Sister for Rupert and Grace

[NoName82]

Name changed so I can't be outed!

I can't find a girls name I like. I find boys names much easier. Currently pregnant but not due until February so a bit of time.

Will be sibling to Rupert and Grace. Has cousins Alice, Phoebe and George which are names I like but can't obviously can't use.

If it is a boy we will go for Oscar James. Other names we liked were Finn, Ben, Theo and Felix.

That should give you a good idea of our taste. We don't like anything too unusual. I prefer short, classical names. I don't like shortening names to nicknames, I'd rather go with the shorter version. We aren't posh but live in a nice rural village in Surrey.

Please don't out me if you recognise me!

Please don't be offended, the following are names we've discarded and why:

Emily, Lucy, Sophie, Kate, Chloe - bit boring

Charlotte, Henrietta, Tabitha, Beatrice too long.

Poppy, Lily, Daisy - not keen on flower names.

Thea - really like but feels incomplete.

We're not going to find a name we like are we?

Agatha

As you like Thea, how about using it as a short form of Dorothea?

Otherwise

Mary, Anna, Laura, Clara, Heidi, Pippa, Selina

Agatha and Dorothea - Personally find these a bit ugly.

Mary, Laura, Anna - one of these is my name, the other two are very close family members names

Pippa and Selina - not that keen

Heidi and Clara - don't dislike but doesn't jump out as "the one" will add to a shortlist though.

Sorry we are ridiculously fussy and picky I know, nothing wrong with any of those names if they are your DC's - names are very personal like taste in clothes!

Just to add, not keen on names that end up shortened, so wouldn't call a DC Dorothea and then shorten to Thea, would just go with Thea in the first place (but as I said I know for us it feels incomplete and at least one close family member would pronounce it Fear)

Eve or Evelyn? Rose?

DH just pulled a face at Heidi and Clara, the latter is also (apparently) the name of his second cousin (who we never see) but others in family do so apparently that's ruled out.

Emma?

Rose is the only flower name I like but is the name of one if my best friends daughters so would feel odd to use it.

Quite like Eve but DH has one who works for him and is quite a difficult person so not the best association.

Emma just feels a bit dull (sorry hate to criticise names, I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't like my DC's names though)

Sara
Gwen
Olivia
Eve
Mae
Emma
Vera
Claire
Celia
Leah

I was going to say Henrietta but I see you've already discarded that! Or Alice, which is not much use.

Rachel?

Or maybe Eleanor? Harriet? Eloise? Miriam? Ellen? Juliet/Julia? Rose (I know it's a flower name). Susan?

Sorry I see you've discounted Rose already.

Sara, Gwen, Mae, Vera, Claire, Celia, Leah, Miriam, Ellen, Juliet, Julia, Rachel, Susan - Really not keen on any of these

Harriet, I think this would get shortened, it's a bit long for me.

Olivia - I really like but it is very popular (says mother of Grace) plus I worry it will be shortened. I know my sister hates it as I've mooted it before which put me off.

Just to put in one post all the names we've discarded and why ...

Don't hate but find a bit dull
Emily, Lucy, Sophie, Kate, Chloe, Sara, Claire, Leah, Ellen, Juliet, Julia, Rachel, Susan, Elenor, Pippa, Selina

Just don't like (includes flower names as not keen)
Gwen, Mae, Vera, Celia, Miriam, Agatha, Dorothea, Lily, Willow, Poppy, Daisy

Too long
Charlotte, Henrietta, Tabitha, Beatrice, Harriet

Like but can't use as close family / friends names
Alice, Phoebe, Laura, Anna, Rose

Negative associations (not necessarily by me)
Olivia, Eve

I quite like but DH doesn't, and I don't love enough to argue for
Heidi, Clara

We aren't going to find a girls name are we? Better hope it's a boy ...

Astrid
Matilda
Hazel
Imogen

Jade
Louise
Nora
Hazel
Sadie
Jenna
Isabel
Paige
Lola
Ruby
Violet
Zoe
Piper
Erin
Ivy

Martha
Nina
Zara
Zoe

Eliza?

Bugger! I thought you'd like Rachel as I know two Graces who have a sister named Rachel.

So is 1-2 syllable names what you're really after? How about Faye or Nancy? If Anna is out, is Anne out too? What about Louise?

Tessa
Audrey
Olive
Nadia or Natalie (too long?)
Zara
Hannah
Ingrid
Laura or Lauren
Elle

Every Olivia I know has a nickname (usually Liv or Livvy) but frankly every little girl and most women that I know have nicknames!

I really like Oscar James if it's a boy by the way, I think it's nice.

My first thought was Eliza. I also like Tess and Ruby.

Really like Matilda with the names, but might be a bit too long.

Jane
Ellen
Marie
Cara
Ruth

Anya
Harriet
Alexandra
Florence
Hannah
Anna
Imogen
Isabelle
Emilia

Ah, I need to read other people's posts properly, I keep suggesting things you've ruled out/already had suggested. Ignore Laura!

Do you have a shortlist from when you had Grace? What were the names on that list?

My first thought when I read your post was Matilda. If too long what about Tilda.

Tessa/Tess
Nancy
Bella