OK, final name thread! One of us will be disappointed, who should it be?

[GuillotinedMaryLacey]

We have two name choices. Neither one of us is happy about the other's choice. We have been through every name we can think of and, without a word of a lie, there is not one single name in the entire world that we agree on, believe me, we've tried and it's beginning to grind us down. We've just got totally different taste in names. So we've accepted that one of us will have to get used to a name we're not wild about.

Anyone else in the same position, what did you do? Is it possible to live with a name that's just ok and not The Name?

Could you have Kate as a standalone name?

DD1 has Catherine as one of her middle names which we're slightly kicking ourselves about as we might have gone the Catherine/Kitty route. But I suggested Kate just now and the response was favourable. Then it could be Kitty or Katie or whatever or just Kate (Bush fan).

Harriet btw Bubbaluv

Names off the top of my head

Ruth (NM Roo if necessary)
How about just Clara, dropping the Belle
The Clara I know has a sister called Eleanor. Variations in that could be Elena, Helena...
Um.... Louisa, Eloise...

Love Helena but can't use it. Shame because we both really love it but it's not an option.

I know I know, we're just bloody awkward!

I love Verity, definitely agree with you on that one. It helps that the one I know in real life is beautiful, clever and sweet! Madeleine is...OK, but just OK.

Clarabelle is awful, is he serious? Clara is fine though. Or Cara, Ciara/Kiera? Kirsten?

Eleanor is a good strong name, and quite traditional. Annabel or Isobel (with those spellings, no frilly girlified ones)?

DH and I had this too. He likes names like Amy, I like Clarissa and Emilia. It wasn't the harshness so much, but any names over two syllables and five letters, my DH considers poncey.

Yes, we went through Statistics girls names spreadsheet too, and borrowed a friends name book. We have settled on Cara.

How about Imogen (nn Ginny, or Imo)?

Trying to avoid anything really popular. I have a really common name and hate it. He likes Imogen, I don't!

And I think he is serious with Clarabelle

Clara. Clarabelle is a nickname hideous as it is reminds me of my cousin Lucy who is called Lulubelle

Kate is a grest standalone name.

Kate can certainly be a stand alone name, I fear popularity may increase.

Katerina nn Kate?

I like Welsh names. My great-grandmother was a Dinithy. I've never seen it anywhere else.

What about Audra? an ah sound but quite strong.

Cassia?

Jennifer?

You have the same first name as me so I understand you don't want something boring. There was always at least one other in the class. If not two.

Matilda - girly but strong. Tilly is a frilly nn, Tilda a stronger sassier one.
Harriet and Matilda

Pippa- Philippa perhaps if you like a longer name.
Harriet and Pippa

Kitty/Kit/Kate - Katherine.
Harriet and Kitty
I prefer Kitty or Kate to Katherine though.

Have I won the prize?

hi OP i think we have very similar taste in names! your DD's name Harriet is our second choice for if DC2 is a girl (first choice being Jemima - today anyway!). i love Verity but it unfortunately has negative associations for me! i like Julia as well but don't love it. i also get a bit 'urgh' about names that are too cutesy. some ideas that i think you might like:
Beatrice/Beatrix (bit biased as it's DD1's name!)
Georgiana (Georgie)
Philippa (Pippa)
Olive
Viola
Tess
Anna
Elizabeth
Charlotte
Martha (i love this name - DP hates it :( )
Good luck!

Try a compromise like this: DH liked Beatrice, which I liked, but wasn't my favourite. And I didn't like Bea or Trissy or owt like that for a nn, but I LOVED Betty. So we agreed Betty was an acceptable nn for Beatrice. Job done.

Don't do this: boy at my school was called Nicholas because his dad put his foot down, but his mum - and his mum's entire family (and therefore school too, I suppose she did the admin) called him Jim. Always. Confusing for everyone!

What's your DD's name?

And don't give up!

I am biased here but going along with the Verity theme, how about Stephanie?

Same number of syllables, ending with the same sound but maybe not as harsh as he finds Verity. Most people know how to spell it but it isn't top 100 either.

You're possibly a little limited on the flowery nicknames - I get Steph, Stephy and Stephano. If it was down to me starting afresh, I'd quite like to use Effie as a nn.

There aren't too many negative nicknames I can think of - Steph is pronounced "Stiff" if you are my cousin from New Zealand, which I find hilarious. And I also get called "Stink" by my lovely husband, although I can't guarantee that's linked to my actual name and maybe more a result of my shoes!

I love Stephanie and suggested it last week. It got a no .

Actually, I started this thread thinking that I was the unreasonable one being so stuck on Verity but actually, it's him that's the awkward bugger. I'm suggesting names left right and centre at the moment.

I was thinking the same as Bubb what about calling her Clara and your dh can call her Clarabel as a nn. Or call her Clarabel which your dh loves and always use Clara?
I think if your dh dislikes Verity then you shouldn't use it and vice versa.
We didn't agree on names either and I think you should go with a name that you both like, rather than a name that one of you loves and the other really dislikes.
Julia is very nice both flowery and strong so fits the bill. I think Madeleine fits the bill too.

We've just had a 90 minute conflab on the landing and........... are no further on!

I know of one Verity and her nn is Ferrity! I'm not keen on the name myself, but then I don't like Madeleine (Maddy) either!

Catherine is lovely, I really don't think it matters if it's one of DD1's mn's, if you both like it go for it[hsmile]

Why not make a list of things/places/books/films etc... that have special significance/memory for you and your DH and take it from there?

He is an awkward bugger, definitely. Try out some awful names (like Stink) and maybe the reverse psychology will kick in and he'll go for Verity as the lesser of numerous evils? I like it btw.

Some of the other posts have just reminded me that my NZ cousin who calls me Stiff gave me a doll when I was little and I called her Clara, I've not thought of that doll for years!

Have you thought about sedating him and getting him to sign a legally binding contract?