Florence, Elspeth or Rowan?

[thetigerwhocametoteax]

Just starting to think about names for DC2 due in summer. DH and I had always wanted Rowan for a girl but I close friend of ours recently called their little boy Rowan and I am starting the think of it now as a boys name. I really love Florence but find the lack of nice nicknames and increasing popularity a bit off putting. DH likes Elspeth (nn Elsie) and I do like it but worry about a lifetime of going "no Elspeth ... NOT Elizabeth"

So what do you think? DS is called Arthur. Any other suggestions we might like?

Know of a female Rowan, lovely name, how about Rowena?

Florence, but a long way, it is lovely.
Elspeth sounds like a type of wheat.

Love Florence and think it goes well with your DS being called Arthur.

I don't like Rowan, and not keen on Elspeth (much prefer Elizabeth). Like nn Elsie though.

i like Rowan, but also know a boy called that, but i think its a pretty unisex name.

like florence, thought about it myself but the camerons using it has ruined it for me!

dont like Elspeth at all, purely because of a relative with this name, but she isnt your relative so that shouldnt bother you!

This is a lovely thread - all these names are beautiful! Elspeth is not like elizabeth at all! my fave is florence , and i love florrie as a short version. rowan seems to be a bit of a boy's name these days due to eg rowan atkinson.

Elspeth, lovely.

I know Rowan's of both sexes, quite like it.

Florence is quite popular where I am and I think will become rapidly overused.

I think of Rowan as a boy's name because of Mr. E. Blackadder, but that's me.

I like Florence because it's my nan's middle name (first name Eileen), which is very old lady, but she is 78 so it suits her :o

I like Elspeth and Elsie, not too twee.

Love Arthur btw, always been one of my favourite names.

Flora, Rowan and Elspeth were my 3 favourite names along with Mairead.

PLEASE choose Elspeth. The world needs more little Elsies! Dh wouldn't let me name dd Elspeth i will never forgive him

I know 3 Florence's born this year. It's getting very popular. Careful she might be Flo whatever your surname is when she goes to school.

Love love love Elspeth. Beautiful for an adult and a plentitude of cute nicknames for a child or teen.

PS Really like Rowan, too. Florence is feeling a bit "done" to me, especially after Florence Cameron

Wow, so many replies! Thanks, I'm not mad keen on discussing baby names with family and friends after they all pulled faces at the name Arthur for our first. I loved it then and still do now. So its nice to have other input to my hormone ravaged thoughts on baby names! Think it will be Elspeth or Rowan. We might have to wait til little one arrives and see what suits. Now to think of boys names.....

Elspeth reminds me of someone with a really bad lisp. Bored of Florence its everywhere, just look at how many threads there are about the name!

Oh - hadn't realised you had an Arthur - might want to be slightly careful on Florence then or you'll have two matching the Camerons!

My sister is Elspeth, and apart from the short time at school when she had the nickname of 'El Smell' we like it! Love Florence too.

DD's middle name is Rowan. Love it.

Agree about Florence, it's very NOW... I know 2 babies born recently called it... How many did we all know 5 years ago?

Elspeth is beautiful!! But I love love love Beatrice.

Elspeth all the way!! I think Elsie is utterly gorgeous too

Ahhhh love the name Arthur OP.

DS2 was set to be Florence (he is almost 9 btw; since his birth I have met 0 Florences) or Agnes; we also liked Edith and I like Mabel and Agatha.

Of your choices I love Florence. Rowan is a girl to me but DD has a pal (girl) with the name; I know a lot of people think of Rowan Atkinson. Elsie is nice as a given name maybe? I know one who is about 13.

Ooh I forgot about the Camerons with Arthur and Florence, bah nicking all the best names!