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.

I love Penelope! And prefer Nell as a nn from this than from Eleanor. However, nicknames.can sometimes just "happen" as my bf at primary wasn't penny or Nell-she was Ploppy or Plop! And it wasn't cute or odd or strange...it was just her name!

I like Harriet, Penelope, Hugo and Nathaniel. I prefer the suggestion of Henrietta from pps here to Harriet, though.

If you're trying to avoid the Daves and Sues of the future, steer clear of Eleanor and Alexandra (and esp Lexi which leans into 'future Sharon' territory) as well as Alexander.

If you're hoping to avoid posh twit image, avoid Hugo and pick Hugh instead.

Nathan's hot dogs are poisoned with salt. Vienna Beef is the champagne of hot dogs.

I think Jeremy is very wet. Jeremiah is far more solid.

Alexandra or Alexander - both lovely with a variety of lovely short versions. I would go with Lexie or Sandy.

I love Harriet, hate Eleanor (and there are lots of them)
I considered Hugo but instead we called newborn DS Hugh- we love it!

Alexandra (Alex, Lex, Lexi) - I like Alexandra, Alex. Lexi and Lex sound too trendy and try hard. Alexandra is hard for a baby to wear but is lovely in an older girl and woman.

Eleanor (Ellie, Nell) Eleanor is lovely. Again, Nell sounds too try hard for a trendy nick name. How about Elinor? nn. Elin or Nora
Harriet (Hattie, Harry) - I like Harriet and Hattie

Alexander (Alec, Alex, Xander) - I like Alexander and Alex. Xander, again, too try hard
Hugo (Huey) - Hugo is cute, especially after the film. Huey-spewey. Hewey, Lewie and Dewie connotations
Jeremy (Jerry, Jem) - Old man
Nathan/Nathaniel (Nate) - Nathan, 1980s pop star. Nathaniel and Nate I really like.

Other suggestions based on your choices.

Annabel (Annie, Bella)
Georgina (George, Georgie, Gina)
Julia
Sofia

Rory
Henry
Jonathan
Max

Names resorted in order of preference:

Girls names:

Eleanor (Ellie, Nell) Lovely. Really classic. Some people seem to be thinking this is really popular, but not in my experience. Loads of young Ellas, and I know quite a few adult Ellies (30+) but not any Eleanors that use their full name. Elegant and strong.
Alexandra (Alex, Lex, Lexi) Nice and strong, but not remarkable - which could be good or bad depending on how you see it, I guess.
Harriet (Hattie, Harry) I've never liked this much. For reasons I cannot explain it has associations of drabness, dowdiness for me. Completely irrational as I've known some strong Harriets who were far from dowdy, and it's the name of the girl in Tom's Midnight Garden who as I remember was pretty feisty. I think it's just the sound. That said I love the nn Hattie.

Boy names:

Jeremy (Jerry, Jem) I really like this name, and can't quite put my finger on why! I think it's one of those names that will be lovely and cute for a little boy, but equally solid and sensible for an adult. Front runner by a long way for me. I think it is a particularly lovely-looking name when written.
Alexander (Alec, Alex, Xander) Great strong name, but I'm a teacher and I've taught several under 10. That said, it's very definitely a classic with consistent popularity, rather than faddy. Love Xander as a nn
Nathan/Nathaniel (Nate) I really do like this name, but in my experience there are also quite a lot of them 10 and under. Not armies of Nathans, but definitely pretty popular.
Hugo (Huey) Not particularly keen. I have no good reason for this.

Alexandra (Alex, Lex, Lexi) - ambivalent. Not keen on suggested nns, prefer Ally
Eleanor (Ellie, Nell) - like Eleanor, strong and classic, but wouldn't use it because there are so many 'El' names around and therefore so many little Ellies. Not keen on Nell (don't like the sound, rather stolid). Much prefer Nora if you could use that as nn.
Harriet (Hattie, Harry) - like Harriet, nn Hattie. Don't see it as posh.
Penelope - my favourite, with nn Penny.

Alexander (Alec, Alex, Xander) - not keen on Alexander, don't know why. Although quite like nn Xander or Alec. Much prefer Alasdair/Alistair.
Hugo (Huey) - posh. Huey slang for vomit. Quite like Hugh, or Huw is even better.
Jeremy (Jerry, Jem) - like Jeremy and really like Jem. Not Jerry (Seinfeld, Springer, cartoon mouse).
Nathan/Nathaniel (Nate) - Love Nathaniel/Nate/Nat. Was on my short list.

