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Baby names

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

Original poster

Which combination of names sounds best?

25 replies

gallicgirl · 13/11/2010 20:07

I swore I would never do this and my partner won't be too chuffed if he finds out Grin, but I don't want to share our name choices with friends and relatives and need some help deciding.

Confused

We have a short list of three girl's names and want to use two of them. However, I can't decide which order sounds best with our surname and my DP is non-committal about it so far. I think they all sound ok with our surname which has two syllables but which order sounds better:

Alys May
Alys Ingrid
Ingrid Alys
Ingrid May

We don't want to use May as a first name, before you suggest it. What do you think?

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Ineedsomesleep · 13/11/2010 20:09

Not sure, which is your favourite from Alys and Ingrid and does May have any special meaning to you both?

BelligerentGhoul · 13/11/2010 20:11

Alys May is yummy - love it.

nancydrewrocked · 13/11/2010 20:12

I don't like May as a middle name. Every second child seems to have it.

So either Alys Ingrid (unless your surname begins with D, L, M or R) or Ingrid Alys.

Which name do you prefer?

marriedandlookingforcake · 13/11/2010 20:14

Alys May

Original poster
gallicgirl · 13/11/2010 20:17

May is the name of my partner's deceased grandmother which is why we've chosen it. I have to admit I hadn't really noticed it being used a lot until I started using MN but I know what you mean about it being popular. I suppose it goes with so many other names - perhaps it's replaced Jane as the middle name of choice from my generation? Wink

We both like Alys but I like that Ingrid is unusual whilst not being too OTT.

Surname begins with P. I'm concerned that Ingrid sounds a little awkward.

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 13/11/2010 20:17

Alys Ingrid or Ingrid Alys get my vote.

I agree with Nancydrew here about May. I think it drags the gorgeous Ingrid and Alys downmarket.

BelligerentGhoul · 13/11/2010 20:25

Tbh though, nns are rarely mentioned past childhood anyway.

A couple more ideas to throw into the mix, which I think sound lovely are:

Alys Wren
Alys Joy
Alys Maeve

FernieB · 13/11/2010 20:29

A vote for Ingrid May here. I wouldn't worry about May being a popular middle name but then my middle name is Jane!

nancydrewrocked · 13/11/2010 20:33

BG I am trying to decide between Maeve or Joy for a middle name for DD2. Everyone in RL thinks I am nuts Grin !

mathanxiety · 13/11/2010 20:34

Maeve and Joy are both beautiful, Nancydrew (imho). How could you be nuts?

nancydrewrocked · 13/11/2010 20:39

mathanxiety I agree Grin

I have an Irish frined who just finds the idea of Maeve so hideously old fashioned as to be laughable. I am actually swaying towards going the whole hog and having [first name] Maeve Joy.

BelligerentGhoul · 13/11/2010 20:52

Oh they are lovely. We pondered on Maeve for dd1 (now 15) and were worried about the Mavis vibe! Often wish we'd gone for it (she ended up as Naomi, which is lovely and suits her but think Maeve is so pretty).

Linnet · 13/11/2010 20:54

Alys May

smother · 13/11/2010 20:56

I so love Maeve as a name. Really gorgeous. the only thing that might put me off actually using it is the prononciation, seems that it can be pronounced 2 ways? long and short?

But back to the thread at hand... I love Alys Ingrid or Ingrid Alys. Both work well and really wonderful names!

mylifewithstrangers · 13/11/2010 21:00

Alys May flows the nicest. But would agree with the others on the overuse of May.

Howabout a small change to Alys Mary?

Original poster
gallicgirl · 13/11/2010 21:10

hmmm thanks for the input everyone.

You've all pretty much mirrored my thoughts. Will have to keep saying different names out loud to see what sticks.

:)

OP posts:
smaych · 14/11/2010 00:22

I love Ingrid as a name, it's strong and interesting.

diddl · 14/11/2010 09:36

Much prefer Alys to Ingrid & I think the reason for having May as a middle name is lovely.

My daughter has a middle name which is much scorned on here, but it was my much loved grandmothers middle name & I always knew I would use it for a daughter.

I find Ingrid clunky sounding for some reason.

earlgreyismynectar · 14/11/2010 10:08

Alys May or Ingrid May, they just flow whereas the other combo's sound awkward IMHO. I wouldn't worry about May's rise in popularity, it's a lovely name and is probably popular because so many of our generation had grandmothers called May. I like both Alys & Ingrid but I think Alys is my particular favourite, lovely for a little girl and sweet and sophisticated for an older girl and young lady!

fel1x · 14/11/2010 10:11

Is Alys pronounced the same as Alice?
Have never seen it spelt that way!

I like Ingrid May

Ineedsomesleep · 14/11/2010 10:43

Alys May for me. Agree with your thoughts on Ingrid.

Original poster
gallicgirl · 14/11/2010 11:42

lol Diddl - clunky is exactly the word I was looking for! My DP and I both love old films so were thinking of Ingrid Bergman and as much as I love it, it doesn't seem to flow right, not with Alys at any rate.

felix - Alys is pronounced the same way as Alice. It's medieval English and also used in Wales. Alice is the Frenchified version I believe.

I think if we choose Ingrid, we might have to forsake a middle name which is ok in itself, but would be nice to use grandmother's name.

OP posts:
euracantha · 14/11/2010 12:14

Alys May.

Nancy66 · 14/11/2010 13:19

May/Mae as a middle name is really really common. As is Grace.

diddl · 14/11/2010 13:44

I think Alys May is lovely.

And I don´t think that the May makes it down market at all.

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