Name for 'half British/expat' baby... Tia :)

[MaybeBabey]

We're ttc and started talking about baby names...

Names we've come up with (this is not a 'serious' short list. Just names we both like / neither of us dislikes...)

What do you think of these? What / who do they make you think of / what's your impression? Do they 'work' in the UK? What else might we like? Thanks :)

Girls:

Gloria
Helena / Elena (?)
Gemma
Carlotta
Catarina / Katarina
Clarissa
Hannah
Dora (maybe Dorothea?)

Boys
Alexander (love Alexander but dislike Alex...Alec is nice but it seems a bit risky.)
Sebastian
Frederick
Jonathan
Louis
Thorfinn (one of my personal favourites)
Magnus. Or maybe Max?

(Name I like but doesn't really work in the UK: Korbinian...)

Gloria - middle aged African American woman, possibly a gospel singer. No.
Helena / Elena - like Elena, not a fan of Helena
Gemma - ok
Carlotta - lovely
Catarina / Katarina - love this, gorgeous
Clarissa - no. prim, fussy and flouncy
Hannah - ok
Dora - no to this and double no to Dorothea

Alexander - don't do it if you dont like Alex, it's very very likely to be a nickname he chooses.
Sebastian - ok
Frederick - nice
Jonathan - nice
Louis - nope, bit wet
Thorfinn - new one to me, but I really like it
Magnus - no, but miles better than Max

Also I actually like Korbinian but you're right, it doesnt work in the UK (and makes me think of Jeremy Corbyn).

Thanks :)

Dora - no to this and double no to Dorothea hm... What do you think about Theodora?

Thorfinn - new one to me, but I really like it thanks :) how would you pronounce this?

Magnus - no, but miles better than Max My OH loves Maximilian. But I unfortunately really don't like it...

Korbinian Maria is just such an awesome name combo (imo) but it really wouldn't work in the UK ;)

I love Dora/Theodora, Thorfinn and Magnus.

With Dora I also think Dorothea, which is classic.

Thorfinn I've only heard of in Harry Potter, but it's a good strong name.

Magnus I've liked for years!

I'd presume it's Thor and Finn fused together - am I right? I think it's interesting and gives a few options.

Oddly I don't dislike Theodora as much, but still not a fan. I think it's down to how some accents change the th to an f.

Maximilian is a lot of name, I wouldn't be gone on it either. Max is ok, it's just a bit bland and forgettable compared to some of the other names. You could use Maxwell or Maximus, though they aren't doing it for me either.

I'm not sure why I'm not keen on Magnus. I think Gus is good, though!

Dugee

Thanks :)

Thorfinn I've only heard of in Harry Potter, but it's a good strong name.

There's a Thorfinn in Harry Potter?

I used to really like Harry Potter but I actually don't remember that character...

I'd presume it's Thor and Finn fused together - am I right? I think it's interesting and gives a few options.

As far as I know? Yes. :)

It's actually a pretty old name...

You could use Maxwell or Maximus, though they aren't doing it for me either.

I really don't like Maximus (but I do like Julius, so Idk why...). And Maxwell doesn't sound nice in German.

Thanks :)!!

Oh I like Julius. Never met one.

For German names I think Mareike and Annika are quite pretty! I'm not all that well up on German names.

And I vaguely remember that Thorfinn now that pp has mentioned it. Wasn't he a Death Eater?

I really like Gloria, Helena, Carlotta, Katarina, Hannah, Alexander, Jonathan, Thorfinn and Magnus.

Unfortunately Thorfinn was a death eater, but a very minor character overall so most won't remember him!

Unless your surname is Rowle of course

Oh I like Julius. Never met one.

It's not uncommon (but not really popular either) in Germany and the Netherlands.

I really like Gloria, Helena, Carlotta, Katarina, Hannah, Alexander, Jonathan, Thorfinn and Magnus.

Thanks:) I like those as well.

I really want a strong girl's name. Which is probably why I like names like that...

Sophronia is lovely as well, btw!

Dugee

It lucky isn't! the HP/death deater connection isn't too strong, is it?

The more 'nordic' boy's names (Thorfinn, Magnus, Frederik/ck) would probably work really well in the UK, right?

Thanks :)

No, I don't think the connection is strong with Harry Potter, as popular as the books are!

Strong Nordic boys names like those will work well in the UK I think. Soren is another Scandinavian boys name I've seen here. There seem to be quite a few boys called Frederick/Freddie at the moment - part of the trend for older names.

Personally I think you could get away with any of the names on your original list, it seems pretty solid to me, with the exception of Korbinian for the reason listed by PP

From your list I love Elena (pronounced el-ay-na), Carlotta and Catarina / Katarina. Lovely, strong euro-chic sounding names imo. I also love the name Alexander, though probably wouldn't go for it if you hated Alex. Whilst Xander is always a potential nn, he could choose the nn Alex himself as he gets older. I also like Jonathon (nn. Johnny) and Louis.

Sorry I do have to say though, I think Thorfinn and Magnus are awful, not nice names at all really. They sound very clunky/nerdy. Dora I don't really like either - all that will ever come to mind (in the UK at least) would be Dora the Explorer..Theodora on the other hand is quite pretty, though I would lean towards using Thea and/or Teddy as nicknames rather than Dora. :)

Personally I think you could get away with any of the names on your original list, it seems pretty solid to me, with the exception of Korbinian for the reason listed by PP

Thanks :) I still have a soft spot for Korbinian Maria but that won't happen... (Well, maybe Maria as a middle name.)

@catalinablue

From your list I love Elena (pronounced el-ay-na), Carlotta and Catarina / Katarina

Thanks :) I pronounce it differently but also like e-lay-nah. My OH says the same ;)

I prefer the sound of Elena but I feel like Helena is stronger and a bit more classic / timeless.

Sorry I do have to say though, I think Thorfinn and Magnus are awful, not nice names at all really.

No need to be sorry. Seeing as I did ask ;)

I agree, there are some adorable nns for Theodora. I also like Theo (as a nn for Theodora).

Girls:

Gloria- I like this. Wouldn't use myself but makes me think of someone happy.

Helena / Elena (?) Helena is on my list. I love it and love the nickname Nell. So classy.

Gemma- dated

Carlotta- car lot

Catarina / Katarina- quite nice but prefer Katherine, however you did say you're an expat so makes sense.

Clarissa- nice

Hannah- on my list. Love.

Dora (maybe Dorothea?) Love.

Boys
Alexander (love Alexander but dislike Alex...Alec is nice but it seems a bit risky.)- like Alexander with nickname Andy but don't like Alex either.

Sebastian- personally no.

Frederick- on my list. Love a little fred/Freddie.

Jonathan- nice. Like John as a nn

Louis- Prince so no

Thorfinn (one of my personal favourites)- no

Magnus. Or maybe Max? Like Magnus and max. Magnus less common.

Gloria- I like this. Wouldn't use myself but makes me think of someone happy.

I agree :)!

I really like that it's (currently) uncommon without being "weird". And that it isn't cutesy. (Well, imo)

quite nice but prefer Katherine, however you did say you're an expat so makes sense.

Yes, there's a th... Which means that I'd have to concentrate / carefully pronounce it.

Katharina might work (but I'd still pronounce it with a hard t)

Thanks