Thoughts on the names Freddie/Fred and Lily for b/g twins?

[Oscarssmum]

I’m due b/g twins in 2 weeks and we’re thinking of calling them Freddie/Fred & Lily. What are peoples thoughts? I appreciate they’re popular names…but Fred I’ve just always loved and Lily is after my Nan.

Middle name James for boy and struggling with Lily (on the list are Emilia, Amilia, Elenor, Eloise,Olivia…open to options!)

Thanks!

To avoid The Archers connection what about Ted/Jed/Sid and Lily? I wouldn't think twice if I heard the two names together though.

Is there any particular reason for James as a middle name? It seems to be almost a default middle name for boys. I think the middles you've stated for girls will make the name too L heavy.

Lily Seren
Lily Marianne
Lily Carys
Lily Naomi
Lily Megan
Lily Aurora
Lily Roxanna
Lily Freya
Lily Jade

Definitely The Archers. It was my immediate thought and made me smile.

I have never heard of the archers in my life and am pretty active consumer of tv and internet so please don’t let this put you off!

Lovely names.

I wouldn't worry about the archers thing.

It's the sort of thing you worry about when pregnant but it's really not an issue. I got very worked up about the 'Freddie' character in The Talented Mr Ripley being associated with my Freddie. No one has ever mentioned it!

@piney07

I have never heard of the archers in my life and am pretty active consumer of tv and internet so please don’t let this put you off!

But if you were an active consumer of radio 4, as millions of people are, you'd be well aware. I don't listen to the Archers very often, probably haven't heard it in 12 months but it is still the first thing I thought of.

It is supposed to have 5 million regular listeners so it is significant, it doesn't mean the OP can't use it, she might not care but it is something that is worth noting because it is something lots of people will think and many will comment on as you can see on this thread.

I think the demographic of The Archers listeners probably doesn’t have much cross over with your DC’s generation. Lovely names - don’t let that put you off.

@piney07

I have never heard of the archers in my life and am pretty active consumer of tv and internet so please don’t let this put you off!

It's been running for over 70 years, making it the longest runnnig drama/soap opera in the world.

I used to listen to the Archers but must have missed Freddie and Lily.
I don't see it as an issue as they aren't out there names ATM at all.

Frederic and Lilith with nicknames is cute. I'm not fussed about popularity myself.

Shula would make me think Archers because I know of no other!

Thanks everyone!

Totally get where everyone’s coming from but I don’t think I’m too fussed about the Archers thing…as a few of you have pointed out, my childrens generation won’t have a clue. To be honest I don’t think many of my own generation would either (but I could be wrong!) I’m 31.

For those asking about James, yes we’ve chosen that as it’s a family name.

If we were to go away from Lily (unlikely) we were thinking Elle - what are peoples thoughts on that?

I think I’m pretty happy with Lily Eloise and Freddie James Never thought I’d find choosing names so hard… I think the whole having twins thing threw me off! Haha

Gorgeous names - go for it! Don't like Elle particularly. I have a work colleague who writes her name as Elle but pronounces it Ellie - really confusing.

You could go with Shula and Kenton?

The Archers is an old lady thing, so you’re right not to worry about that!
Love both names and think they suit together really nicely.

Best of luck with the twins! Double the joy

I’m sure you will cope with the Archers thing, it’s more how will your children enjoy being told about it by their teachers/nice lady at the bus stop/colleagues - it could go for another 50 years and follow them throughout life. Basically if you’d steer clear of twin names from any other well known soap, steer clear of these. Agree with a PP it’s a hostage to fortune as well, jf say Freddie in the Archers died in a fire or was found to be a paedophile…

The other twins in the Archers are called Kenton and Shula - -clearly their mother was barking- - so I’d steer clear of that too

People will assume that you are a massive fan of The Archers.

You'll get asked about their father falling off the roof and the cost of living in a stately home. Then there's Freddie's conviction for drug dealing.......

I wouldn't underestimate how many listeners there are.

A name from a soap wouldn't normally be an issue, and either Freddie or Lily alone would be fine but twins are uncommon so naming them after fictional twins is likely to raise comments.

A name from a soap wouldn't normally be an issue, and either Freddie or Lily alone would be fine but twins are uncommon so naming them after fictional twins is likely to raise comments.

That's true. TBH if they were siblings not twins I'd say go for it. But twins "named after" twins...

I'd also say even if the Archers "only" has 5million regular listeners, there will be plenty of others who have listened at some point in the last 20 years and might remember the twins' names. He is always "Freddie" though AFAIK so if you stick to Fred it could be ok.

I find 2 names ending in an eee sound a bit naff and too cutsie..... lily and Fred is fine.... lily and Freddie is not

WhatAWasteOfOranges

The Archers is an old lady thing, so you’re right not to worry about that!

Nice segueing of ageism and sexism there!
You might be a bit wide of the mark though:

According to ­audience figures released by BBC Sounds, The Archers was the second most requested ­programme on the app among under-35s

Anyway OP, there's another set of twins on their way in the current storyline who are being dubbed Pinky and Perky on another thread

yes I thought of the Archers too - and I'm not their typical demographic really either, not even English. But anyone who listens to radio 4 - I have it on generally in the car - will end up coming across it at some point on as it's on every day, only for a short time, so you end up listening to it regardless. So there's a chance that even if the young children don't make the association, they might end up listening as they are adults and tune in, if it's still going by then and these characters are still there. Plus as others have said, they'll hear comments from lots of people about it during their childhood. It really isn't just people who are fans of it and tune in specifically for it that will be aware of it, but just anyone who listens to Radio 4 on any sort of semi-occasional basis.

I immediately thought of Fred and Lilli, the main characters in Kiss Me Kate. But everyone has different cultural references and they're good names.

I thought of the Archers but I don't think that should be a deal-breaker. I know twins called Viola and Sebastian and you don't get much more "twins from fiction" than that.

I think it sounds like a lovely pair of names!

yup, the archers here too
your babies may be younger than Freddy and Lily Pargeter, but it's a permanent thing on a major UK radio station with millions of listeners. Both a bit clueless currently but may come good in the end.
I wouldn't