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Baby names

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

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 Please don’t take any offence and fwiw, my name always comes up on outdated/names people don’t like threads Grin for context, we live in Scotland and DH is Scottish, I’m English.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:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
JohnnyLuLus · 25/05/2025 22:33

Can I offer you a name that's not an actual name, but I think works beautifully as a name? I had it on my list, but DH doesn't know Hamlet, so didn't "get it".

Elsinore.

HallidayJones6779 · 25/05/2025 22:32

Rosemary (almost a mix of Rosie and Mhairi?)
Eliza
Nelly/Nel (maybe NNs for Eleanor)
Lucy
Elaine

AdaColeman · 25/05/2025 22:31

I agree with your DH about Jasmine and Aladdin!

Some ideas...
Ruby
Fiona
Iris
Fleur
Polly
Heidi
Matilda nn Tilda
Corinna
Leah

If you really can't agree, the mother gets the casting vote!

GooseClues · 25/05/2025 22:30

Marigold
Rosamund
Fiona
Flora
Violet
Louane

UnsocialMedia · 25/05/2025 22:27

Maybe you could point out that the male equivalents of his ideas are things like Kevin, Andrew, Paul, Ian and Michael, in the hope that he’ll stop this nonsense.

BangersAndGnash · 25/05/2025 22:26

Isabella
Eleanor / Eleanora
Nancy
Poppy
Elizabeth
Martha

InterruptingRabbit · 25/05/2025 22:25

You need the baby name app that’s like tinder. You link your accounts and swipe right on names you like - if you both swipe right on the same one, it tells you.

InterruptingRabbit · 25/05/2025 22:25

You need the baby name app that’s like tinder. You link your accounts and swipe right on names you like - if you both swipe right on the same one, it tells you.

SoManyDandelions · 25/05/2025 22:25

Combine Lisa and Louise into Louisa?

Celeste
Faye
Lauren
Helen/Helena
Eleanor
Lucy
Caroline

These were some of the less common names among my 1980s/90s classmates

AndImBrit · 25/05/2025 22:25

Melissa?

GreenOtter · 25/05/2025 22:24

I like Michelle and Bernadette because they are names that can be shortened to cute names.

Is there a movie or book you both like and could get a few names from there?

lifeisahamsterwheel · 25/05/2025 22:22

His names are terrible yours are lovely. As a Scottish person who lives in England don’t go for Lily is sound’s horrible in a Scottish accent LULY! I love Ruby was my choice for my third but ended up with a boy.. how about Bonnie? It’s Scottish not dated and a mix of what you both like.

OccasionalHope · 25/05/2025 22:21

Lisa is dated but has a nice sound to it. I wouldn’t discount

or looks ar

Lucy
Laura
Lara
Laurel
Ella
Eleanor
Rosemary
Gemma

Ikeameatballs · 25/05/2025 22:21

Mischa
Marianne
Maeve
Mila
Lila
Loretta
Laura
Seren
Sophie
Sarah
Selina
Bella
Bonnie
Amy
Anna
Kate
Romy
Dina
Noelle
Posy

SunComeBack · 25/05/2025 22:21

Something pretty and classic
Sarah
Emma
Chloe
Lucy
Rachel
Claire
Laura
Lauren
Natalie
Sophie
Amy
Isabelle

jfoyo26 · 25/05/2025 22:19

Louisa!

I wanted Louisa but my husband didn't like it so my daughter is Louise, I love it now and have never met another child with this name yet. There is also a Laura in her class which I think my also be a good compromise name for you both.

hyggetyggedotorg · 25/05/2025 22:18

Lila - halfway between Lily & Lisa.

Fern - similar(ish) sound to Finn.

JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 25/05/2025 22:16

More common over the pond but you can use Finn or Finlay for a girl if you wish.

Candleabra · 25/05/2025 22:16

Roisin
Elspeth
Lilian

namepains · 25/05/2025 22:16

@FrankyGoesToBollywoodthank you, I agree Grin

OP posts:
Pennula · 25/05/2025 22:15

Cora
Alicia
Tamara (Tammy)

Springinthecity · 25/05/2025 22:15

Or Elizabeth / Theresa nn Tessa.
Do you have the Scottish island ones : Skye, Iona

Growuppeople · 25/05/2025 22:15

Don’t ask on here you’ll just get even more awful suggestions!
we had a shortlist and named them completely differently you do not no till they here!

NuffSaidSam · 25/05/2025 22:15

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.

So we're looking for something between Lisa and Rosie...

Lucy
Darcie
Lyla
Zoe
Rowan
Lacey
Esmee

MidnightPatrol · 25/05/2025 22:13

Rowen32 · 25/05/2025 21:59

It's hilarious how 80s all his names are 😅

My DH was similar with girls names.

I was almost speechless after he reeled them off - like a class list from the 80s.

Thankfully we had boys.