My list v His list… help!

[Changedname81]

Our lists are very dissimilar and I’d love us both to agree on something. A couple of his names I’d use as middle names… but not first. Any middle ground ideas?

His list
Helen
Lisa
Claire
Emma
Maria
Christina
Sophie

My list
Penelope
Phoebe
Lucy
Florence
Violet
Alice

At a push I would use Sophia, but a girl called Sophie systematically made my life Hell from age 11-17 so I’d prefer not to.

From my list he says he “could live with” Lucy but does a face when he says it.

Back to the drawing board?

Yes, back to the drawing board, obviously. You both have to agree on the name.

Other than Sophie and maybe Emma your DP’s list looks like a school register from about 1975, so ideally he needs to bring it up to date a bit!

Something like Clara instead of Claire?

Flora, Marina, Susanna, Lucinda, Eliza?

Louisa? Kind of feels like it suits both vibes...

I think some of his list are absolutely due a comeback soon, and your list has a lot of names that every other kid is called at the moment
Helen, Maria and Lisa I think are actually really nice names on his list. I think Sarah is also due a comeback along the same line.
Your last 4 are nice

Your list was like my list! My husband’s list was very ‘90’s!

Some we agreed on were Charlotte, Lucy, Emily, Bethany, Stephanie

From his list I like Maria and from yours I like Penelope, Lucy and Florence.

Some ideas:
Nina
Cloe
Emilia
Clara
Lillian
Harper
Rose
Sabrina

I think the lists actually aren't miles apart from each other

His list
Helen - Helena, Eleanor, Norah?
Lisa - Louisa?
Claire - Clara
Emma - Emily, Emmeline
Christina - love this!
Sophie - like you suggested Sophia

My list
Penelope - I always think Felicity is very similar in style
Flora
Alice - Abigail

Have you heard of the app that's like tinder but for baby names? Sorry I can't remember it's name but my friend used it, it may be helpful?

Louisa is a good call I think. And Stephanie - slightly retro but Stevie makes a cool nickname.

Anna/Anya? Helena? Sylvie as an update to Sophie?

Ah sorry OP I know I shouldn’t but your partners list did make me laugh, has he just chosen the names of girls he went to school with? I feel your pain though, some of my partners name suggestions when I was pregnant made me look at him in a whole new light.
Anyway I love Violet, Florence and Phoebe from your list.
Suggestions maybe Nina, Anna, Eliza, Eloise, Lucia?

I don’t feel like your lists are that different?

You could try:
Clara
Emily
Elise
Elouise
Louisa
Fiona
Flora
Melissa
Melody
Adeline
Poppy
Caroline
Annabel
Lorelei
Vivienne
Genevieve
Jemima
Helena
Nelly
Nella

As others have said his list is a class register from the 70s early 80s.If it was a boy it'd be Dave, Gary, Paul etc. Stand your ground.

@Branleuse

I think some of his list are absolutely due a comeback soon, and your list has a lot of names that every other kid is called at the moment Helen, Maria and Lisa I think are actually really nice names on his list. I think Sarah is also due a comeback along the same line. Your last 4 are nice

I agree, they are all due a comeback.

Do you like any of the variations on his names eg Helena, Clara, Emily, Emilia, Clara, Christiane, Miriam, Marianne, Marianna? Or vice versa, Lucinda, Alicia, Flora?

Felicity is popular now and was too in the 70s/80s era he likes. Sarah or Zara? Louise is one of the top 10 names in France, I wouldn't be surprised if it makes a comeback here, or Louisa/Eloise/Heloise. Rebecca? Julia?

@TempsPerdu

Other than Sophie and maybe Emma your DP’s list looks like a school register from about 1975, so ideally he needs to bring it up to date a bit!

Something like Clara instead of Claire?

exactly my thought!

@Ohshittt

Have you heard of the app that's like tinder but for baby names? Sorry I can't remember it's name but my friend used it, it may be helpful?

Yes I came here to recommend that. It's called Kinder (I believe there are others though).

Or there's the old-fashioned way for going through the top 200 (or more if you have the patience) names, listing out the ones you like and comparing notes afterwards.

Stephanie is an excellent name. 😏

Florence is beautiful
Sophia instead of Sophie?

@TempsPerdu

Other than Sophie and maybe Emma your DP’s list looks like a school register from about 1975, so ideally he needs to bring it up to date a bit!

Something like Clara instead of Claire?

Yes exactly!

You don't want Sophia - lovely but far too many of them.

Back to drawing board. Stick two long bits of paper on the fridge, and one short one, write your lists - cross, tick, or double tick each others lists - add the agreed ones to the short piece of paper. Eventually (and it may take a while, a short list will emerge... (Then she'll be born and you'll maybe call her something completely different, which he'll let you choose because he will be so impressed with your epic giving birth.)

Similar to mine and DPs lists 😂. Get was very into traditional and I was more eclectic. Our final list was:
Alice
Louisa
Camilla

Other options:
Serena
Clara
Talitha (random but he liked it from show trial 😂)
Emma
Lara
Poppy
Chloe
Caroline

What about:

Emily
Hannah
Eloise
Susannah
Caitlin
Josephine

Christianna
Elise
Emily
Alyssa
Lucia
Violetta
Elodie
Lois
Freya
Josephine nn Josie

His list
Helen - like
Lisa - like but it's a bit of a mum's name
Claire - way overused in the 1970's and it's just a noise
Emma - like
Maria - like
Christina - like but will be Chris or Tina
Sophie - like

My list
Penelope - too long, Penny ok
Phoebe - ok
Lucy - like but it's popular
Florence - ok
Violet - should like it but it's just ok
Alice - like

Helena should work as he liked Helen but Helena is a bit more along your lines?

Also PP’s suggestion of Louisa is a good one.

Claire is nice enough.

All of your list is lovely.

Other suggestions:
Isabel
Pearl
Olivia
Rowena
Emily