Can you "review" these baby names?

One thing I very heavily consider when it comes to naming a baby, is how other people read it and percieve it. I don’t want my child to always have to “christina with a k” their way through life. No shade to anybody, just personal preference! I have a name that is mispronounced 99% of the time and I’d hate to curse my child the same hahaha

[name_m]Can[/name_m] you rate & review these names? Give me your honest impressions, thoughts, etc? No hard feelings. You’ll be a lot nicer than school bullies!

Girls:

[name_u]Willow[/name_u]
[name_f]Elle[/name_f]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]
[name_u]Roma[/name_u]
[name_u]Rain[/name_u]
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_u]Ari[/name_u]
[name_f]Elora[/name_f]

Boys:

[name_u]Beau[/name_u]
[name_u]River[/name_u]
[name_u]Jaime[/name_u]
Finn/Flynn
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m]
[name_m]Felix[/name_m]
[name_u]Lawrence[/name_u]
[name_u]Everest[/name_u]
[name_u]Rune[/name_u]

Bonus for either sex: I’ve grown to love [name_m]Oaken[/name_m] but can’t decide if it’s too trendy. Also…my name is linked to ‘Frozen’, but I’m not sure how strong the ties are between [name_m]Oaken[/name_m] and the movie lol!

Family is English/Scandinavian but baby will likely be raised primarily in [name_f]Canada[/name_f].

Thanks in advance!

These are wonderful choices!

I like [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Elena[/name_f], [name_f]Elle[/name_f] and [name_f]Elora[/name_f] best for girls and [name_u]Jaime[/name_u], [name_u]River[/name_u] and [name_m]Felix[/name_m] for boys.

I’m not sure about [name_u]Ari[/name_u] as a full name as it feels like a nickname to me but it does sound nice. I haven’t heard of [name_u]Rune[/name_u] before but I don’t dislike it.

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[name_u]Willow[/name_u]- lovely!! I knew such a cool, spunky kiddo with this name and she made me love it even more
[name_f]Elle[/name_f]- I’ve always found this name a bit unsubstantial. Perhaps perfect for the right person, but not my cup of tea
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]- so overlooked, especially as a first name!! So simple, sweet and beautiful.
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]- I really struggle to pronounce Aurora!! The double rs get me!
[name_u]Roma[/name_u]- lovely, but makes me think of tomatoes
[name_u]Rain[/name_u]- very sweet! Simple yet exciting and unexpected. I can imagine such a sparkly, cool kid with this name
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]- I fear there’d be pronunciation issues, as there’s multiple ways to pronounce it, but it’s a lovely name with a lovely look and meaning.
[name_u]Ari[/name_u]- short and sweet!
[name_f]Elora[/name_f]- I’ve always loved the sound of this one!! So pretty

Boys:

[name_u]Beau[/name_u]- I’ve never been a fan. It somehow sounds very… cheap? to me.
[name_u]River[/name_u]- such a sweet and down to earth name!!
[name_u]Jamie[/name_u]- very sweet and classic!!
Finn/Flynn- [name_u]Finn[/name_u] >>> [name_u]Flynn[/name_u] to me! [name_u]Finn[/name_u] is just so sweet and cuddly! I love it :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m]- a great classic!!
[name_m]Felix[/name_m]- fun, quirky but not too unexpected! I love it
[name_u]Lawrence[/name_u]- another lovely classic
[name_u]Everest[/name_u]- I feel like [name_u]Everest[/name_u] stands out a bit against the rest of your list, but that’s not a problem!
[name_u]Rune[/name_u]- I love the simplicity yet unexpectedness of [name_u]Rune[/name_u]! This name used to be high on my boy list, and I still adore him

As for Oaken… i think it’s lovely! Perhaps a bit trendy… but not overly. If it makes I feel better, I have seen frozen but don’t know (or don’t remember) how [name_m]Oaken[/name_m] relates to the movie.

