The dog took forever to name. Help our baby not have the same nameless fate.

[FrogsGoWaaa]

Literally, it took weeks to name him!

We don't know if we're having a boy or a girl but at the moment I have girls' names randomly dotted all over the fridge as we seem to be finding them harder. I am hoping that DH is going to start adding to them at some point rather than just being rude about them!

We're not in the UK right now but we will move back in a few years so I'm more bothered about the name working/popularity in the UK than in the US where we are living. Suggestions about how many babies/toddlers you know with these names would be really helpful as I'm a bit out of the UK loop. My name was very popular growing up (at least 3 in the class etc) which I found annoying. I would like something slightly less popular but a couple of the names we vaguely agree on are very popular and these seem to mostly be DH's comfort zone. Suggestions of other names that might work would also be much appreciated! I know at some point I'll have to scrap the names DH hates but I'm hoping some of them might grow on him in the meantime!

Surname is 3 syllables. We have ruled out Emily and Cecily due to our surname. Both liked Emily a lot but were also put off by its popularity.

Sorry for the long post but thank you!!!

Vivienne (my absolute favourite for years but DH sadly hates)
Evelyn (the name I would have chosen 20 years ago but now everywhere!)
Zoe (Only name DH has suggested. I'm not the biggest fan)
Phoebe
Emmeline (instead of Emily?)
Madeleine
Alice (I love this but it seems to be becoming more popular in the UK?)
Juliet (love but might not be able to use)
Poppy
Marianne (I like the name but slightly put off by one I knew)
Miranda
Verity (DH doesn't like)
Elisabeth (might be more likely to use as a middle name)
Ottilie (DH doesn't like!)

Vivienne - don't know any.
Evelyn - know 1 adult but could get lost in amongst the Eve/Evie/Eva's.
Zoe - know 2 under 5.
Pheobe - know 1 aged 3.
Emmeline - don't know any but v.similar to hugely popular Emma/Emily.
Madeleine - know 3 under 10.
Alice - know 1 adult.
Juliet - don't know any.
Poppy - know 3 under 5, getting more popular.
Marianne - know 2 adults.
Miranda - don't know any.
Verity - don't know any.
Elisabeth - know 4 adults, 1 child aged 2.
Otillie - don't know any.

I like Phoebe and Poppy best, dislike Otillie and Vivienne.

Most I know of your 'older' names are older. This isn't a trendy area though. I really do love all your names.

Vivienne - not convinced by this
Evelyn - confusion over pn puts me off. Eve-lyn? Ev-lyn? Ever-lyn? Plus would get lost in the squillions of Evies
Zoe- ok.
Phoebe- totally irrational hatred of mine
Emmeline - love. Don't know any
Madeleine- love. Only know 1 little Madeleine
Alice- love. Don't know any little ones only 1 adult
Juliet- lovely but not convinced by probable nn Jules?
Poppy- quite popular and a bit cutesy
Marianne - lovely
Miranda- lovely
Verity - irrational hatred. Actually not irrational, i know an extremely annoying one.
Elisabeth - lovely really like this spelling
Ottilie - quite nice. Might get Tilly as a nn, there are loads of Tillys & Millies where I am.
My favourites are Madeleine, Alice & Marianne.

My favourites are Alice, Zoe and Juliet.
However, the problem with Juliet is that, as with any 3 syllable name, it will be shortened! I know one 5 year old who has always been Ju-Ju!
The same applies to Madeleine. The two I know are Maddy! In both cases, lovely long names but awful nicknames - which will probably be what they turn into.
Poppy is ultra popular round here - Thames Valley. I would avoid.
Ottilie I really dislike.
Marianna would be nicer than Marianne IMO with Mary as a shortening?

Vivienne - really nice, don't know any
Evelyn - pretty but way overdone, I know tons of Evie's
Zoe - I really like this, don't know any
Phoebe - like it, know 1
Emmeline - really dislike, know none
Madeleine - really like, and like Maddy! Know one adult only.
Alice - I find it a bit dull, know 2
Juliet - really like, know none, but dislike all nn's
Poppy - nice for a little one but don't think it's a very grown up name
Marianne - really like, makes me think of sense and sensibility. Know one horrible adult one though (called Maz, which I don't like)
Miranda - feel like I should like it but I don't. Know none.
Verity - don't like. Know 1.
Elisabeth - ever so boring. I know 3.
Ottilie - really dislike. Know 1.

Vivienne - Lovely name but I think it's going to be hugely popular
Evelyn - You're right. It is very popular atm.
Zoe - meh
Phoebe - I'm not keen.
Emmeline -great name. Much better than Emily. CHOOSE THIS
Madeleine - lovely name
Alice - I am a teacher. Haven't taught an Alice for several years. None in school.
Juliet - A Mumsnet favourite
Poppy - Only if you're going to call DD2 'Daisy'
Marianne - Lovely
Miranda - This is one of my favourite names.

Verity - Becoming more popular. Not keen.
Elisabeth - Great name. Lots of nn
Ottilie - Not keen.

Thank you!! Lots to think about. It's interesting that Alice was 27th last year but I haven't heard of a single baby Alice. Where are they all?

Vivienne does seem to be a bit of a marmite name. My DH can't get past it being an old person name nicknamed Viv whereas I see Vivvy/Vivi as cute for a child and Vivienne, a name that could take you anywhere as an adult. I probably will have to sadly relinquish that one though!

BlueStars, the horrible Marianne slightly putting me off was also known as Maz! Not a nickname that I'm keen on.

I like Vivienne best, followed by Emmeline and Alice. Alicia might be an alternative if you are worried about Alice's popularity. I also know an Alyssa in the school where I volunteer.

Fwiw, I know an adult Elisabeth. It annoys her greatly that no one spells her name correctly, even when they have known her for years and have been told many times the correct version!

You have great taste in names so I don't think that you can go wrong, whichever you choose. Vivienne is beautiful and if it's your favourite, go for it! I also like Emmeline, which was on our list when we were choosing.

My own personal favourite is Marianne because I have a two and a half year old Marianne and she's gorgeous. We always get lovely comments about her name. She is NEVER called Maz (although who says what her friends will call her when she's 15...)

Good luck with choosing.

From your list I like Juliet and Zoe.

What about Romilly? I always think it is a lot like Emily but far less popular.

Vivienne - dislike hugely
Evelyn - lovely nice and classic .
Zoe - only ever met 1 ok name
Pheobe - nice getting common
Emmeline - quite cute
Madeleine - not fond
Alice - one of my favourites
Juliet - ok
Poppy - cute for a baby
Marianne - old fashioned
Miranda - old fashioned
Verity - love it
Elisabeth - nice
Otillie - chavvy sounding

Verity and Alice are my favourites