Alaway

[Ouchmytoe]

Can anyone give me some name ideas that sound okay with surname Alaway? We are finding it really difficult to come up with any because it seems that most the names we like begin with or end in a so are a bit of a mouthful. We also have a problem with names containing the letter 'l'.

Boys and girls names please as we don't know gender yet!

Boys names we like (but can't use) are Barnaby and Hugo, and girls names we like (but can't use) are Eliza and Margot, to give you an idea of the style we like

I don't understand why you can't use the names you like? Am I missing something?

Because with our surname they sound like a mouthful. For example, names from our list that have been dismissed:

Alma
Stella
Aurelia
Mabel

Say any of these names with our surname - it just doesn't work. It's a bit of a tongue twister!

The names I listed in the OP that we can't use are names which have already been taken by close family members or friends for their babies and it wouldn't be appropriate to use them (due to babies being very close in both relationship and age !)

Clara and Eleanor too 😩

I think you are way over thinking this.....none of the names are a massive mouthful. Just go with what you like. From the second list I think Mabel is lovely. (Unfortunately I remember Alma from coronation Street...so think of it as a grown up name, Stella Artois, and I don't know how to pronounce the other....) But remember this is your child and babies grow into their name.

Oh! I'm surprised to hear that you don't think it's a mouthful! I loved the names but have had them ripped apart when said with the surname by pretty much everyone I've mentioned them to! So it's kind of made me lose my confidence (as I don't want to give my kid a name they'll hate me for!)

I think, in the gentlest possible way, you may be overthinking a little, but names that don't end in vowels/ repeat the pattern of your name and are similar to ones you like I think are

Enid
Margaret
Elizabeth
Rosalind

Benedict
Reuben

Anything with one syllable : Tom, John, Seth, Jake, Fred

Girls: Rose, Eve, Gwen, Jane, Kate

I think that you're right and that a long surname with lots of vowels is tricky. I reckon a traditional name like some of these would be lovely

First rule of choosing names for your baby - do not discuss with anyone other than the other parent. It's difficult enough agree with your partner, let alone your parents, his parents, auntie Flossie and the next door neighbour but one. They'll say things like "you can't call the baby Josie - remember that girl we met on holiday in 1972, she was called Josie and look how she turned out" and there you were thinking Josie would be a lovely name and bang it's a gonner.

I agree Alma Alaway would be a bit of a mouthful, but lets be honest I have heard worse. Keep your choices to yourself until the baby is born.

I do think they are a bit of a mouthful, sorry.

I think Hugh Alaway sounds better than Hugo Alaway. Maybe it’s to do with the vowel on the end. I also think you would be better off with a short first name.
Ben, Max, Sam, Ted or Tom.
Eve, Sky, Ann, Zoe, Meg

OP, I think you have a point regarding names like Alma. Ending/starting with the same vowel/sound is a bit of a tongue twister and doesn't flow.

You could try:

Oliver
Thomas
Alexander
James
Ethan
Sebastian
Michael
Daniel

Madeleine
Clementine
Vivienne
Rachael
Elizabeth

Jenny Alaway

I agree with you wrt the names you think are a mouthful, except for Eleanor. She couldn't even be Ellie but maybe this would be a good thing...

Tamsin
Miriam
Lucy
Beatrice
Leonore
Florence
Kathryn
Juliet
Caroline
Frances
Maeve
Iris

John
James
Richard
William
George
Jude
Luke/Lucas
Toby/Tobias
Thaddeus
Miles

*ever be Ellie

Rupert
Rory
Frederick
Francis

Harriet
Tabitha
Francesca
Jemima

Clara
Phoebe
Alice
Lara
Evie
Elise
Natasha

Oscar
Sebastian
Jasper
Henry
Otis

good luck!

Some great suggestions! Thanks everyone!

Juliet
Harriet
Clementine
Florence
Beatrice
Jasmine
Lucy
Elizabeth
Iris
Martha

Henry
Rupert
Thomas
Edward
Gabriel
George
Peter
Andrew

Tbh though OP I would just pick a name you love and not think too much about the surname.

Sarah
Celine
Madeline
Rachel
Tamsin
Rose

Piers
Edward
Cameron
Dominic
Christopher

I agree with PP. Don't discuss your choices with anyone except the other parent if appropriate. Everyone has an opinion and really it's not their business. I'm sure our name choice will raise more than a few eyebrows - although I did warn a colleague that it's as mad as they'd expect.

I think you could use most names that don't end in an a sound. I can see that might be a bit too sing songy but otherwise I think you're on fairly safe ground with the vast majority of suggestions above.

Thanks all! So many new names to consider. Added 7 to my girls list and 5 to my boys lost so I'm really happy! Now to see what DH thinks. I'll probably be back for opinions on the new list soon