We have decided to go with Alison

[emmyloo2]

After much discussion, posting, more discussion, arguments etc, we have tentatively decided to go with Alison for DD due in 9 days.

I am still having a few wobbles but I think I would have that with any name. My main concern is I feel like it's a little dated because I know quite a few Alisons in their 30s. However, my DH really likes it and it's my late aunty's name and so we have decided family trumps trends.

I always envisages we would go with something old-fashioned to match DS (George) but this seems to be where we have landed.

Not sure why I am posting but any last minute thoughts or comments, encouragement or otherwise, would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I'm not keen - we have an Alice but illogicaly I don't particularly like Alison. Prefer Elizabeth for that "era" of names. However its none of my business is it! :)

I don't think there are so many old fashioned names anymore.

I do think Alison and Elizabeth are both lovely names, they can both be shortened, adpated or grown into as DD becomes the woman she wants to be.

If the name means something positive to you, the chances are your DD will love it, My own DD is quite proud of her name and the story behind it .

In the course of my work the other day, I came across a Dulcie and I thought there's a lovely name that you don't see about anymore. As I have said earlier, I really like Alison, I think it is a good choice and goes nicely with George but actually I think Dulcie might be nice too. It seems a bit closer to your favourites of Mabel etc but with a slightly "girlier" feel to it.

Thanks all. I like all the other suggestions but all have been vetoed by DH. I.e. Harriet, Mary, Alice etc. All been requested and rejected. I do know what some people mean by having a dated name. I know a 35 year old Barbara and a 35 year old Denise. I would have hated to have those names. I don't what to do the same to my daughter. It really wasn't this hard to name DS!

You mentioned Josephine OP - that's nice...

Alicia? - Alison to me is hum-drum, dated and dull like Janet.

I don't see it as and old name - (but worse) a "middle-aged" name - as all of the Alison's will be hitting 40, 50, 60 as your daughter grows up - bit like children who were called Sheila, Gloria, Barbara in my day -- you first thoughts are of bingo-wings etc.

However - maybe it is culturally stronger in Scotland - is it of Gaelic origin?

What names (apart from Alison), has your DH sugested?

I'm sorry but its way too dated to saddle a tiny baby with, I agree with the others who say the same. It's not really classic name either if it was there would be lots of all ages not just in the 70's. you don't have to follow trends but its like calling a child Debbie or Jackie iykwim.

What about Alice - now that is a classic name.

I love it. Good choice!

I know an Alison in her 60s, one in her 50s, three in their 30s, and a baby Ally so it isn't restricted to one age group IMO.

Hhm, if you look at it as a random word it looks like it would make a nice name, but somehow it doesn't, sorry OP. If you don't love it I'd think again, you're really nailing your colours to the mast as going for something different, but it really is like naming her Denise.

I like it. I think it's actually pretty, in a way Barbara or Denise isn't. It will be relatively rare but not new or uncommon, so no one will have a problem with it. And as others have said, you can shorten it to Ally or even Lis. Ally's a popular shortening at the moment and no one would know what name it was for (Alexandra, Alicia, Alison).

Sometimes it's just not possible to get a name you both absolutely adore and you have to meet in the middle with a name you both like.

Is your DH against all the shortened versions of Margaret and Elizabeth? Would he agree with Peggy, Meg, Beth, Libby etc?

Margaret means Pearl, how about that?

Greta?

I love Alison. i also have a Jennifer, so am cleary a retro girl too.

It is a beautiful name.

Definitely not the female version of Keith! It is dated but a very pretty name. At least it won't be described as 'faddy' or 'trendy'like my 2 DCs names are often described as on here!
You have several nn potentials too, like Ally and Alice which are lovely.

I also have a Jennifer and love Alison too! It's a 'proper' name but will be uncommon in hergeneration

I don't think I could use a name I didn't love.

Sounds a bit dated. What about Alicia?

I love Alison, it sounds so melodic and nothing like Janet, Denise and their ilk. It reminds me too of Chaucer and the brilliant Elvis Costello song.

In 15 years time it will be the hot new name and you'll be ahead of the pack!

I know an Alison and an Alyson. If you are going to be calling her Ally maybe it matters less you're not wild about the name Alison itself? Once your DD is here you may take one look and absolutely think of her as Alison.

PS So many posters fret about what nn their DC is likely to have, you may find DD or more likely George or anyone except DH will call her anything but Alison.

It's all well and good to come on here and get opinions, but at the end of the day, what use is it really?

You're never going to get a consensus of opinion on ANY name, because it's all so subjective. There are no universal names that everyone likes, so you just have to go with a name you and your DH like.

So what if the name is dated? It's a nice name. And who knows, by the time she's 20 or 30, Alison might be topping the popularity charts, and she'll be in possession of a fresh, current name, while everyone else's eyes are glazing over with boredom at all the Evies, Millys and Lilys. You know, this generation's equivalent of Claire, Joanne, Karen, etc.

I always trot my own story out on threads like this, but I grew up really, really disliking my own name - named after my grandmother, so my parents chose a name from their parents' generation. It was a really middle-aged name, and literally no-one else had it, I was always the only one in my class etc, etc. I was a bit embarrassed by it. What do you know, but another generation rolls around and everyone loves it again, and now in my 30s I have a fresh, current name; Isobel.

Likewise, DS has a very retro name, named after DH's uncle. It has personal meaning, it's a well-known name, but he's always the only one in his peer group with the name.

Be a little bit daring; you don't have to choose an Ava/Olivia/Ruby name. Make the world a more interesting place.

bloody great name, Alison