a sister for Orla

[DesperatelySeekingDistraction]

Twenty week scan today and DC2 is a girl (although lying awkwardly so sonographer said to keep receipts for pink stuff just in case!) so need some name suggestions that go with DD1's name which is Orla.

I thought we'd already got it down to two names - Clara and Nina - but now DH says he's not sure.

I also love Flora but can't use that as don't want rhyming sibling names. We also want to steer clear of another O name but don't mind an alliterative name for a girl.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

orla and freya?
orla and zara?

My Orla's little friend at nursery is a Zara and I often think how nicely they go together.

Lots of lovely names suggested. And I do love Orla too.

BUT...

Forgive me for this but why on earth would you base your new childs name on how it goes with their siblings name.

Seems to me, it's really only a small portion of your life when your name is said along with your siblings, and it's only by your parents.

I guess how your kids names sound together out of your mouth, for the few times people say "what are you children called?" might be important to you, and that's obviously lovely.

But if you think life expectancies of babies born now must be over 100 and only 10 percent of that life would your name really be coupled with your brother and sister.

It's interesting?

I agree with NovaScotia actually. My two have names which don't 'go' at all.

Fgs, Nova, don't you know when you have children, you're supposed to have a matching set! None of this eclectic rubbish!

Yes, Nova, I think that when I see 'Middle Name' threads....when are they ever said together, except from when first born.

Well how many of you naysayers think the name Ptolemy Ned is something you would like to spend your life lumbered with (spotted in the Times last year iirc)? Or would you like to be 'Orla and Ptolemy'?

Dd is Orla, dc2 will be a boy, if he was a girl we'd call her Thomasina, bit sad I didn't get to use it myself, maybe next time!
Also on shortlist:
Greta
Aphra
Anya

At the risk of being controversial we often call me son by his first and middle names together, but i don't think it's the end of the world if first and middle names don't "go". Some people don't even have middle names!!

Middle names used here strictly for reading of the riot act.

My nephew has combined DDs first and middle names to make up his own Pokemon name :-)

Well, due to pronunciation issues Aine is off the list.

On the subject of siblings names, it isn't that I want the names to match, more that I don't want them to sound ridiculous together or like they're not from the same family. For example I know a set of adult siblings called Samuel, Samantha, Michael and Michaela (not two set sets of twins) and they still find that people raise an eyebrow or make a joke when they mention their sibling's names in conversation. The other extreme I mean is like a name thread from a few weeks ago where the OP had called her DD Primrose and was back to ask opinions about the name Spike for her DS. Many posters commented that the names didn't "go" or sound like they were from the same family.

I know that my children will only be children together for a small portion of their lives, but I hope they'll continue to have a relationship with each other as adults so don't want them to silently curse me and DH whenever they mention their sister's name due to them sounding silly together.

Well I would totally agree that if you have used the name Samuel, you should accept Samantha is off the menu for no.2! Likewise Michael/Michaela! I think my point was really that I get a bit confused that some people feel names need to match - "I have a Beatrice, can I have an Oscar" type thing. Of course you can! I actually think Primrose and Spike (although not my kind of names) sound nice for siblings though, so what do I know!

Are there any other names on the short list and maybe people can suggest similar?

Erin sprang to mind for me too.

Anya?

Robyn
Grace
Nataya
Iona
Cathryn
May
Rina
Maeve
Lacey
Macey
Elkie
Ellie
Tilly
Talia
Callee
Callie
Calleigh
Erin
Eva

I also like Anica and Ingrid

BTW mathanxiety, I agree. The longer my name was shouted the more trouble I was in.
I also use dss full names when they are in trouble :)

DS4 was about a week old before he got his name. He was admitted to hospital at 2 days old. Nurse told use to bear in mind when choosing a middle name his wedding day, do you really what everyone laughing when he says " I Jeremiah Marion...." lol

Unless you are Irish i would avoid another Irish name, sounds a bit pretentious.

I am Irish and I live in Cork...a lot of people (myself included) have children with 'classic English names' like Alice and Emily, does that make Irish people using English names pretentious? (I agree with the 'why should names go together camp...you are more likely to have your name paired with a partner in the course of life).