I like the name Alexandra but she will always be called Alex. I see that as dull, unfeminine and bland. Lexi is okay for an American but not a Brit. Lex reminds me of the car leasing company or a Lexus. Don't like.

Can't stand Ellie. Nell is fine. Eleanor is nice but again I'm not sure you could prevent people calling her Ellie.

Harriet is lovely. I like the nickname Ettie/Etty, though.

As above, Alexander is nice in its own right but it will take a great deal of effort to avoid Alex, which is dull.

Hugo is ok. Huey is ghastly.

Jerry is nice. Jeremy is not, I always think it lacks strength. I would prefer Jerome.

I also like Jem, I suppose because of TKAMB.

Nathaniel is wonderful.

Brilliant feedback, with lots of clear explanations on why a yes or a no. Quite a mixed response to some names. I may have to set up a spreadsheet (I do love a spreadsheet) to track the yays and nays.

It's only by hearing other people's opinions I can start to assess how I feel about a name deep down - for example I hadn't realised that actually I feel Harriet IS a bit dowdy and Alex (for a boy) is a bit standard and unremarkable. I agree Jeremy is a bit old and Hugo a bit posh - though clearly I don't feel as strongly against them as some of you do.

You have given me lots to think about.

I always find the names labelled posh on here totally put of step with my life.

I live in a solid middle class area - three bed new build semis with a mortgage type area, not Georgian six bedrooms. Quite a few parents with degrees and /or professional jobs. Equally a lot without. Lots of police, teachers, civil servants , people in IT. Bang middle middle.

I know kids called Rupert, Hugo, Hugh, Sebastian, Monty. ...

I like hattie, was on my shortlist. Nathaniel made me laugh im afraid, reminded me if that blackadder sketch where the god fearing rellies visited..... no edmund, Nathaniel will have his turnip raw as nature intended. nate and jem are ok

All lovely except Jeremy.

I like all your girls names. Of the boys I only like Nathaniel (I have one!) and Alexander.

On our boys shortlist I also had Benjamin Elliot and Evan. Any good to you?
I really don't like Jeremy - it's a wet sounding name and it doesn't get any cooler by shortening it to Jem!

I have a Hugo so hugely biased there but I love it and have only ever received positive feedback (and we are not in the slightest bit posh, very working class but aspire much higher lol). Sorry I don't like the rest of your boys names as I think they are quite dull and unimaginative.
For the girls I love Eleanor and Harriet, especially Harriet. I do like Eleanor I just think it will get shortened to Ellie which is so over done.

Love all your girls names

Like Alexander and Hugo - good strong names
Hate Jeremy - too wet. Perhaps biased as all the ones I know (several in my family) are very odd and troubled people!
Nate - screams trying hard to be cool to me. Nathaniel also wet IMHO.

I like Alexandra, Eleanor and Alexander in their entirety. No need for try hard nicknames, I would particularly be keen to avoid Ellie (billions).
Harriet is rather dull, and Hugo and Jeremy rather at odds with Nathan which has negative connotations IME.

Ah my scrummily gorgeous, incredibly cheeky, full of beans 5 year old would have to disagree with all the totally wrong people who think that Nathaniel is a WET name!

I like all of your boys options apart from Jeremy OP.

When we went with Nathaniel, we also had Alexander, Theo, Felix and Jasper on our list.

For girls, Eleanor is a bit popular for my taste but I do like it. Love Hattie and Alexandra.

I love both Alexander and Alexandra, Eleanor and Nathaniel.

Alexandra and Nathan (Nate)

Jeremys are always a dodgy lot. Jezzas Clarkson, Vine, Kyle are some awful examples. I'd avoid that one.

Jeremy is a terrible name - definitely wet.

Hugo is a posh idiot.

Alexandra is a fabulous name. Nate and Alex are nice boys names

I'm not a fan of your girls names, they are all just a bit.... blah.

I like nathan and alexander

I really like Alexandra- screams, strong, elegant and classy to me.

Eleanor and Harriet are both nice too.

The thing which would put me off Elenor is that everyone I know gets called Ellie which is perfectly fine except you say you don't want a popular name and there are lots and lots of Ellie's.

From your boys choices I like Alexander best followed by Nathaniel.

I think Nathaniel has a bit more about it than Nathan which I find a bit bland.

I dont know any Hugos. I don't love it but don't dislike it either.

I didn't see Jeremy. I used to like this name but think it's a bit old fashioned.