Octavia Isla and Archie Hector Montague

[misstiggiwinkle]

So be honest, what do you recon? Baby due in February and we spent the weekend shortening our very long lists. We have a strong, single syllable surname beginning with K so it can take some slightly more elaborate first names - Octavia or Archie (Archibald) and we are after something that slightly different rather than the usual top ten. My husband is also Scottish.

Anyone? Just looking to see if its my baby brain thats making me like the names and actually they are awful!

I love Hector. I like Octavia and Montague.

Bored of Isla and Archie.

I'm afraid my first reaction is, "Yah, like, totally. Gap Yah."

I think it's the final Montague that does it, though.

I love Octavia and Montague! Great classics that aren't overused.

Archie is cutesy, overused and will date whilst Archibald is ugly imo. Hector has an unfortunate meaning. And Isla is also way overused.

Will you shorten Octavia? I knew one called Occy, which I felt sounded a bit clumsy, but I guess Tavi could be a nice shortening?

Really like Octavia - I know a lovely little one. I also like Montague a lot. Hector is ok but the nickname Heck and 'to hector' would put me off.

Also very bored of Archie and Isla, sorry. They will start to sound dated soon imo.

First reaction is that I'd expect Archibald Hector Montague to have an entry in Debretts. That is quite a mouthful of upper crust nomenclature.

Having said that, Monty is pretty cute. Archie is very, very popular. Hector is... brave.

Personally, unless your DH owns a significant proportion of Scotland, I just wouldn't put them all together.

Isla is v popular, the new Fiona, Alison or Louise. Fine as a middle name though. Octavia is ok, not my taste, I'd say a bit brave too and many people will be perceive it very upper crust.

Thank you all for your comments. Sorry I dont think I was very clear at the beginning, the names that are the top runners are Octavia and Archie, the others are middle names! So -

Octavia Isla K
Archie Hector Montague K

I am very tempted to make Montague a first name but shorten it to Monty. The other girls name Im keen on is Ottilie...

Given that the general concensus is that Isla is over used, any other suggestions for middle names along the same line?

Thanks!

I'm not much help as these names are nms, but what about Archer instead of Archibald for nn Archie?

I would focus on finding the right first name. Middle names are rarely used - we used middle names to honour loved family members, but don't worry too much about them. It is the first name that your child will be known as.

Much prefer Ottilie to Octavia - think it's the 'oct' sound that sounds harsh to my ears. And it is very overtly posh! Ottilie has a similar vibe, but it sounds sort of softer and more laid back.

Not a fan of Archie at all I'm afraid - as a previous poster said, Archie will date, and Archibald is plain unattractive. Montague is better - a good formal option, and Monty makes a cute nickname.

Alternatives for Isla:

Iona
Elsa
Anya
Thea
Iris
Lara
Lyra
Nina

Oh, and yes Archer is much nicer than Archibald - great suggestion marjolaine!

DSS is a Monty (as was my great grandfather) and I love it. Hector is fabulous too. I would be slightly wary of Archie merely because EVERYONE seems to be pushing them out at the moment.
Octavia is lovely, as is Ottilie - but you may want to work out what shortened versions you are ok with! Isla is lovely and if you like it then I wouldn't worry about it being popular because middle names are rarely used.
If you do decide to change Isla, how about Iona or Cara to keep with the Scottish Islands?

Monty is nice.
Annabel is a nice Scottish girls name?

Re middle names, hardly used so not so crucial but too many is a pain on forms when grown up.

Octavia = skoda

Octavia! It's just such a great underused name! I also like Olivera, which I heard for the first time recently.