DH has vetoed my girls names because they’re “too middle class”

[MonicaFaloolaGeller]

I’m gutted!

We have a son called Edward, I’m currently pregnant with no. 2. Pretty much got a boy’s name locked in but still shortlisting girls.

Two girls names I said I loved are Ophelia and Arabella. Both go fine with our surname.

He said no to both on account of them being too posh/middle class. Nothing wrong with the names themselves, just the association (in his mind).

He has a thing about anything he thinks is too middle class (even though he is, by definition, middle class himself.)

Can anyone think of names in the same vein that I would like that won’t offend DH’s ridiculous class sensibilities?

Other names I like are

Alexandra
Evelyn (with a short “ev” like in never)

DH so far has said he likes Orla and Georgia. I’m not into Orla, and don’t like Georgia.

Middle names Mary, Rose.

Ariella?

Arianna?

So he vetoed the girls name but not Edward, which is one of the most middle class boys name I could think of. Tell DH he is being ridiculous and the names are lovely.

Lol he’s not wrong, to be fair.

Other ideas-

Catherine
Rosemary
Elodie
Alice
Constance

Evelyn is lovely and would go well with Edward

Sophie
Charlotte
Kate

I’d say Ophelia and Arabella are not typical middle class, they’re generally more people trying to assert themselves as middle / upper class (whether they are or not). We live in a very very middle class area and there aren’t any/many of either of them.

Well Edward is pretty middle class imo so I don't see his point. I personally don't like the names you do and do prefer his though.

I have an Orla so ya u their 😂 but what about;
Constance (Connie)
Chloe
Grace
Poppy
Clemantine (clemmie).

Agree with your husband totally. Edward ok but not keen overall

I agree with @HoppingHamster

Annabel/Annabelle?

@MissCruellaDeVil

So he vetoed the girls name but not Edward, which is one of the most middle class boys name I could think of. Tell DH he is being ridiculous and the names are lovely.

Exactly what I thought. Edward is more middle class than the girls names

Diligaf beat me to Chloe!!

Elodie has already been mentioned too.

Matilda?

Grace & Anna are nice and timeless.

Edward was named for my late Grandpa. And I guess it was the right side of middle class, I dunno 🤷🏻‍♀️

I do like Constance and actually it was my Grandmother’s middle name, but with our surname it’s a lot of s sounds, would be a bit hissy. And disastrous for a kid with a lisp!

Ariella is too like areola.

Arianna makes me think of Grande

I’ve loved the names Arabella and Ophelia for years. There’s a character called Arabella in one of Enid Blyton’s boarding school books (I forget which) and when I read it when I was little I thought it was beautiful and have wanted it ever since. Same with Ophelia when I was studying Hamlet in secondary school (even though Hamlet’s Ophelia is a bit nuts). I just thought they were both beautiful sounding names, there was no class link for me at all.

Victoria
Louisa
Amy
Laurel
Isabel
Pippa
Imogen
Iona
Isla
Kimberly

What about
Eleanor
Helena
Lucille
Marguerite
Rosalind
Selina
?

What about Isabella or Isabel?

Could be shortened to Bella, like Arabella.

Hmm I think Ophelia is often more working class than middle class.

Arabella is OK (often shortened to Bella).

Edward is lovely.

Other ideas:

Alexandra
Antonia
Eleanor
Helena
Phillipa (Pippa)
Caroline / Carolina
Isobel / Isabella
Imogen
Camilla
Lucy
Lydia
Cressida
Hermione
Persephone
Penelope

The Naughtiest Girl is a Monitor is the Arabella book (and the character Arabella is a nightmare in it!) it’s a pretty name though. I think I prefer Ophelia, which is lovely.

@Dilligaf81 I have an Orla and a Connie too!

My DP has a ‘thing’ about middle class names too, OP. Or as he calls them ‘twatty’

On our lists we’ve had

Orla
Connie
Charlotte
Maeve
Claudia
Margot
Astrid (although he hated that one!)
Juliet

I also adore Arietty but I wasn’t allowed that one!

Your husband needs to deal with self esteem issues if choosing a name for a baby triggers him

I liked Ophelia but then my husband put on an accent and made it sound like ‘I’ll feel ya’ and now I hate it. I too love Arietty and your suggestion, OP, of Alexandra.

Everly? 🤔

I think your name choices are lovely. I don't get his objections. It is clearly important to you so press your case with him.

Edward is a middle class name. It is nice.

They are both perceived as being 'posh', not 'middle class'.
All pony club and private school.

I know people will say nothing wrong with that, and there isn't, but if he doesn't like that type of name, then his opinion is as valid as yours.
In the same ways as if he said he liked Wayne, Darren, Jason, and Gary and you made a face. Doesn't mean those names are terrible, it means they don't fit in with the sorts of names you like.