How do you like these baby names? No hate, please

[Woollymammothz]

Expecting a baby girl due early November. I'm a writer so unfortunately picking baby names isn't as wonderful as it used to be. I've gone through almost every name in my years of writing so they've all become bland and I've taken an interest to unusual and sort of "fantasy" names. Older siblings are called:

DD, aged 9: Callisto - no teasing has happened yet and while I've received raised eyebrows from other parents, I've also received compliments. Sometimes goes by Callie, though and she has a lovely modern middle name if she wishes to go by that in the future.

DD, aged 6: Posy - no teasing happened, mostly goes by Po at home and by family members. Also has a modern middle name if she wishes to choose a more "mature" route.

DS, aged 2: Benaiah - more "normal" than his sister's names but he mostly goes by his full name rather than Ben or Benny. Has a classic middle name from a family member but also Ben is suitable if he dislikes his full name in the future.

All names were made up once - Wendy was made up by J.M. Barrie! I'm sure Olivia was also created by Shakespeare. I'm not asking for made up names but all names were made up at some point and they've gradually become accepted so I'm not looking for any backlash.

I went to school with a Jack, Eve, Peter and Ellie. They all got teased relentlessly.

The names I've taken a like to are:

Emerald - not too unusual and I love it. Could definitely go by Em or even Emma by friends (I'll stick to the full name )

Canary - believe it or not my great aunt's name was Canary. I'm sure I'll definitely receive quite some hate for this but I realise I am naming an adult so it'll either be middle name or a name for a story character.

Arrietta - just love it. I love the nn Etta too but Ari is also a popular option.

Mary - surprisingly in the midst of those unusual names I like Mary. Inspired by The Secret Garden. When I hear it it doesn't sound dated to me but I realise it may to you all. Love it nonetheless.

Which ones do you like best and why? Also open to suggestions for similar names.

No outright rudeness, please!

Arietta Mary is nice.

For years I wanted to call any future daughter Menolly, one of Anne McCaffrey's central characters in her Pern books. Still love the name.

Arrietta Mary go lovely together

I definitely think Arietta flows best with your other choices, I still marginally prefer Arietty and think Etty is such a cute nn. Other names that spring to mind would be Clemency or Clementine, Mirabelle and Lirael. I could never pick Mary because it was my family's choice of name for vagina growing up

I love both Emerald and Arietta
Not keen on Mary or canary though.

Absolutely adore Arietta!

Not Canary because they remind me of the miners testing for carbon monoxide and then the canary dies.....

I do really like Emerald because my mum wanted to use it for me but was talked out of it by my gran apparently... I think its great because if your daughter wants to blend in a bit more she could just go by Emma

Mary.

The fact you've specifically had to make a point of asking people to be nice about your names.... the fact you've felt you had to write a really, really, really long OP, justifying your choice, says a lot.

dc with unusual names will have to be 'explaining' their names all their lives. I would hate to have a name like that.

@BackforGood

Honestly, the only reason I asked for being to be nice is because I've noticed quite a handful of people on here are incredibly rude for no reason and when it certainly isn't needed, but hey, I write for a living. I'm used to harsh criticism and blatantly passive aggressive words, except at this moment when I'm 7 months pregnant I'd rather avoid it.

Sorry if it seems too long for you - but I wasn't justifying anything. When naming my children I only have their best interest in mind. My DP and I couldn't decide on one of the names so we decided to see what some people on here thought. While we don't usually give a flying kite for other's opinions, to ask on here seemed much better than putting the names on a random name spinner to pick one out automatically.

My children seem content with their names. DD1 is very happy not to be the fourth Olivia in her class or third Isla and beams when she gets complimented on it which is quite frequently. But I appreciate your concern.

I used to teach at a very, very middle class school, and honestly none of those names would particularly raise an eyebrow for me any more. Even ”Canary”. I have taught children with more unusual names than that. Personally I think Mary is due a comeback, and Arietty goes with Callisto the best. I like that you've gone for ”full” names for your kids.

How about Emmeline or Mariela? Ariadne is lovely too.

I like Mary a lot. I have a plain and sweet name and my siblings have outlandish ones and I love that i am different to them.

I like emerald - I quite like gem type names sapphira, pearl, opal, jade but too common and old hat now,

Arietta. Mary would just sound odd alongside her siblings.

OP do you realise you’re constantly referencing your writing for no apparent reason?

Anyway I think they’re all ok apart from canary. They don’t really scream out anything personality wise though

Sorry, OP, the Mary and Canary names together reminded me of a vulgar little ditty I used to here in Scotland:

Auntie Mary had a canary. Up the leg of her drawers. When she farted, it departed. To a round of applause

*hear FFS!

but hey, I write for a living.

Do you? You never mentioned it!
I like Arietta and I agree it goes with you other names. I also think Callisto and Posy are much more 'normal' than Benaiah, by the way, not that it matters.

Op I have a posy too

I really like names like Stella, Nora, Violet and Sophie. I found some more on this [URL=www.significado-de-nombres.net/nombres-y-apellidos-ingleses/]spanish site[/URL] but they have a huge list of english names that could help you choose one if you need some ideas.

Mary. Lovely, unusual and classic.

Arietta Mary sounds lovely, congrats (although I liked it with 2 rr's!). Also I love the name Posy :)

I like Garnet and Emerald

Mary canary has a ring to it...

In order ...

Arietta
Emerald
Mary
Canary - probably shouldn't be used tbh it's very out there even alongside your other names!

I love Arietta!

Also love Persephone and Ariadne!

I think Emerald is quite cool, quite bold but you can easily shorten it.

Please not Canary. I don’t like the other two either sorry. Go with Emerald.