Meredith, Helena, Miles, Hugh... thoughts and middle names?

[BeardyHammerclaw]

I'd like your opinions on our name shortlist - which you prefer, what the names make you think of etc. We're also not completely sure about the middle names (particularly the girls' ones), so if you have any other suggestions, would love to hear them! We've tried to go for classic, but not over-used first names, coupled with a more common middle name.

Meredith Grace (nn Edie)
Helena Rose (nn Nell or Nina)

Hugh Alexander
Miles Benjamin

Thanks!

Lovely names all. I like your middle names too. Other ideas for well known middle names: Amy, Catherine, Lily, Frederick.

The only thing is that the girls' nicknames seem a bit of a stretch - eg I would assume an Edie was Edith not Meredith. Merry is a lovely nn IMO (esp if she lives up to it ) Nell works for Helena I think but Nina to me is a name not a nickname iyswim.

Love your girls names - I wouldn't shorten Helena as it is beautiful as it is imo.

Love the name Huigh and Hugh Alexander sounds really nice!

Miles is the plural of Mile to me, sorry. And unless you live in a country that uses Kilometres instead of Miles, it could be confusing .

sorry, Hugh

Love love love your girls names I think Meredith would be my fave but that may be because I know a Helena and don't like her!! Would you not go with Hugo rather than Hugh?? Miles is fine but I would choose Hugo myself! As for middle names how about
Meredith Juno which I think is beyond fab!

Helena Rose is beautiful (I have a Helena Charlotte so I'm biased). Be prepared though for people coming up with every possible pronunciation. It took us by surprise: we assumed being in England everyone would automatically call her Helen-uh, but have ever since been surrprised by the number of people who come out with Hel-ayna and Hel-eena. Not that it matters, and once corrected/once people know her then it's fine.

Of the boys I love Hugh and Alexander, either way round.

Thanks all. I also really like Meredith Amy, but sadly this would give her unfortunate initials! I also like Frederick and it is my brother's name.

We were thinking of a J name to go with Meredith - not sure about Juno, but considered Jane, Joy, Joan... still might change!!

I'm not keen at all on Hugo (sorry), trying to avoid the Hugo-Octavia-Peregrine-Jocasta-Bartholomew-Clementine set of names that seems to be popular at the moment! Just a personal preference.

A question on Helena - how would you pronounce it? Do you think she would have to correct people constantly? It would be Helen-a, as in the Shakespeare character, or Bonham Carter or Cristiansen...

I agree with the Nina question, but it seems quite common to have a nickname which is slightly obscure in relation to the actual name so I think this would be accepted. We would be more likely to go with Nell anyway as we prefer it and it goes better with our surname. I've always thought of Nina as short for something though... Antonina, Christina or something

Ah, X-post Soontobe... thank you!

I know a Helena, pronounced Helen-a rather than Helayna. So I would always say Helen-a. But others may be different depending on what Helenas they have heard of!

Helena Christensen is Helayna (or at least I thought so!)

I've always liked the nn Nell

Meredith Joy is great, and less common than Rose or Grace.

Other three syllable boy middle names: Dominic, Nathaniel, Timothy, Samuel, Thomas (ok 2 syllables but seems to go!)