Narrowed 2 names for each sex, can't choose!

[elm26]

Surname is a pretty normal surname ending in "der" and our middle names are set after grandparents.

Aria
Tilly/Tillie (not sure if I prefer y or ie)

Joshua
Arthur

Help!

I prefer Joshua to Arthur. Its such a nice, classic, biblical name, whereas Arthur is a bit more of the current ‘vintage names’ trend.

Aria over Tilly, but that’s because I’m not keen on ‘ie/y’ ending names. They seem a bit child like - Poppy, Molly etc.

Aria and Arthur.

I wouldn't like to be named Tillie (this spelling is better). Too childish and close to "silly".

Joshua feels very "guy in his 20s/30s" to me. I also dislike Josh.

Joshua
Aria

I quite like tilly too though - I'd probably go with a longer name and shorten to tilly personally but that's just me (chantilly, Matilda, talitha, etc I'm sure there are more choices too)

Aria and Joshua.

Aria is a good strong name. I think Tilly is a wee bit twee sounding.

I’m not keen on Arthur as a name, but have always like Joshua. Classic but not super common these days.

I think having a shortlist is fine. When you initially see your baby the right name may well come to you then!

I like Aria. Tilly/Tillie is OK, but it feels a little informal/unfinished in comparison. Building on what ElviraDePonte posted, I think an -ee sound ending doesn't have to sound childlike - for example Ariadne or Emily or Felicity or Naomi - but Tilly does feel like it should perhaps be short for something.

Arthur and Joshua are both nice, but if your surname ends in -r Arthur could be a bit repetitive? It does depend on the name though; Arthur Carder works less well than Arthur Alexander, just for example.

Why not Matilda on her BC but known as Tillie? Then she has the choice of having an adult name when she is an adult or sounding like a three year old for life .

Aria and Arthur

Joshua feels very 90s , Arthur is timeless

Tilly in any form I’m not a fan of as it’s very nicknamie

Aria and Joshua

Aria. Tilly is sweet but a bit cutesy for a grown woman.

Joshua is nice. I know Arthur has been popular for quite a few years now but it's still 'little old man in a cloth cap' to me. Showing my generation I suppose.

May I suggest Tessa for a girl?

Arthur is not timeless, when I was at school (seventies) there were NO boys named Arthur. Arthur was an OAP. Ditto Elsie etc. It's a name that comes and goes I suppose. Very popular in Victorian/Edwardian times, and currently having a revival.

Aria.

Tilly/Tillie seems like a name for a pet of a nn for a person. If you do really love it though can I suggest Matilda, Natalie or Otillie as full names that nn into Tilly/Tillie?

Definitely Arthur for boy! Joshua seems very dated into comparison. Arthur is classic and imo won’t date.

sorry for the grammatical errors above! or a nn and in comparison 🤦🏼‍♀️

Aria and Joshua

Arthur is not timeless, when I was at school (seventies) there were NO boys named Arthur. Arthur was an OAP.

Arthur is definitely not timeless. It's currently fashionable but will soon sound dated as it falls out of fashion.

Agreed. I think at the point where you have two good options for each, you wait to see which suits the baby. Honestly I find it a bit weird when people decide 100% before the kid is even here.

That said, I like Tessa, as a pp suggested! Seems to fit the vibe but nicer, imo.

Aria and Arthur.

Tilly (Matilda) & Arthur

Aria over Tilly - Tilly is silly (as a full name)

Joshua over Arthur - there are so many Arthurs

Aria and Joshua

Tilly (Matilda) and Joshua. Arthur will date.

Love tilly or matilda & most definitely arthur

I prefer Joshua over Arthur. Arthur is a name that will date, whereas Joshua seems to span more generations. Arthur is okay but I prefer Joshua.

I don't like Aria.
I don't really like Tilly as a stand alone name - it sounds like it is shortened from something and needs a fuller name to dignify it.