Help for argumentative couple please!!!

[madmayday]

The title sort of speaks for itself really!

34 weeks pregnant with DD1. Surname is Shiel. DS1's name is Daniel.

I think we're arguing for the sake of it now! Any name we do agree on, we then argue about how to spell it, or what to lengthen/shorten it to. We must be the fussiest pair in the world!!!

Here is our very disagreeable shortlist:

1. Amy/Aimee (I like the first spelling, he likes the second)

2. Annabel/Annabelle (His favourite. Growing on me - can't decide the spelling!)

3. Beth (He DESPISES Bethany, but feels slightly better about Bethan?! For the sake of a Y?! I won't have Elizabeth as I do NOT want her being called Liz!)

4. Daisy (Okayish for both of us)

5. Keira (He really likes but I can't get Ms Knightley out of my head!)

6. Leah (We both really like but it has a horrible meaning and he feels it does not go well with his surname)

7. Rosalie (We both liked until he found out it was from Twilight and now he refuses to entertain the idea!)

8. Sadie (I love, he hates)

9. Tess (My son's favourite! I like but DP hates)

10. Zoe (Neither really sold on this to be honest)

So pretty please people - help us to find the right name (don't even get me started on middle names - aaaaaaargh)!!! If you have any new names to throw onto the pile then by all means do, but these were the narrowed down version.

Thanks all! xxxxx

My favourites from your list are Aimee, Annabelle and Beth. I like Elizabeth and most of the shortenings except for Liz so I see where you're coming from!

However, fwiw my eldest DD is Isabel and I ummed and ahhed through my pregnancy about it because I didn't like Izzy. In the end I decided to call her Isabel in the hope that it wouldn't get shortened. It never has, she's nearly 5 and is always Isabel! The funny thing is that now I love Izzy but it would seem odd to shorten it!

I prefer just Beth to Bethany and Bethan too.

I like rosalie (haven't seen twilight),and beth/bethan/bethany. Not fussed on the rest.

Annabel or Amy

Thanks Robin. Funnily enough, I totally agree with you about Isabel/Izzy as well! Isabel is a beautiful name - I went to primary school with one and she was (and still is) lovely!

I'm with you on the Beth thing as well, as is DP. The only reason we really wanted to lengthen it was due to the flow of having two one-syllable names in a row (eg. "Beth Shiel") - DP thinks it sounds too blunt. I think it sounds fine personally. No idea about a middle name!

DP is really pushing for Annabelle! If it gets enough votes, I might have to admit defeat!!!

I'm quite saddened that DP won't go near Rosalie. Maybe Rosie?!

Amy and Annabelle both popular so far!!!

Amy/Aimee -- how about Amelia or Emilia?

Daisy -- how about Marguerite? Margot? Margaret nn Maggie? (I think Daisy is too fluffy personally) Dora?

Rosalie -- how about Rosemary? Rosina? Rosa? Rosanna?

Zoe -- Zara?

Leah -- how about Laura? Laurel? Lara? Leila? Layla? Lyra? Liza?
I agree Leah Shiel is not good.

I get where he is coming from wrt Bethany. It's just too Sunday School imo. I think Beth is too 'Little Women'.
Bethan is nicer (imo), Welsh...
How about Ruth? Betsy? Faith? Eliza?

Keira -- would you use the Persian spelling Kira, or the Irish Ciara (both pronounced the same)?

Sadie -- Sally? Sara? Siri? (Scandinavian name) Seren? Serena? Sabrina?

Tess -- Tessa? Tara? Talia? Trudi? Theadora? Tamsin? Anastasia?

Annabel/Annabelle both very nice maybe flip a coin?
It has nice nn potential and the original sounds good too.

I like Annabel/Annabelle, Tess, Zoe and Rosalie (or variations on the theme of Rose-) best.

Haha mathanxiety! Funnily enough, he describes Bethany as a chavvy name! God knows how he decided that! He says that Bethany would be born wearing reebok classics and a gold sovereign ring!!! I agree more with you, and think it's more bookish...

