Thoughts on names?

[Caribou1]

For a girl, I like the name Amal, like Amal Clooney, but have no Middle Eastern background, would this be weird?
Also like
Marina
Marie
Also my relative is called Magdalene, nickname Lena. I love both names, but it's maybe weird to give your baby the same name as your relative ?

For boys:
Joseph (not that fussed about Joe though)
Michael
Reuben
Elias

Does anyone else find it incredibly hard to just choose one name. The ones I like change by the week!

I think it is weird to use a name from a totally different culture, particularly when it's so linked to one person.
I know a few girls under 20 with very specific names linked to a celebrity eg Demi or Whitney and it's so dating.
Marina or Lena are my favourite of your girl names.

Lena is beautiful and all the boys names are lovely

Amal is pretty, you could call her Amalia and shorten it to cover all bases if you think it could be seen as weird (I don’t think it is but people will always ask why if you have a more unusual name).

Amal - I would find this strange on a child who has no Middle Eastern heritage.
Marina - Love this, an all time favourite of mine.
Marie - Quite like this name, but not as much as others.
Magdalene - Really like this name, prefer the spelling Magdalena. Make sure you are also ok with Maggie and Magda as nn too, as they are likely options. Regarding a family member already having the name it's hard to say without knowing what the relationship is or your dynamic.

I'm not that fond of any of the boys names, they just aren't my taste.

I really like your girl names especially Marina and Magdalene.

I find your boy names a little dull especially Joseph and Michael.

Marina andJoseph or Elias would be my picks

Marina is lovely - Marnie is a nice nn also

I much prefer Maria to Marie. Marianne also great.

Magdalene nn Lena is great, but there are quite a lot of Lenas, and a vast number of similar names (Lara, Lola, Leila, Leah, Luna, Lyra, Lila), so I would dump that.

Amal would be odd, yes.

I like all your boys’ names.

I’d go for Michael as it’s the least used right now but very recognisable. Reuben is way overused, and Elias having a real moment. Joseph is a solid classic, but if you don’t like Joe don’t do it.

Amal - celebrity-inspired name, too similar to Anal
Marina - like
Marie - pretty
Lena - not keen. Leena/Layna? Lots of L four-letter names popular

Joseph (not that fussed about Joe though) -- could be Jos(s)
Michael - love
Reuben - dreary and overused
Elias - too long. Ellis is better

Amal - celebrity
Marina - like
Marie - dated to me. Like Mairi and Marianne.
Lena - ok but never sure if it's pronounced Leena or Layna.

Joseph - I like Joe but if you don't I'd avoid.
Michael - like but really dislike Mike.
Reuben - my son's name so obviously I like it! It's not that popular if that's an issue for you (around rank 45 in England I think and we haven't met any others yet).
Elias - much prefer Elis, which is a great name.

I wouldn't recommend Amal if you don't have Middle Eastern heritage. Especially when it's so linked to a celebrity. What about Amalia or Amala?
I like Marina, Lena, Reuben and Elias the most.

I also think Amal is too similar to Anal. How about Amara or Amya/Amaya?

I think just naming your kid Lena would be a great option! Lena is really pretty:)

Lena - ok but never sure if it's pronounced Leena or Layna.

Neither.

It's pronounced Leh-na

It’s pronounced Leena in the UK

Leh-na is German, I think