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These are all gorgeous! I’ll start with the ones that have the most feedback (don’t got a ton of time now so I’ll post the girls ones now then more later)

[name_u]Roma[/name_u] - ok this is absolutely gorgeous but I think you should steer clear of this one. The [name_u]Roma[/name_u] or Romani people are a group of people that have history and currently face severe prosecution (they’re more well known by the slur g¥psy),because of the mistreatment against them historically and now, I don’t think this should be used. Again absolutely gorgeous name, would be on my own list if it weren’t for that

[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], I think she’s so so gorgeous. She’s currently rising the ranks and sits at 53 in [name_f]Canada[/name_f] and 31 in the US so if popularity is something you’d want to avoid it’s something to keep in mind. I’ve also found that [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] can be hard for some people to pronounce which is another thing to keep in mind. Either way I think it’s gorgeous

[name_f]Elena[/name_f] - I think [name_f]Elena[/name_f] is super super cute. It will probably get a ton of different pronunciations, in my language it’s an extremely common name and is prn as eh-LEHN-ah, but i know a lot of people say it differently, definitely something to keep in mind since that’s something you didn’t want

[name_f]Elora[/name_f] - Soooo pretty. Feels familiar but definitely not common, just in general a really gorgeous name. You also like [name_f]Elle[/name_f] and you could use that as a nn for this with is a bonus for me. It also has an intuitive pronunciation so you don’t have to worry about that

[name_f]Elle[/name_f] - Simple, gorgeous, elegant. [name_f]Elle[/name_f] feels understated yet classic and is extremely versatile, I really love [name_f]Elle[/name_f]

[name_f]Rose[/name_f] - A simple classic, you literally can’t go wrong with her. Plus [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] is super cute

[name_u]Rain[/name_u] - [name_u]Rain[/name_u] is trending real hard right now but it’s just so nice I can see why. It’s simple, easy to pronounce and remember, just a super nice name all together

[name_u]Willow[/name_u] - Another one that’s trending hard right now. I love how [name_u]Willow[/name_u] can feel so flowy and light or be edgy and a bit gloomy. It’s a real pretty solid choice

[name_u]Ari[/name_u] - A bit short for me, I’d prefer a longer name. Not my fav but it’s cute, I just prefer other things

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[name_u]Willow[/name_u] - one of my all-time favorite nature names, to the point that I’m a little sad it’s become so popular. Strongest associations for me are [name_u]Willow[/name_u] Rosenberg from [name_f]Buffy[/name_f] and Grandmother [name_u]Willow[/name_u] from the [name_f]Disney[/name_f] Pocahantas.

[name_f]Elle[/name_f] - I think it’s a cute nickname, but as a standalone name, it feels incomplete to me. Associations are [name_f]Elle[/name_f] [name_m]Woods[/name_m] and [name_u]Eleven[/name_u] from Stranger Things.

[name_f]Rose[/name_f] - a timeless classic that feels surprisingly fresh as a first name; these days it seems to be more common as a middle.

[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] - a gorgeous name with a beautiful meaning that has always been a bit difficult to say with my rhotic Rs. I have a friend who gave this name to her daughter without realizing it’s the name of a [name_f]Disney[/name_f] princess, and now everyone she meets thinks her daughter is named after Sleeping [name_f]Beauty[/name_f] - something to consider if that association bothers you.

[name_u]Roma[/name_u] - personally, I shy away from this one. [name_f]My[/name_f] first association is the [name_u]Romany[/name_u] people, so it might be worth liking into how they feel about it being used as a name. [name_f]My[/name_f] other association is tomatoes.

[name_u]Rain[/name_u] - a very pretty nature name that always makes me think of 90s anime protagonists with blue hair.

[name_f]Elena[/name_f] - definitely my favorite spelling of this name. I strongly associate it with the main character of the Vampire Diaries, played by the gorgeous [name_f]Nina[/name_f] Dobrev.

[name_u]Ari[/name_u] - this is another one that feels a little insubstantial to me, like more of a nickname for something longer.

[name_f]Elora[/name_f] - very pretty, like a character in a fantasy novel. It makes me picture rays of golden light.


