Thoughts on these 3 names?

[rachelhowell]

Hiya! We are expecting soon and have shortened our potential names down to 3 options. Our top three at the minute are Thea, Willow and Maeve. My partner and I both wanted something a bit more unique but not too uncommon to the point where she could be potentially bullied. Our surname is Howell if that helps with any opinions on these names.
See my favourite is Willow but my partner says it doesn't work well with our surname because of all the L's and W's but I don't see too much of an issue with it. My parents both prefer Thea, which I do adore as well so its a hard decision. Then my partner's favourite is Maeve, so my immediate family and all my friends have different opinions on each name so its very hard to make a decision. I know everybody on here is very honest and brutal so please let me know your thoughts. This is my first pregnancy so picking a good name is extremely important to us! Also if you have any ideas of names that are similar to these three I would be happy to hear them.

Thea. Gorgeous.

I like Willow second best. I think you need to be a free spirited hippy forest nymph type to carry it timelessly, otherwise it can sound a bit dated. It was trendy once upon a time.

Maeve is super trendy. I know three, toddlers and newborns. V. A less popular Mabel.

Willow is in the top 10 in England & Wales not nationally. It's not in the Scottish top 10.

I don't like Willow.
Love Maeve and Thea.
What about Martha ?

I'm with your DH on this this one. Willow Howell is an awful lot of w's and l's. Plus, I agree with PP that it's a popular dog name, which isn't great for a child!

Thea is nice, as is Maeve and I think both go well with your surname.

Thea Howell is very elegant and strong.

Maeve Howell sounds ok but doesn't have such a nice ring to it.

I agree about all of the Ls with Willow.

I don't think it's the Ls, more the reversing of the "L" and "ow" sounds that doesn't work, so Willa Howell would work better.

They are all lovely though

LOVE Maeve. We would have used it if we had a girl.

Thea goes best with your surname, Maeve is nice as well, willow ok but too many Lll's and Hh's !

Thea gets my vote.

I think people will often spell Maeve incorrectly, and sorry I’m another one that associates Willow as a cat and dog name.

Willow is nice. Thea and Maeve are too serious sounding for me

Thea is lovely, but very popular where I am (if that bothers you!)

Willow is fine, but not my taste

Maeve I don't like at all, it feels quite harsh to me. However, strangely I do really like Maeva which feels a lot softer, and I also think that sounds better with your surname than Maeve.

Thea works best with your surname

I like Maeve but I think with your surname it sounds like May Vowel.
Willow Howell - your partner is right about the novelty of all those Ls -but it does make for a memorable name.
Thea Howell is my favourite however.

Maeve is my favourite x

Really dislike Maeve sorry. Willow really doesn't work with your surname (plus is extremely common where I am, so I don't see it as unusual at all! Probably 8-9 in DDs school over different years)
Thea is okay, I've heard it pronounced Fea though, so depends where you live if people change Th to F, it's not a good sound.

My immediate thought was that Willow won’t work when I read your surname, before I saw that your husband said the same.

I live Willow op, and you could always use a middle name to break it up a bit.

But then that's more decisions!

Once you name your baby she will grow into the name and everyone will grow to love it. That's usually the way.

Willow is really popular.

I like Thea. Stop telling friends and family your names.

As others have said, Willow is very common. But Thea is quite common too. I know at least 5.
If you do want something a bit more unique I’d think of something else.

Willow Howell is a no for me. It reminds me of these fantasy tv shows. Teen wolf, vampire diaries, etc

Thea Maeve

Not keen on Willow.

Thea is ok if rather dull. Unforgettable.
Willow is only suited to a 'type'. A bit insubstantial.
Maeve - short for Mavis to my ears. Really dislike.

1. Willow
2. Thea
3. Maeve

Willow is a beautiful name. Not keen on the other two, only problem with maeve is that I never know if it's pronounced as meeve or mave but that's probably just me!!