Shortlist - so indecisive. Please help.

[Ellen35]

Elizabeth - DH's favourite name (bit stuffy imo)
Sophie- i like, DH thinks it's boring
Elsie - both like but lots of people don't
Matilda - I did use to like but gone off a bit
Florence - i like, DH hates
Eliza - used to like as a compromise to elizabeth but gone off
Lucy - i like - DH's mum has a dog with this name so he won't have it
Lucinda - not sure
Holly - i like, DH"s sister has a dog called Holly
Isabel - can't decide on this one
Felicity - not sure
Lily - both like but quite popular
Ruby - DH loves I'm not sure, I've taught a couple of Ruby's
Victoria - DH likes but I don't

Which is your favourite/least favourite?
Thanks

Best - Eliza
Worst - Victoria (but all the names are fine, I dont really strongly dislike any)

Some thoughts:

Elizabeth - I agree it's a bit stuffy
Sophie - pretty name but very common
Elsie - like it but wonder if it's more a nickname
Matilda - like it a lot, makes me think of smart girls. Tilda is a nice nickname
Florence - it's okay and has a nice nickname. Also a bit stuffy
Eliza - I like it very much
Lucy - fine. Feels a little dated
Lucinda - a bit posh and also a bit stuffy
Holly - fine name. Its unfortunate your DHs family dogs have people names!
Isabel - second favourite, slightly prefer Isobel
Felicity - also quite old fashioned but I know a wonderful Felicity (Fliss) so hold positive associations
Lily - lovely name but yes so so popular
Ruby - I like it but I do agree it feels sassy haha
Victoria - like Lucinda, feels posh and stuffy

Lily, Eliza and Elsie can all be abbreviations of Elizabeth. I've always thought you could probably get away with Isabel as a short for it too.

So why not go with Elizabeth as the full name and see what happens as you get to know her.

Adore Elizabeth. Timeless and elegant. One of the rare names that have stood the test of time. So many nicknames too, if you wish.

Elizabeth 100% simply beautiful

Could always have nn at home

Elsie
Ibby
Izzy
Lily
Eliza

Lucy, Lily and Sophie are my favourites

My favourite is Elizabeth - beautiful and classy!

Not keen on Elsie or Florence, agree with your DH that Sophie is a little boring/overused

I really like your list. Great names.
I love the suggestion of Elspeth too. Unless she has a lisp..
Favourites - Elizabeth/Eliza, quite like Felicity, it's not used much - love Ruby. I know a couple and they are great kids.
Lily/Isobel - lovely but really popular
Not keen - Holly, Lucinda/Lucy/Elsie
Florence - bit long, don't like Flo as a NN, ditto Victoria, personally not keen on any of the diminutives
Matilda is sweet. Tilly is cute for little ones.

Love Elizabeth, Elspeth is (imo) a trendy, beautiful shortened version

Sounds like you've gotten yourself into a tizz worrying about what other people like. All of those names are perfectly lovely so make sure you please yourself and husband, not others! Maybe you just haven't found 'the one' yet?

First of all cross off the names you don't love. I
d keep on it the ones your DH doesn't love if not absolutely ruled out - it's your list. He might grow to love some of your favourites, and vice versa.

I'm not sure it's really helpful for me listing my favourites (when they're all good) but here goes, excluding ones you seem to strongly dislike:

Felicity, Ruby, Lucy, Eliza, Florence, Matilda, Elsie, Sophie, Elizabeth (nn Elsie).

I like Florence, Eliza & Lucy.
I don't like Elsie or Felicity.

I prefer Luciana and Lucia to Lucinda and Lucy. Also prefer Sofia and Isabella to Sophie and Isabel.

Florence is ridiculously overused, there's 3 in DS's class and two friends have just had Florence's.

Elizabeth is classic and lots of more unusual nicknames. I know a Betty who's an Elizabeth which I think is adorable. Libby? Eliza?

Matilda is probably my favourite from that list and at least in my circles not overdone yet

Is there a nn of Elizabeth you love? Google shortenings there are so many! And many of your names eg Elsie work as nn for Elizabeth. I think that’s my fave from your list. Libby is nice too IMO, Beth, Betty, Zia...

