be brutally honest, I don't mind

[ch1134]

Obviously we all have our own ideas and opinions so I won't be offended. But I'm interested in what others might think of these names:

Ray, Daniel (Dan), Jeffrey (Jeff)
Anna, Helen

Thanks

I quite like Raymond (not just Ray) and Geoffrey (that spelling). I hate the name Daniel, I think it's incredibly boring.

Anna and Helen are fine, I prefer Anna.

I like Ray.

For me, the girls names are classic, as are the boys names. My favourite Jeffrey, but that's because it's one of my boys names! My boy is Jeffrey James which gets shortened to JJ, although he personally prefers to be called Jeffrey at school!

Ray is definitely an up and coming name.

I love Ray!

Dan/Danny are fine but I have a strong dislike of Daniel.

Jeff/rey is pretty awful but will probably be uber trendy 20 years from now.

Anna is okay, though becoming super popular I think.

Helen is very................sensible. That's the best I can say about it.

People will laugh if you name him Ray

No they won't.

If Stan and Wilf are currently mainstream and acceptable you can bet your bottom dollar that Ray will be in the next wave of trendy names.

Hmmm... seeming like marmite names then.
As I read the comments I'm becoming more sure of the girls names and less of the boys. Maybe I'll take Jeff out.
I think my frontrunners are Helen and Ray.
But maybe I'd better start another thread saying 'if you like Louis, which other name is as good?'.
Thanks again

I love Daniel.

Anna and Helen are both fine, but I can't get excited about them.

Really dislike Ray and Jeffrey. But I generally don't like 'old-man/lady' names like Wilf and Arthur and Maisie, so that's just me.

Love Daniel non Danny, not keen on the others, sorry.

Love Jeff and Ray. Daniel is boring. Two Daniels living down the street, best friends, even their parents refer to them as "double Daniel"

Ray - bans? Dated IMO
Daniel - nice enough, but boring
Jeff - horrid!
Helen - boring
Anna - classic, timeless pretty but strong

Aaah. Jeff.

DP has got a friend called Jeff and we seriously considered it for DS (not called Jeff). Note: we like 70s things.

We just thought you never hear of a 'baby Jeff' any more, and there was something a little bit awesome about it.

For those bashing it as a middle-aged name (see: current "old guy" name trend also getting a bashing).

I think that 'generational' names happen because people are often named after relatives 2-3 generations away (Grands and great-grands) so as the 60s/70s kids become grandparents their names will resurface. Bring on the Brians!

I quite like Ray.

Daniel is as dull as dishwater. Jeffrey is simply AWFUL. Seriously, don't call the poor wee thing Jeffrey.

Helen is nice enough. Anna is nice.

You're naming most of my family

I love Ray, it's the short version of a family name and I do keep toying with it for any future DS's but I think's a really marmite name. However it's one of those names that I worry if the boy grows up to be, umm, rather less than cool (sorry) it might be the sort of name that other kids take the piss out of. That's probably completely irrational

Daniel is another close family member's name, good solid name, don't think it's ever going to go out of fashion or date.

Jeff - no, bit too middle aged man for me.

Anna is fabulous (and almost my name ) and again I don't think it will age or date. Ditto Helen.

I like Daniel and Anna.

I hear people say What the Jeff....? Though I don't know why or what it means. Maybe it's a local thing.

Bring on the Brians!

Ah now you're going too far!

Although Brian is still Top 100 in Ireland along with other 'gems' like Alan, Jason, and Martin. The 1970's are never out of date in Ireland!

If Stan and Wilf are currently mainstream and acceptable you can bet your bottom dollar that Ray will be in the next wave of trendy names.

^ This. People are saying they don't like Ray and Jeffrey because they are currently unfashionable and dated and all the men they know called Jeffrey or Ray are 50+, but if Jeffrey and Ray came round again the OP would be getting totally different answers.

Daniel and Anna for me!

Dan is a strong name, Danny for a little cute boy and Daniel for the office or said in a stern voice when he is in trouble with his Mum.

Anna is strong, can be Annie for a pet name. Love it!

Really like Ray - think 'little ray of sunshine!'
And Anna is timeless and elegant. All Anna's I know are beautiful and classy

I love Ray. You don't hear it much now. A friend had a fabulous Dutch bf called Ray. He was missed
I love Ray for a girl too

Ramona and Raimonda are among the feminine versions of Raymond, so it's an option.

Like all of those, which is a first for me I think!

Daniel is the best, other two are awful, sorry.
Plus daniel is the best Bats for lashes song ever.
And if you have >1the sibling can play it elton john
Dan is a nice nn

Anna is nice. Much much much prefer Helena to Helen.

Like Rae as a girl's name though. But also like rachel and ramona for rae as nn.

Just said on a zombie thread, I love Helen. I think Helena is just part of that trend to make names 'prettier' with an -a ending (check out how many -a or -ie sounding endings are about currently ). I think it will sound very dated for that reason- part of a generation of all soft , delicate, frilly names.