Shortlist thoughts for baby number four!

[NotJustKangaskhan]

My three children are Owen, Alexandra, and Mirabelle, and I am expecting number 4 in November, God willing. The sex and naming of the new baby has become family debate, at least between my two eldest who are 'certain' of the baby's sex (both thinking it is their own) and that they should get to name it.

So I thought I'd open the floor a little to get outsider perspective. The names are still pretty much up in the air obviously at this point, but I have an...unusual pattern that I've kept so far: First names need to be easy to say and spell in English and as little mocking fodder as possible (as otherwise my mother will mock it, she thought Louisa was funny), first middle is their Hebrew name, second middle name is their honouring name. Surname begins with G and trying not to give horrid initials.

Onto the shortlist:

Boys:
Cyrus (This is Owen's vote - upon telling him the news of a new baby coming, he declared it a boy and that he should be named Cyrus. I worry about the Miley Cyrus connection though.)
Emmett (Husband's current favourite - liking the nickname Metty for when he's little)
Zack/Zaka (either short for Zachariah or Zakiah) (Husband's second favourite - he really likes the nickname Zaka.)
Ilan (ee-lan) (after the astronaut)
Varian (after Varian Fry)
Franklin (almost certainly to be second middle name, after my grandfather)
Theodor (another possible honouring name, if I used Franklin as a first)

I have dozens of Hebrew boy names I like: Elior, Yoseph/Yosef (grandfather's second name), Itai, Reuel, Admiel, Eliam, Elihu, Tzadok, Oziel, Harel, and more. Haven't had one jump out at me yet though. Only other honouring name that I wouldn't use as a first is Nelson (I have made jokes about using Admiel Nelson)

Girls:
Winifred (Husband's favourite)
Honora
Reina (Alexandra's vote)
Irena (mostly after Irena Sendler)
Lucinda
Ulyssa

Girl's Hebrew names have pretty much been narrowed down to Temima, Hasia, or Ketziah, with honouring name either Frances or Adora.

I really don't have anything jump out at my yet, particularly with girl first names, so have at it and feel free to give other ideas.

Cyrus - i love this name myself, but yeah, the miley cyrus connection was the first thing everyone i asked said, so it was out for me. shame though, it's a lovely name!
Emmett - i like :)
Zack/Zaka - i would have zachariah and use zack/zaka as a nn
Ilan - LOVE this one!
Varian - not so keen
Franklin - not my favourite, but nice for a middle name.
Theodor - always makes me think of the short chunky one from the chipmunks, sorry!

i like all of your girl names except winifred, not so keen! especially like reina

i won't pretend i have a clue about hebrew names (even though my own is quite a common one) so i'll leave that bit for someone to come along who knows more on the subject than i!

Varian is very cool.

Varian Yosef Franklin

Lucinda is the only one I like from the girls' names.

Lucinda Temima Frances

Slightly confused by all of these names when you say you want spelling and pronunciation to be simple?!?!

Cyrus - like
Emmett - place name or surname
Zack/Zaka - great as nickname for Zachariah
Ilan (ee-lan) - OK but will get mispronounced as Eyelan
Varian - too obscure, would get "variant" jokes
Franklin - OK, particularly as it's a family name. Or how about Francis?
Theodor - I like this, although prefer Theodore spelling

Of the boy's Hebrew names, I like the sound/look of Elior, Yoseph/Yosef, Elihu, Tzadok.

Winifred - not keen, too frumpy
Honora - lovely
Reina - not keen
Irena - not keen
Lucinda - OK but prefer Lucy/Lucia/Lucille
Ulyssa - OK

Girls' Hebrew names - I like Ketzia, Frances, Adora.

Girl's Hebrew names have pretty much been narrowed down to Temima, Hasia, or Ketziah, with honouring name either Frances or Adora.

How about...

Sarah, Isadora, Talia, Nina, Abigail, Josephine, Leah, Zara, Octavia, Cecilia

James, Marius, Oliver, Henry, Sebastian, Noah, Cassius, Jacob, Samuel, Lucien

How about Thaddeus?

I like Emmett
Franklin and Theodor together brings American presidents to mind.

I love Winifred.

Cyrus -- tough name for a little boy to carry, and the Miley Cyrus thing is offputting
Emmett -- nice but 'emitic' isn't and Metty is not the first nn to spring to mind here
Zack/Zaka (either short for Zachariah or Zakiah) -- lovely but more likely to be Zak
Ilan (ee-lan) (after the astronaut) -- lovely
Varian (after Varian Fry) -- reminds me of a pork butcher in Dublin
Franklin -- nice as a mn
Theodor -- lovely

Elior, Yoseph/Yosef (grandfather's second name), Itai, Reuel, Admiel, Eliam, Elihu, Tzadok, Oziel, Harel -- love Eliam, Elihu, Tzadok and suggest Herschel.

Girls:
Winifred -- yuck
Honora -- lovely
Reina -- very nice
Irena -- gorgeous
Lucinda -- nice
Ulyssa -- too like trying to make something unique out of the wishy washy Alyssa

I like Franklin and Theodor. For me Cyrus is Cyrus the Virus (but that's a fairly obscure wrestling reference) or Miles/Billy Ray Cyrus, so very hillbilly. I'd avoid Emmett because of Twilight. I think that Zachariah/us is a fabulous name, but you may find that Zak is quite common (mostly from Zachary, or on it's own). Not sure about Ilan or Varian - I think your mum might mock :)

For the girls I prefer Freida to Winifred and Honor to Honora. I quite like Irena and Lucinda. I prefer Ulysses for a boy to Ulyssa for a girl (in fact I don't think I like Ulyssa very much and I think it fails the spelling/pronunciation test and I suspect your mum won't be keen either).