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.

I’m not keen on Thea or Maeve, my favourite would be Willow but no, it sadly doesn’t work with your surname. If it was between the other two I say Thea Howell looks/sounds better than Maeve Howell.

All lovely names.

I like Willow but don’t think it goes with your surname (too many Ls and a ow repeated)

Thea sounds a bit like Theodore shortened but different.

Maeve - i think some people may struggle to pronounce.

In the nicest possible way stop involving friends and family. I wonder if its telling you listed your parents choice before your DP's?

Your DP (the father) likes Maeve, what is your favourite of the 3?

Thea is the nicest name, but I wouldn't say it was unusual.

Willow is #10
The darkgreener graph for Maeve shows a very steep upward curve and it's #77. May is actually pretty unusual as a first name (although everywhere as a middle name) but Maeve sort of falls into the Maya, Mae, Mia trend and the Evie/Ava/Eva/Ivy/Evelyn trend.
Thea is #53, but Theo is #15 and Theodore #11 in the boys' names, so that's an awful lot of Theos and Theas

None of the three are 'unique'.

I think Thea is the nicest and goes best with your surname personally but definitely fairly popular these days. It's probably just me but Maeve with your surname sounds a bit like 'may howl' but it is a pretty name. I don't like Willow that much. You'll get lots of different opinions on here though as the mixed preferences in your family!

Other suggestions
Bonnie
Thora
Winnie
Maya
Mila
Milla
Minna
Elke
Fenna
Xanthe

I agree with yiur partner that Willow with ur surname is too much. Not keen on the other two. Hope u come to a decision.

I like Willow but it doesn't go with your surname.
Thea is just OK but Maeve is nice so I'd use Maeve.

Thea 💓 my little girl is called Thea & everyone always says what a beautiful name 😊 it’s never been pronounced wrong either like some comments may say!

@Mummytobe333 , people normally compliment any name, unless you say the name before the baby is actually named.
Thea can be Taya, Thee-a or Thaya.

Aside from the fact that if you want a unique name, you should disregard all 3 options immediately, my favourite would be Maeve but with your surname sounds a little like ‘may foul’. I can’t stand Willow for a pet or a human but definitely think of it as a dogs name. Thea is ok but I’m not sure that flows great with Howell. Also not unique, but how about Rosie Howell?

The names are a bit vowelly as is the surname, and the consonants are soft.

Something like Dora, Claire Georgia or Saskia balances out the surname better. Not suggestions as such but stronger sounding names.

I'd avoid a first or middle name ending in t or v to avoid the last letter running into the surname - Juliet Howell would sound like Julia Towel and Maeve Howell like May Vowel.

@KirstenBlest maybe it depends where you are from but I’ve never heard any of those pronunciations 😊 and no need for the rude comment …’people always compliment a name’
so childish 😂

I love all 3. I would go with Thea simply because Maeve and Willow are in the top names for this year so will be very popular by the time she's at nursery/school but if that doesn't matter to you then go for it- as all lovely. Willow doesn't sound as good with the Surname though. Good luck 😄

I think you need a vowel sound ending the name so it doesn't run into Howell making it 'Owell!

Tabitha would sound lovely, or Theodora.

@Mummytobe333 , I forgot Feea.
Thea will be Taya in mainland Europe. One of my cousins has a Leah and she gets called Lee-a and Laya. Where I live it would probably be Fee-a.

What do you say when you ask someone their name or their child's name?
Usually something like 'What a pretty name' or 'That's such a cool name'.

It's not rude or childish, just an opinion.

Maeve Howell

Could easily be

May Foul.

Maeve

All the comments about how awful it would be if Thea was pronounced Fee-a 😂
My daughter's name is Fiadh and people are always thinking it's Thea, as if I couldn't pronounce Th.

Thea and Maeve are beautiful names. Thea sounds much better with Howell than Meave.

Willow is ok but too synonymous with Buffy the Vampire Slayer to me (Wicked Willow).

I like Willow

I LOVE the name Willow ❤️

Thea Howell sound like such a pretty name!