Re-thinking our choices... should we go for different names?

[Linguaphile]

DH and I have, for the most part, settled on calling our twin girls Philippa Winter and Vivienne Gray (Pip/Pippa and Vivi for short), but with our induction date looming less than 2 weeks away, I'm getting cold feet.

I really do love the classics (Alexandra, Elizabeth, etc), but we avoided them because our original criteria was to have something out of (or at the higher end of) the top 100--wanted something classic and interesting that wouldn't date quickly. I'm just not sure we've accomplished that with the names we've got!

I suppose I'm looking for either reassurance about what we've got or inspiration for something different. Any suggestions (even out-of-the-box ones) are really welcome. Names like Primrose, Seren, Zara and Persis have been on our list at some point or another, so I'm open to ideas!

All the viviennes round my way are in their fifties and are often spotted sat on their step avin a faaaaag amd chattin to Doreen before going in to cook the chops. Some go by their full name, some as Viv.

I find it very odd that it is seen as a glamorous name.

You know about Pippa's 'translations' don't you? I couldn't do that to a child.

Okay, obviously mixed opinions. What about the earlier suggestion of Zara and Persis? Better?

I love Vivienne, and think it fits your criteria perfectly. Less keen on Philippa - nothing wrong with it, but it does seem a little plain compared to Vivienne (which I think of as being classic but with a vintage Hollywood twist, a la Vivien Leigh). Perhaps go with Vivienne and another 'classic with a twist'?

Cassandra (agree with others that this works well)
Juliet
Genevieve
Juliana
Helena
Serena
Celia
Lucia
Miranda
Cordelia
Beatrice
Evangeline
Eloise
Elodie
Arianne

Many of these are classic in a literary/Shakespearean sense, or have a slightly French feel, like Vivienne. Like both of your mns, by the way.

Oh, and not at all keen on Zara. Persis OK but a bit 'out there' compared with Vivienne. There are far better names out there imo.

I like Vivienne and Cordelia.

Cecily Winter to complement Vivienne Gray

Not keen on Zara sorry!

I love both of your original names OP. good luck.

Not sure about Cassandra, she was blessed with the gift of prophecy but cursed with the fate that nobody would ever believe her.

What about Constance in there? Would Felicity Constance be better against Vivienne Gray? Willing to lose Winter as it's a friend'd namesake instead of a family one.

I do like the idea of Persis Alexandra, but don't know what to put with it.

I like both Felicity Constance and Vivienne Gray.

If Winter and Gray are just being used as middle names and they have significance to you, then what is the harm? Most people would just perceive them to be additional surnames.

I'm another who adores Vivi but doesn't like Pippa.

Also, family name or not, I think it's very odd to name a child Winter when it's born in August/ early Sept. It's like calling a CHristmas baby Summer.

I like Felicity Winter and Vivienne Gray personally

Ooo, AurorasShoes, Cecily Winter sounds lovely.

I'm not really keen on Zara.

I really liked your original names though OP.

I love their middle names, please don't change them.

I also love the flow of their names and the way they compliment each other.

I slightly agree with the comments around Phillipa, names that are similar IMO to Vivienne (which again is lovely):

Francesca Winter
Felicity (Fliss, Lissy?) Winter
Juliette (or Juliet but the former matches the spelling of Vivienne that you've chosen) Winter
Susannah Winter
Alexandra Winter
Cecily Winter
Celia Winter

Ultimately, go with what you both love.

I like Zara.
Not keen on Persis, Vivienne or Philippa.

How about:
Cordelia
Miranda
Florence
Hermione
Veronica
Beatrix
Theadora
Dorothea
Yolanda
Rosalind
Juliette
Yasmina

I think they are both lovely names, with sweet nicknames. The closer I get to my due date, the more I am second guessing my names, so it's nice to know I'm not the only one!

Really don't like Persis, and not fond of Zara (but far better than Persis even so).

Like Constance and Cecily, and really like Hermione and Yolanda.

I really like Zara but still prefer Phillipa, I think its a lovely name. Not keen on Persis at all!

It's so hard to make a choice, because while Philippa is common in the UK, it's really rare in the US (where I'm originally from; DH is English). If anything, Vivienne is the more boring name across the pond.

Ack, I just don't know. Seems unanimous that the others aren't really topping the original choices, but those choices don't seem to be getting great reviews either. Is Pippa really that bad, and are the middles really so unusable because they happen to sound like they match (which wasn't the idea)? Felicity is our other top contender to go with Vivi if Pippa doesn't work out, but some people have said it's too horsey...

All confused now. :(

Is Felicity Winter and Vivienne Gray an improvement?

Vivienne grey is stunning
Think Alexandra Winter would be gorgeous with it also like the suggestion of Georgiana up thread but don't be put off Elizabeth because most people shorten it anyway so not many actual little Elizabeth's out there

I think Felicity Winter and Vivienne Gray are just gorgeous.

Another suggestion is Felicia.

Ooh, Alexandra Winter is pretty...

What about Marianne, Justine or Camille?