come and tell me what you think of our shortlist

[Ca55andraMortmain]

I'm only 13 weeks but am already finding names stressful! We'll find out what we're having so that should make it easier but in the meantime we have a boys and girls shortlist for you to judge and help me pass the time while I'm struck down with HG!
Surname has a long I sound in the middle and ends in an an/in sound (eg simon) which eliminates some names. Dh also insists that the name can't be a traditional surname so has vetoed Innes, Harrison and the like. For a girl we want something strong and not too frilly.
Girls:
Tess
Thea (made the mistake of mentioning this to mum who hates it)
Claire
Libby (probably too frilly)

Boys ( all of these are nice but I dont love any of them):
Magnus
Charlie
Ruairidh
Stanley ( DH isn't keen on this)

Tess was on our list

I'm not mega keen on any of the boys names, sorry.

Love Claire and Tess.

Have you thought of all the nicknames as well as initials for all the above?

Also you might want a cuter name for childhood then the grown up option for when he is older.

Love Tess. Only girls name I dont like is Claire.

Ruairi is a lovely name. Not keen on your others. Magnus is awful. Charlie is Ok but a bit meh, very popular. Not keen on old man chic names like Stanley.

I love Tess & Claire/Clare, Libby is nice as a nn for Elizabeth, and I agree with your mum about Thea.

Of your boys names, I love Magnus and Ruairidh, Charlie is OK as a nn for Charles, and I agree with your DH about Stanley.

Hope you are feeling better soon

Cold as far as possible yes, I do think that kids can make a cruel nickname from any name so can't stress too much about it! When you say a cuter name do you mean choose a different name to the ones on the list which has more nn potential? Or think of cuter nns for the ones there? Do you have any suggestions?

drama we would have Elizabeth and Charles on BC but call baby Libby/ Charlie.

Magnus - love
Charlie - not hugely keen but it's okay
Ruairidh - really, really dislike. Hate the roo-a-ree pronunciation.
Stanley - okay

I like all your girls names.

Love Magnus and Tess

I like Thea and Charlie.

I like Thea, and Dorothea even better. I also like Charles/Charlie.

If your DH doesn't like Innes, then that rules it out, but just in case it helps distract you (hope you feel better soon), here is a bit of geekery:

Innes is indeed a family surname (from a place, in Moray) but it is also an English version of a Gaelic first name, Angus. In the past (until 19th cent), Gaelic-speaking men (and women) were often identified by reciting their ancestors' names, eg 'Donald, son of Angus, grandson of Gregor...'. (= Donald MacInnes VicGregor - that is not proper Gaelic, just to show how the system worked). In other words, 'first' names were also used as 'surnames'.

This site briefly explains clan names/personal names/surnames - scroll down to the para headed 'The Clan Campbell': www.ccsna.org/jsep10a.htm

For more on trad Scottish naming patterns, this is very helpful: www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/Content/Help/index.aspx?r=551&561

I'd like to see Claire used, it's very underused nowadays. I like Magnus from your boys list.

My favourites are Tess and Magnus.

Oh flora that is so interesting! I have a feeling DH will still not gp for innes though...
Thanks for all your replies, I think Tess is a winner but back to the drawing board for a boy! Xx

I'd go for Tess and Charlie.

You could go for Dorothea nn Thea. I like Tess the best on your list. And Charlie. It's popular but gorgeous.

I like putting my names with middle names as it helps me decide (ie you an make an ordinary name exciting with a more wacky middle name, etc) - have you tried that?

Tess is lovely, and Tessa even nicer! Thea seems to be "trending" at the moment, so there might be quite a few around if this bothers you.

I like Magnus best out of your boy' s list. Charlie is nice too.

I love Tess and Charlie

My favourites:
Tess (I like Tessa slightly more, and she'd still get Tess)
Claire
Magnus (on our list too, family name and I adore Gus as a nn for it)
Charlie

Tess = ten ton Tess. I'm not called Tess but was a chubby child!

I like Elizabeth nn Libby. I like Tess as a nn, but not a given name. I don't like Claire or Thea.

Charlie is sweet, but massively overused. Stanley is also overused and very 'of the moment'. Not keen on the others.