Abigail, April...A names for girls

[mamaesi]

Husband suggested Abigail or April...

Does April sound too american or is it just me?

And is there any other nickname for Abigail besides Abbey or Gail...I really dislike both!

Can you think of some other great "a" names...

Thursday Abigail is one of those names that is like nails on a blackboard to me. i can't explain it, i just yurgh at it.

Abigail was used in the past as a generic name for a servant eg. "Call the abigails the silver needs to be polished."

Annalese

My friend has an Abigail, it is never ever shortened. I couldn't now ever imagine her as an Abi, it would be weird.

My little girl is called Ava and although it has become more popular everyone comments on what a lovely name it is.

Accalia
Achilla
Airlea
Alba
Alethea
Aloysia
Alula
Amadis
Amaryllis
Angharad
Anouk
Appollonia
Aprilia
Araminta
Ariadne
Arnina
Artemis
Artemisia
Aruna
Asteria
Attica
Attilia
Aubrey

Aroha

another vote for Ava. also like
Alexa
Astrid
Amy
Azizah

Please not April or Avril. It belongs to a simpering type of woman who will flutter her eyelashes at any husband when his wife is sitting by his side. She will think that when any man shows her any kindness or courtesy that "he fancies meeeee." High bimbo rating.

Abigail, I think, is a timeless and classic name. Go to a stately home and you will find it in many family trees there in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Its value is that it is unpretentous and a little bluestocking. Abigails like to read. Marlowe wrote "Abigail, my lodestar.." and that is how I think of the name - strong, dignified and attractive. If you don't like Abi or Gail however, there isn't much point as she is likely to be called by a nn at some point in her life. Is it the spelling or the sound on its own? Eva Green, the actress, has Gaelle as a middle name if you're looking for some inspiration. The only other nicknames I can think of are Gai or Gae. Most are related to meanings of joy or happiness.

Alice, Astrid, Amarylis and many of the others mentioned here are good too. I've also seen Aminta recorded in old records, possibly as a shorter version of Araminta.

We're thinking of going with Alexandria - it seems quite uncommon (less common than Alexandra anyway) but we also like the fact that it can be shortened in quite a few ways: Alex, Al, Ally etc.