Help! Only 10 days to name baby and STUCK! Bethany maybe? Or???

[alrightbab]

Hi everyone. Baby girl is coming next week and we’re not in the U.K. so only have a few days after the birth to register a name. Feeling the time pressure!

We’re really, really stuck for names. Husband and I can’t decide (or agree!)! His favourite is Emily, I don’t like it at all, I don’t know why (sorry Emily fans!). I like botanical names but loads of them don’t work with our surname. My favourite is Martha but husband doesn’t like it ☹️

The closest consensus we’ve got is Bethany but I don’t love it and I love the names we chose for our two boys (but maybe that’s because they’ve already ‘grown into’ them??)

Is it unrealistic to find a name I love? I don’t want to ‘settle’ for something and regret it later. This baby is our last (and only girl) so maybe I’m feeling/making a pressure that wasn’t previously there.

In no particular order this is our current list (though worth noting husband doesn’t like several of these and I’m feeling quite meh about many of them):

Estelle
Jemima
Mirabelle
Tabitha
Heidi
Rosemary
Emily
Lydia
Zoe
Bethany
Martha
Esther
Hazel

Middle name will be Madeleine. I’m not bothered about the first name flowing well with middle name, I find it more important that first and surnames go together. Our surname begins with T so first names ending in T or D don’t really work (imo).

Please help me with inspiration of other names we could consider. I’d really like something a bit more unusual but not off the wall (loads of us are trying to find that fine line, no?).

Thanks MNers!

Not a fan of Bethany, always sound a bit "meh" to me. Madeleine is a beautiful name and Hazel is sweet too. How about Madeleine Hazel Txxxx?

Love madeleine

How about:
Eloise
Iris
Violet
Leah
Camille
Isabella
Chloe
Lauren
Sylvie

I love Martha and Hazel
Botanical names
Briar
Saffron
Sorrel
Rowan
Bryony

Azalea
Willow
Heather
Fern
Violet
Iris

Not Bronwyn, it's awful. Bronwen is lovely though.

I dislike Bethany, but love Beth. Martha isn't my favourite tbh but it is miles better than Bethany.

Estelle - Beautiful! Such a pretty name
Jemima - the duck??
Mirabelle - A bit frilly, I like Mirabel though
Tabitha - It's nice, but a bit cat
Heidi - Gorgeous, I love it
Rosemary - It is pretty but a mouthful imo
Emily - Really boring
Lydia - Gorgeous, really pretty
Zoe - Boring
Bethany - Above
Martha - Above
Esther - Not for me
Hazel - Lovely

Madeleine is so pretty though if it could possibly be a first name.

From your list I like Hazel, Lydia, and Tabitha.

What about Sabrina or Daphne?

What happens if you don’t register the baby in the official timeframe? Presumably nothing too bad, if it’s only a fine or something I’d take my time.
We were right on the six week limit for naming in the UK and I asked the registrar what happens if you miss it, and she said not a lot, they just keep reminding you.

I like Bethany but it doesnt seem to be very popular on MN. No overkeen on Emily. I like Hazel and Esther from your list I like Iris too.

Juliet?

Marsha?

Melissa, Jessica or Matilda?

Thank you for your replies. Hearing other people like some of the names has actually made me feel a bit less meh about them! Still really undecided but maybe inspiration will strike when we meet her??!

Madeleine as a first name - we have considered this but I’m really not keen on the nn Maddy. I know she might not end up getting called this but Madeleines I’ve known/met all seem to be Maddy. Are there other nns for Madeleine you know?

Other nicknames could be Lena, Lili, Mimi, Milly, Dolly... just thinking of the nicknames I'd use if it were my child.

If there's names on there your husband doesn't like and names you're not a big fan of I would scratch those off the list and see what you're left with. You have to both like the name.
I'd be wary of names like mirabelle (where people will be like oh you named her after encanto which will get annoying)

I know a Madeleine whose nickname is Maisie? But I also know one who is always called Madeleine, never Maddie or anything else.

Lainey? Or however you want to spell it. Or Addy? Just drop the M

I really like Lydia, pretty and not very common. Madeleine is lovely too but will probably get Maddie unless you ask her to be known as Elin or Lainey etc.

Bethan is better than Bethany. You could just have Beth, or Elizabeth or Bettany or Betsy.

From your list, I really like Lydia and Zoe.

Lena works as a NN, but ultimately she and her friends will choose their own version, so if you would never want her to be called Maddy, avoid it (I did the same with boy names TBH)

Lauren?

Emmeline? As an alternative to Emily?

Bythinia, Vitsavee, Batsheba

I’m with you on Martha OP. I love it - my fave on your list. Also really like Jemima, Tabitha, Emily and Zoe. Most of your options are nice but I’m afraid I don’t like Bethany, Heidi or Mirabelle.

another vote for Hazel

Hazel Madeleine

Adele? Has something of the Madeleine feel.