Classic, "normal" girl's names...

[raininginbaltimore]

So we are having a girl. Already have a ds with a classic name. Dh doesn't like anything that isn't "normal" but I don't want anything too popular (my name was top in the year I was born and I hated being one of five in my class)

So names I like:

Alice
Imogen
Phoebe
Evelyn (but worry that Eve/Evie is too popular)

Dh likes:
Charlotte
Hazel

Names ending in a or ee sounds don't go very well with our surname.

Any extra ideas? I don't feel like I've found "the one"

Rosemary
Harriet
Juliette
Esther
Elise

Elizabeth?

Sally
Meredith
Catherine
Bethan

Jane
Jeanne
Catherine
Katherine
Ruth
Beatrice
Margaret
Rachel
Raquel
Rene
Gwendoline

Abigail
Louise
Sarah
Alice
Helen
Meredith

Helen
Juliet
Rebecca
Hannah
Elizabeth
Catherine
Emma
Sara or Sarah
Abigail
Sophia
Jennifer
Rachel
Laura
Charlotte
Anna

Alexandra
Olivia or Livia
Elizabeth
Chloe
Eleanor
Ellen
Susannah
Maria
Laura
Julia
Megan
Jessica
Leah
Rose / Rosa / Rosanna
Anna
Jane
Emilia
Grace
Lucille
Beatrice

I think the following are classic and normal (to me, anyways )

*Alice
*Emily
*Anna
*Elizabeth
*Catherine

The following are, imo, 'modern classics' that I don't think will date

*Megan
*Rebecca
*Amy / Aimee
*Louisa

Classic, normal, no a or ee ends. Hmmm ...

Abigail, Annabelle, Bridget, Beatrice, Charlotte, Caroline, Celeste, Claire, Elizabeth, Elise, Elosie, Ellen, Eve, Frances, Florence, Faith, Grace, Genevieve, Gabrielle, Hannah, Harriet, Iris, Isabelle, Juliet, Katherine, Lauren, Louise, Margaret, Megan, Rachel, Ruth, Rhiannon, Susan, Violet,

Laura, Grace, Elizabeth, Victoria, Abigail, Jessica, Eleanor.

I like Imogen from your list and Charlotte from your hubby's

I'm quite fond of Charlotte, but had a good friend called that, so am biased . If your two lists aren't grabbing you, how about any of:

Annis
Beatrice
Caroline
Christabel
Diane
Edith
Fern (knew a lovely, if slightly eccentric, one of these too)
Frances
Grace
Harriet
Joan
Margot
Margaret
Susan

I found this when I had dd.. The problem with 'normal' is they can be quite unexciting and maybe even dull or safe... You need a name that fits your criteria that you LOVE.. It's hard I know...

From your list Alice and Charlotte are beautiful and timeless. How about Grace, Elizabeth, Sophie, Niamh, Violet, Genevieve, Erin. Love Beatrice too.

Harriet, Elizabeth, Anne, Jane, Rachael, Ruth, Nell, Sarah.

Elizabeth, Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, Alice, Jennifer, Catherine

I love your DH suggestion of Hazel actually.Not too way out and there may not be another one in the class! We have a Hattie,Dexter and Felicity.

Claire
Louise
Iris

I like Hazel.

Julianna
Christina
May
Miriam
Amelia
Susan
Lydia
Zara
Rowena
Georgina
Aurora
Janet
Melissa
Larissa/Lara
Jasmine
Miranda
Serena
Adele
Elspeth
Carina
Karen
Iona
Belinda
Diana
Theresa/Tess

My mum's a Hazel. She hates it. It gets shortened to 'Aze (London accent) frequently, which makes her sound like an air freshener. Which is a shame because I quite like it. You might fare better in another part of the country.

From your list I really like Hazel tis a beautiful name. I take Eurochick's point though, it needs the right location.

I do like Hazel, and I've only ever known one and she was lovely (I'm a teacher, which makes it harder!)

We live up north, so don't think it will be a problem with the accent.

I like Phoebe best from your shortlist, and Evelyn (but yes Eve/Evie very popular). Charlotte and Imogen quite nice too. Not keen on Hazel/Alice.

Interesting to see Ruth suggested - we have a Ruth . We were looking for something 'normal' but unusual for the same reasons as you - I didn't want DD to be one of 4 in her class at school.

Also love Phoebe, Charlotte, Imogen, Beatrice, Serafina, Maribel, Annabel ('bel' names clash with our surname though), Sarah, Lucy... I like Hazel and Amber, we would use Amber were it not for stupid surname that doesn't go with ANY first names, ever.

OK so I like: Anna, Emma and Zoe. Of your list I most like Charlotte which is a great name with lots of options.

I like all of your name ideas. In order of preference I'd say;

Charlotte
Alice
Evelyn
Imogen
Phoebe
Hazel

You wouldn't have to shorten Evelyn to Eve or Evie if you didn't want to. If you as her parents don't shorten it and encourage others not to then she'll grow up only hearing her full name and may also decide she doesn't want it to be shortened. If she does want to shorten it and likes Eve or Evie then that's up to her as the bearer of the name.

Almost every name can be shortened (all the ones on your list for example) and not always in ways that parents would like or intended. I wouldn't worry about shortenings if you love the full name go for it.

Have fun deciding!

Beth
Abigail
Isobel
Doreen
Rose