DC1's are impossible. Please help!

[meadowlarks]

Hello all, I posted a while back when DP and I were TTC and now we've finally got there, we're still stuck. We've decided on middle names of Bartholomew James for a boy and Leonora Rose for a girl, but we can't figure out what we want for a first name. I'd love your opinions/suggestions on these:

Boys

Gilbert
Liev (pronounced Lee-EV)
Cillian
Anselm
Henry
Elias
Oisin
Edwin
Alban
Clement
Soren
Emile
Anders

Girls

Frieda
Julia
Elowen
Agatha
Hera
Beatrice
Juliet
Perdita
Coralie
Vita

I'd pronounce Soren... erm... rhymes with Giles Coren?!
Rhymes with 'foreign', that's better!

LaTristesse - That's how I say it too (as a side note I think Giles Coren is rather dishy), but having heard the Danish pronunciation I wasn't totally sure.

He is, isn't he Meadow... (my friends rip it out of me for saying so though, glad I've found an ally! )

How do the Danish pronounce it?

sorry, don't want to rain on your parade but as this is anonymous advice, was wondering if you were aware that Gilbert is a word used for bogey/snot! (at least where I live!)

In the spirit of anonymous advice (and as someone who was told to think about middle initials carefully because PT in French gets pronounced péter which means to fart) - BJ?

Perhaps James Bartholemew would be better and open up more first name possibilities.

I'd go for Cillian James Bartholemew Surname but Cillian Bartholemew James Surname doesn't sound as good.

Bartholemew is a kickass name - don't understand your DH!

Tristesse - Haha, he is yummm. The Danish pronounce it Sir-uhn. Like you're addressing a peer. It's not as nice as Soh-ren IMO.

smother - Oh no! I didn't know that. Maybe if I just tell him to avoid your area for his whole life (where are you, by the way?).

SnapFrakkleAndPop - I just assumed that since "BJ" would be surrounded by two other letters, it wouldn't be a huge problem. You rarely use your full initials, anyway. For me, "Bartholomew James" flows better than the other way around, but I'll think about it. And yes, DP is an idiot - Bartholomew is an awesome name!

Also, there's a bit of controversy in the meadowlarks household over the correct pronunciation of Perdita. I say Per-DEE-ta with the emphasis on the second syllable, but DP says he thinks it should be PER-dita. Anyone got any ideas?

I grew up in London and Gilberts were, ehem, gilberts when I was younger... hasn't anyone else heard this? perhaps you should google it!

I love Edwin by the way. And Perdita has fabulous nn potential - Purdy. love it!

I still like the name Gilbert by the way - and I really love the nn Gil, very cool. But for me, Gilberts are pieces of dried bogies (sorry to say) so I could never use the name!!

smother - Oh, I didn't know :( I still love Gilbert though. Edwin is my DP's fave with the NN of Win. And I love Perdita/Purdy

Henry, Soren and Clement for boys, Clement being the frontrunner.

But it's really hard to choose among my girls' names finalists from your list:
Frieda
Julia
Agatha
Hera
Beatrice
Juliet
Coralie
Vita

Maybe Frieda because it's unusual and gorgeously Scandinavian/Germanic, or Agatha.

Gilbert is a fabulous name. Never, ever heard the snot thing but then nobody else on the thread has mentioned it -and they would!- so don't think it can be that common. Like Jasper means wasp in the west country, still fine as a name.

Frieda, Hera and Agatha are just lovely.

Have googled Gilbert and variations of 'snot' and 'bogies' and the link doesn't seem v strong at all. I wouldn't let that put you off.

mathanxiety - Those three seem to be the most popular. DP is worried that Clement is a bit feminine, but I think he's being an idiot. Frieda is probably my favourite of the girls list, followed by Agatha and Hera/Coralie.

CilantroLarry - That's good to hear. I've certainly never heard of the bogey connection

Anselm and Perdita. Very nice.

Yay, a vote for Anselm! Everyone looks at me like I'm mad when I suggest it.

I think it's splendid. A lovely name.

How did I miss Anselm -- it's lovely. Clement and Anselm both sound lovely with Bartholomew James too. Clement isn't a bit feminine imo - thinking of Clement Attlee...

mathanxiety - I agree, I just wish DP would!

bump bump.

You have Hera on your list - what about Hero instead?

When I had ds1, there was a baby girl Hero in the post-natal ward - lovely name.

You know perdita means 'lost' don't you? Not a readon not to use but a bit of a dad connotation
I've known a few Romanian Sorens and they've been Siruhn pronunciation too

Jesus. Reason. And sad.

Cointreau - Hero seems a bit contrived to me. I know you could pass it off as Shakespearian but then it just reminds me of Kate Beckinsale in the film. I also have a connection with Greece, so its fitting.

PuraVida - Yes, I knew that. It doesn't really bother me.