Names needed for identical twins

[twinmum31]

Help! I am a first time mum due to have identical twins in two weeks and we are really struggling for names. Our surname is Brown, which is pretty boring really and so I think leaves open the possibility of something more interesting as a first name. Having said that, I don't really want anything that is too 'out there'.

For boys, our current thoughts are Arthur and Wilfred. They seem to go quite well together. I am not 100% sold on Wilfred but the husband seems to love it and I am fairly relaxed about it. I do like that it can be Will or Fred/Freddy if we want.

For girls, we really haven't found anything we love. Ones that have reached the shortlist (but we still are not sure are 'the one') include Olivia, Poppy, Ivy (but husband thinks Ivy sounds like she might be a bit mean?!) and Alice. What do you think mumsnetters? Any other ideas?

Wildcards suggested by the husband this morning have included Marlowe and Franklin (both for girls). Not sure how I feel about those!

We haven't got as far as middle names - at this late stage I will be pleased if we just have first names for the birth, middle names can come after! We don't want anything that is too matchy matchy, but they obviously need to sound good together.

Pre-requisites for names are: easy to spell and it needs to be a 'proper' name (eg. husband was campaigning for a while for Flossie (as an actual name) but I rejected it on the basis it would need to be Florence and shortened then to Flossie - which then runs the risk of the poor girl being called Flo Brown in the playground, which sounds like a nasty stomach bug....

Hope this all makes sense - any help or suggestions are welcome!

Thank you!

If he will be called Freddy then I'd prefer Frederick personally, Freddie for short.
Not a fan of Arthur/Archie/Alfie at all.

Alexander Brown rolls off the tongue as do William and Christopher.

Sterling and Dylan is a bit more out there.

Beth & Anna
Lena & Clara

Love your boys names

Massive congrats!
If our ID boys had been girls we would have had a Beatrice and Clementine. Part of me would like another set of twins just to use the names!

Gilbert and Wilfred. Just gorgeous together.

As a twin myself - can I request that you make sure they don't rhyme! Otherwise it is even easier for people to see you as a matching pair. Btw I love my dt sis v much!

For girls I love Alice & Eliza
Both sound good with Brown

For boys I am going to jump on the Gilbert bandwagon - I love it!
Arthur & Gilbert

Like Ivy and Alice
or
Clara and Alice
Sadie and Alice
Imogen and Alice

Love Arthur and Wildred

Alice and Olivia

Arthur and Wilfred are great.

Wilfred and Arthur or Stanley
Alice and Frankie (Francesca if you like)

Thanks everyone! Some really good suggestions there.

I really like Ivy - if we went for Olivia and Ivy do you think we run the risk of Holly (Ollie) and Ivy jokes?!

Arianna & Briana
Ruby & willow
Scarlett & ivy
Gabrielle & holly

I like the name Olivia x

William & Joseph

Eleanor & Charlotte

Good strong names that can all be shortened!

Good luck with it all, let us know what you have and their names!

Sorry - I giggled when you said "Ollie and Ivy". Yes, I think everyone would sing it to them. Could be worse though...
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/a1070707-Twin-girls-Holly-Ivy

A bigger problem is likely to be "Livvy and Ivy" they both end in that "ee" sound. I think they'll spend a long time checking that the right person has been called from downstairs.

I met a Kyla today - lovely woman, haven't come across the name before in real life.

From your preferred list I think Alice and Ivy, Alice and Olivia or Poppy and Ivy as a last resort [not a huge fan of Poppy - hear too many Poppy/Popsy/Pops/Popsicle abbreviations where I live.

I like Wilfred but LOVE Wilbur. Similar vein but nicer sounding.

For girls, either Evangeline or Emmeline are lovely. Lucia? Alice is lovely too though, as is Clara.

Nancy and Naomi

Olivia & Ivy is fine imo. The "Holly & Ivy" thing wouldn't even occur to me.

Alice and Ivy is nicer though

I decided long ago that if I ever had twins they would be Cordelia and Phoebe for girls and Caleb and Seth for boys. I've never had twins but i have never used any of those names n case i ever do coz they seem like a set to me ;)

I love Olivia and Poppy, I am not keen on Ivy (there are so many and it feels like a faddy name, there are lots of Olivia's but of different ages and I think it is more classic IySwIM)

Arthur and Wilfred are lovely. Arty and Wilf. Oh, the mischief they will get up to!!

Olivia and Violet
Daisy and Poppy
Alexis and Thea
Fleur and Felicity
Seren and Sophie
Emilia and Ella

I have a little Arthur and Wilfred was also on the list so it looks like we have similar taste!
Girls names we used for my daughter and others on the list were:
Constance
rosamund -nn Rosa
Iris
Joy
Elsie
Pearl
Beatrix
Mar got
Sylvie
Cecilia
Robin
April

My hypothetical twin girls would have been Phoebe and Felicity. They go well together but start with different letters which will be important when they get older.
I also like the pp's suggestion of Alice and Celia. Thats clever.

But who am I to talk, I still havent managed to pick names for my shortly due singleton baby.

I love Ivy and Olive
Or Ivy and Bess

Boys names are harder ..... will think!

Nina and Anya for two girls

I prefer Wilfred and Ralph (goes better than Arthur which I dislike anyway)

Boy and girl:

Nathan and Nina cos they just seem to go!

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate your suggestions. Please keep them coming.

I do like Olive and Alice but my problem with Olive is that when you put it with our surname Brown it sounds like a paint colour!

Only 10 days to go, it's such a hard decision!