Please come and help with our girls’ shortlist - down to 5 but going round in circles!

[TempsPerdu]

I’m 33 weeks with DD1, C-section booked for 6th December but also have placenta previa so she might end up arriving sooner. After much agonising (and arguing!) DP and I have whittled down a very long ‘shortlist’ to five, but now we’re stuck. We’re after something fairly unusual, but not too try-hard or pretentious (I am aware that my taste does veer towards try-hard/pretentious, but we’ve already rejected the worst ones!)

Surname will be double-barrelled and made up of two common one syllable names - think ‘Flynn-Bell’

Your honest thoughts/opinions on the following are very welcome (no further suggestions please as it’s taken us 33 weeks to get this far )

Greta
Rowan
Gaia
Viola
Aster

Middle name/s will be some combination of Rowan, Emmeline and Alice, depending on what works best. Thanks!

Greta Emmeline Alice.

Not fond of names beginning with a hard G.
I would choose Viola or Rowan.

Greta or Viola 1 they are the nicest by a million miles imo! They are also quite different in terms of what sort of baby / child / woman I think they'd suit, so I guess maybe when you meet her one might suit her more, or maybe you and your partner might be more one type than the other.

Fwiw I prefer Greta. Viola is lovely but might get misheard as Violet. Also I'm not keen on Vi as a shortening.

Gaia, Aster and Rowan aren't at all nice to me, but personal taste etc.

Viola or Aster gets my vote.

I always think rowan is a boys name as I’ve only ever heard it on a boy and it’s what my nephew is called

I would also assume Rowan was a boy - I’ve known several and all male. Love Greta / Greta Alice - I think adding emmeline might make it a mouthful with a double barrelled surname!

Viola is the nicest.

Thanks for replies so far - they’re really helping! I think my own current favourite is Greta, but DP really likes the idea of a more ‘naturey’ name (slight hippy/arty tendencies!)

I do get that the unisex thing with Rowan makes it a bit of a ‘marmite’ name, but I’m a fan of strong, non-frilly names for girls, plus DP and I both love rowan trees. Might work better as a mn though?

And I think we’d aim for ‘Vee’ rather than ‘Vi’ as a nn for Viola!

Rowen Alice

Rowan Alice, I mean.

Greta would be my first choice, Rowan my second - both lovely names!

Personally I really like Greta from your list as it's a strong classic name and I don't know any.
My least favourite is Rowan because to me it's more of a boys name. But if you love it I wouldn't let it put you off as your friends and family will associate the name with your daughter.

Good luck with choosing and with that birth

Viola
Aster
Gaia

They’re all beautiful names. Love them!

FWIW I hate Greta and Rowan- they seem very middle-aged and grumpy to me. I can’t imagine a gorgeous 18-20 year old Greta...

But isn't Viola usually pronounced Vie-oh-la? Like the Shakespeare character, rather than Vee-oh-la like the musical instrument? Obviously you can pronounce it how you like if you use it, but people may assume Vie-oh-la.

Viola

Bernard Yes, we’d be pronouncing it ‘Vye-o-la’ like the flower/Shakespeare character but using Vee as nickname from the initial - agree that Vi as a shortening isn’t the best!

Aaaaah that makes sense! She might still become Vi though... Sorry, I'm being a dick as really love Greta !

I can totally imagine a really cool 18-20 yo called Greta.

.

Greta does seem to be another ‘marmite name’ - I see it as having a sophisticated, grown-up Nordic vibe, but I know plenty of others just think frumpy/clunky/old lady!

Greta is my favourite. Greta Rowan would be a lovely combination, and get the nature theme in.

I only like Greta from your list (sorry ).

I think Greta Alice is lovely.

I like Greta best.

Woo team Greta!

Rowan Alice is nice :) I’ve known it as a unisex name.