How to decide between last few names on shortlist?

[FirstTimer2021]

Hi all,
Husband and I are expecting our first baby (girl) in June and have been slowly shortlisting names. I'm way less decisive than the hub in general, so now our list is down to a few options, he's said I should just pick which I'm most happy with - easier said than done!

His original favourite choice (Ruby) I also like but I know a few people with Ruby's so I'm put off by that.
His close second (Sadie) I also really like but I have a distant family member who was very 'out there' and I'm worried I wouldn't shake the association (they are distant enough that I haven't met them, just heard stories...) We also like Sylvie but I think with our last name (starting with Sq) the stronger D in Sadie makes it flow better.

Middle name will be Catherine (after my mum).

Do we go with Sadie or look for another 'ie' ending vintage name completely? Is it normal to question your possible name pick this much or should we both be 100% sold on a name? Any thoughts welcome! Thanks

I prefer Sylvie over Sadie. But Sadie is nice and not that common and I wouldn't worry about a distant relative, no one will think about that or care, you DD will make it her own.

Ruby is one of my favourite girl names ever 🥰 but I get that it’s obviously much more popular than the rest. I think you can overthink it sometimes when you think you’ve decided but still have a while to go. I’ve always had a girls name 100% chosen so we wouldn’t even have looked near lists for girls names but ours is a boy so I’m doing the same as you and keep going back and forward. I found when I posted the names on here I could almost tell myself which name I liked best because if anyone commented saying they didn’t like that one I was gutted 🤣 someone suggested I narrow it down to two and toss a coin then if you’re disappointed with the result you’ll know you like the other one best. It also might completely change when you see her! I’m a primary teacher and had a wee girl Sadie in my class last year but I know it is sooo unusual! She suited the name. I think it’s nice to have something slightly different than going for the classic names x

Wait till baby arrives... Decide what suits from shortlist.
I used PP flicking of coin to decide on which primary school I put first on list knowing I would get first choice of two very different schools.. Very helpful technique

I prefer Sadie . When I was a student nurse I worked with a nurse called Ruby , she was loud , obnoxious and the type of nurse I aspired not to be and it’s completely ruined the name for me .

I actually love all them names!!
Our DS didn’t have a name til hour after he was born.
We literally just couldn’t decide so thought we’d wait and see what he looks like to which he would be better suited to!

Great choices but tbh I prefer Zadie to Sadie. Gets over the alliteration if you're not keen on that.

If I had to pick between Sadie and Ruby, then I guess I'd choose Sadie - even though Sadie's too nn for me, I've never been keen on Ruby. I really love Sylvie though and Catherine is lovely too! Does it need to be an ie/y sound?
Cecily?
Coralie?
Rosalie?

Sandie?

I’d go with Sylvie personally - it’s lovely, quite unusual and I can’t see Sylvie Square (for example) works any less well than Sadie Square.

If you do go with Sadie I’d make it Sarah nn Sadie - Sadie is a bit too nick-namey on its own, and also that reduces the association with your relative.

Ruby I quite like, but very popular.

Otherwise, Cicely, Cecily, Frances nn Frankie or Franny, Edith nn Edie, Jessica nn Jessie, Harriet nn Hattie, Josephine nn Josie, Elizabeth nn Libby - or Catherine nn Kitty as a first name?

From what you have said I would go with Sadie.

I'd pick Sadie over Ruby. Ruby is alright, but they were everywhere a while ago and became less cool and upmarket imo.

Is Sadie a nn for something...is it Sarah? I might put that on the BC, but I'm that way inclined anyway. I also really like Sarah (if that is even what it is a nn for)!

Otherwise, maybe Sylvia Sq- shortened to Sylvie for day to day use? Might make it flow better with your surname. I like Sylvie better than Sadie and Saide better than Ruby, if it matters.

In order:
Sadie
Sylvie
Ruby

I know a few Rubys and a Sylvie under 5 but no younger Sadies. Sadie is fresher sounding to me than Sylvie.

Your daughter will make Sadie hers.

My mum and dad had a few names for my sister when she was born and could not decide what to pick so put the names in to a bowl and put her hand in and she picked it out herself that was 29 years ago 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Sadie is really lovely

From reading your original post it seems like you've found a name you both love but are finding random ways to try and put yourself off it.

I very much doubt you'd give a second thought to a distant out there family member once the name is your daughters name that you use day in day out.

Love Sadie

I can never really get away from sadism with Sadie.

I think they're all ok, I don't think they're wow. Perhaps something else entirely?

Wait until you meet her. Dd was going to be Emily or Phillippa but just didnt look like either of them.

Definitely wait. Baby will 'look' right with one name or the other.

I don't really like Sylvie, but only because I knew one and never liked her. But it is a pretty name. I love Ruby and its popularity wouldn't bother me. We have a Sadie. I like that it's short for Sarah.
Out of all your names, I love Catherine. It's one of my favourite names.
Sadie Catherine is lovely.

Sadie is gorgeous. I think a distant relation you've never even met shouldn't stop you using a great name. It's strong and sassy yet very feminine.
Sylvie is nice enough too but I prefer Sadie personally.
I find Ruby dull - I just have met so many (and even more Ruby-Mays).
Sadie Catherine is a great name.

Sylvie is the nicest of those. I really dislike Sadie, personally.

I like Sylvie Catherine.

How about Zoe?

I like Ruby, and Sadie is nice. It’s officially short for Sarah. The only one I don’t like is Sylvie - it’s too fey. Gives me awful images of twinkly fairies. Sylvia is much better.

thanks so much everyone for your replies, has been helpful! I think we feel more confident going with Sadie now, but good thoughts to have ready should it not feel like it fits her when we meet!

Love Sylvie.