Help me with my shortlist!

[BadBadBeans]

Our baby is due in a few weeks. We don't know the sex and we are nowhere near choosing names! Here are our two shortlists. DS1, if it is of any help, has an Old Testament name. Do any names stick out to you as particularly lovely? Do any go together well as first and middle names? And can you think of any others in this sort of vein that we may have overlooked? Thank you!

Jennifer
Cerys
Imogen
Jasmine
Arabella
Megan
Iris
Celestine
Tabitha
Valentina
Lyra
Lila
Octavia

Fabian
Julian
Elliott
Alfred
Leo
Aubrey
Zachariah

From your girls names I like Jennifer (I think this will actually be quite unusual in the next generation as being used much less) and Iris. Megan and Imogen are ok. Cerys is lovely if you or your partner are Welsh, a bit odd if you are not, likewise with Valentina unless you are Italian.

I think Elliot is the nicest of your boys names, I also like Leo but it's very popular these days if that bothers you.

Out of your list I like Leo,Lila or megan
Names I'd suggest..
Joby
Evan
Esiah
Elias
Caleb
Tobias

Giorgia
Natalia
Vivian

Well 3 of your girls names were on my lists! Jennifer, imogen and jasmine so those are my picks!
Not as keen on the boys list - but it would be boring if everyone had the same taste!!!

Lovely shortlists I like these best:

Jennifer
Arabella
Octavia
Celeste (rather than Celestine as in Prophecy)
Julian
Leo
Zachariah

Jennifer Cerys
Jennifer Megan
Arabella Celeste
Octavia Jasmine

Julian Aubrey
Julian Alfred
Leo Zachariah
Leo Julian
Zachariah Julian
Zachariah Frederick

I like Lyra, because of the Golden Compass books

I absolutely love
Fabian
Aubrey
Alfred and
Lyra
Octavia
Celestine
Arrabella

But I quite like all your names
If I had to choose two it would be Aubrey and Octavia because they are both classic traditional names but underused and interesting

Jennifer and Fabian

Love love love Imogen. Not massively keen on your boys names. If you wanted another OT boys name then I like Malachi and Micah for more unusual ones.

Alfred is the only boys name on your list I really like.
Dd has one of your girls names. Megan I don't love and I'm not sure Jasmine works in rl but it is a good list.

I love Olivia! Beautiful name. Also Imogen and Alfred

Love Imogen and Elliot from your list
Cerys is also nice and would be my second choice from girls list

Other suggestions:

Elijah
Ezra
Harris
Evan
Lucas
Vincent
Marcus
Isaac
Jacob

Georgia
Freya
Saffron
Alyssa
Estelle
Emmeline
Adaline
Thea
Rosa
Lorna
Clara
Lara
Meredith
Lucy

I like Jennifer, Imogen, Megan, Iris, Celestine, Tabitha, Octavia. (Dislike Jasmine and Valentina, but others neutral).
I like Elliot, Alfred, Leo. Leo is my strong favourite of your boys' names. (Dislike Aubrey and Zachariah).

My favourite names and combos in order:
Tabitha Cerys
Imogen Cerys
Celestine Iris
Megan Tabitha
Jennifer Cerys
Octavia May
Iris Jennifer

Leo Fabian
Alfred Fabian
Elliott Leo

Jennifer - really dull and dated
Cerys - nice!
Imogen - sweet
Jasmine - okay - maybe a bit chavvy?
Arabella - nice but getting v popular
Megan - little dull but quite sweet
Iris - lovely
Celestine - amazing!
Tabitha -beautiful
Valentina - lovely but not nice shortenings (Val? Tina?)
Lyra - amazing! A constellation, an incredible character, lovely name!
Lila - sweet but overdone
Octavia - okay but can you imagine calling "Octavia! Come here!" in the park?

Fabian - amazing
Julian - amazing
Elliott - nice but v common and maybe a bit of 'naughty boy name'
Alfred - lovely
Leo - lovely but popular
Aubrey - don't like
Zachariah - see above comment for Octavia

What about Jemima, Lorelei, Tallulah, Saskia, Beatrice, Alma, Juno, Aurelia?

Reuben, Cassian/Caspian, Felix, Barnaby, Hugo

Love Valentina and Fabian!

How about Quentin or Celeste?

Wow! You guys are great at this!

Okay, so opinion is very split on Jennifer, it seems. It's a family name that has real significance, so if we don't choose it as a first name it may end up as a middle name. The only trouble is that DH loves the name Jenny - he would have that as a first name happily - but doesn't like Jennifer at all! But if it's a middle name, it would never get shortened to Jenny...

@anatol I thought that about Cerys too. DH's granddad is Welsh, but it feels a bit tenuous. Also, English people often have no idea how to spell it.

