Need name advice for TWINS - boy and girl!

[Jay14]

I'm having twins, a boy and girl which we're sooo excited about but really struggling with come up with names we love for either of them - would really appreciate some suggestions!

I'm very keen on strong, traditional boys names like Jack, William, George etc but they just all seem very common at the moment. Does anyone have any suggestions for boys names that are similar but rarer? His middle name will be Edward or Alasdair after grandads (we considered both but I think it is a bit much!)

As for DD to be, I'm fairly keen on something unusual (though I do love more conventional Lucy, Rebecca and some others), as long as it isnt going to be a nightmare to spell. I really, really love the name Aliena... but worried it is too unusual and would just get shortened to Ali which I dont think I like on a girl. What do people think about Aliena?

Would love to hear any suggestions for one or both of the twins! Thankyou :)

Does Isla or Anya appeal for the girl and Oscar or Finlay for the boy

You could rescue the name from the aliens by going Latin and spelling it Aeliana.

Other girls' names: Emilia, Alice, Eliza, Marianne,
Penelope, Antoinette, Rowena, Sylvia, Tabitha, Felicity,
Phillipa, Jemima, Amanda

Boys: Edmond, Rupert, Iain, Sebastian, Richard, Timothy, Peter, Charles, Frederick

My DT's are Sebastian and Posy :)

We also considered:
Arthur and Willow
Milo and Hebe
Harry and Flynn
Felix and India
Oscar and Delphi

I think Aliena is too close to Alien.
How about Amelia, Aurelia, Aliana, Aurelia or Amy?

Ian and Imogen
George and Alice
Sam and Erin
Caleb and Grace/Gracie

Mine are Owen and Lauren but were nearly Erin and Reuben

How about spelling it Aleena?

I can't say I'm wild about it - but as long as you love it, who cares what anyone else thinks?

Have you considered Kate & William?

Alannah?
Athena?
Alina is a real (Russian and generally eastern European) name. I think it is also used in Scotland as a feminine version of Alistair.

For boys, I think Peter is a lovely and underused name. I know a little Peter who is almost 2 - his nn is Pete which is nice.

Other traditional names - Michael, John, Louis, Simon, Samuel, David, Patrick, Owen, Alexander...

Kate - I got Aliena from Pillars of the Earth but presumed it was made up as hadn't heard of it anywhere else!

Really liking lots of suggestions! Adding Alannah, Alice and Imogen to the list!

A friend also suggested Cassian for DS... like it but haven't heard of it before... does anyone know any Cassians/what do you think of the name?

Arianne & Joshua

How about Aniela instead of Aliena, then doesn't look like alien, and is a real name.
I love the name Peter, and am considering it for DC2 if a boy - classic and not too popular.

LOVE the sound of Aliena (makes me think of the gorgeous girl from Pillars of the Earth) but the spelling does make it look like 'alien; which would put me off.

I think it's a Russian name, originally spelled Aljena.

Peter and Susan

Both so underused. And very Narnia :-)

ooo really pleased with the positive response to Peter!

Why not Elena? My fave Italian name of all time, very pretty and easy to spell. (Sounds like English Eleonor but much prefer the Italian spelling!)

Another fan of Jack, William, James and Henry here - and I only know one or two boys of each around here (whereas hundreds of Noahs, Lukes, Charlies, Harrys, Benjamins, Jacobs etc....)

Also love Joseph, Sebastian, Lewis/Louis, Oliver, Jed, Alexander/Alex and Ethan.

Other girls' suggestions:
Isabella
Sasha
Natasha
Felicity
Elisabeth/Elisa
Serena
Sophia/Sophie
Maya
Tess
Rose
Harriet
Martha
Emilia

Congratulations on your twins to be!How lovely!