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Can anyone find a middle ground between me and DH’s name lists?

213 replies

namepains · 25/05/2025 21:57

Have NC’d for this Blush

DH and I have very, very different tastes when it comes to names. I’ll give you our lists below, but we’re nowhere close in terms of taste. What sounds nice to me DH hates and vice versa. I apologise profusely if anyone’s name comes up, I am really not meaning to offend anyone but names are very personal and tastes are very different. Please don’t take any offence and fwiw, my name always comes up on outdated/names people don’t like threads Grin for context, we live in Scotland and DH is Scottish, I’m English. If there’s a specific reason for DH not liking mine, I’ve put it next to the name.

My list:

Lily- too twee apparently
Rosie- he’s said he likes it but not enough to say it every day henceforth. He doesn’t like variations such as Rosaline/d, Rosa or Rose.
Daisy- brief period of time a girl wasn’t nice to DS with this name
Jasmine - Aladdin (who honestly thinks that!)
Ophelia- apparently pretentious, although I love Hamlet!
Scarlett
Tara- his first dog was called that so apparently he can’t name DD ‘after’ his dog Hmm
Emily
Ruby

DH’s list:

Michelle
Siobhan
Lisa
Louise
Mhairi
Bernadette

I particularly don’t like Bernadette and Siobhan. But honestly, I don’t like any of them. No connotations or personal issues with people with these names but I just don’t like them. Does anyone have any suggestions for a middle ground? I’m not sure there is one! We had a boy name agreed immediately but we’re worlds apart on a girls one Sad

OP posts:
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IsthatyouKateAdie · 26/05/2025 13:58

I agree Marnie is a good compromise.
I remember loving that book too!

BeMintFatball · 26/05/2025 14:04

I have a lot of Scottish friends. Most of them are covered by your DH list.

how about Murran?

Aria999 · 26/05/2025 16:39

Elsbeth?

Firsttimebabymummy · 26/05/2025 16:54

Lydia? Lucinda?

jeezaluiza · 26/05/2025 17:19

Eliza was on our list.

We also liked Louisa, Anna, Georgia (nn Georgie), Cora, Zara, Stella and Nina - if any of those help!

paulhollywoodshairgel · 26/05/2025 19:19

His list sounds like an Irish catholic girls school

MarioLink · 26/05/2025 21:53

Michaela (Kayla)
Leah
Alice
Eloise
Alyssa (Ally)
Cassandra (Cassie)
Catherine (Cathy/Katie)
Caitlin (Caity)
Charlotte (Charlie/Lottie)
Roberta (Bertie/Bobbi)
Marianne

ColinCaterpillarsNo1Fan · 29/05/2025 07:27

namepains · 25/05/2025 21:57

Have NC’d for this Blush

DH and I have very, very different tastes when it comes to names. I’ll give you our lists below, but we’re nowhere close in terms of taste. What sounds nice to me DH hates and vice versa. I apologise profusely if anyone’s name comes up, I am really not meaning to offend anyone but names are very personal and tastes are very different. Please don’t take any offence and fwiw, my name always comes up on outdated/names people don’t like threads Grin for context, we live in Scotland and DH is Scottish, I’m English. If there’s a specific reason for DH not liking mine, I’ve put it next to the name.

My list:

Lily- too twee apparently
Rosie- he’s said he likes it but not enough to say it every day henceforth. He doesn’t like variations such as Rosaline/d, Rosa or Rose.
Daisy- brief period of time a girl wasn’t nice to DS with this name
Jasmine - Aladdin (who honestly thinks that!)
Ophelia- apparently pretentious, although I love Hamlet!
Scarlett
Tara- his first dog was called that so apparently he can’t name DD ‘after’ his dog Hmm
Emily
Ruby

DH’s list:

Michelle
Siobhan
Lisa
Louise
Mhairi
Bernadette

I particularly don’t like Bernadette and Siobhan. But honestly, I don’t like any of them. No connotations or personal issues with people with these names but I just don’t like them. Does anyone have any suggestions for a middle ground? I’m not sure there is one! We had a boy name agreed immediately but we’re worlds apart on a girls one Sad

list:
Lily - v, v common
Rosie - childish but Rosamund or Rosa more classier
Daisy - done to death
Jasmine - done to death
Ophelia - grim ending for her
Scarlett - fever
Tara - fine
Emily = Emilia
Ruby = Ok

DH’s list:
Michelle - no
Siobhan - no
Lisa - no
Louise = Louisa or Eloise
Mhairi - ok
Bernadette - no

You like floral names so alternative choices:
Camellia, Veronica, Iris, Azalea, Zinnia, Aater, Dahlia, Calla, Fleur, Heather, Cassia, Alyssa, Violet

Alternatives to the colour & gem stone names, Scarlet & Ruby
Pearl - I love this, v classy & underused
Emerald
Diamond - I used to work with a lady by this name
Violet
Jade
Amber
Opal
Coral

Calliopespa · 29/05/2025 09:12

ColinCaterpillarsNo1Fan · 29/05/2025 07:27

list:
Lily - v, v common
Rosie - childish but Rosamund or Rosa more classier
Daisy - done to death
Jasmine - done to death
Ophelia - grim ending for her
Scarlett - fever
Tara - fine
Emily = Emilia
Ruby = Ok

DH’s list:
Michelle - no
Siobhan - no
Lisa - no
Louise = Louisa or Eloise
Mhairi - ok
Bernadette - no

You like floral names so alternative choices:
Camellia, Veronica, Iris, Azalea, Zinnia, Aater, Dahlia, Calla, Fleur, Heather, Cassia, Alyssa, Violet

Alternatives to the colour & gem stone names, Scarlet & Ruby
Pearl - I love this, v classy & underused
Emerald
Diamond - I used to work with a lady by this name
Violet
Jade
Amber
Opal
Coral

Edited

I think sometimes it easy to approach these things academically and lose sight of the instinctive reaction. I see where you are coming from going through alternative gems and I quite like Emerald, but in all honesty, a baby called Diamond …?! 😳😳 I’d far rather just go with Michelle.

