Opinions on these names please

[Bonusnap]

What do you think of these boys and girls names? We are Scottish.

Boys:
Ira
Ivor
Christopher (not a fan of Chris though)
Gabriel
Peter
Thomas

Girls:
Ishbel
Ivy
Ava
Tamsin

I really don’t like Ira and Ishbel, the others are all ok though.

I like Gabriel and Tamsin.

Thanks, I love your username!

I love Ivy. If you like Christopher it’s almost definitely going to get shortened. There is Kit or I knew a Christopher who went by Topher, which was pretty cool.

I like Ivor and Peter, Ishbel and Ivy.

Don't call your child ira. It's an acronym for a militant organisation 🤣

I like Christopher when it's shortened to Kit.
Tamsin is one of my favourite ever girls names, it's beautiful.

I don't like Ira, Ivor (the engine) or Ishbel (a bit contrived and will always get Isabel).

It's impossible to control shortenings so I would avoid Christopher if you really don't like Chris (Topher is hideous, sorry).

Gabriel & Tamsin are nice

Ishbel is a classic Scottish version of Isobel. I've known quite a few of all ages. The diminutive in Scotland for Isobel or Ishbel is Tibbie. Don't ask me why🤔
Please not Ira.

Genuinely don't know how to respond to this. It's a biblical name. We have Jewish heritage and many family members with Jewish names.

Can I ask why you think Ishbel is contrived?

Thank you. We already have a child with name beginning "T" and I thought another T name would be too much even though Tamsin is actually my favourite of the girls names.

Ira - sorry it does make me think of IRA
Ivor - it’s okay. Prefer Ivo.
Christopher - not if you don’t like Chris
Gabriel - very nice
Peter - strong, due a revival
Thomas - lovely

Girls:
Ishbel - I like it
Ivy - poisonous, increasingly popular
Ava - nice but bland and popular. Prefer Eva.
Tamsin - it’s okay

Ira is a woman's name in Russia

Ava is sooooo common, as is Ivy. Never hear Ishbel, I like Tamsin.

I like Gabriel.

I like all the names. Gabriel is probably my favourite.

I agree. I know so many girls called Ava. It's such a gorgeous name though. Ivy I've only ever known one.

Thank goodness we don't live in Russia!

I absolutely love Ira, Gabriel, Ishbel, and Tamsin.

Gorgeous names.

Ira was really popular in America. Ira Levin or Ira Gershwin. It feels very Old Testament. I saw a post referencing the name Kester which is a Scottish variant of Christopher coming from the word Christ which I think is a lovely name.

Gabriel, Peter. Thomas also great names. Ageless and not over used at the moment.

I think your girls choices are maybe more contemporary. Ivy, Ava etc and I just don't love ishbel. Although Elspeth or Lizbeth are pretty. Tamsin just reminds me of arty women in their fifties. No idea why. Maybe Tamsin Day Lewis. I like Tansy though. Or even Thomasina.

Love Ishbel and Gabriel. Every Christopher I've known has ended up as a Chris so while I like the full name I wouldn't go for it.

I also really like Ira! It's clearly not going to be pronounced by anyone as IRA 😆

Sorry, I missed that you are Scottish. I think Ishbel would be a bit 'try hard' in England but obviously not as you are in Scotland.

I've never heard Kester before. I think it's nice, but not for us. I get that with a lot of names I think, "lovely, but I'll pass"!

If you like Ishbel, what about Elspeth?