What do you think of name list I have got so far?

[Ciwti]

They're all Greek names, but I'm expecting twins so I have to choose things that somehow fit. Ideally, I'd like to name them after someone, but I'm still gathering ideas, and may use his name as a middle for both of them.

For boys, I've narrowed it down to, as nothing else seems to fit:

Alekos
Dimos
Thanos

For girls, I've got more ideas, and recently added some more:

Aliki
Areti
Athene
Callisto
Nefeli
Stavroula
Stefina
Theano

Both of my daughters have names with 3 syllables, so the girls have to fit this. My dad told me that they're all terrible, so I'm not sure what to make of this.

I also like Lilika if that's any better!

Sorry, but I'm with your dad.

And having a 'theme' is daft.

Goodness, all this angst over names. I must be so slack. My criteria was

do the initials spell out something - change if they did.
If there is a nick name from the full name do I like it.
All children had to have a different initial.
All had to be proper names and nothing made up so that everyone can spell them (sick of spelling my name).
Not named after anyone in the family.

how about Melissa?

it's Greek for honeybee and a really lovely name

Why is having a theme daft? Lots of people have themes for the names of their children. I understand if you don't like the names, there are lots of names on the threads on here that I don't like.

I do like Melissa, but it's a bit too matchy with Marina.

ciwti

all our kids have Biblical names.
partially because we like them, partially because we are Christians and we want names with great meanings and "ancestors"

That's not popular on MN either - but it doesn't bother me at all!

I don't see the problem with having a Biblical theme.

I like Alekos and Aliki but I wouldn't use both of them for twins as I think they're two similar.

I know an Athene who isn't Greek.

Does Greek not follow the more usual 'a' ending for girls and 'o' for boys? I quite like Calisto and Theano but somehow think Calista and Theana would sound more feminine - or are they not actual names?!

I like Filippa/Filippos but, with Filippa in particular, I suppose you run the risk of looking illiterate if you aren't Greek

I love Acacia for a girl.

I love Aspasia for a girl and Anastasios for a boy (latter wd always be shortened to Tassos in Greece tho).

Entirely up to you, but I'd be a bit worried about Thanos, even though it is used in Greece, though mostly as nickname.

It's linked to the Greek word for Death (which is thanatos).

How? Thanos a diminutive of Athanasios (which means 'eternal'). Athanasios is a name formed by adding 'a' (the equivalent 'un-' in English) to thanatos', to create the word 'un-dead' = eternal).

And having a 'theme' is daft.

How rude.

Alekos and Aliki are lovely :)

What about Xanthe?

Elektra & Orestes - bit of dark story though

This was my problem with greek names is they are mainly tragic.

Dh got a bit obsessed with the moons of Jupiter & saturn whne we were naming children - some good suggestions there & all Greek nymphs

One of my kids nearly ended up as Io - we also like Phaedra but doesn't fit the 3 syllables requirement.

You do realize that you will be condemning them to a lifetime of

"Yes, it is unusual- it's Greek" "No, I'm not" "I don't know why- my mother had a "theme" for the rest of their lives?

Martorana

yeah, a lifetime of "my mum liked Greek names"

seriously, get over yourself, nothing wrong with liking and choosing a type of name, even if there's no connection to them other than emotional.

or else only Jewish people would be called David.
and that's clearly not the case.

I really wouldn't go with a theme for twin names (or siblings for that matter) but that's just me.

Bizarre to have a Greek 'theme' if you are not Greek / have no Greek connection. Why do that? Just to have unusual sounding names? Your children would have a lifetime of being asked if they are Greek and having to explain no.

Actually, the twins do have a Greek connection, as their dad was Greek.

Hardly "my mum just liked Greek names"

Oops missed that. Fair enough.

Hi OP - tell me to sod off it this is too personal but can I ask what nationality of surname the twins will have (congratulations by the way!) and what does their dad think about your name choices?

I'd be tempted to go for more classical (and familiar) Greek names as a compromise but I probably just have more conservative tastes. I know my gran gave my Polish mum and aunts increasingly 'English' Polish names as she got used to the idea that they wouldn't be going back to Poland and her daughters would need to fit in, but maybe that's the attitude of the 1950s talking.

The dad being Greek is a pretty big Greek connection. Is their dad still around? What does he think of the names?

I like the name Nefeli but non of the others appeal to me personally.

Watching this thread with interest as I will be looking at names that work in Greek and English but we have Welsh, French and Austrian heritage too. I think some of the names are a bit way out. Don't like yannis either I think it's greek for john isn't it? Also I think it depends on the surname too, ours is very English so anything too greek will sound absurd!

I'm sorry if it sounds a bit strange, I'm trying to keep the personal information about their dad to a minimum. Their dad isn't still around, but they will have his surname, which is Greek. My youngest daughter has his surname, her name isn't Greek, but it's one of those names which is popular in a few languages.

For a boy and a girl, I am thinking about naming one after him and the other a similar sounding feminine name. Obviously, it wouldn't work this way if they are of the same gender. Although, I do think Aliki and Alekos sound lovely together.

Anyway, on a similar subject, I know a fair amount of people with Italian names, without any familial connections. Despite my own connections, if I gave them Czech or Lebanese names, it would look more 'out of place'.