[name_u]Beau[/name_u] - I used to have Thoughts about this name but they’ve become almost entirely eclipsed by the association with [name_m]Beauregard[/name_m] Lionett, a character from Critical Role. (That [name_u]Beau[/name_u] is a woman whose father wanted a boy.) However, it’s a bit of a stereotype where I’m from in the American [name_u]South[/name_u] of an old moneybags type - think [name_m]Colonel[/name_m] [name_m]Sanders[/name_m] meets [name_m]Ebenezer[/name_m] Scrooge.

[name_u]River[/name_u] - a gorgeous nature name, gentle and strong. I love it for any gender and think it would make a great sibling for a [name_u]Willow[/name_u]! Strongest associations are [name_u]River[/name_u] Song from [name_u]Doctor[/name_u] Who and [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_m]Tam[/name_m] from [name_u]Firefly[/name_u].

[name_u]Jaime[/name_u] - I will be honest with you, unless you live in an area that only says this name one way, I foresee a lot of pronunciation issues. I’ve known three people with this name and they pronounced it three different ways: JAY-mee, HI-may, and ZHEM (like the [name_u]French[/name_u] j’aime).

[name_u]Finn[/name_u] / [name_u]Flynn[/name_u] - Between the two, I prefer [name_u]Finn[/name_u]. It feels a little sleeker and more effortless, while [name_u]Flynn[/name_u] comes off more rakish, possibly due to [name_m]Errol[/name_m] [name_u]Flynn[/name_u] and the [name_u]Flynn[/name_u] [name_m]Rider[/name_m] character.

[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] - I am such a sucker for this name. It feels so sweet and bookish and earnest, and nickname [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] is just darling, while [name_u]Theo[/name_u] has a cool, confident vibe.

[name_m]Felix[/name_m] - this name always feels warm and cozy to me, like hot chocolate, a good book, and a purring lap cat. [name_m]Felix[/name_m] and [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] would make a stellar sibset.

[name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] - one of the few on your list that I truly don’t care for. I’ve never known a Lawrence/Larry/Lenny who wasn’t kind of gross.

[name_u]Everest[/name_u] - one of my favorites! This name really pleases my synesthesia and gives me the taste of crisp snow and fir trees on the wind. It has a beautiful sound, a strong nature connection, and aspirational connotations. What’s not to love?

[name_u]Rune[/name_u] - my favorite on your boys’ list, and a name that has a lot of personal and spiritual meaning to it. I also love the simple, strong, evocative sound.

[name_m]Oaken[/name_m] - greatly prefer this on a boy; it sounds very handsome and strong. [name_f]My[/name_f] first association is definitely [name_m]Thorin[/name_m] Oakenshield from The Hobbit rather than the Frozen character.


[name_f]My[/name_f] favorites from these lists would have to be [name_u]Willow[/name_u] from the girls’ (with [name_f]Elora[/name_f] and [name_f]Rose[/name_f] as runners up) and [name_u]Rune[/name_u] and [name_u]Everest[/name_u] from the boys’ (with [name_u]River[/name_u] and [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] as runners up).

[name_f]My[/name_f] least favorites would be [name_u]Roma[/name_u] for girls’ and [name_u]Beau[/name_u] and [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] for boys.

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[name_m]Hi[/name_m]! love these names!
I’d say the only ones with potential issues would be:
[name_u]Roma[/name_u] - tomato
[name_f]Elle[/name_f] - the letter “L” is commonly used to denote “loser” among children and teen circles. [name_f]Elle[/name_f] is a phonetic soundalike, so I can imagine children teasing “Elle the L” and stuff like that.
[name_u]Rain[/name_u] - perhaps a bit too nature-y and could be teased, also rhymes with pain if that’s an issue.

I can’t particularly see any issues with the boys ones, but not overly gone on [name_u]River[/name_u] and [name_u]Rune[/name_u].

Great list, however! It’s really good that you’re trying to identify potential issues now :blush:

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I’ve put down my thoughts and some things you might want to take into consideration?

