Your opinion on these names, please? English naming "rules" are a book with 7 seals to me... [hmm]

[1horatio]

so...:
Vela (which I love and is also the name of a constellation)
Carina (honours somebody that saved my life...)
Erica
Louisa
Carla
Kira (Kira doesn't come from Ciara, it's the feminine form of Cyrus. I think this sounds spunky)

Cedric (my absolute favourite, tbh. I looove this name)
Clement
Isaac
Orion

My better half is English but I am from all over Europe (Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Germany...)
The daddy works for a uni, I myself am a consultant (law).
The daddy would probably just name the kid after grandparents/favourite aunt/uncle and be done with it... But in Britain names can apparently be "wet", "chavy", "common", "try hard"?
The 2nd and 3rd name will honour relatives, so these will be fairly classic....

It seems like our boy names are either wet/drippy/try hard or popular (Isaac).
Which, Idk... Popular is not something I personally associate with many good things.
Tweedy isn't too bad, I think. It is a nice enough fabric... I am a bit surprised Peregrine isn't hippy-ish or modern... I would have put this in the category of Lark, Tree and Wren. But I feel like these are exactly the things that are difficult for non-English people like me. so thanks

I love Orion, I may even steal it for DS2

I love the name Kira, I may be biased though as this is my dd's name . It's a beautiful Persian name but people do have a habit of putting an E in it because they all think it's spelt the same way as Kiera Knightley.

I also like Louisa and Carina from your list and for a boy I like Isaac.

Yes, Cedric is to me also a French name. I went to class with a Cedric (who was French). Nicolas is really pretty, I wish I could. But due to very unsavory family relations all the Nick/Niklaus/Nicholas names are a huuge nono. Ignatius would probably go over muuuch better with my family....

I do love astrological names... As Carina, Orion and Vela may suggest :)

So, combining Isaac with Peregrine would maybe balance? A popular first name and a vintagy 2nd...?

Seriously, I like England. But this name stuff is making me go crazy... I really hope we won't end up putting down Ignatius and Matita (our cat's name) out of stress.

I love Louisa and Clement

The electrician that came to do our wiring is called Perry (Peregrine) he is aged about 35 and not "posh" at all.

I'm not American at all :) May I ask why you think I am? Not that being American is bad, just curious, I guess. :)
my first language is actually German, my 2nd language is Italian.

Do the names sound American?

Yes, Carina is a version of the name of a person who literally saved my life... :)

But her full name is not our thing. And seeing as we like Carina we thought, why not?
(she spells herself with a k)

I like Louisa and Isaac.

I like Isaac Peregrine together.....
Astrological - Cosmo? Nash? Archer ...if a summer baby could use Leo...I think you're a long way from Ignatius

Ignatius and Thomasina are actually fantastic names (Ignatius a tiny bit try hard, Thomasina is all round brilliant).

Of the others:

Vela - too tricky for pronunciation. And would prob sound like a made up name to most people.
Carina - nice & the association makes this much better.
Erica - Yes, sorry, this sounds American. Also, just not a nice name.
Louisa - nice, middle of the road, safe choice.
Carla - American
Kira - OK

Cedric - wet, drippy, just NO.
Clement - sounds like a 50 year old bloke presenting an arts show on channel 4 late at night.
Isaac - lovely
Orion - awful, just sounds like you are trying way too hard.

I meant if you really love the names then maybe it won't matter what mumsnet think! Maybe you'll start a new trend...

Lovely selection of names.

Decide on twins and call them Clement and Carina.

Peregrine is their delightfully eccentric great uncle.

Thank you for all the answers. Very helpfull!
It's not really about liking or not liking the name, it's aboutthe perception in England tbh...

Thomasina and Ingatius are names my hubby would put down if I freak out, like a spur of the moment thîng...

Well, twins would have been cute. But it's only one baby :)

I really like Clement, Cedric, Carla and Loiusa. I think they're lovely classic underused names.

But then we have a Quentin which someone earlier also doesn't like . Although in real life his name gets really positive comments and he seems very happy with his name.

Unusual names, very interesting!

Vela is beautiful. Why would anyone struggle to pronounce it? Its four letters...

Cedric - really dorky, sickly Scrawny child type.

Perry - wish I'd thought of this! I love it.

Carina - is the name of a car! Ford Carina. A few beat up ones still around.

I love all your boys names, but especially Clement

I love Orion and also quite like carina, Louisa, Louisa.
I think you should go for whatever makes you happy. You aren't English so why should people expect you to have an English sounding name?
My DH is Greek, I've met some people with names I didn't think people actually were called but they are pretty normal. I was very excited to think of all the weird and wonderful Greek names I can name my child (but no can do as the tradition to call after his parents must be followed...)

Another vote for Carina.
The boys names are mostly a bit 'wet' but hey I'm old!! Yes, Issac is popular, but I think if you spell it that way - instead of a 'clever' Chavy way Izaak for example I think its totally fine.
I have GSS called Barnaby and Gabriel, at first everyone was and my dad felt our working class roots were being defiled, but their names are just perfect now.
Arthur is a name that seems to be making a comeback. I suspect my next GS will be an Arthur.

PP might've thought you were American because of your use of the word 'spunky'. Using the word fanny will get you the same response, unless you are talking about your lady bits.

And DEFINATLEY don't call your child that, even if it IS an old English name.
I've lost count explaining that to Americans.

In my head Cedric and Clement are pronounced in a French accent which sounds a lot nicer than when they are pronounced with an English accent. I like both - I used to know a very nice French Cedric which sways my opinion a bit.

Louisa and Carina are both lovely.

I know a very cool Cedric, so associations can change very quickly. Also really like Clement and Orion, both strong masculine names imo.

For a girl I prefer Louisa and Carina.