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.

I can see where he's coming from. I'm middle class myself, and they seem a bit posh / try-hard. Nothing wrong with them as names, but I can see why he might feel a bit uncomfortable calling his child that, about the message he thinks it will send to others.

Edward and Evelyn (Evie for short) 🥰

I get what he means-a bit too much poncy girly. Alexandra is lovely, though. And unusually, even the short version is lovely.

Rosalind is really pretty and has Shakespearean overtones, Connie instead the of Constance? Sylvia?

about the message he thinks it will send to others.

What 'message' would that be? That my daughter has a beautiful name?

Bella and Edward - Makes me think of Twilight!!

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Edward may be MC but it's not pretentious. Arabella and Ophelia are.

This.

Eleanor
Annabelle
Penelope
Anna
Juliet
Frances
Vivienne

Odette, Julia, Cordelia, Rosanna

Fathers are allowed to veto names for whatever reasons they like. Just like Mothers.

OP you need to find names you agree on.

Hazel, Cassia, Heather, Heidi

I agree with your DH. Whilst I'd not say they're middle class, they're part of the trend for frilly princessy names that I don't like.
If he doesn't like them then he doesn't like them. It doesn't matter whether other people think they are/aren't middle class names.

My DH did the same with my first choice for our DD, funnily enough, for the same reason. God knows why, it's not like we aren't middle class. DD is 9 now and I still have a bit of name regret.

The name I wanted was Matilda, nn Tilly. I also liked Imogen, and he vetoed that as "too MC."

What about Harriet? It’s a lovely underused name.

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

Triggers him? FFS.

I'd say that Edward is middle class and the girl's names that he is vetoing are "trying hard to be upper class".

If you both like Mary or Rose, how about one of those?

Rose Arabella

Lilibet?

Would you be happy with Bella and Fifi as nicknames ? And would he warm to your choices if the names were shortened for everyday?

Alexandra
Amabel (yes, with an ‘m’)
Amelia
Araminta
Anna
Isobel
Odette
Oona
Christobel
Florence
Gabriella

Ophelia is a beautiful name with horrific associations. Arabella - quite like but prefer Mirabel or Christabel.

Alternatively with Edward:

Alice
Imogen
Eliza
Clara
Louisa
Helena
Anna

DH liked Clarabelle but I vetoed it because our surname is long and complicated.

I like Ophelia, but I once heard someone say “I’ll feel ya” and I can’t unhear it. I prefer Bella instead of Arabella. Evelyn is quite a common name now. Alexandria and Georgia sound ok. I would say Edward is just a traditional name for any social class, not just middle class.

“Can Ophelia tits luv?” In Phil Mitchell’s voice.

Christabel
Lenora
Margaret
Leonie

Alexandra is the best of those mentioned. I’m not sure middle class is the right description, maybe a bit pretentious instead.

Amelia
Georgia
Grace
Emily
Olivia

Georgina instead of Georgia?

Rosemary
Victoria
Clementine
Imogen
Annabel
Lucy