about really plain names for girls?

[MrsBadger]

Now I swore I would never start a baby-name thread but I can't hold off any longer.

DH wants to give the impending BadgerCub a name that's been used in our families before. I'm fine with this - we have about 20 generations and 500 names to choose from.

The boy's names are generally fine by me (classics like Edward, John, James, Benjamin etc), but he always leans towards girls' names that I just find a bit... dull.

We have a short surname - think Stone or Rowe - and I can't help feeling that (eg) Mary, Susan and Jane don't sound especially nice with it.

Am I being overly picky or should I hold out for something longer and (oh the shame, never thought I'd say this) 'prettier', eg Eleanor or Susanna?

Come on, beat me with sticks now, I know I deserve it!

lola? lolita? carmen? sunny?

ok i need to get a life

brooke? marissa?

violet?

MrsB, i couldnt sleep last night so i lay awake thinking of names

Angela
Stella
Lorraine
Natalie
Shona
Rhona
Ailsa
Grace
Morgan
Morven
Kirsten
Coleen
Collette
Julie

er, couldnt think of any more (i love Stella and Julie btw)

and Gemma

Emma
Abby

We have a very similar surname to you MrsBadger and we have an Alice. It sounds good together because Alice ends in a soft sound and our surname starts with a hard sound (same as yours)

I love the name Emma, but of course I am biased as its my name! But I would use it for a girl if it wasnt my name.

also like

Amelia
Matilda
Lottie
Libby
Louise
Lucy
Kate
Maisie

Cole

It needs to be a name that ends in a 'S' sound - like Lois, Alice

Or ends in a vowel, like Anna, Emma

Or ends with an 'ee' sound, like Lucy, Amy, Katie, Zoe

IMHO

I think the rythym of the name has to be right....two one syllable words together would sound too blunt and hard. Our dd is Eleanor and has a 'plain' single syllable middle name and a 2-syllable surname. It seems to flow.

Of course, if you give them a very unique first name, their first and surname will hardly be said together as everyone will know them by their first name alone.

Una
Morna
Jess
Anna

what about long name that can be shortened- Katherine-Kate, Eleanor - Ellie that way you can use the 'pretty 'long name and DH can use the shortened version. I think is a male thing, long names are 'girly' ! We have a Katherine Isabella ( DH uses Kate or Izzy) or go for a longer middle name eg Kate (Familysurname from your side)stowe, if it's the flow of the name that doesnt work.
My sons name is Dan, and we have a short surname, so I insisted on a longer middle name, like Alexander, or Jonathan to even it out.
My mum did point out that I had a long first AND family name- as soon as I could I shortened my first name (in high school) and married a man with a short surname- whatever you call them, they will change it later anyway !

Haven't read whole thread by our dd is Nell and we are complimented all the time on what a pretty name - one syllable needn't mean boring or plain!

Imogen
Helena

Both longer, but sound quite strong/dignified (imo) rather than girly.

Ellis?

Mamzon - I have one of those too (E.G.). There are four girls with the same first name in the very small place where I live, and they will all be in the same school year.

I thought I had chosen so carefully (I'm a teacher, so I know about name trends I though!), but now we may have to move house

Mrs B

What about Eva or Ava?

Alice is lovely, and so is Eleanor.

oh yes Nell is v nice

think you need to put your foot down and insist on a 3 syllable name - sounds better.

So from your list of favourites, Philippa or Julia would be the best (or you could do Juliet?)

I love Grace, it was my Gran's name and I always thought I'd use it. However, at the the last minute, we thought it would be awful if she turned out to be more clompy than elegant...
In the end we had a list of Scottish names, Katrina, Isobel, Heather, Mairi...
DH got Katrina.

i have a friend Oona

Orla is nice too

Elena Cole sounds and looks pretty........ pronounced elle - a - na, with a long 'a' in the middle, as in may. Also possible to shorten to Ellie..........

Happy choosing MrsBadger, will watch the hatching and naming notice with interest!