Our final five

[FreedomOfTheTess]

Baby bump (due in July) is "almost certainly" a girl, so we've focused efforts on girl names right now, although we will have some boy names on hand just in case.

Anyhow this is the final five for #4 who will be a sister for Jack, Alexander and Sarah...

Mary - not popular now, but obviously was the "go to" name for generations, and as such is the most common female name in the world. Would she hate us? Is it tired sounding or would it sound fresh these days, among all the girls called Olivia and Ruby (to name but a few)?

Margaret - we love, love, love Maggie but would never use it as a given name. We also love Margaret, it's a family name on both sides, but when I mentioned it to my mum she said, "Thatcher". Yeah I get that, but by the time baby bump grows up, Maggie T isn't going to be around is she?!

Elisabeth - a family name on my side, was my great-grandmother's name (I knew her, she passed when I was 7), and is also my mum's middle name. The 's' spelling is how my g-gran and my mum's middle name is spelt. We would shorten to Bess or Elsie.

Rose - we both love the simplicity of it but could we use it when we've got a Jack? When I mentioned I liked it to a friend, she said, "but Rose and Jack - Titanic - you can't do it." Thoughts on that?

Frances - a family name on DH's side and also my grandmother's middle name. We would only call her Frances, not Frankie or Fran, we don't like either of those. NB: If anyone can come up with alternative nicknames, much appreciated, but it isn't vital. We'd be happy to just use Frances.

So what you do think? What is the best fit with the older sibling names? Which one is more "wearable" these days? Or should we scrap the list and start again?

NB: The middle name will be Helen, after my aunt.

[zxcv123]

What about Rosemary - that way you get two of the names you like for the price of one! And DD could have the choice of either Rose or Mary as a shortened name when she's old enough to choose.

Margaret sounds frumpish to me, but I wouldn't be put off by the association with Thatcher if you like it. But if you actually want to use Maggie on a day to day basis, why not choose another name like Margot, Marguerite etc?

Frances / Francesca are lovely names but will end up being shortened to Fran, Frankie, Fanny etc.

[zxcv123]

Meant to say I think Elisabeth is a great name, but there's probably more than a fair chance that Kate & Wills' baby will end up being called that if it's a girl. In which case it could become really popular again.

[WormCanner]

I love Francis for a boy but find Frances a bit too masculine for a girl.

Rose is dull, but I like Rosanna, Rosalind and Rosamond.

Margaret is very "mumsy" to my generation, but I love Margarita.

Elizabeth is a fine classic name but I don't like most of the nn's.

Mary is a classic of course but not much used atm. I would pair it with a really flamboyant middle name. (I suppose you could do that with Rose too)

[BarbieDahl]

most of these names could be on Kate and will's list - something you like might to consider

[FreedomOfTheTess]

Thanks for the comments so far.

I hadn't even thought of Rosemary, will suggest that to DH.

Not concerned about the William and Catherine thing, despite being due about the same time Catherine is, because these names are all pretty timeless.

I do really like Margot and Marguerite, but I have to think about how names go with my other childrens' names, as they're a bit more "exotic" compared to Jack, Alexander and Sarah!

[wafflingworrier]

i cant imagine a grown up woman called rose, just a small child. it doesn't seem like a "strong" name to me, more like a damsel-needing rescuing type of name
i love frances but i think it means "french" which is not that interesting, also because its not so common people mayh spell it incorrectly (francis), my good friend has the problem all the time
so i like elizabeth best.

they are all lovely though, congratulations on your pregnancy!

[meddie]

Maggie has too mention thatcher connections for me. maybe thats just an age related thing.
I like Elisabeth, its a good solid name, won't date, has lots of variations to choose
Lizzie, Liz, Elisa,Liza ,Beth Elspeth,Betty and my favourite version Lillibet

[meddie]

too many*

[bouncysmiley]

Frances definately, much more unusual than the others and very pretty. Congratulations.

[mackerella]

Mary is nice (and quite underused these days) but I would worry that it sounds too much like Sarah?

I know an adult Rose (prob late 40s) whose name is short for Rosemary. It suits her fine and doesn't seem too weak or girly at all.