My list of names

[touchofevil]

Hi, This is my first post so I'm a little nervous!

I'm trying to choose a name for my first child. The possibilities are exhausting! I am trying to assemble a shortlist which I will then put to my partner's vote.
Here are the candidates so far. Please be gentle.

BOYS:
Alf
Arnold
Cyril (my favourite)
Dustin
Richard
George
Gay (like this because I can add 'e' at the end of its a girl)
Lemuel (or Samuel, can't decide which I prefer)

GIRLS:
Lougene
Gay (As above)
Valentine
Vivien
Selma
Susan

Also, My partner really likes dinosaurs so I would appreciate some suggestions in that style to add as an extra option. eg. Rex, etc.

You are seriously considering calling your son Gay?

Richard and George are good and Vivienne is nice.

How can you seriously consider Gay as a boy's name? Are you in England? Maybe it means something different in other countries??

OK, being gentle now....Cyril and Vivienne (not Vivien) get my votes.

Gay Rex clearly

I love the name Gay, It is such a carefree, happy name.
Torn between Gay and Cyril at the moment for my favourite at the moment.
You do not have to be gentle if you wish. I can tolerate criticism. As much feedback as possible would be preferred as I am finding it difficult!!
Cannot stand Vivien with the excessive 'ne' at the end.

I am Irish, sorry, really liking Valentine or Valentina for a girl but I think it is probably more of a foreign name.

I like Alf.
Not keen on any of the girly names though.

Yes.

Like Alf and Valentine.

'Gay' is the most frequently used 'insult' in schools these days -kids use it to mean crap, as in 'that's so gay' (charming I know). I REALLY wouldn't do it to child of either gender in the UK, s/he could expect a lifetime of jokes and teasing! I know a Gaynor who will back this up. She wanted to change her name throughout childhood and her teens but her mum wouldn't let her!!

Just realised you're not in th UK, sorry!! Maybe it's different in Ireland but unless you know that for sure (ask a teacher) I'd steer clear!

BOYS:
Alf - I like Alfie and Alfred is ok too; I dn't like Alf
Arnold - no
Cyril - no
Dustin - no
Richard - fine, sol-d name
George - like this
Samuel - much nicer than Lemuel

GIRLS:

Not keen on any of the girl options

Valentine is usually a boy's name I think. Like it for a boy in an 'out there' sort of way.

Dustin - know of a little boy with this very cool, IMO, name.

I implore you not to call your child Gay or Gaye. If they didn't get picked on or ridiculed in Ireland (which I doubt) then they certainly would in any other English speaking country if they ever wished to travel or live abroad.

Valentine is lovely.
You can't go wrong with George or Susan.

I have a friend who was called Gaynor who had a really nasty time at school where all the kids picked on her about her name. They called her 'the lesbian' or 'the gayer'. She changed her name as soon as she was old enough.

In fact I'll add to that - when I was very little we had a donkey called Gayboy. (He came to us for his retirement and already had the name) When kids at school found out his name they went on and on and on about my gay donkey. My point is that yes Gay does sound lovely if you think of it in it's traditional meaning BUT kids these days don't use or possibly even know that meaning. To them Gay is synonomous with lame, crap, unfair, stupid and rubbish.

And Dustin is too close to Dustbin, surely?

These are really unusual ones.

NOT Gay , but Gabriel is a lovely name (sadly, my DH rejected this, so I would guess even Gay won't stand a chance)

I like Samuel

What about Cyrus, instead of Cyril

Really sorry, I don't like any of your girls' names

Here are my suggestions, based on your taste :

Gabriel
David
Stanley

Joy
Lydia
Stella
Emma

Alf -- a rat from a TV show
Arnold -- LOVE
Cyril (my favourite) -- LOVE
Dustin -- Prefer Justin by a wide margin
Richard -- LOVE
George -- LIKE A LOT
Gay -- NOOOOOOOO WAY; this is an insult in Ireland too, some things are universal
Lemuel (or Samuel) -- Lemuel OK, Samuel GREAT

GIRLS:
Lougene -- How do you pronounce? What does it mean?
Gaye -- As above (Gay), sorry, no
Valentine -- Valentine is a boy's name, I knew a baby a long time ago in Ireland with this as a middle name. Valentina would be for a girl (which I LOVE)
Vivien -- LOVE
Selma meh, a bit like Thelma reminds me of names like Norma which is bleurrrrrgh
Susan -- LIKE

If you're in Ireland, there's the Gay Byrne factor, but I think a child would be in for a hard time in this day and age with the name Gay or Gaye. Gay Byrne's name was Gabriel (middle name Mary though...), and Gabriel would be fine, with Gabrielle or Gabriella for a girl.

I love Valentine for a boy of Valentina for a boy, and Ireland is full of names like Claudia, etc., which are not Irish either. Gabrielle or Gabriella are also 'foreign', so are Selma, Susan and Vivien, if you think about it. Same goes for Arnold, Cyril, Richard, George, and both Lemuel and Samuel..

Am trying very hard to make a case for Valentina for a girl here , and I love Arnold, Cyril, Richard and Samuel too.

Meant 'or Valentina for a girl'

Lougene - sounds like a toilet hygiene product

Echo the concerns on Gay - I mean not good for a girl but positively traumatic for a boy.

Like Valentine or Valentina and Susan but find most of the boys names a bit "meh". having said that I'm well out of touch with the best children are being called these days.

Nice one Cyril