Halcyon and Octavia for my twin girls

[newtwinmummy]

I'm expecting non identical girl twins in September.

What do you think of the names Halcyon and Octavia? I know they are rare names and not everyone will like them.

Any ideas for middle names? I have to include Joan as a family name or something like this.

Crikey.

If I were about to give those names to twin girls, I would have to be very prepared to accept that people could consider me a bit of a ponce.

If you have thick skin, or don't mind being considered pretentious, that's fine - go for it.

While halcyon is a lovely word in its 'halcyon days' meaning, it also sounds like a mind altering drug or a dodgy nightclub. Beware.

Octavia always reminds me of an octopus at a piano . Not v glamourous!

Halcyon is terrible imho - sorry. Octavia is okay, though not a particularly pretty sounding name. Both of them combined with Joan sound plain daft - but obviously, choose what you want.

Halcyona is a name too, apparently.

There was a young woman called Joan on that documentary about Gypsy weddings. She was really beautiful and I thought the name was lovely on her - it's such an old woman's name but on a beautiful woman I thought it sounded really unusual - in a good way!

Sorry I'm really not keen on either of them. Sounds like you're trying too hard. If you do choose Octavia and Halcyon, I would go for very straightforward universally likeable middle names so your daughters can choose to go by those when they're older.

I was at school with an Octavia - she was only ever called Oci.

Halcyon is awful...

Or you could have Octavia and Halcyon as middle names.

Both terrible. Don't do it..... I presume this is a joke thread....

Of course she is joking.

Oh my goodness, I can't believe how rude some of these responses are. I starting to think the mumsnet name board should come with a warning to the effect that if you are not asking for opinions on plain names e.g. Jane, Susan, Amanda then expect to be annihilated (probably by plain-named members called Sue and Mandy I shouldn't wonder)

These names are to me quite unusual but in no way deserving of this kind of negativity, if you and your DH are able to agree on them and you raise your children with the confidence to carry them off and any ignorant comments that may come their way then go ahead! Its tough enough agreeing on one name (I'm finding this in any case) I can't imagine trying to find two!

They are fine by me, but you will need a lot of brass to go around introducing them to people as such.

I prefer names with obvious nicknames, what nicknames could you tolerate? Hal and Octy are obvious, but do you like?

That's what happens when you ask a bunch of strangers on the internet what they honestly think of your name suggestions: they tell you honestly what they think of your name suggestions.

Sedgie - if someone asks what people think of their chosen names, then it's only fair to expect honest answers! If anyone was to ask for opinions on Jane, Susan etc then you'd get an equal number of posts saying "boring".

There is a difference between honesty and just plain rudeness, though.

Halcie and Tavia would be the best nicknames, I think.

Just remember that the opinions voiced here are what people will be thinking and maybe discussing with their partners and friends after you have told them your name choices - they won't tell you to your face, but they will think them!

I think that if you just want people to say "not to my taste, sorry" you're really better off not asking.

well i know a little girl called freya Halcyon and she is lovely

i dont like octavia so much because of the car, but i think they are ok names, unusual but you can shorten them, give a plainer middle name to go with them etc

they are your babies, call them what you like!

Halcyon makes me think of a drug to make housewifes happy with their lot

Drug and Skoda

Honestly that is the first thing I think of.

Since Halcyon means "calm and tranquil" I fear you are stting yourself up to have a head swivilling brat who could give Damien a run for his money....

Octavia = car. People will think your twins were conceived on the back seat of your Skoda.

Halcyon is just terrible - really really bad.

I love them. However, I do think Halcyon sounds a bit too like the drug, so why not just go with the original you linked to - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcyone ?

Really like Octavia but sadly Skoda has marred it for me. How about Olympia?

Congratulations on your twins!