that as it’s about a prostitute (I think?). If I HAD to call DD one from his list, I’d pick Lisa, but I give it a 5/10 on how much I like it.

The name we would’ve called this baby if it was a boy would’ve been Finn.

Finley is gender neutral or Finola.

Calliopespa · 01/06/2025 10:25

namepains · 01/06/2025 10:21

@bluedelphiniumthe only name I think he’d go for over our fallback name is Heather, which he considered with one of his grown up DD’s

Heather makes me think “lady in her sixties, possibly with middle-age spread”’ BUT now I think about it theres a reason it was popular: Heather itself is a lovely thing and the word has quite a pretty sound - soft but not frilly.

Some of these names just need the dust blown off them really.

namepains · 01/06/2025 10:21

@bluedelphiniumthe only name I think he’d go for over our fallback name is Heather, which he considered with one of his grown up DD’s

OP posts:
Calliopespa · 01/06/2025 10:20

What about Liesel?

ETA : pronounced Lise-all

bluedelphinium · 01/06/2025 10:18

Has he made any more suggestions?

I agree with the idea of limited vetoes

Calliopespa · 01/06/2025 10:17

namepains · 01/06/2025 10:12

Actually I’ll add to that: yesterday I had a Lisa Simpson T-shirt on (unintentional), we watched Clarkson’s Farm in which his partner is called Lisa and then I dreamt that we called her that- are these not signs??

If I’m honest I don’t mind it.

namepains · 01/06/2025 10:12

Actually I’ll add to that: yesterday I had a Lisa Simpson T-shirt on (unintentional), we watched Clarkson’s Farm in which his partner is called Lisa and then I dreamt that we called her that- are these not signs??

OP posts:
namepains · 01/06/2025 10:08

I kid you not guys, I dreamt last night that we called her Lisa, woke up and told DH who said ‘I don’t like it that much’😐

OP posts:
Sunshineandgrapefruit · 29/05/2025 16:47

Write a list each. No peeking. You each get 3 vetos. Don't discuss. Swap the lists and each highlight the 3 you like/ dislike the least on your partner's list. Those 6 are now your shortlist. Discuss. That's the only way DH and I managed. Our names were poles apart.

MrsSunshine2b · 29/05/2025 12:05

You like classic, pretty names and flowers.

He likes names that will put anyone in mind of someone at least 40 years older. I'm surprised Tracey didn't make the list.

Since you like flowers, and he likes...retro...how about Heather? Or alternatively, Melissa or Jessica- both have fallen out of use but have a nice melodic quality to them. I like that Melissa means honey bee.

Needmorelego · 29/05/2025 11:47

fruitpastille · 29/05/2025 11:21

Jennifer
Alison
Philippa
Sue
Deborah
Annabel

Isn't that a song?
Beautiful South?

fruitpastille · 29/05/2025 11:21

Jennifer
Alison
Philippa
Sue
Deborah
Annabel

Calliopespa · 29/05/2025 11:16

Fartughtyred · 29/05/2025 11:10

How about:

Alexandra
Isla
Isabelle
Serena
Felicity
Fiona
Miranda
Bonnie
Constance (Connie)
Heidi
Naomi

Mhairi is usually pronounced 'Varry' with a soft v

I love Felicity.

It’s got that 80’s vibe he likes op ( I know loads of 80’s Felicitys) but is also quite timeless and more “substantial” than the Daisys etc, which I think he finds a bit limp.

Felicity also has a lovely meaning and fun Nns: Flick, Fliss, Fiss, Fissy. I also know a Felicity who is often Flicketty!

ETA I think it’s a really joyful name.

Fartughtyred · 29/05/2025 11:10

How about:

Alexandra
Isla
Isabelle
Serena
Felicity
Fiona
Miranda
Bonnie
Constance (Connie)
Heidi
Naomi

Mhairi is usually pronounced 'Varry' with a soft v

LadyDanburysHat · 29/05/2025 10:55

Your DHs names are all very 1980s. It's not even like they are classic names. He needs to think about naming a baby not a 40 year old woman.

PrettyPuss · 29/05/2025 10:54

I see Louise as a middle ground name from those lists. Classic, chic name.

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