my name short list - critique to your heart's content

[RolyPolierThanThou]

No need to go soft, I'm quite happy to hear all opinions on our names shortlist, though if you can give a reason, that would help (in other words: I think the name is too boring = helpful and I'll take that on board vs my spoilt, bratty cousin had that name and I've still not forgiven her for cutting the hair off my Barbie = not likely to sway me much.

So girl names (in alphabetical order)

Alexandra (Alex, Lex, Lexi)
Eleanor (Ellie, Nell)
Harriet (Hattie, Harry)

Boy names:

Alexander (Alec, Alex, Xander)
Hugo (Huey)
Jeremy (Jerry, Jem)
Nathan/Nathaniel (Nate)

I've included some of DH's choices that I'm less keen on as I might be persuaded. Maybe. Feel free to add any of your own, though we're trying to avoid massively popular names (the Steve, Dave, Sue and Pamelas of the future) and definitely don't like unusual spellings. Classic names rather than trendy. No offence intended towards others who have different tastes in names.

Love Hugo- I'm from NI so it's quite "grand" but not in a bad way. The NI accent in certain places does odd things to Nathan-makes it sound like "nothing" so I prefer Nathaniel/Nate but it still wouldn't be a favourite. Jeremy is lovely And very underused-I teach and it's been over 20 years since I taught one! But "Jezza" would put me off a little? Alexander is the safe option -Xander or Lex is my choice of nn.
Alexandra I like-but not Alex. I prefer Lexi. Harriet isn't for me-yet I love Hari as a nn for Angharad! Nell is lovely-my favourite!

( Kindle keyboard has been taken over by demons! Sorry for errors! This has taken 20mins and if I don't correct it it types like this

.... t gnu quicksand browns Fox jumps please Troy lazy frog!!# Or....
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog!

Love Elinor with this spelling.
Love Harriet.
Don't like Alexandra at all - have never met a nice one, sorry.

LOVE Jeremy.

Also really like Huw to get to Huey (if you can swing any sort of Welsh connection??)

I like Alexander a lot but personally I would use the nn Sandy which I think is very underrated

I like them all, but Jeremy nn Jem and Alexandra nn Alex are my favourites.

Love your girl's names especially Harriet/Hatty. Really like Alexander. nathaniel is ok. Hate the other boy's names. Too posh/boring.

Not keen on Harriet and Hugo - a bit toffish for my tastes - but really like all the others.

Nell and Huey - adorable

Have you considered jemima

Harriet and hugh!

I have a hugh. I love the name but do sometimes worry it sounds posh. Currently pregnant with dc3 and Harriet is on the list!

Girls names lovely but sorry I'm with the other posters that Hugo and Jeremy are too upper class twit names

If you after something classic, I love Katherine with the many nicknames

Good list overall. Hugo and Nathan are my favourites and I also like Alexander/ra which are very classic and will never date.

Not keen on Eleanor which I find bland. Harriet I dislike. Has a harsh sound. Like harridan.

I find all the names quite ..... safe! I don't like Hugo at all (and Huey is just awful). I love the short forms Jem and Alec from your boy list and Nell and Hattie from your girl list (not wild about Jeremy/Alexander/Eleanor or Harriet though!) Sorry, I'm no help really!

Alexandra (Alex, Lex, Lexi) - like Alexandra and Alex but not Lex and Lexi, they're a little too trying to be trendy
Eleanor (Ellie, Nell) - Eleanor is fine if a bit dull, Ellie is nice, don't like Nell, it sounds frumpy
Harriet (Hattie, Harry) - I detest the name Harriet and associated nicknames. It sounds boring, frumpy and very stuffy

Boy names:

Alexander (Alec, Alex, Xander) - like Alexander and Alex. Not keen on Alec and Xander sounds pretentious
Hugo (Huey) - LOVE Hugo!
Jeremy (Jerry, Jem) - Jeremy is bit "dull man on his 40s" but it's not too bad. Jem is passable, don't like Jerry, it sounds like a rotund builder
Nathan/Nathaniel (Nate) - prefer Nathaniel to Nathan

love Eleanor, love the classic spelling, think it is a great name, can be Ellie when little but Eleanor is a beautiful adult name.

Like Alexander/dra for boy or girl, lots of nn (I like sasha, but it isn't a usual nn in this country)

Have never liked Harriet. don't know why. maybe because it was one of the dolls on Playschool. (and please not Jemima = ragdoll)

Hugo - posh and wet

Jeremy - wet and Jerry is the name of someone's dad. (like Jem though)

Nathan/Nathaniel - I have never liked either of these, it is wishy washy and I don't like the sound of them.
I do like the nn Nat and Nate though

Jeremy is awful. Jerry as a nickname is worse. I certainly don't think it fits in with the rest. I like the name Hugo, but it really is rather distinctively posh in a way that I think could make it difficult to fit in in some situations.

Like another, I quite like the name Eleanor, but suspect an Eleanor could quickly turn into yet another Elly or Nelly or Ella, all of which are rather wishy-washy. Nora is nice as a nickname, though. Similarly, the name Harriet is ok, but Harry and Hattie definitely don't appeal. Hattie sounds like a washer woman of another era (!!). I know, that sounds awful, but you did seem to want our genuine thoughts!

So, Alexandra, Alexander, and Nathaniel get my vote.

Have you considered how these names sound with your surname, how the standard nicknames from them sound with your surname, and whether the initials might end up spelling anything unfortunate (with or without middle initials included)?

Oh, and forgot to add: Nathan's make the most popular (kosher) hot dogs in the United States. Maybe not the ideal association? 100% all beef :) Or perhaps too niche to matter. But, it would put me off the name - Nathaniel is nice.

IMO all of them safe sensible and rather dull names.

However none of them will ever need to spell their name or have to worry about pronunciation.

I'm loving some of these associations (rotund builder, washer woman from another era, someone's dad). I'm not offended, they are a useful shorthand for a certain feeling about a name.

Safe and dull, yes I can see that, though I really don't like names that are too edgy, trendy, different. Probably because I lived with a difficult and weird name and yearned for a standard one at school.

Posh twit names are probably worth avoiding since, while we live in a mc area where you could maybe get away with such a name, there is absolutely zero chance of our young 'un ever attending a public school and we do have to consider them needing (or at least really wanting) to fit in. I think public school would be more tolerant of certain names, less tolerant of others.

DH has also just suggested Penelope (Penny or Nell).

Don't like Harriet or Eleanor. They sound like girls with 2d personalities who I wouldn't be friends with in the playground. Jeremy is bleurh. Nathan won't turn into a lovely strapping Nate.
So, Alexander or Hugh I like. Henrietta (Hattie?) and Henry I like also. I can't stand Lexie as nn.

They all remind me of irritating people I know so I can't be impartial sorry

Henrietta, nn Etta? Angharad instead of Harriet? Harriet makes me think of someone hunting ferrets or something. sorry sorry..
Penelope is yuck but I quite like Penny..

Alexandra Penelope..? I like Nathaniel as a whole name, just dislike Nathan

I absolutely love Harriet and Nell, but less enthused about Eleanor. Nell though? Awesome.

I like Nathan and I like Jeremy.

Alexandra
Hugh

Also in the same vein:
Noah
Emily

Like all your girl's names except Eleanor which just sounds ugly and will just become another Ellie. Love Penelope nn Nell however. Why not Jerome for a boy?