Matilda, Amelie, Freya, Arabel

[tdam]

Hi all,

I'm due in just over two months and am endlessly debating between these names. To be entirely honest, Arabel isn't likely an option as my partner doesn't love it but I've included it out of curiosity (and I'm hoping it grows on him).

Which is your favourite and why? Do you know anyone/many people with these names? Feel free to rank them as well.

Some others I love but that have been vetoed by my partner are Olive, Iris, Margot/Margaux, Violet and Juno. I'm desperately hoping he comes around to some/one of these as I feel, particularly with Olive and maybe Margot too, that I'd happily use them tomorrow if I gave birth.

Thanks so much for any help/opinions!

Arabel’s ‘orrible.

Amelie is a beautiful name, go with that!

Freya is my favourite by far, then Matilda and amelie :)

Freya is lovely!

I'm not a fan of Arabel at all, she will be spelling it out and having it double checked her whole life! I agree it sounds quite pretty but I just think it would be a burden

Amelie
Matilda
Freya.

In that order.

I used to love Freya but it's too overused here (and nothing will put you off a name faster than hearing it screamed across a carpark in a common-as-muck Glaswegian accent).

Matilda is very popular too, and I agree with everyone about arable farming.

I hope your husband comes round to Olive or Juno.

I'm interested to hear so many people say that Amelie is quite common or they know quite a few; here in Australia it's out of the top 100 and isn't considered common/popular at all. It's not unheard of or anything but I personally don't know anyway, nor do most people I've spoken to.

@FamilyOfAliens If you google it you'll find otherwise.

And everyone saying it makes them think of arable, that's a very good point I hadn't thought of!

Have you considered Amabel?

Matilda is my favourite on your list (and Olive). I like the idea of Arabel - it being a variation on all the current belle names, but it just doesn't seem to work. Strong dislike of Freya I'm afraid.

Amelie is very nice but was also so very popular in a relatively narrow window of time that I think it will become one of those names where everyone instantly knows which decade the person was born in.

FamilyOfAliens If you google it you'll find otherwise.

I was basing it on 20 years of working in UK schools, where I’ve never heard of it (unlike Arabella) and where I see more than my fair share of made-up and misspelled names!

Now you’ve said you’re in Australia, it’s different. I’d you like it, go for it, though the arable connection would be too much for me.

@Rosesaredead Thank you for the suggestions, I love Flora but it's also been vetoed It's the worst having names you love dismissed forever! I also like Genevieve and Beatrix (rather than Beatrice). I've noticed a few people on here (including you) say Amelie is quite popular - out of curiosity, is it a very commonly used name in the UK?

@SleepWarrior I actually love Amabel but would be worried people would always think I'm trying to say Annabel/le... I'm also quite sure my partner wouldn't like it. He's quite picky! Thank you for the suggestion though.

Given you're in Aus I would probably give Matilda a miss (waltzing Matilda?)
Amelie really isn't that common. I don't know any Amelies. It's a lovely name.

Love Matilda, Freya and Amelie are all lovely.

Would say in London, Amelie is the most popular name, probably followed by Matilda.

Don't like Arabel, doesn't sound like a proper name and has class association like Annabel

Freya, it's an earthy, non-girly name.

We recently Elmer an Australian couple in our holiday who loved the fact our DD was called Matilda, the husband would sing ‘waltzing Matilda’ at us whenever we crossed paths! Perhaps I’d give Matilda a miss in your shoes 😂

Have met lots of Matildas and Freyas over the last 5 or 6 years, but naming trends are likely to be different in Oz I guess.

I love Margot and Olive, try to talk your dh round!

Matilda or Amelie. Arabel just isn't nice and I don't like Freya.

Matilda, although I do despise the nickname tilly

I have a Margot so that wins it for me. I like Freya as well.
Not keen on Arabel, makes me think of arable crop farming! Do like arabella though.

Arabel reminds me of arable, as in arable land. Prefer Amabel.

I’ve always loved the film Amelie so am slightly disappointed it’s now a fairly common name. Same with Matilda, I loved the book and film as a child but it seems all too common nowadays .

Not a fan of Freya, it’s overused. Olive is great!

Arabella I like not arabel x but I like all the others. No help at all sorry

My third would have been a Matilda. I love it.

@outvoid I absolutely adore the film too, it's definitely had a big influence on my feelings for the name. And it isn't common here so I'm quite glad about that. It's by no means highly unusual or anything but it's not in the top 100. Matilda is one I've loved forever and I had no idea it was so popular until I fell pregnant and began researching names and their usage. Such a shame as I'm a huge Roald Dahl admirer and would have loved to use the name as a reference to the book/the character herself and to my love for reading. Oh well... I'm still working on my partner with Olive!