Our risky shortlist - please give comments

[Oakleigh20]

Hi all,

We are keeping our names secret from everyone but am desperate for some feedback. We have some safe options that we like but these are the risky ones... really love them but they are more unusual so want to be sure

Ford or Rupert for a boy
Berry or Wren for a girl

We want names that will be fitting as an adult in any job they choose to do but we don't like particularly popular names. Our safe choices are Albert and Penelope

Please let me know what you think plus any other alternatives also- what middle names do you think would go?

I love Wren - although it would be perfect for a little petite person and if there is a risk your DD might be more Amazonian, it might invite teasing. Agree with Art that Penelope Wren is lovely. I quite like Berry too.

Not so keen on the boys' options. Rupert is military nickname for an officer and will always mean that to me.

I don't think you should be afraid of the unusual. Our ds has a name that nobody has ever heard of (but it's an Anglo-Saxon one, not a made-up name). People either love it or hate it, but nobody ever forgets it.

Rupert or wren

I love Rupert.

Wren is miles better than Berry. I am not a fan of food names.

You could have Ford Albert and Wren Ada or Rupert Ford

Not keen on Berry

Would you like Maddox for a boy?

I don't really like Maddox no. IT's really interesting to read everyones thoughts on these names. Everyone thinks slightly differently which i guess is life.

I do love Ford and so does my Husband but I'm unsure as to whether to go for it.

I think the favourites now are

Albert Leonard (Albie or Bertie)
Penelope Ada (Penny)

Are Albert and Penelope really boring though?!

Ford makes me think of the comedian Ford Kiernan. It sounds quite a "normal" name because Ford Kiernan is well known in Scotland.

I like Wren, too.

I don't like Berry for a girl, as others have said it's too close to other names and would be misheard a lot.

Quite like Rupert but don't like Ford, very "American sitcom" and likely to sound odd in a British accent IMHO.

Quite like Wren but I know a few elderly male Ren's so I've always associated it with being a masculine name, not keen on Berry at all!

Don't like Albert or Penelope.

I'd say if you go for an unusual name don't ruin it with a middle name too, i think the key to not over-poncifying (technical term obviously) a different name is to keep it short and sweet also make sure it goes with your surname. I know a few children with "unique" names who've ended up sounding like a Disney character and one who sounds like she should be a strapping basketball player :o

Penelope with mn Wren and Albert with mn Ford work for me :)

I really like Wren!

Do you like any of these?

Lorelei
Bryony
Willow
Laurel
Violet

For boys how about Alfred or Francis?

PS: I prefer your risky choices to your safe ones!

I like Ford. Would go for Ford James or Ford Robert.

I'm put off Berry by Barry.

I love Ada and Adelaide.

Penelope's nice but I don't think Penelope Ada works/flows.

Penelope Jane
Penelope Margaret
Penelope Red

I also love Emerald for a girl

I do really like Violet. Husband doesn't though...

Trouble is i work with children so i see baby names all the time and am put off certain lovely names based on this - i also see how common some names are and that puts me off them. They are the Mark's and Louise's of the generation

thanks for all your help with this!! its such an important decision and not one you necessarily want to discuss with family or friends.

We want names that will be fitting as an adult in any job they choose
I really don't think Berry meets this criteria.

Penelope is great and Wren is ok.
Rupert is great and Albert is fine. Ford is a car.

Wren and Ford, I love Ford because of HHGTTG

Ada is an amazing name. It means 'nobility'. Also, there are several very intriguing Ada's in history, especially Ada Lovelace, widely considered to be the first computer programmer which is quite a feat when you realise that she was the daughter of Lord Byron and was born in 1815.

As for the others - Ford and Wren are lovely. I loathe the name Rupert sadly. At my university it was a disparaging term for a certain type of student. They mostly ended up with 3rds, if they weren't chucked out before then. Rufus is nice though, has the same kind of sound.

Like Albert. I know a few Alberts, only one has his name shortened and that's to Bert. It's cute.

I love Albert and Penelope. As a nn for Albert, I really love Bertie.

Wren was our choice for DC1!!
I love Percy, rupert, and Ford. Not berry so much

Ford Prefect? shows age

My uncle is called Albert - it's universally hated but that might be my age (I'm 41), reminds me of uncle Albert from only fools and horses, really old fashioned but maybe fashion has come back round? Wren is nice and weirdly I quite like ford. Penelope and rupees are a both a bit try hard posh

Not pg yet but DH and I have agreed on Rupert for a boy (nn Roo) and (probably) Cherry for a girl.

We are dead set on Rupert tho, I love it!

Albert too popular for me.

When is good though, not keen on Ford. Too car y for me.

Thanks!!
It's now at-

Ford
Sterling
Albert

Ada
Aurelia
Penelope

Albert and Penelope are the two we agreed ages ago but I'm slowly going off them as they seem more popular than I realised

Love Berry and Penelope. Not Wren.

Your boy's names are not to my taste, although quite like the nn Alby from Albert.