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!

Arrietta is a small crowded beach on Lanzarote, in the Canaries ...

If men named children we’d have an awful lot of Johns and pornstar names.

My theory is that parents should focus on naming an adult not a child. It might reduce the Evie/Emie/Mitzi/Poopie/Bear/Fox/Bunnies.

I love Mary and John , such lovely names & I am a woman - still love John , don't think it is all Dads who would like John. Mary is a lovely name. Yes I had a great aunt called Mary . I also like Stella , but suspect I am on Mumsnet record - I like Mary , Grace , Stella , Celia , All very graceful names which will do a job in the future.

I like a good John, but Mary is slang for fanny.

Arrietta is lovely and fits in beautifully with your other children’s names. I love the diminutives Ari and Etta too!!

Never heard Mary as slang for Fanny - where does that come from - I think it's a great name .

In the US, John is slang for toilet or a prostitute's client.

Mary is slang for a male homosexual in the US.

I love your other children's names but then I like anything unusual.

Emerald is my favourite. I'm not so keen on Canary, even though it has family connections for you.

I have heard John as slang for loo - but then my maternal grandfather was John Johnson ( known as Jonny ) never really associated it with loos ( or indeed clients ) - Never heard Mary as male homosexual but then probably a bit naive . I just think John and Mary are lovely classic names.

Mary or emerald

Posy was one of my favourites for dd1 but dh couldn't find it in the baby names book so didnt want to use it!

Sumandsubstance

You know Purdie is a name too right? Sarky cow.

@susurration I am a sarky cow, but on this occasion, I was merely pointing out that you seemed to be suggesting an alternative name for a child who literally already exists. Posy is 6 years old - probably would be a bit confused if the OP changed her name to Purdie, which yes, I am aware is also a name.

My eldest daughter’s best friend is Purdi. She’s pretty much my third daughter. I adore her. (And suspect she will be the president of the universe, as she’s truly amazing)

Arietta is lovely. Emerald is nice. Mary is also lovely but I dont think it goes w your other children's names - sounds a bit like you ran out of ideas (sorry). Not Canary. Really not.

Ariadne is similar although I do like Arrieta- was that the name of one of The Borrowers? Dont like Canary will be hard if she cant sing. Mary is sweet. Or Marianne. Emerald is lovely but would be a shame to shorten to Em but could see how that gives a good alternative if needed.

Emerald is by far my favourite, I think it's a beautiful name and she could use Emma if she wanted something more conventional.

I like Emerald & Canary. Both precious gemstones, Canary is really quirky

Canary is best left to a story character. Please don't do that to a child, even for a middle name. I like all your other names.

Good luck.

Canary is awful but the others are fine. Mary has dropped off the face of the earth lately so it would be nice to bring that back. I like Arietta too.

I like Emerald best. Arietta I think is quite trendy. Not popular, but I know of a couple and I always see it on people's lists. I love how our tjere Canary is and that if has a family link, I just can't think of a nickname for it and it's a bit clunky.

Canary is not a gemstone, it's a bird??

Canary is also a gem. It’s yellow. Wouldn’t have said it if it wasn’t haha