Due in Nov - I'm a teacher, names are hard!

[AuntieBrenda]

DS had his name early on - Nathaniel, called Nate

I've taught for ten years so I have huge associations with names, especially boys as I've exclusively taught boys

Here's my list and I'd welcome suggestions please! Our last name is that of an electronics company that begins with Ph

Girls: I'm keen on Maya as a middle name, after my favourite poet and inspirational woman

Violet
Chloe
Cleo
Claudia
Catriona
Elizabeth
Skye

Boys:
Alastair
Alexander
Blake
Lachlan

If I like these, what suggestions would you make?
Thanks x

Good list, especially boys. Would suggest you add Conrad.

I'm a teacher too, so I appreciate your dilemma! I like all of your boys names, except I've never been a fan of Alexander. Like Conrad too. Lachlan would have been my choice for our DS, except that it is sooo popular here in Australia at the moment. Of your girls names, I think Catriona goes best with Maya.

My first thought is to go for names that have a hard sound at the ending:

Lachlan and Violet are easier to say and sound better with 'Ph' surname than Elizabeth does with the 'th' ending.

Good lists though.

I like Violet and Alexander from your lists.

Ooh, we have Blake on our girl's name list!

But yes, also a teacher here, and it's hard.

Claudia and Blake from your list.

Sympathies from another fellow teacher - only as H is also a teacher we found it almost impossible to agree on a name. In the end we stuck very much with tradition rather than trend and have a Robert James (known as Robbie) and a Mairi Iona. I like Alistair from your boys list. Girl's list I'd probably go with Catriona. Not to sure about Skye but then I have taught a couple of them and the memories are not brilliant! I think it's good to go for uncommon rather than unusual after all you know that moment when you are looking at a name on the register and have no idea how to
pronounce it!

Thanks all - it's very difficult!
I'm having my 20 week scan on July 11th and if we can find out the gender, we'll have to make a decision!
I also liked tabitha and after a pp mentioned the th / ph thing I think they're totally right and I've gone off the sound!

Kerenza

I personally like Chloe and Alexander. My bro is Alastair and everyone calls him Ali which my Mum hates. I'm actually an Alexandra (biased) but never been called Ali (I'm 6 years older). Just an observation for you...

Myself and my husband have always worked in schools so I understand how difficult it can be in choosing a name. From your list Violet, Cleo, Claudia, Alastair and Blake were on my lists. My children ended up being called Scarlett and Flynn.

I'd add Brodie, Gregor and Keir to your list for boys and of your shortlist Alastair or Alexander (basically the same name :o ) are my favourites.

For the girls, Catriona would be the only one I'd pick out. I'd add Kirsten/Kirsty, Lorna and Mairi.

Was going to suggest Fiona but perhaps not with your surname!

Shona then instead of Fiona?

I like your lists and I would pick violet and Alastair. Excellent names! Also absolutely love your ds1 name.

More suggestions

Flora or Florence
Pippa (Phillipa?)
Harriet
Serena
Leonie/leona
Martha

Gregor
Theodore/theo
Ben/Benjamin/Benedict
Struan
Stellan
Rowan
Reuben
Lucas

Sorry not Philipa with your last name!!

I like all your suggested names op except cleo.sorry cleo is a pet name,slobbery pet

Thanks all
I really like violet. Really.
Boys names are the hardest. Thanks for all the suggestions :)

What about Gabriel?
Nate and Gabe sound great together. We have a lovely Gabe and I also love the name Nathaniel but felt we couldn't use it for DS2 as we have a close family member called Nathan.

Love Blake and Lachlan (with nn lockie too)
Also suggestions Harris and Seth
Maya is a beautiful first name IMO

My sister has a Nathaniel and a Tobias