Please could I have your opinions?

[ConstanceL]

What do you think of these names we are considering for DC2? Please no 'it's a dog's/cat's/guinea pig's name' comments - just what do you think of these names for a human child :)

Girls (middle name would be Penelope after DH's late mum):
Beatrix
Cordelia
Tabitha
Iris
Hazel
Sylvia

Boys (middle name would be Timothy):
Felix
Seth
Otto
Silas
Griffin

Thank you!

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, much appreciated :)

What is your first child called, if you don’t mind me asking?
He's called Rowan.

I think Griffin is coming off the list. And maybe Tabitha - we do love the name, but don't like Tabby and I don't think it could really be shortened to anything else 🤔 I agree that Cordelia could be seen as a bit frilly, the thing I like most about that name is it can be shortened to a variety of things like Cora, Coco, Cori etc.

I know a Tabitha shortened to Bea if that helps...

Beatrix Penelope and Seth Timothy X

Also think Charlotte Penelope and Oscar Timothy go together beautifully too x

Beatrix - this is the sort of name I usually like but I just can’t warm to it - think it’s the harsh ‘trix’ sound that I dislike (although DD has a ‘harsh-sounding’ name so I’m probably being irrational!)

Cordelia - no, far too frilly and fussy for me. Plus the tragic heroine thing.

Tabitha - we considered this for DD (with nn Kit) - still quite like it but glad we didn’t go with it now, as on reflection it feels a little Pony Club/ ‘middle class smug’

Iris - very nice, love the flower/goddess associations (and rainbows are particularly apt at the moment), feminine without being too frilly - but getting popular if that’s an issue

Hazel - same as Iris, a lovely, non-frilly nature name, makes me think of warm autumn days and hazelnuts! But like Iris it’s definitely rising in popularity.

Sylvia - love this; it’s elegant and strong with a lovely meaning and ‘silvery’ sound. Currently firmly in the retro/granny chic camp but I can see it coming back in a big way.

Felix - quite stylish; no strong feelings really

Seth - makes me think either ‘country bumpkin’ (Cold Comfort Farm) or ‘B-list Hollywood actor’ for some reason!

Otto - love this; was on our list for a possible DS

Silas - not keen, feels like quite a heavy, sad name for some reason - makes me think of Silas Marner

Griffin - quite like this but don’t think I’d be brave enough to use it

Top picks would be Iris, Hazel or Sylvia for a girl and definitely Otto for a boy.

Have you considered Penelope as a first name? It's lovely.

Love Tabitha, Felix and Seth. Griffin is awful as it just makes me think of Nick Griffin

Beatrix - love it
Cordelia - love it even more. My favourite of your names. Also love Cordy as a nn
Tabitha - not a fan
Iris - love it
Hazel - really like it
Sylvia - it's nice but not a favourite. I prefer Sylvie

Felix - really not a fan
Seth - my least favourite boys name
Otto - it's OK, not my style
Silas - love it, we considered it. You might also like Rufus?
Griffin - I like it

Thanks again everyone for your feedback :)

it just makes me think of Nick Griffin Eek I didn't think of the Nick Griffin connection - that's definitely off the list!

Have you considered Penelope as a first name? It's lovely. I agree it's a lovely name, but we would be using that name if it's a girl to honour my DH's mum who died tragically young when he was a little boy, so although I think middle names are the perfect way to honour someone, using it as a first name would feel a little bit weird.

Also think Charlotte Penelope and Oscar Timothy go together beautifully too Charlotte was the name of the girlfriend who broke my BiL's heart so couldn't use that name! And we already have a nephew called Oscar :)

I know a Tabitha shortened to Bea if that helps Bea is much nicer than Tabby! But I have this weird thing where I don't like nicknames that don't start with the same letter as the actual name!

Anyway really appreciate you all taking the time to give your thoughts x

Hazel Penelope sounds beautiful. I also love Beatrix.

And Felix or Otto are my favourite from your boys list. I also agree with the suggestion of Rufus for a boy. It's one of my faves. Nickname Roo is very cute!

We already have a Rowan and our other top choice for him was Rufus :) I don't think we'd use Rufus if we have a second son as we'd want them to have different initials. I have three brothers and for some reason our parents gave us all names with the same first initial and I wouldn't do that to a sibling set myself :)

@ConstanceL What about Bridget/Bridgette?

Although Hazel is a lovely name, I wouldn’t choose it as a sibling for Rowan.

Love Beatrix, Tabitha and Iris for girls and Felix and Otto for boys.

Beatrix or Iris for a girl
Seth for a boy

I love Seth and Timothy but not sure they go together well. Try saying them out loud. What if your child has a lisp? What if you live in the South East and he becomes Seff Timoffee?
Seriously, you have some lovely names there.

Beatrix - strongly dislike this name
Cordelia - Buffy connotations, not ideal
Tabitha - Nice, I know a baby Tabitha, I do like the nn Tabby
Iris - it's ok, might be too similar to ISIS
Hazel - nice, I know a baby Hazel, goes well with Penelope
Sylvia - nice, but a bit of a mouthful with Penelope

Felix - nice
Seth - don't like it, very wet
Otto - Simpson's character - definitely no!
Silas - it's ok
Griffin - no, too "out there" for me

I don't like any of your boys names. If you want honesty then Griffin is hideous.
I could not choose between the others as I really dislike them all.
From your girls list I like Cordelia and Sylvia. Possibly Silvia best as I had an elderly relative with that name and I am also a fan of Sylvia Plath.

Love griffin and hazel.

Not a fan of Tabitha or Seth as difficult for those with a lisp.

Hate Sylvia as it sounds like Saliva

@emilybrontescorsett Ha! Thanks for your honesty I guess :) I had already discounted Griffin as a pp pointed out that it reminded them of Nick Griffin!

@mamamemmmer sadly there was a really mean girl at school called Bridget, so definitely wouldn't use that name - although I have met a couple of nice Bridgets since!

@disappear Well we do love trees, so wouldn't necessarily mind them both having a botanical name :)

@sluj we are in the southeast, but not anywhere near Essex, I do see your point though :)

Thanks again everyone. We have disregarded Griffin, Tabitha and possibly Cordelia as names so the lists are slowly getting shorter!

Love Iris, Hazel and Sylvia (or Sylvie). Wouldn’t use Hazel with Rowan though. Dislike Tabitha and Cordelia. Like Beatrice (nn Bea) much more than Beatrix.
Also like Felix and Otto. Don’t like Seth - just makes me think of lisping!!
Nice list to choose from though :)

I like Hazel Penelope & Seth Timothy with Rowan 😊.

I'm not keen on Griffin but I have a neighbour we call Griff and it's so cool. I'm not sure what Griff stands for or even if it's his real name as his surname is Smith But it sounds cool.