to think about giving our baby one of these names?

[gettheflagsout1]

We have a shortlist of names for our baby daughter who is due at the beginning of May. The names are Molly, Beatrice and Emma.

I love all of these names but, put together with our surname, DH has 'helpfully' pointed out that each one of them could sound a bit silly. Our surname is the same as the female TV presenter Zoe ....

Giving DD my maiden name is out of the question as I changed to DHs when we got married.

I can't get a clear perspective on this and sometimes think they sound ok then sometimes not. AIBU to give our baby one of these names? I would appreciate some MN views in order DD to avert a potential name disaster.

I know a Ball family. The females are called Caroline & Lily.

If that helps at all .

I know a ball family too it is boys tbh you never really think about their names after a while it doesn't matter

I think Emma does sound like 'I'm a ball'

It might be the accent around here but Emma Ball sounds like 'I'm a ball' when I say it fast.

MB sounds like you're shouting instructions to a dog.

I think you need a longer first name.

B.B sounds ridiculous

E.B sounds like flammable

M.B is the best on your list

However Agnes Ball would be a bloody fantastic name.

Florence Ball would also be pretty cool and YY to longer first name.

Emmaline maybe?

I remember this as I 'helpfully' pointed out that in the 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air' theme song, Will was 'Shootin' some b-b a l l outside the school'. Basket ball. Bea.

I adore the name Beatrice/Bea but this was my first thought too.

Like CrystalBeth I love Agnes, but the (few) Agneses I've met have all hated it, so be cautious with that one!

I've just remembered that I used to know somebody called Lucia (pronounced Lou-CHEE-ah) Ball, which I thought was nice. However, the thing that made me return to the thread was the realisation that her sister was called Hannah, and it's taken me decades to notice that Hannah Ball isn't necessarily the best combination of names. Therefore, I wouldn't worry too much about whatever you choose!

They are all lovely names, but I understand your concerns with your surname. A PP mentioned Charlotte, which works well because of the hard sound at the end to stop the names running into each other.

Similarish names are Violet, Claudette, Catherine, though maybe not Annette ;)

Any name starting with B will sound quite twee I think. I think you need a strong definite ideally 3 syllabyl first name so Molly out. Emma is best but I love Lucia Ball. Although I'd also think possibly avoid names ending in a or e or y... Awkward.

I have the same surname :) we have 4 DC's, 3 of which have two syllable first names and it works fine. The main things we have stayed away from is any name beginning with an i (I Ball!) and for girls even though I like Isabella that would just sound silly too!
I agree Emma when said fast with the surname isn't great and Beatrice sounds twee so it is Molly for me, which was actually on our short list for DD1.

I wouldn't call my child Lucia Ball.

Emma or Emily go best with your surname

Molly B. sounds like malleable. I was going to favour Emma, but PatriciaKrenwinkle turned me off it. Beatrice B. sounds like an awesome, amazing female Beano character.

I think you should make up a new shortlist. Could you just change your surnames before the birth to go with Emma, Molly or Beatrice?

i think you need a lkonger middle name....

becasue in honesty there are very few times when they will be called by there whole/last name.

so go with what you love.

Bea Ball makes me laugh. Especially the B-ball connection. Molly is pretty funny too, but Emma is fine! Are there are three syllable names you like?

I think it's a great name. It isn't easy to work with surnames that are nouns though. You might find it easier with names like Beatrice that end in a consonant sound so it doesn't sound like 'flammable' or similar. Love Caroline as suggested above. Categorically not Iona! A few ideas:

Martha
Alison
Alice
Rebecca
Rachel
Ellen
Catherine
Juliet

Another hard ending is Juliet.

Sorry, Cloggal got there first!

My grandma was an Eileen with that surname.I also know a Rachael with that surname, too. I think Molly and Emma sound fine.Beatrice is a bit of a mouthful with it.

I know an Emma Ball. Never thought anything of it. It's a lovely name.

I think a hard ending first name sounds better with Ball, I really like Juliet.