Choose one

[Xmaslover2018]

Please help

Does your C surname start with a “Kuh” sound or a “Chuh” ? If a “Kuh” then I’d be especially drawn to Kate as I think alliterative names are particularly lyrical sounding and memorable.

But even if it’s not alliterative with your surname, I do also think Kate is the most classic and timeless sounding of your options - and therefore the least likely to date (which you/she won’t care about now but might be a big bonus to her in 40/50 years time).

I do personally really like the sound of Ava and Maeve too but they are quite trendy, which is a shame. I’ve met a couple of older (Irish) Maeve’s but no older Ava’s. Something similar like May or Eve feels a bit more classic (or Eva, despite its current popularity).

Ruby and Isla feel especially trendy/very 2000’s to me, so really not my cup of tea at all.

Does popularity matter to do? We almost called DD2 Maeve last year but in the first 2 weeks of her life, we met 3 other baby Maeves as well (we are in London). So we decided to go for a different name instead. But that might not be a deal breaker for you.

Kate - like
Ruby - ok
Isla - overused
Ava - dislike
Maeve - dislike

Ava or Ruby are the standout two for me. Isla is ok.

I find Kate a bit dull, rather than classic (but that could be because I grew up with so many with variations of this name:- Kate, Katie, Kathy, Katherine and all it's different spellings etc). I don't mind Catherine as a full name (it feels the most classic). Kate is fine as a nn, but I wouldn't use as a stand alone name. Caitlin is ok, as a more modern alternative for a full name.

I don't understand the current popularity of Maeve. Maeva is a bit more interesting (although personally I much prefer Ava). Maeve isn't a nice sound though. It's basically just Dave with an M.

All good names!

I voted for Ruby.

Oh my gosh I love all of these, and my little girl is called Ava! I really like Ruby and also Kate as I love a good classic name (and of course Ava is my favourite!) , but so hard to choose! I’ve taken a screen shot in case I ever have another girl….you have great taste in names :)

Maeve is beautiful and memorable - great choice!

The others are all so overused and dull. I would avoid those especially with a common surname

The world does not need yet more Avas.

If popularity bothers you then don’t choose Ava, Ruby or Isla as they’re everywhere. I love Kate, it’s timeless and less common.

It really does depend where you are.

Maeve and Isla are by far the one I hear most often from that list (especially Maeve on under 5s). Ava, hardly any (I've never taught one in over 15 years of teaching, my own is the only one in her school).

For everyone who thinks they're being original for picking Maeve because they've never met one, they'll be another who lives elsewhere thinking oh God not another one (just like you feel about Ava).

Name popularity varies so much from area to area, yet people become so judgemental on names which are popular around them because they wrongly assume it must be the case everywhere.

Thanks for the thoughts. Am in southern part of Ireland. Don't mind popularity! Have a dog called Minne!

I like Kate and Ruby best. I think I've heard a lot of the other three around which puts me off a bit although they're all pretty names.

Exactly. I live in Cornwall. Have met a fair few little Maeve’s. I’ve come across the name Ava literally once (called out at a playground) since having my DS 3 1/2 years ago. Never in his nursery, any groups, friends children etc. I’ve been specifically listening out for it because my DS would have been Ava if he was a girl, and tempted to use it still if this baby is a girl!
Names like Sennen and Elowen, or Jago for a boy, are names you hear a lot here, but I’d rarely come across before moving here.

A Kuh sound. I understand your point on Kate being more classic. I thought Ruby came up as a classic name too, but maybe less of them than Kate so why i added to the list.

Yes I don't think I mind if it's popular, maybe makes it feel more accepted or something if anything?

Do you think it weird to use Ruby if dog is Minnie with the "ee" sound of the end?
I never thought of maeve as like Dave 😆 and yes the classic Ness of Kate makes it feel a little boring I agree, but then wonder if better to have boring than a marmite name of Ruby

Aw enjoy your Ava! Thanks so much, I was thinking i have awful taste with not having much imagination with them!! Do you think it ok to use Ruby if dog is Minnie?

Do you think it ok to use Ruby if dog is Minnie?
Why wouldn't it be OK? Minnie and Winnie might be too close, but Ruby and Minnie aren't.

Definitely overthinking on Minnie and Ruby! It wouldn't even be a major issue for siblings, let alone a dog and child combo.

Thanks, it just sounded close with the ee sound at the end!

I can think of families where all or some of the children have -y or -ie.
e.g. Charlie, Henry, Freddie, and Molly, or Ellie, Arlo and Riley.

They're all lovely names.

Kate - I love the simple but strong sound. I know a young Katie but haven't met any other young Kate/Catherines.

Ava - it's a nice name but there are a lot of Avas around - babies, children and teenagers - as it's been a popular name for many years now. I've also met a few young Adas recently.

Isla - love this name, and have done ever since I met my first Isla - in the mid 90s (she would have been born late 70s). But it has gone from being a rare name to massively popular and that would put me off. Iona, Orla, Eilidh, Ida have similar sounds/vibe and are less common.

Ruby - I like it but don't love it. Maybe feels a bit dated already.

Maeve - another I've loved since childhood, when I went to school with one. Was rare then, not so now but hasn't become as ubiquitous like Ava and Isla. I have only met one baby Maeve but several Otises - so I do associate it slightly with the Sex Education character now unfortunately but am sure that will diminish over time.

Thanks for this