I actually think we may never, ever find another baby name which fits our criteria. What are yours?

[Psammead]

I am British. DH is German. We live in Germany but spend a lot of time in the UK.

The name must be pronounced very similarly in both languages, if not the same. This means no 'th' sound, no 'j', no 'e' at the end. R can also be a problem.

The name must also be spelt in a logical way that comes naturally to both languages. C and K can be problem letters here. As can Z and S, and sometimes C and Z.

The name cannot be too modern or too old-fashioned in either country. Fashions in the two countries do not correlate with each other.

It should not be too biblical, too nerdy, should not be the name of people we know, or people we disliked at some point in our lives. It can't be too long, start with an M, or have any negative cultural associations.

It would be nice to have a nice nickname potential, and a not utterly hideous meaning.

Oh and it can't be French. Or too British or too German.

I think the next one will be named Bob. Regardless of sex.

Tell me about your criteria!

DP and I (mostly DP) have a list of stupidly restrictive criteria for a name would be South American in origin, sound good with a german surname, easily (and very closely) pronounced by all South American dialects, and English, American and German, biblical, honouring family (of which he only knows 5!) and well known but not in the top 50 in either UK or SA in the last 50 years. And beginning with a different letter from us both, any other DC, and all those with DP's surname in the UK (admittedly not that many!)

My criteria - there are far too many Maria's on the South American side, and I have no connection to catholicism - so no Marie, Mary or Maria.

Our German friends who live in the Uk have a little Leon (Leonidas)

Daniel, Leo(n), Arne, Frederi(c)k, Stefan, Lars, Bertold, Albert.

Miriam, Cora, Celeste, Amelie, Ella, Caroline, Helen.

OK, not all have the same pronunciation in both places, but near enough. Go on, I dare you to chose Berthold (known as Bert).

Our criteria - short or short nn, ties into family/personal history, won't sound daft 1- with our traditional 'occupation' surname. 2 - shouted across the school playground in our former pit village. DS was easy, DD more problematic, but not really that difficult. I had a couple of strops when DH vetoed Evelyn (too many Evies around including next door) and Lorelei ( too unusual and the lorelei in german myth were horrid) but in retrospect he was right, and DD's name suits her just fine.

My dp was awful! I gave him a list of 42 namea....and he found a reason to dismiss everysingle one!!
i liked
Domonic
Hector
Theo
George
Edward
Reuben

Phoebe
Molly
Isla
Thea

There was sooo many more but i honestly cant remember! Ha.
Doubt any of them are any good...just thought id get involved. Lol