Wait until your baby comes and see what she looks like!
Some babies don't suit their planned names anyway!
From your list I like Eliza.

Of your list, I would spontaneously pick Victoria. There aren't many little ones around and she won't have to inevitably end up as Vicky if you/she don't want her to. I do also like Elizabeth (Beth for short) and Felicity (Victoria and Felicity would in fact be my very-much-imaginary girl/girl twin names).

I actually think Sophie is the perfect name, but, understandbly, so many other people do too that it's got very popular (which is probably what your dh means by 'boring').

Elsie and Eliza are very popular atm and tbh I don't really understand why. Ruby appears to have had its moment.

Whoever mentioned Clara upthread made a good call. Perhaps you might consider that?

Elizabeth is wonderful- and as others have said so many nicknames...
...that said you and your OH should both feel happy with the choice.

I love Victoria but dislike the nm Vicky which is why I think it’s nicer as a middle name.

I think given your son is William that Elizabeth, Victoria & Matilda are best as they are all strong and quite regal names.

It’s your baby however- you can pick Elsie or Lily which are still solid Victorian era names! It’s easy for us on MN to spout off but it’s different when your actual baby is here.

I’m excited for you to pick now- i’d found this thread by searching your username as I wanted to know 😆

Thanks for all the comments and opinions! I'm still undecided at the moment! Seem to change my mind every day!

Sophie is endlessly popular throughout the decades, but is slightly dropping now in place of even more old-fashioned names.

I love Elizabeth because of the many nickname options: Betty and Betsy (both adorable), Lizzie, Buffy, Beth, Eliza, Ellie etc.

I like Lucinda and Lucy a lot. Every Lucy I've ever met has been brilliant.

Isabel - beautiful. I don't like Holly much, but Molly and Polly are fab.

Best are Ruby, Isabel and Eliza.
Elsie, Florence, Sophie, Matilda are also quite nice. Not that keen on the others especially Lucinda.

Vitoria and Elizabeth sound old fashioned

Instead of Lucy or Lucinda, what about the French version - Lucile? Easy to pronounce, classic, but a little less common. The previous suggestion of Eloise (NN Elle, Ellie, Lou, Lulu, Elsie) is lovely too. I really like your classic name style. Lily is a great name, if you both love it, go for it. If you like the E and L names, you could also consider Eleanor, Leone, Leonor.

What about Lucile, the French version of Lucy/Lucinda? Easy to pronounce, classic, but less common. The pp suggestion of Eloise is also lovely (NN Elsie, Elle, Ellie, Lou, Lulu) but I guess not if your name is Ellen @Ellen35? I think Lily is a wonderful name and you should go for it if you love it. Other E and L names you might like, which I think are also classics but less common - Eleanor, Leone, Leonor.

Elizabeth - yes stuffy. The middle name of every girl born 1970-1995 who wasn't Louise. Hate Liz.
Sophie- lovely, graceful classic.
Elsie - sounds so sad and lonely
Matilda - overused now
Florence - like, love Flo, bit overused now
Eliza - no to compromise names - I don't like this either
Lucy - like, but sounds like that's off the table, fair enough
Lucinda - hmm, no.
Holly - ok
Isabel - lovely, especially this spellling, TOTALLY overused.
Felicity - also stuffy
Lily - boring, overused, nothing name
Ruby -jumped the shark a while back, pretty naff now
Victoria - stuffy, awful short forms.

Is the surname his family name?

If so, you get first choice and Elizabeth can be the middle.

Sophie Elizabeth
Holly Elizabeth

seem to be your options, I'd go with Sophie

But, it sounds as if you could do with canvassing new opinions and seeing if you can hit on something you both love.

Saskia instead of Sophie?
Heidi instead of Holly?

Oh and yes, you've got a bit of an L focus there:

Linnet
Linnea
Lara
Lola

How about a combination?

For example:
Elizabeth Ruby
Elizabeth Sophie
Elizabeth Lily
Elizabeth Lucy