Thoughts on potential names

[FeatheredTail]

Not due until later this year, but was wondering on others thoughts on my short lists....

Girls:
Elizabeth
Jemima
Philippa
Rosalind
Penelope (concerned it's getting a bit trendy?)

Boys:
Alexander
Guy
Charles
Robert
Laurence

We already have a Madeleine.

I like them all except Jemima and Guy. Jemima in particular is just a horrid name.

I don't know any Penelopes - popularity may be very localised. I like all your girl names but probably Rosalind best with Madeleine.

I don't like Guy at all but three of your others have been on our shortlists. I think the longer names all go well with Madeleine. I'd probably choose Alexander.

I like them all, we have similar tastes. My favourites are Rosalind and Alexander, followed by Laurence and Elizabeth. No Penelopes around here as far as I know.

Only like Elizabeth for a girl. Robert and Alexander for a boy. Do you not like Alexandra for a girl.

I like them all, particularly Rosalind and Jemima, and Guy and Laurence.

I love Jemima, Robert, Alexander.

I dislike Penelope and Laurence.

Have you considered the shortened versions which you may have no control over?

I love Guy, Alexander is okay. I like Penelope and really dislike Rosalind.

Jemima is my favourite of your girl names. Rosalind is becoming quite popular, prefer Rosalie or Rosanna.

I like Alexander, but not keen on your other choices, sorry.

I really like most of them - and they're all fine - but I'm not keen on Jemima - I think it's because I see it as an American slave name, even though I know it was a Hebrew name long before slavery times. I really like Guy. And you can't go wrong with Alexander. Not sure about Charles. I haven't come across a Charles for years, so I'd need to think about that.

I think Madeleine and Rosalind sound too alike when sound out loud.

Elizabeth and Alexander are my favourites.

Robert is a good strong name.
Phillipa/Pippa is lovely.

I like all of them.

With Madeleine I think I'd go for Penelope or Laurence.

Girls:
Elizabeth - very safe but nice enough
Jemima - no. Horrible name.
Philippa - dislike personally
Rosalind - I like it (fave of your girls names) but agree that it's got a similar sound to Madeleine. Rosanna, Rosalie?
Penelope - meh. It's ok.

Boys:
Alexander - meh
Guy - no.
Charles - not for me
Robert - I like it
Laurence - lovely. Best of the boys names.

Isn't Laurence going to get shortened to Larry?

Dear god, I hope Laurence won't get shortened to Larry - unless he steps into a time machine that takes him back to 1950s America!

I would imagine Laurence would be Laurie if it hadn't to be shortened when he was older, Alexander - I'd be happy with whatever shortening, ditto Robert, Guy - nice and impossible to shorten. Can't bear how overused Charlie is but may have to concede that's what it would get shortened to (unless we go with Chaz. Unlikely).

Jemima - hate Jem, so probably something to consider. Quite surprised at the polarised opinions on Jemima, I hadn't thought it could be considered a horrid name, but I suppose names have that effect.

Not keen on Rosalie or any other Ros-variation. Maybe Rosalind and Madeleine do sound a little too similar, but it doesn't overly bother me as they'll grow up as individuals as well as sisters.

I do like Alexandra (it's one of my names) but really dislike all shortened female versions.

I know only one Penelope locally, but concerned a few celebrities have named their daughters Penelope recently (z list, but still) so going to track it in the ONS list this year to see where it is nationally.

Love Elizabeth, but the only abreviartion I like is Lizzie.

Argh! Found this easier the first time round!

Oh and thanks for the feedback!

Guy - nice and impossible to shorten.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

DB and I have names which are "impossible to shorten". There's no such thing. The British habitually shorten names as an indicator of affection or intimacy. We shorten anything. If we can't easily do so, we substitute or double or add suffixes or in some other way brutalise the name until we aren't using the same name their mum chose.

Lovely lists! I like all your boy choices, especially Laurence/Laurie and Guy. I do find Charlie a bit ubiquitous these days.

I like Jemima and Rosalind best of your girl choices. Philippa is solid but has never really floated my boat. Penelope I really do not like, and now that it has the Kardashian imprimatur it does seem to be going the way of trendy.

Might Eloise, Juliet or Louisa appeal?

Ironically, the polarising Jemima is the only one I like!

Elizabeth- love
Jemima - dislike
Philippa - love
Rosalind- i think Rosalind Elizabeth would lovely
Penelope (concerned it's getting a bit trendy?)- like but the Kardashian association might concern me

Boys:
Alexander- not a fan
Guy- nice
Charles- love
Robert- ok
Laurence - love

All very nice names.

Philippa and Rosalind are my favourites, with Jemima (Puddleduck ) as my least favourite.

Guy is my favourite with Laurence a close second.
I'd be worried than the ubiquitous Xander and Charlie would be used for nn though.

Love Elizabeth, Alexander and Laurence!

I have a Jemima so obviously I love the name! We shorten it to Mima which I think is really cute. Nobody has ever referred to her as Jem. I know it's a bit of a 'marmite' name, fair enough, people either live it or hate it.

Our Mima is 2 and we haven't met another one yet. We are in Yorkshire. So a good choice if you don't want a too popular name.

Love Elizabeth and Rosalind (nn Rosa?)

I love Jemima, Philippa and Guy.

Isn't Laurence a female name in France?

I know 3 baby Penelope's, both known as Penny. I think it is in top 100 now so not exactly popular as such but definitely rising.

I would avoid Alexander. Its a nice name but again I know so many of them. My toddler dd gets confused as she has 4 friends called Alex; they're all known as 'Nicola and Alex' etc. Constantly have to mention the mum