Viviennemary · 29/05/2025 09:16

Your list is a lot better than his. Except Tara. That's pretty dire. Iris or Violet?

ColinCaterpillarsNo1Fan · 29/05/2025 10:25

Calliopespa · 29/05/2025 09:12

I think sometimes it easy to approach these things academically and lose sight of the instinctive reaction. I see where you are coming from going through alternative gems and I quite like Emerald, but in all honesty, a baby called Diamond …?! 😳😳 I’d far rather just go with Michelle.

@Calliopespa I agree Diamond is a bit off the wall but my former colleague really suited her name. She certainly did have a sparkling personality!

Calliopespa · 29/05/2025 10:27

ColinCaterpillarsNo1Fan · 29/05/2025 10:25

@Calliopespa I agree Diamond is a bit off the wall but my former colleague really suited her name. She certainly did have a sparkling personality!

She sounds lovely but it’s a big name to carry!

Sounds like a Panto villain to me! Diamond La Heist!

Mymanyellow · 29/05/2025 10:51

MoominMai · 26/05/2025 12:57

@namepains How is Mhairi pronounced? I quite like the idea of that. Obviously you don’t as it’s on the rejected list lol but as a middle ground name, how about Marnie?

Im 52, never met anyone called that. Fell in love with the name from an old kids book, a bit otherworldly tale called ‘When Marnie was there’.

Just a thought especially as it has its origins in Scotland meaning ‘from the sea’. Also the last syllable has a similar sound to the endings of a lot of the names on your pro list 🙂.

I two Marnie babies. Both under a year old. Coming back in you heard it here first. 😀

PrettyPuss · 29/05/2025 10:54

I see Louise as a middle ground name from those lists. Classic, chic name.

LadyDanburysHat · 29/05/2025 10:55

Your DHs names are all very 1980s. It's not even like they are classic names. He needs to think about naming a baby not a 40 year old woman.

Fartughtyred · 29/05/2025 11:10

How about:

Alexandra
Isla
Isabelle
Serena
Felicity
Fiona
Miranda
Bonnie
Constance (Connie)
Heidi
Naomi

Mhairi is usually pronounced 'Varry' with a soft v

Calliopespa · 29/05/2025 11:16

Fartughtyred · 29/05/2025 11:10

How about:

Alexandra
Isla
Isabelle
Serena
Felicity
Fiona
Miranda
Bonnie
Constance (Connie)
Heidi
Naomi

Mhairi is usually pronounced 'Varry' with a soft v

I love Felicity.

It’s got that 80’s vibe he likes op ( I know loads of 80’s Felicitys) but is also quite timeless and more “substantial” than the Daisys etc, which I think he finds a bit limp.

Felicity also has a lovely meaning and fun Nns: Flick, Fliss, Fiss, Fissy. I also know a Felicity who is often Flicketty!

ETA I think it’s a really joyful name.

fruitpastille · 29/05/2025 11:21

Jennifer
Alison
Philippa
Sue
Deborah
Annabel

Needmorelego · 29/05/2025 11:47

fruitpastille · 29/05/2025 11:21

Jennifer
Alison
Philippa
Sue
Deborah
Annabel

Isn't that a song?
Beautiful South?

MrsSunshine2b · 29/05/2025 12:05

You like classic, pretty names and flowers.

He likes names that will put anyone in mind of someone at least 40 years older. I'm surprised Tracey didn't make the list.

Since you like flowers, and he likes...retro...how about Heather? Or alternatively, Melissa or Jessica- both have fallen out of use but have a nice melodic quality to them. I like that Melissa means honey bee.

Sunshineandgrapefruit · 29/05/2025 16:47

Write a list each. No peeking. You each get 3 vetos. Don't discuss. Swap the lists and each highlight the 3 you like/ dislike the least on your partner's list. Those 6 are now your shortlist. Discuss. That's the only way DH and I managed. Our names were poles apart.

namepains · 01/06/2025 10:08

I kid you not guys, I dreamt last night that we called her Lisa, woke up and told DH who said ‘I don’t like it that much’😐

OP posts:
namepains · 01/06/2025 10:12

Actually I’ll add to that: yesterday I had a Lisa Simpson T-shirt on (unintentional), we watched Clarkson’s Farm in which his partner is called Lisa and then I dreamt that we called her that- are these not signs??

OP posts:
Calliopespa · 01/06/2025 10:17

namepains · 01/06/2025 10:12

Actually I’ll add to that: yesterday I had a Lisa Simpson T-shirt on (unintentional), we watched Clarkson’s Farm in which his partner is called Lisa and then I dreamt that we called her that- are these not signs??

If I’m honest I don’t mind it.

bluedelphinium · 01/06/2025 10:18

Has he made any more suggestions?

I agree with the idea of limited vetoes

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