Can't bear Sally, for some reason (sorry Sally's of the world)! Lara or Zara we can't do, as DP's sister's are called Tara and Lana!!!!!

Thanks for all your lovely ideas though. Annabel(le) seems to be winning so far!

Amy, Annabel or Daisy work best with your surname imo.

I think that a one syllable first name sounds hard with your surname and for some of your choices the names would sort of run into each other.

Love Annabelle! :)

I know a little Isadora who is called Sadie for short, if you like that at all?

If you both like Rosalie then how about Rosalind? Very similar but avoids the Twilight connection.

I do like Annabel and prefer that spelling. It's a feminine name already without the extra frills.

1. Amy/Aimee - ok with first spelling, very naff with the extra fluffie second spelling.

2. Annabel/Annabelle - ok, correct spelling is Annabel.

3. Beth - agree with your H here and like Bethan - BUT - being Welsh I see this as a TOTALLY different name to Bethany - it's pronounced Beth-an, quite clipped, not Bethun.

4. Daisy (Okayish for both of us) - pretty boring...

5. Keira (He really likes but I can't get Ms Knightley out of my head!) - yes, naff!

6. Leah (We both really like but it has a horrible meaning and he feels it does not go well with his surname) - not keen, very 70s - but seems to be making a comeback

7. Rosalie (We both liked until he found out it was from Twilight and now he refuses to entertain the idea!) - nice, fair enough about Twilight - how about Rosamund or Rosalind?

8. Sadie (I love, he hates) - Agree with you, lovely!

9. Tess (My son's favourite! I like but DP hates) - again agree with you

10. Zoe (Neither really sold on this to be honest) - agree.

How about:

Josephine Shiel (nn Posy?)
Rebecca Shiel
Anna Shiel
Lucy Shiel
Melissa Shiel

But

I'd go for Rosamund, nn Rosie. That's lovely

I like Amy and Keira (Knightley won't be the first person people think of as it's not a crazy unusual name).

I think Amy and Aimee are both acceptable spellings so I don't think it matters which you choose if you like the name. A good friend of mine is an Aimée so I hav very positive associations with the name.

Annabel is the best spelling.

If you like Beth, just name her Beth! I quite like Bethan and Bethany too. You could always entertain the idea of using Bethel, which means 'house of God' and is a Biblical place name. I'm not convinced it'll be your cup of tea though. Alternatively, name your daughter Elisabeth with an S - it's a perfectly acceptable variant spelling and it will avoid nicknames of Liz, Lizzie, etc. You can make it clear her nickname is Beth.

I'm not bowled over by Daisy (a dog's name in my family), Keira, Leah or Rosalie. Sadie and Tess are nice but too cutesy for me. I do like Zoe though - what a great name. If you're not sold on it though, keep looking.

I'd go with Aimée, Annabel, Beth/Bethan/Bethany/Elisabeth or Zoe.

I have a desperate soft spot for Daisy, I haven't used it but it always makes smile when I hear it. Sadie is dd2s middle name but its short for Sarah. And Tess is a really favourite of mine but I just like it as a stand alone name.

I have stuck to the ones you both like which are both lovely:
Annabel
Bethan

Alternatively why not have Sadie Ciara so that you both have one you love and one you hate I have to say Sadie Shiel sounds like a movie star but Sadie was always on my list so am biased...

Consider Rosanna if Rosalie won't fly? Or Anna on its own?

My favourites from your list are Tess and Aimee.

I know a Shiel family, their little baby is called Evie.

Sounds as if you have to discount all the names except Amy and Annabel, it appears they are the only two (apart from Leah) which you both like. The spelling is really the least of your worries! I like Annabel best, spelt this way, as it feels less frilly. Amy is ok, doesn't make my list, but would go for this spelling rather than Aimee - which seems more French I think.

Leah is also ok, but I think with your surname it doesn't work - makes it sound like all one word: Leahshiel! Maybe as a middle name?