Another 'help me with girls names' thread!

[clevername]

I'm due in two weeks with my second and still haven't made a decision on names. Frankly, its making me jittery and I thought I'd turn to you guys for help...

If the baby is a boy we are pretty set on Wilfred. We totally love this name for so many reasons (not least the vast array of lovely shortenings) but we haven't found a girls name that we can use that we love as much. Feel like I've looked at EVERY SINGLE GIRLS NAME THAT HAS EVER EXISTED TOO...

Can't use (but do love):
Mabel
Polly
Flora/Florrie

Names that DP has vetoed:

Cecily
Pearl
Maud
Aphra (might be able to get this in as a middle if it works with chosen first name)

Names that we do really like and are on list:

Tabitha
Olive
Prunella (love that this can be shortened to Pru or Nell)
Constance (Connie - sounds really nice with surname)
Winifred (Winnie)
Dorothy (Dot)
Imelda (not sure on this one - don't really like 'Immie' or 'Mel')
Arabella (think we've more or less discounted this one though)
Edith (too popular?)
Agnes

DP suggested Vespa this morning which I think is awesome but a bit too out there... also can't shake images of scooters, bond girls and wasps!

DD1 is Violet. I seem to like vintage names that aren't too popular (had no idea Violet was so on the rise when we chose it for DD1. Ho hum) and that have lots of options for shortening. Surname is 2 syllable and begins with 'Cl' (which rules out a few I like, e.g. Cleo).

So, do any of you have any thoughts on current ideas or any suggestions? Please be relatively gentle... I'm hormonal and a bit sensitive at the moment!

Thanks!

You like granny names! I like Constance and am beginning to like Winifred. Dorothy and Agnes are both cool.
How about...
Joan / Joanie
Margot
Patience
Cora
Sadie
Emmeline
Vera

Firstly, I love Wilfred!

Now to the names

Tabitha - I cant shake off the imagery of cats. Have you considered Talitha which is similar?

Olive - love. It's on my list. Think the nn Liv is cool but also like Oli on a girl

Prunella (love that this can be shortened to Pru or Nell) - brilliant but I wouldn't be brave enough to use it. Plus I do slightly prefer Prudence

Constance (Connie - sounds really nice with surname) - lovely and sounds great with Violet

Winifred (Winnie) - hold out for a Wilfred lol

Dorothy (Dot) - gorgeous. It's one of my daughter's middle names

Imelda (not sure on this one - don't really like 'Immie' or 'Mel') - not a fan

Arabella (think we've more or less discounted this one though) - I like Arabella alot but prefer some of your other names

Edith (too popular?) - lovely but Edie is becoming rather popular

Agnes - like but prefer Agatha

My vote is for Olive or Constance. Or Prunella if your brave enough

I'll suggest...

Talitha
Mavis
Enid
Ethel or Ethelyn
Evangeline
Agatha
Meredith
Eden
Hazel
Arabel
Floriana

I know a couple of Violets

Their sisters are called Iris
and Daphne

Personally I love Daphne and have only ever met one other little one with that name. Would you consider that? Means laurel tree.

Wow! Loads more lovely suggestions and opinions - thank you! Unfortunately I can't have lots of them because they are already in use by family or friends (selfish fuckers...). E.g. Margo, Primrose, Clementine.

Indeed, I do like granny names! I think I'm the archetypal '100 year rule' baby namer - completely unintentionally but I suppose you can't change what you like.

I think maybe Prunella is a no, judging by the reaction here...

But Constance (with the equally gorgeous nns of Connie or Coco) is definitely a serious contender.

Tabitha is still up there, too (not bothered by the cat association for some reason. I also seem to be drawn to names that are often used for pets e.g. Rex (another one that I couldn't have as it's already been taken...))

And Olive - is it different enough from Olivia? Bizarrely I feel it is, even if they are only 2 letters removed from each other.

I do still love Winifred but I understand the 'holding out for Wilfred' argument... although I have zero intention of having another child (but things happen I suppose).

Mavis should have been DD1s middle name but we chickened out and went with May (seriously regret this now - we might even deed poll it!).

I do like Daphne but it makes me think of Ozzie soaps c. early 90s!

I LOVE Floriana but there is a Flora in the family - they share the same surname, will go to the same primary school, live in the same village etc so I can't do it, can I?

After all this, it'll probably be a boy... Ha ha!

Olive is fab!

As is Greta & Margot.

Dorothea
Una
Iona
Lillian
Eadie
Rosa/ Rosalie
Freda

Fenella nn Nell

Cornelia and Violet

Violet and Willa

Mabel
Myrtle
Ida
Freda
Roberta

Though think Constance your best bet!

I like:

• Tabitha
• Olive
• Winifred
• Arabella

Not a fan of the others, particularly Prunella, Constance, Agnes and Imelda.

I don't love Olive, but agree Olivia is too popular. I know a child named Livia, nn Liv which I love! Apparently it is an ancient Roman name. I love Edith nn Edie, don't know if you like that? I love the name Posy, not sure what it could be short for though. Constance nn coco or Connie is really lovely. Isadora or Thea are also lovely, and Emmeline...

I love Tabitha and Winifred.
What about Marion, Harriet (Hattie) or Rita.

early30s Yes, Livia was the wife of Roman Emperor Augustus. It'll be quite a strong association for anyone who has studied Ancient Rome.

If you like Margot, what about Margaret? Meg, Maggie, Peggy, Daisy, ... heaps more.

Thanks yet again.

Not a fan of Margaret, I'm afraid, although I agree the myriad potential shortenings are awesome.

LOVE Posy. Think it can be short for Primrose (which I adore but can't have) or Josephine (which I'm not a fan of).

Hmmmmmm... so much to think about.