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.

Names don't come much more MC than Edward!?

I once knew an Alexandra shortened to Xannie, I think that's so nice

Ophelia is a really popular drag and porn name. Ophelia Pain, Ophelia Butt etc. The moment I hear it in my accent I think Ifeelya.

Not keen on Arabella it's a bit pony club for me. I like Bella, or Isabella and I love Imogen, but they are so popular round here. I expect Ottilie would be too pretentious for your DH?

I'm so surprised people think Edward is MC round here it isn't. There are so many Teddies shortened from Edward and they certainly aren't MC!

My kids have extremely try hard and pretentious names so I don't care what people think, we just chose the only names we could agree on (thank god dd wasn't a boy as we'd exhausted the only 2 which overlapped our tastes). I think both parents get to veto for whatever reason tho. I wanted Hector, but H said it sounded like a Doberman. H wanted Victor and I said it was too old mannish.

Edward has 2 syllables, the names you like have 4.

I suggest you look for classic female names with two syllables.

Alice, Mary, Molly etc.

Sorry if they're already discounted, but

Clementine
Penelope
Nancy
Florence
Beatrice

Evelyn is nice!

@Pickleboy10

What about the Irish name Aoife (pronounced EE-FA) ??

I like Mairead too.

I like Ophelia, arabella not so much- I love Isabella though.

What about:
Ottilly
Audrey
Mabel
Edith?

I wouldn't think of Edward as middle class just an old name doing the rounds
Ophelia and Arabella I think stuck up and spoilt brat

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/3474816-a-sister-for-edward

A thread called “sister for Edward”

My personal opinion: don’t use something that the child will have to explain the spelling or pronunciation of a million times.

Because Ophelia was a tragic character if you have read the play... I mean... I wouldn’t call my daughter Medusa either!!!

Emily
Kitty

Well I sort of agree with him but then Georgia is too far the other way. What about Bella? Alexandra is the best of them all.

@calvados

Because Ophelia was a tragic character if you have read the play... I mean... I wouldn’t call my daughter Medusa either!!!

but she wasn't the only tragic character in the history of literature. why be superstitious about just that one name? it's weird to me

@calvados

Because Ophelia was a tragic character if you have read the play... I mean... I wouldn’t call my daughter Medusa either!!!

Lots of Shakespearian and classical names have tragic stories associated with them. I like Persephone and that's not particularly jolly. My name means prophet of doom and she had a pretty sad life yet people comment on how nice it is. I think a tragic literary association can be quite interesting for a name. It's certainly an ice breaker.

Ophelia, Arabella and Evelyn are beautiful names, although it’s a shame Ophelia is steeped in tragedy.

I wouldn’t think about class, they are just pretty names.

I don't think he's completely wrong, but the term he should have used is not 'middle class'.

Maybe 'ott frilly'?

Ottilie
Livia

Both uncommon but neither are too renowned for being middle class (although definitely fall into that category!)

What happened to our Aveline? I remember she married the proddy vicar, but can't remember if she made it as a model!

@MrsKoala

you get me.

Victoria
Elizabeth

I think Ophelia and Arabella sound a bit pretentious too, so I kind of get where your husband is coming from. Edward, although is typically upper class, it has also been really well used over the ages and I don't think it really has a specific class association anymore. Why not try a similar type of name for your girls. We have both a Louise and Rachel which may be for consideration , I also think Emily, Catherine, Sophie, Sarah, Olivia and Charlotte are also in a similar vein to Edward and would work well.

Seraphina
Clara
Clarissa
Cecily

Poshest people's children I know in real life: Indigo, Arthur, Leah, Francis, Wolfie, Molly, Margot, Ru (Rupert),

Not at all posh people's children I know: Xavier, Rudy, Eva, Ruby, Jack, Aden, Willow, Felicity

My point is, it's all quite transferable, but the try hard girls' names DO sound painfully middle class in the sense of trying to sound their IDEA of posh. Frilly dolly names.

Oh yes, Margot is a beautiful name!

Leonora
Rosabel