@uhtredsonofuhtred Oooo Tobias was on our shortlist for DS and I'd forgotten! Thank you; I'll add that to the list. (Also, DH did suggest Uhtred... Ha!)

@wrapandrolll I like Celeste! Of your combos I think I like Jennifer Cerys the best - and Julian Aubrey is lovely! Hadn't thought of Frederick. I like Freddie!

@TigerQuoll that's why I love Lyra too. I mean, LOVE it. The only thing is that DH hasn't read the books (despite my badgering him about it for years) and so he doesn't understand just WHAT an amazing female character she is. But then I think the name is pretty in its own right.

@Ribbonsonabox yes that's why I like Aubrey and Octavia too. They're not completely out-there, but they are unusual.

@Sophronia Fabian is my husband's top choice at the moment!

@CocoLoco87 I'm not keen on Malachi simply because of a Malachi I knew as a kid - but I love Micah!

@Shadow1234 one of your suggestions is DH's name :D I like Isaac as an alternative to Zachariah! Both would prob get shortened to Zack. Meredith is pretty too. DH is very keen on Freya but I'm not, as I've taught quite a few recently. I also love Estelle, and I had forgotten that I had Clara on my list the last time I was pregnant - love the Doctor Who character and I think it is a really pretty, classic name. Thank you! Oh dear, the list is getting longer...

@Astronica Oooo Tabitha Cerys... I like! Might have to have a few more babies so I can use all these names

@Peachesandcream30 HAHAHA no I hadn't imagined calling it out in the park. Now you say that... Also, thank you for pointing out the shortenings for Valentina. I'm not at all keen on Val or Tina, so I think that rules the name out for me. I like Saskia and Aurelia! Very pretty. Also love Felix, but DH has vetoed.

@tammytoby I like Quentin a lot actually, but it makes me think of the uncle in the Famous Five!

Oh also, one of you has suggested DS1's name, so I'm glad that it goes with the other ones we're coming up with! :D

Jennifer - I really don’t like this. Sorry. It’s just quite plain and was so popular in the 80s/90s I don’t think it’s due a comeback yet
Cerys - don’t mind it!
Imogen - I like it! Prefer this to Carys.
Jasmine - ok but still think Imogen is nicer.
Arabella - nice but “Bella” names are quite popular
Megan - it’s ok but it’s plain
Iris - I like it
Celestine - not keen
Tabitha - I like it! Only if you don’t mind it potentially getting shortened to Tabby
Valentina - lovely name
Lyra - it’s ok
Lila - ok
Octavia - love!

Fabian - not a fan
Julian - same as above
Elliott - nice
Alfred - I like it but there are a lot of Alfies about if that bothers you
Leo - I like it!
Aubrey - not for me
Zachariah - I like it!

Octavia? As in Skoda Octavia? Please no. Imogen is nice

I adore Arabella, Valentina, Lyra, Tabitha and Iris. All beautiful, easy to spell, classy, unusual but not weird names.

So surprised by the number of people liking Megan and Jennifer! Both are super dated and a bit white trash imo. Certainly don’t think they’re the prettiest of your names. If Jennifer is so important, it’s an easy middle name to add on.

@Gumball54 I quite like Tabby or Tabs!

@Prisonbreak oh god, I hadn't thought of that. Okay, Octavia is off the list! Thank you for pointing that out!

@charlottetaylor93 I've gone back through the lists with DH and I think Tabitha or Lyra are top for the girls at the moment!

I really like Jasmine, Iris and Octavia for a girl.

I know a 2 year old Octavia who is fiesty and adorable which makes me love the name despite being a bit out there

From your boys list i like

Julian and Zachariah. I also like Alfred but mn only as i dislike Alfie

I'd go with Octavia Iris or Zachariah Alfred

Tabitha or Elliot

Jennifer - yes
Cerys - no. dated and will get Cerise?
Imogen - ok. Don't like Immy
Jasmine - ok
Arabella - too long, too popular
Megan - Meg is nicer
Iris - nice but a bit old lady for me
Celestine - no
Tabitha -beautiful
Valentina - too long
Lyra - will be far more popular than you think
Lila - lilo
Octavia - ok but it's a Skoda

Don't like Tabitha - another one that will be more popular than you think or Aurelia. Saskia is lovely

Fabian - Fay for short?
Julian - no
Elliott - a bit wet sounding
Alfred - no
Leo - too popular
Aubrey - don't like
Zachariah - too popuar

So surprised by the number of people liking Megan and Jennifer! Both are super dated and a bit white trash imo

I am very white trash I suppose 😂 😒

I'm a Jennifer , I think it's due a come back. I met a toddler called Jennifer recently and was quite surprised ! Since then I've seen it pop up on a few threads. It might be a bit "dated " but God it's a million times better than Octavia 🙈 please don't use that lol