I've had the scan, feeling happy, it's time to post my name list, I warn you, it's poncy...

[Bumperlicious]

So excited to finally be able to post this! Just had my 12 week scan so feeling much happier after some early bleeding. This is my current list (note my list - DH doesn't necessarily agree with me on these).

I'm looking for opinions and inspiration based on the things I like. I can't take your ribbing, I've already had DD's name described as sanitary-wear on here

Boys:

Raphael
Emmanual
Reuben
Otis (actually this is DH's choice)
Soren
Theodore
Jonah

Isadadora
Clementine
Seraphina (I don't think I would ever actually use this one, but I like it)
Beatrice
Ondine
Betty/Bettina

I like all of these but none of them jump out at me yet, so I need your validation or new ideas.

Hit me with it

Emmanuel is divine

Serpahine/Seraphina lovely, too

Betsy or Bess much nicer than Betty, imo

Beatrice was the 132nd most popular girl's name in England and Wales in 2008, with 403 girls being given this name.

So not exactly up there with Olivia (5,317 girls named this that year) but not exactly rare, either.

Clementine is much rarer - 564th most popular name and 64 little girls named this in 2008.

I like all of them but especially Soren.

Thanks for the stats Bonsoir. Feel better now.
I love Clementine too actually.

Constance is a lovely name and somewhere between Beatrice and Clementine in the popularity stakes - 264th most popular, 184 little girls.

gingerbreadlatte I love Beatrice and it's on my shortlist if I have another girl (expecting twins in june), as is Clementine.
DD1 is called Cecily which I think goes well with Beatrice.

Ok dizzy, here goes:

Beatrice is a fave of mine, but worried it may be a bit boring. Clementine I also really like but am thinking a bit 'of the moment' and quite a tough name to carry off for the child. Both these are MN faves on this thread.

Seraphina seems to be a love it/hate it, and while I love it I don't think I am brave enough to carry it off. Similar for Isadora.

Ondine might just be a little ugly, and not nice associations.

Betty I really like, Bettina has mixed reviews but I really don't want to go for Elizabeth as it is my mum's name.

Options you have given me which I like are Delphine, Celia/Cecilia/Cecily variations I also really like. Also liking Raphaella.

On the boy front, opinions weren't so polarised. Emmanuel and Theodore not popular and I am inclined to agree.

Raphael might be a little too poncy for us, though it was a MN fave, along with Reuben.

Jonah was quite popular, but more that lots of people 'liked it' rather than loved it (apart from LG&T who's response I gave a 4 which may have bumped it up ). Was a fave of mine but I'm starting to think it is a bit 'meh'

Otis and Soren are still in the running, both from MN and for me. Not been much offered in the way of boy alternatives from you guys, so chop chop!

Apologies for the over use of the word fave! Have enjoyed this thread, it's been really nice, seems there has been (mostly) something for everyone.

A few more to add that I kinda like, I mentioned Claudia, also like Maeve, but may be a bit 'old lady' trendy.

A bit of background on us is that DH and I are both from working class backgrounds, but are realistically middle class now based on our education/jobs. We are neither posh nor common in manner and outlook, but live in a posh town. Our friends are similar to us, none particularly posh or common and baby names range from classic e.g. Hannah, to trendy e.g. Esme, to unusual, Livia. However my sister appears to have been bought up in a different world to me and is threatening to call my impending nephew Preston or Hunter , so that rules those off my list

There you go - information overload, but don't stop, am enjoying this

Did you not go for my suggestion of Otto then?

I love a good baby name thread, well done you

my current faves from yours would be

Beatrice
Cecelia nn cece
Delphine
Claudia

are celeste & cordelia no nos?

am loving Imogen, Penelope, Saskia & Arianna at the minute

would you consider Bethan/Bethany instead of Elizabeth? Bettina doesn't do it for me for some reason

I loved Clementine and wanted to use the nn Cleo for it (know thats a bit of a stretch but never mind) but DH refused to name a child of his after a fruit

DH not keen on Celeste or Cordelia, me neither really.

Don't really like Otto either. Can't really explain why, sorry!

Imogen I have liked for years but a bit popular I feel and Immie as a nick name is a bit cringey.

I really should look at the stats before declaring popularity though, I'm mostly basing my views on what I've seen from MN!

Linus for a boy?

Imogen is 33rd with 1,710 girls named this in 2008.

And I agree - Immie (or Ima) is awful.

I would use Mim or Mimi for a nn

Camille is pretty
Corinna nn Nina

Mine are

DD1 Sophie (12) didnt realise how popular it would be, she is ALWAYS one of many.

I would never have used this if i had known. I am Lydia, so always use to be quite unusual for my era (old as hills emoticon)

DD2 Renee, said Renay. Renee Adrienne

DD3 Madeline Rose

DD4 Beatrice Ava.

i liked soo many others (sigh) Ottilie, Elsie, Iris and Florence being top. DH would not agree. In the end it was between Matilda and Beatrice. He loved Beatrice where as i liked both so Beatrice won. Dh suggested tossing a coin

your girls have lovely names lydle

The way i look at names is: a name that can carry through life, so nice as a baby/child, ok as a teen and then imagine the name as an adult professional ie "hello this Dr Lydia blah blah blah here" (not that i am far from it !) but does it work ??

I think my name only just works - not sure about baby Lydia ? But can imagine myself in a home playing bingo as granny Lydia

We call Beatrice Bea, never beattie as someone said the other day !!!!!! NEVER.

I chose ours so the girls could have choices - I always hated my name and never felt it suited me so I didn't want out dds to be the same

fortunately I have a very tolerant DH

we used the Tesco test - if we would be too embarrassed to shout it down the aisle in Tesco then it wasn't a choice!!!

Thanks Dizzie - i think so.

Renee was in hospital yesterday and the recovery nurse said Renee what a pretty name and she pulled a face. i have never asked her but said dont you like it she said no.

I dont think many people like their name.

I think mine is ok.

I like the Tesco test

Raphael - no
Emmanual - yes
Reuben - no
Otis (actually this is DH's choice) horrible
Soren - no but tis a cool character in Lauren Child
Theodore - love it
Jonah - terrible

Isadadora - love, love, love it if you get it right!
Clementine - hate it
Seraphina (I don't think I would ever actually use this one, but I like it) - no but v good character in Philip Pullman
Beatrice - love it
Ondine - awful
Betty/Bettina - no but Betty could be nn for Beatrice if you wanted, I guess

Emmanuel and Isadora

Just outside top 100 will do for me, I like it. it suits her now.

I quite liked Ava as a first name and Dh said it was hitlers gf's name, but said eva, it put me off.

MrsvWoolf, i vaguely remember from a previous thread that your dc's have lovely names . . . are you prepared to share again to remind me ????

who all really interesting. i think i clementine and theodore

my poor DD due end my is going to have a pretty boring one in comparism, hannah, katie,lucy , sophie etc

safe, tradition and prob overused but when DS is james can't go for anything to out there

congrats on ok scan though