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Baby names

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Original poster

Halcyon and Octavia for my twin girls

140 replies

newtwinmummy · 31/05/2010 13:43

I'm expecting non identical girl twins in September.

What do you think of the names Halcyon and Octavia? I know they are rare names and not everyone will like them.

Any ideas for middle names? I have to include Joan as a family name or something like this.

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SquigletPie · 31/05/2010 19:42

I personally think you need to consider what the other children at school will think. Many parents are totally selfish and just want the names to stand out from the crowd. They give their children stupid names which cause their children no end of grief at school.
And yes, I think these two names are just such names, sorry.

EricNorthmansmistress · 31/05/2010 19:39

Wait - you want to pronounce it Halcyonee? Are you dreaming? That's like saying 'She's Emily pronounced Gertrude' - Halcyon is pronounced Hal See Yon. Crap name.

lovechoc · 31/05/2010 19:35

neither to my taste, sorry.

SoupDragon · 31/05/2010 19:28

Halcyon is a crap name even before you throw in your mispronunciation of it.

HerHonesty · 31/05/2010 19:21

octavia is nice, but it is unfortunately a skoda car name, but heh, who knows, it might not be around in 5 years time.

now. halcyon is just daft. get over yourself. so many beautiful names, why load the poor child with one which is ridiculous.

MsHighwater · 31/05/2010 19:11

newtwinmummy, Halcyon is pronounced HAL-see-on.

Spelling it Halcyon but insisting on hal-see-on-ee would just be adding a whole other layer of torment for you dd.

expatinscotland · 31/05/2010 19:11

I ran into another guy who had a similar experience.

He was travelling on business and apparently lost his plane ticket home. And bought another one.

He only discovered when the two tickets showed up on his credit card statement.

And it was proven that he did in fact buy another ticket.

He lost a day, too, but was fully awake.

I woke up thinking it was the day before, panicing because I thought I was supposed to be on breakfast shift.

But I'd already done that shift the day before.

I never touched that stuff again, man!

scottishmummy · 31/05/2010 19:08

yikes that is potent

expatinscotland · 31/05/2010 19:06

I was desperate for sleep and, having no insurance, took it when he offered. Found out afters it was banned.

I even went to work and did a shift and have no recollection of it. Met friends for dinner afterwards. Again, can't remember.

scottishmummy · 31/05/2010 19:04

the jeffrey dahmer association couldn't have helped either

expatinscotland · 31/05/2010 19:03

Been banned in the US for years. Certainly was in 1993 when I used it.

scottishmummy · 31/05/2010 19:02

def pronounced hal-see-on.unless pharmacist has speech impediment or is pretentious

mathanxiety · 31/05/2010 19:00

I don't see how Halcyon could possibly follow the same pronunciation pattern that Hermione does, since it lacks the E at the end.

The name has enough drawbacks to it without having a pronunciation that will baffle most people.

Octavia is nice.

Have you considered Hermione or Aurelia as first names? Or Ophelia, but maybe not Ophelia with either Octavia or Aurelia (too rhymey) Or Zephyrine?

Octavia Something Joan/Johanna/Jehanne
Aurelia Something Joan " "
Hermione Something Joan " "
Ophelia Something Joan " "
Zephyrine Something Joan " "

For second names, Elizabeth, Margaret, Caroline, Juliet, Frances...

scottishmummy · 31/05/2010 18:59

halcion used by jeffery dahmer to sedate his victims.an old school benzo,banned uk.might be banned usa now,dont know.

MamaLazarou · 31/05/2010 18:59

God, it sounds lovely.

MrsvWoolf · 31/05/2010 18:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

expatinscotland · 31/05/2010 18:49

SM, I actually took that stuff! I was in the US at university and suffering dire insomnia when a friend got back from Mexico and gave them to me.

I lost an entire day of my life. I was awake, too, but I can't remember FA.

Slept like a rock, though

capstone · 31/05/2010 18:47

Have to say these names are no more in that category than some which are almost universally liked on MN though, expat.

scottishmummy · 31/05/2010 18:47

halcion benzo drug is pronounced hal-see-on.

TheBolter · 31/05/2010 18:37

Totally agree Expat.

expatinscotland · 31/05/2010 18:35

Surely this is a windup, no?

Those names make the parent sound like a total poser, IMO. Bourgeois wannabe social climber connotations.

Hyacinth and Bucket. Those would be more honest.

catinthehat2 · 31/05/2010 18:31

Well hang on, if nobody has said so, Halcyon is a Kingfisher.Which I love.

  • side shortens to Hal which is nice
  • side everyone will spell it Halycon
MsHighwater · 31/05/2010 18:11

I really really thought this was a joke thread, tbh.

I really am not a fan of names-that-aren't-names, iykwim, though I realise that all names probably used to be not-names once upon a time. But still, Halcyon is well across a line for me. Octavia sounds poncey to me but it doesn't make me want to snigger like Halcyon does.

ArthurPewty · 31/05/2010 17:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ZZZenAgain · 31/05/2010 17:52

not keen on Halcyon really.