[name_m]Hi[/name_m] - Our third child, a girl, is due in [name_f]April[/name_f] and we need some help narrowing down the name choices. We already have [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]. We are Australian, but my husband has Dutch heritage (hence [name_f]Saskia[/name_f]) and I have some Swedish ancestry (although primarily English/Irish/Scottish). Our last name is of Dutch origin, three syllables and ends in aas. We’re looking for something that will go as a sibset, and isn’t ridiculously popular (so nothing in the top 20).
Our current list is:
(Top two contenders) -
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] - I think this probably sits the best with our two other children’s names, but might be too popular? Currently sitting in the mid-30’s in the Australian top 100 list. It’s also a Shakespearean name and I have a Shakespearean name, so nice connection there.
[name_f]Estella[/name_f] - my best friend has a daughter called [name_f]Ella[/name_f]. Is this too close? I think we would do [name_f]Esta[/name_f] for a nickname.
(with [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] or [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] as a middle name. [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] was my [name_f]Nana[/name_f]'s name.)
The ‘B’ list:
[name_f]Freya[/name_f] (I don’t really love it, but could go there)
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f] (we both love this name, but I have a colleague/friend who also has an [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] and maybe too much ‘Ass’ sound with our surname and similar nickname to [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] ie Sassy/Asty)
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] (love this but it can sound a bit harsh when spoken in an Australian accent)
We would appreciate everyone’s thoughts. Is there a name we’ve missed?
Thanks everyone!
From your list, I like [name_f]Estella[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] best. I don’t think its too much of an issue and [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] is getting too popular for my taste. [name_f]May[/name_f] I suggest [name_f]Bianca[/name_f]? It fits very well with her siblings and it’s Shakespearean as well. [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] itself is also Shakespearean. Some names I think would fit in well with your sibset are [name_f]Lotte[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Bianca[/name_f] [name_f]Astrid[/name_f], and [name_f]Nina[/name_f] [name_f]Clementine[/name_f]. Good luck!
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_m]Leo[/name_m] and [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] are all way up there on my list - I absolutely [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] your taste!
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f], [name_m]Leo[/name_m] and… [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], [name_f]Freya[/name_f], [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] or [name_f]Iris[/name_f] work best in my opinion. [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] and [name_f]Estella[/name_f] feel too frilly and delicate next to your children’s gorgeous, strong, spunky names. For the same reason I would definitely go with [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] for the middle.
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] is beautiful and the Shakespearean connection to your name is a nice bonus. It’s quite popular but so is [name_m]Leo[/name_m] so I don’t think it matters too much. This is probably my first choice for you.
[name_f]Freya[/name_f] is a lovely name with a similar origin to [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] - they definitely feel like sisters. However, if it’s not your favourite I’d go for something else.
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f] is my top contender for another girl so obviously I adore it. There is a repeated -as- sound with [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] but I don’t think it’s a deal-breaker. This would be my second favourite for you.
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] is a bit more delicate than [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] and [name_m]Leo[/name_m] but it’s short, bold and unfrilly so I think it holds its own.
I love [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] and [name_f]Astrid[/name_f], specially the first one. I think it goes well with [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] and [name_m]Leo[/name_m], and, as pp noted, [name_m]Leo[/name_m] is popular too. [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] is lovely!
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f] and [name_m]Leo[/name_m] are so gorgeous together! My favorites on paper with sibs are [name_f]Freya[/name_f], [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], and [name_f]Astrid[/name_f]. But I think any/all work. I do love [name_f]Estella[/name_f] ‘[name_f]Esta[/name_f]’.
Lots of good suggestions too… i’ll add [name_f]Thea[/name_f], [name_f]Thora[/name_f], [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], [name_f]Viola[/name_f], [name_f]Minerva[/name_f], [name_f]Amara[/name_f], [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]. Good luck!
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone - [name_m]MAJOR[/name_m] HELP NEEDED! Our baby girl was born 21 [name_f]April[/name_f]. The day after she was born we decided she would be [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] and told everyone via Facebook. On day three I started doubting our choice. I think it was hearing people say the name, rather than seeing it written (I think it looks beautiful, stylish and spunky written). And we’re not sure about the nickname [name_f]Immy[/name_f] and Im (my brother is [name_m]Tim[/name_m]/[name_m]Timmy[/name_m] and his wife is [name_f]Emma[/name_f] so [name_f]Em[/name_f]/[name_f]Emmy[/name_f]) I think my husband still prefers one of our other choices - [name_f]Freya[/name_f] - and we’ve been debating whether to switch to that. We have 60 days to register the baby’s name in Australia, and we are currently at about day 44 - so 16 or so to go before we have to submit the paperwork to make her name official. So the clock is ticking. I’m not sure how to make the decision now and I’m worried that all the discussions and agonising has actually made me not love either of the names. We’ve watched movies with the different names in them (Down To You and [name_m]Fried[/name_m] [name_u]Green[/name_u] Tomatoes for [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] and The Year My Voice Broke for [name_f]Freya[/name_f]) and I’ve read lots of forums etc. We’ve even tossed a coin ([name_f]Imogen[/name_f] won). So even though I cringe when I hear [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] said sometimes, I’m not sure if I’m willing to give it up for [name_f]Freya[/name_f]. Our five year old daughter ([name_f]Saskia[/name_f]) loves the name [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] and is very attached to it. Ironically, our three year old son, when asked, says the baby’s name is [name_f]Freya[/name_f] (!). So we really need some urgent help - how can we make the decision? Am I being silly about [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] and should I just stick with it as it was the name I liked the most throughout the pregnancy and previous years, and I thought she looked like an [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] when she was born? Or should we go with the name my husband loves and which might sound better? And could be a better sib-set fit? Is there another name we should consider? Thanks for your help - we are really at our wits end.
