The usual 'what do you think of these' please!

[LorenaCompton]

I am expecting DC2, we don't know yet what sex it is but we'll find out if possible at 20w. We have one DD, 18mo, whose full name is classical feminine but who is known to everyone by the unisex abbreviation (that probably makes the name very obvious, I just didn't fancy it being searchable!) so we need a name that goes with hers. We like the choice of a full name and a nickname. Last time we just knew that her name would be, we'd decided on a girls name years before getting pregnant, but this time we're really arguing about it. So ? help! What do think of these?

Girls
Margaret, called Maggie
Madeleine, probably called as Maddie
Elizabeth ? though DP would like Lizzy and I would like Libby, so I'm unsure on this as I don't quite think I like Lizzie
Edie (really don't think DP will go for this one at all!)
Emma

Boys
Charles, known as Charlie ? this has been a long-time favourite and I do still like it, but I am a little put-off because it is so popular at the moment. I have a popular name and it was annoying being one of 3 or 4 in a class
Ryan
Thomas (Tommy)
Raymond, known as Ray

I think Madeleine is winning for me at the moment as it goes really well with our surname and matches DD's name, and I have a feeling this is another girl.

I'm sure there are more but I can't think of them at the moment... If you don't like these, any similar suggestions?

I like your choices - our 9 months old DD is Elizabeth Grace...

as to nicknames - our youngest son (2.5) calls her Lizababa, which we all like, but DH calls her Lizzie sometimes (don't like) and I call her Lovepie or sweetipie or girlie-whirlie!

no point worrying about the shortened form, you can try different ones out after baby's born, then see what will stick/suits you & child best...
(just some of the nicknames of our 5 boys: bambam, snowy, mickimoster, bababoo, zizizoo, stinky-winkie etc)

my current favourites are Felicity & Amelia or Sebastian & Abraham

can give you our sons names if you want

Great choices. What about considering Lisbet or Betsy as nn for Elizabeth? Love Maggie as nn for Margaret. Here's a slightly odd suggestion, what about Madeleine nn Laney??? I just love Laney and have been thinking of lots of names it could be short for (if you twist things a bit!)
Charlie's great too. Like Ray a lot (ray of sunshine)

Ooh, Laney is cute. Ray is a family name so I'm trying to win DP around. The reason I'm thinking of nicknames is that with DD it was always a conscious choice before she was born to call her by the abbreviated version.

The problem with a lot of names is that I have a problem with 's' and so that rules out Lisbet and Betsy.

I think Margaret/Maggie, Elizabeth and Edie are lovely names. I think Madeleine is also lovely but I'm not keen on Maddie because people may assume that she is a Maddison. My cousin's DD is a Maddison and while they call her Maddie everyone else seems to want to shorten it even more by calling her "Mad" which is awful. (In a similar vein I think Lydia is lovely but couldn't risk nn of "Lid"). Emma is nice and pretty but a bit nondescript.

Charlie and Ray are my favourites from the boys names. Thomas/Tommy is, like Emma, a bit nondescript. Really don't like Ryan, sorry.

amazingmumof6, you have great taste: I am a Grace Elizabeth.

I have a Madeleine Elizabeth! :-) I love Maggie for a wee one (although not keen on Margaret) and Thomas/ Tommy is nice from your boys list. I also really like Danny so how about Daniel?

If you like Charlie how about charlotte with Charlie as nn?

Girls
Margaret, called Maggie - still too old lady for me (family friend in her 70's)
Madeleine, probably called as Maddie (McCann - couldn't do it)
Elizabeth ? though DP would like Lizzy and I would like Libby, so I'm unsure on this as I don't quite think I like Lizzie (not keen - to 'hard')
Edie (really don't think DP will go for this one at all!) (nope)
Emma (dated)

.... hmm, sorry about that. Matilda?

Boys
Charles, known as Charlie ? this has been a long-time favourite and I do still like it, but I am a little put-off because it is so popular at the moment. I have a popular name and it was annoying being one of 3 or 4 in a class - (yeah, far too many of them)
Ryan - (no, but one in our family, nothing but trouble)
Thomas (Tommy) (a bit over used now)
Raymond, known as Ray (no, hate with a passion)

... again, sorry. Arthur/Artie, Frederick/Fredie, Nate (though don't like Nathan)

My Maggie is a Magdalen, but I guess it depends quite how classical you want to go...

And my Edie is an Edith!

OI! Emma is NOT dated or non descript. It is a good strong yet feminine name.

*Disclaimer- I am very biased

However, I do think it needs a good middle name. Mine is dull and very predictable. How about Emma Madeleline? I think that has a nice flow to it.

I'm not as keen on the rest TBH, although I do like Madeline as a first name. Magdelen is cool though and I LOVE Matilda.

Boys I like Charles/Charlie the best followed by Ryan. In the same vain, Aiden? Liam?

really don't get the Madeleine McCann issue. Yes it's tragic but she was a gorgeous girl and it's a gorgeous name. If you'd suggested Myra i would definately have issues! :-)

Margaret (Maggie) and Raymond (Ray) are great names! Classic, cool and underused.

I don't like Maddie, I'm afraid - it sounds like someone VERY mad!!

I like Elizabeth best, with Bet or Liz as nn.
Thomas is a good choice, but I prefer Tom as the nn, I like Raymond too, especially as their is a family connection.

If we were having a girl she'd have been Elisabeth nn Lissy. It's a boy though so no little Lissy for me this time!

thanks peachyy so has your mum! I send my love to her!

oh, you could go for Elizabetta or Bettina

Happy to see some love for Ray, I think I'm going to really start pushing that one for a boy.

DP's problem with Ryan is similar that all the Ryan's he has known have been nothing but trouble!

Danny we can't have as it is pretty much DP's name, and though I LOVE Arthur, DD and I both have names beginning with an A so they might be overkill. Not too keen on Mathilda, but I really like Edith nn Edie. There must be some Edith's in the family too

I also like Edward, nn Ted/Ned but again I think those might turn out to be quite 'dateable', and we're quite keen not have names that automatically date our children to being born in the early 2010s.