Classic/vintage girl's names - help...!

[UsedToBeASize10]

My OH and I are expecting a girl around Jan time and we are at loggerheads over possible names for her. After much discussion, it has become very clear that our styles are poles apart. My style is classic - old fashioned, even (though not extremely so) and he is more...could I say....classic BUT dated? Here are our comparative lists, so you get the idea:

Me: Alice, Eliza, Lucy, Elsa, Emily, Annabel, Esme
Him: Hannah, Rebecca, Andrea, Chloe, Jessica.

I myself grew up with a name I quite disliked (I never actually told my parents though!). As an adult, it's kind of ok, but my name was about ten years or so behind the times. It would be like calling a girl something like Sharon or Barbara now - it's just too dated (and hasn't yet had a revival...but watch this space, I think!). Do you get what I mean?

So, what I need really are some compromise suggestions. I do like Rebecca but dislike the nickname Becky (and it would be inevitable) but I don't like his other suggestions. We both have the same criteria - something that will age well and fit any sort of job! And no flower names. Basically, we are absolutely stumped. He hates my suggestions (which is soul destroying - as his are much less attractive!).

I appreciate your help! x

I don't think it is a classic vs not classic name thing, more a generational thing? Your DH's names all sound like the names that peaked in the 1970s, while yours all sound like "names that are really popular right now, but were last popular around the early 20th century." Nothing wrong with either of those styles of naming, just that timing-wise they are a bit different.

What about Katherine, Susannah, Maria or Elizabeth? They seem to be fairly consistently popular.

Sorry, didn't see your last post! Elizabeth is nice, and Beatrice is nice too.

Laura? Classic, timeless, beautiful and also popular in the 1980s!

I much prefer your list but I think Emily from it, and Hannah from your DH's could cross both lists.

Emily/Emmie
Eleanor/Ellie
Elizabeth/Lizzie
(3 sisters I know!)

Alice
Alicia (pronounced either Alice-ee-ya or Aleesha)
Ivy
Violet/Vi
Maisie/May

Know what you mean, OP - a friend of ours has just called their baby DD Melissa, and I can't help picturing an '80s cheerleader every time I hear it!

That said, while I prefer your list OP (love Elsa and Alice), and it certainly
feels 'fresher' than your OH's at the moment (his are quite 1980s/90s - I had multiple Rebeccas and Hannahs in my classes growing up), I don't think any of them, apart from Alice and maybe Lucy, are immune to becoming dated. Your list, while lovely, is more 'Edwardian revival'/vintage than classic IMO.

I think the only truly classic, timeless names are those that are used consistently down the generations - maybe not in huge numbers, but they're always there. Alice plus e.g. Katherine/Eleanor/Alexandra/Elizabeth would fall into this category. (So royal names, basically!)

Other ideas that are reasonably timeless:
Anna
Helena
Martha
Julia
Rose
Louisa
Beatrice

The alternative, I guess, is to pick a name that's 'known', but never been especially popular - of course, you can't guarantee it won't suddenly become massively trendy in the future! Something like:

Greta
Honor
Cecilia
Antonia
Verity
Genevieve
Vivienne
Felicity
Nina
Flora

I like Rebekah, and Eleanor too. I also like Miriam as Miri is such a pretty nn.

I think tbh that your names will also date in about 10 years time, they are more 'currently trendy' (certainly Eliza, Esme, Elsa).

I'm surprised Dh thinks Anna is too much! How about Sylvia, Helena, Anne, Tamsin?

I'm a Rebecca, I have never been a Becky, my parents never shortened it so no one else did either. it has only been as an adult that I sometimes am called Becky, but I just correct them! i'm biased, but I don't think it will ever really date. FWIW I have always liked my name.

Kate
Emma
Megan
Beth
Helen
Ellen
Rosa
Joanna
Anna

Marietta

?????

Chloe and Jessica are both sweet names - could you do some searches for names with a similar feel that echo your taste a bit more too?

Good luck!

Marissa

Some ideas:

Rachel
Anya
Harriet
Sophie
Louise
Miriam
Jane
Nina
Naomi
Helen
Fay
Marissa
Katherine
Amy

I'm actually loving Andrea - so fresh sounding compared to the other names (on both of the lists). I dislike Hannah, Alice and Jessica, and don't really feel anything about any of the others.

Emma Chloe

Anna Elizabeth

Annabel is too fussy a name, Hannah is too clunky a name, Anna is just right!

Emma is classic and elegant, and can carry off the rather weak sounding Chloe as an adjunct.

Compromises you could grow to love, maybe?

I too like Verity.

Off your lists, I like Alice best.

Katherine
Maude
Anne
Miranda
Harriet
Georgina
Charlotte
Eleonore
Sarah

Francesca?

I think there should be more people called Alice, i only know one and that's me but personally I think it should be more popular

The names men suggest are always the names of girls they fancied when they were teenagers.

Would second Laura, though would two L names be too much?
Charlotte fits anywhere
Frances (rather than Francesca)
Or is it time to revive Christina?

Go for Rebecca and insist on no short endings. Fab strong name. I still correct people who think to shorten my lovely name is to show closeness. It's simple. Every time I do it re affirms my identity. I love my name. It rolls off the tongue . Not Rebecca tho ;)

Words, OP can do that but one day Rebecca herself might choose Becky.

Laura, Charlotte, Emma would fit in both lists?

My dd is Alice and we love it. It's classic and timeless and not too many of them around - and when you do meet one she might be 80, 30 or 8 months! I also love Naomi and Beatrice