Can’t find ‘The One’ - girls names

[Elephxnt]

Hey, currently 20 weeks pregnant and not finding out the gender

We’re set on a boys name - Reuben - however not sure this helps as we don’t want a super popular name and this is flirting with that line already, it’s been the name we’d use for years though so it passes

The girls names on our list are below but none are standing out as the one for us;
Heidi - this would likely be the middle name
Olive
Raya - husband’s favourite but not sure it fits us
Eira (ay-ra) - love but fear a lifetime of mispronunciation
Piper
Astrid
Willow
Ruby - The name I keep coming back to, but the most popular on the list I think? DH says dog name
Ember
Alba
Autumn
Margot

Do I just need to give up on finding the perfect name and settle? Are there any names we’re missing that would match the above

We’re also big fans of shortening names/nicknames which is putting me off a few of the above but also appreciate these will come organically

any help appreciated

Why are you unsure Raya fits?

While I agree that Eira is beautiful yes I do think you are right to fear a lifetime of mispronunciation.. how about Ayla or Leyla or even Leilani.

I think of dh feels Ruby is a dogs name then that has to count as off the list. (Sorry I too had a favourite name go off due to dh not liking it)

Some suggestions
Heather
Eloisa
Bianca
Elva

Olive, Eira, Autumn and Margot are my favourites from your list.

What about Ria instead of Raya?
Aldo Ester instead of Eira?

My favourite name at the moment is Joni.

Raya is a dating app unfortunately

How about Savannah (nn Annie or Anna), Rosa, Mabel or Nancy?

I was going to suggest Ruby if you love Reuben! It's a lovely name and on a bit of a downward spiral popularity wise, nowhere near as popular as it was in the late 00s/early 2010s. Whereas some of your other choices are on a massive upward spiral. Margot is one if the names of the moment, and Willow has been in and around the top 10 for a few years now and is by far the most popular on your list, currently much more popular than Ruby.

Ruby is by far my favourite on your list.

Raya is my favourite from your list. My friend has just called her little girl Raela and I love it.

Astrid and Willow are nice too. I like Ruby but I've only met one human Ruby and loads of dogs.

Leila, Hazel, Nancy, Lucy

Love Eira (and would pronounce it same as you).

Seren
Gwen
Marianne
Ailsa
Merryn
Eimear
Elise
Cara

Love willow but extremely popular if that bothers and Margot and Olive currently exploding in popularity too. I love autumn and piper. I also like ember perhaps a bit more brave though! Suggestions

wren
river
rowan
romy
eden
esti
elva
juno
dorothy
nancy
mabel
polly
nova
hazel
lumi
beatrix

I like Ruby and Olive from your list. Ruby especially. Although it might be a risk to use it if you are hoping to have any more children - I don’t think you could have Reuben as a brother for Ruby!

Harriet/Hattie for short

My favourites are Ruby, Astrid and Olive. Reuben is one of my favourite boys names.

Suggestions:

Bridie
Norah
Lyla
Harper
Harlow
Kari
Greer
Hallie

Ruby is my 2 year olds name. Only ever get compliments on it. Im biased but think it's very pretty!
Like someone has already mentioned it is no where near as popular as it once was.
There are other names on your list which I hear a lot more of and are certainly rising up the name charts.
I've never met a dog with the name Ruby and wouldn't worry with that association.. anything can be a dogs name

I love reuben as your boys name choice!

Good luck!

Margot, Piper and Olive are my favourites but they're all great choices so go with your best of the bunch. It will soon be the only name for your girl once she becomes that name.

I love Ruby! Definitely not a dog’s name! Gorgeous pretty yet strong name, which suits all ages.

I really like Heidi, Olive, Willow and Margot.

Margot can be “Maggie” and Olive can be “Liv / Livi” if you like nn’s.

Do you like
Eliza
Hazel
Phoebe
Amber
Alice
Clara
Violet
Iris
Daisy
Poppy
Layla
Lola
Ivy
Cleo

Please not Ember.

Robin
Rhoda
Rufina
Ruth
Lara

Oooh, I like your style.

Heidi - quite like it. Don't love. Good for a middle name, it's not just a 'filler'.
Olive - only name on your list I really don't like. I feel like it's a less popular Olivia for a good reason - the ia is what makes Olivia a pretty name to my ears.
Raya - like it. Why don't you think it fits you?
Eira (ay-ra) - like it. Never heard it before. People would learn to pronounce it.
Piper - really like it. I do only know a dog with the name but I think it's so cute, cool and quirky for a girl and woman too.
Astrid - love it. One of my favourite girl names. Trending, I think, but I've only ever met one personally.
Willow - quite like it. I would worry that she wouldn't grow up to be willowy though and then might get teased. But that's probably my insecurity.
Ruby - like it. But yes, think it's more popular than your others. Though most of the ones I know are 10+ now.
Ember - like it. And have never met one.
Alba - really like it. Never met one.
Autumn - quite like it. Pretty popular but I only know a couple.
Margot - not keen but nothing really against it.

I'd choose Astrid from your list, closely followed by Piper and Alba.

Other ideas that are similar in my mind:
Aphra, Amaya, Amberley, Anika, Aria, Arwen, Aven, Bronte, Bethan, Briar, Cleo, Cora, Carys, Cerys, Celyn, Celest, Cherry, Dana, Danica, Delphi, Everly, Ebony, Effie Etta, Enya, Elowen, Fleur, Faye, Fabia, Greta, Giselle, Gloria, Halle, Hebe, Hazel, Isolde, Iona, Iris, Ivy, Ingrid, Inga, Irma, Inez, Juno, Juniper, Jacinta, Jonquil, Jemima, Kiki, Keziah, Keltie, Livia, Lyra, Liara, Luana, Mika, Mala, Merryn, Maeve, Misty, Miranda, Nova, Nyla, Nyah, Noelle, Odette, Ottilie, Pippa, Posy, Polly, Quinn, Rivkah, Remi, Romy, Rowan, Rowena, Rosina, Robyn, Robina, Romilly, Ramona, Rosa, Sadie, Saffron, Sylvia, Seren, Samaris, Summer, Sorrel, Tamara, Tamsin, Thea, Thalia, Taryn, Tansy, Verity, Vanessa, Winter, Willa, Xanthe, Ysanne, Zola, Zia, Zeryn

Do bear in mind that if you choose Ruby for a girl you won't really be able to use Reuben for a boy down the line, if you ever chose to. They're way too similar.