Why is a boys name really easy for us but girls so hard?

[badguider]

DH and I settled on a boys name in about 0.1 seconds: Calum. We both love it, thought we haven't considered the Calum or Callum question yet.

But girls seem to be beyond us (is this an omen that we're having a boy?). Out of the top scottish girls names we like:
Alice
Rhona
Moira
Cara / Kara

But we don't love any of them half as much as Calum. I think Rhona and Cara are the lead contenders but WHY can we just not pick one? Is it because we (I) subconsciously picture this baby as a boy? Will it all become easier if we find out it's a girl at the 20wk scan?

Ooh badguider not only do we have EXACTLY the same problem, you have picked the same name as one of my DS's :) I am pg with dc3 and have a little list of boys names (they are also Scottish choices too) and I love the list. I have a clear front runner (also with spelling tbc) but the girls list I keep changing my mind on, I like the names on the list but don't love any of them yet

Good luck, I will be reading this thread with great interest!!

Suppose I ought to say, 34 weeks here so I'm feeling the pressure a lot bit

I was the opposite I could never pick a boys name - just as well I had 3 girls I really like Cara from your list.

I have the oppisite problem.
I could name a hundred girls,but I really struggle with boys names...

Hmm we had girls names but couldn't pick a boys - loved Callum but that's my nephew - lots of the names we liked had already been used by my older siblings or my OHs - that's what we get for being the youngest and leaving babies later!!

For girls we liked Mairi or Kirsty (OH loved Jenna but it's not good with our surname!)

I also like Shona at the moment - not having any more btw.

Other girls:

Tierney
Rowan
Lindsay
Fallon
Kirsten
Morven

I love Mairi but our best friends' daughter is mari.
I also like shona but think i prefer rhona.

Rowan i like, but i've got a good friend called that and it would be like calling her after that Rowan. Friend Rowan has a feminine middle name she has to use a lot as people assume she's a man (not necessarily a bad thing).

One of your names soontobe is mine

everything - any girls names on your list you feel like sharing???

btw we had really settled on Mairi for a girl but we knew I think that it wasn't going to be that simple and were sure both ours were boys - which they were. No1 son was 3 days waiting on a name after he was born - No2 son was a week and a half.

Rhona is very underused - it's a lovely name and you can't date it at all. I prefer it to all the Islas and Skyes around too.

Aileen
Eileen
Ailsa
Ainsley
Arlene
Avril
Blair
Blythe

Grier
Esmay
Katrine

Another Fav - Lorna

Morna

I had this with my first pregnancy, we had a boys name v.early on and never quite got there with a girls name.

We now have a 6yo DS.

I did the same with my second pregnancy but in reverse.

We now have a 2 week old DD, who is incidently called Cara :o

I think its instinct!

BTW I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure Cara is Irish, it means friend.

We are Scottish but I have Irish roots.

Cara is maybe more irish than scottish but it usually comes up as just 'celtic' when you search... good enough for me :)
But Rhona sounds better with our surname (i think).

Peanut OH and I obviously lacking any instinct whatsoever :) - we did "know" that we were having boys I think - that's why we couldn't think names! - It's easier to make a decision on something that you you is not going to happen :o

We did have some boys "on the list" but knew that none of them were really what we wanted and all were unusable when faced with an actual real baby.

How about Ailsa? Elspeth? Iona?

We have
Iona (I'm struggling with the I own her thing though),
Ellena (I like it but don't love it),
Isla (too popular),

Amelia (doesn't go with our surname),
Mia/Mya and Millie (surname issue again)

I need help!!

A good friend has just named an Isla. It's a lovely name.
I like Iona and Ailsa too and kind of like Skye but DH won't have any sort of Island type name... no idea why but he's adamant.

I'm with you OP, I just don't seem to like.any girl's names. Boy's names are fine but no idea for a girl and we only have a short while to go.

Whilst we don't know the sex, I'm convinced it's a girl which makes it worse!

Oh I loved Skye but DH didn't like it at all :( might cry just after giving birth and say it's the only possible name, see if he changes his mind

Love Rhona, but prefer the Ronagh spelling (as I know a very gorgeous person wih this name!)

Ishbel?

What about Caitlin, Niamph (nieve) or Freya?

I like mhairi but don't want to get into the 'mari' or 'vari' debate or have my daughter have to have it all the time. Also avoiding niamh for the same reason - we are not from a gaelic area and don't speak it so i don't feel comfortable chosing a gaelic name.

Freya is lovely but is already a baby name in close family.
Caitlin... hmm... interesting... as is Ishbel... but actually this thread is making me lean more and more towards Rhona

Ooh, I know a Varry and a Vari if that helps with the debate :)