[name_u]Willow[/name_u] - sparky, familiar but fresh, a charming choice

[name_f]Elle[/name_f] - sleek, simple and elegant. One thing to consider is that people might assume it’s a nickname

[name_f]Rose[/name_f] - sweet, stylish and classic! [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like nn [name_f]Rosie[/name_f]? That might be used

[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] - bright, celestial and princessy but frilly! It could be hard to say if anyone around you or the child themselves struggles with R sounds

[name_u]Roma[/name_u] - I like the sound and warmth - one thing to consider is that [name_u]Roma[/name_u] is used to describe Romani people. I do prefer [name_u]Romy[/name_u]

[name_u]Rain[/name_u] - outdoorsy, magical and fresh, I like it, though I can imagine a few people raising an eyebrow, and she might get weather references. Not a huge deal - I like it, as I say

[name_f]Elena[/name_f] - sweet and elegant, with a hint of flair but familiar too. You might want to consider how those around you pronounce it as I’ve know an Eh-lay-nuh and an Eh-len-uh like this

[name_u]Ari[/name_u] - sweet, nickname and sassy. Some might consider it incomplete/nicknamey? Not an issue for me though

[name_f]Elora[/name_f] - magical and lovely

[name_u]Beau[/name_u] - charming, handsome and distinctive!

[name_u]River[/name_u]- sleek and sharp

[name_u]Jaime[/name_u] - how would you pronounce this - like Jay-mee or the Spanish (Kie-muh) or the Portuguese (Zhye-mee or Zhiem?). I would use [name_u]Jamie[/name_u] for ease for the first.

Finn/Flynn - both of these are snappy and cool!

[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] - elegant and cool - do you like nicknames [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] and [name_u]Theo[/name_u]? I’ve only met one [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] who kept it as a full name

[name_m]Felix[/name_m] - cheerful, bright and zippy

[name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] - quite handsome and classic

[name_u]Everest[/name_u] - powerful and lovely - might cause a few raised eyebrows - not an issue to me

[name_u]Rune[/name_u] - warm and magical - but again, might confuse people if they don’t know it’s a name? Might not be an issue for you Scandinavian family

[name_m]Oaken[/name_m] is pretty cool and interesting - woodsy, earthy - I like it, maybe as a middle?

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I have a Frozen fan so I know there’s an [name_m]Oaken[/name_m] in it but wouldn’t automatically think of Frozen, and if your name is as common as [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] or [name_f]Anna[/name_f], you’re absolutely fine.
As long as it’s not a combination of the 5 main characters, or characters that stick together, I don’t think it’s an issue. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if you were an [name_f]Anna[/name_f] and wanted to use [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] I think people would notice but it would just be a funny coincidence, not like in a sibset? Especially with the more common names.

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Girls:

[name_u]Willow[/name_u] - I really like this name!
[name_f]Elle[/name_f] - this is a sweet name, but feels like a nickname to me rather than a full name.
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] - lovely, not really used as a first anymore but very well known.
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] - a very sweet name. I personally like the nickname [name_u]Rory[/name_u] for [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], but it’s not for everyone.
[name_u]Roma[/name_u] - as mentioned by others, my first thought would be [name_u]Romany[/name_u] people. But [name_u]Romy[/name_u] is a nice way to change up this name and get away from associations.
[name_u]Rain[/name_u] - this is a nice name, but does make me think of the rhyme ‘rain, rain, go away. Come again another day’. If this isn’t something used near you, then it won’t be an issue.
[name_f]Elena[/name_f] - a very sweet name.
[name_u]Ari[/name_u] - same with [name_f]Elle[/name_f], sounds like a nickname to me.
[name_f]Elora[/name_f] - a lovely name.

Boys:

[name_u]River[/name_u] - love this name.
[name_u]Jaime[/name_u] - I’d change the spelling to [name_u]Jamie[/name_u] if pronounced Jay-me.
Finn/Flynn - I love [name_u]Flynn[/name_u]! I prefer [name_u]Flynn[/name_u] to [name_u]Finn[/name_u].
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] - again I love this name!
[name_m]Felix[/name_m] - very cute
[name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] - a classic
[name_u]Everest[/name_u] - I really like this too.
[name_u]Rune[/name_u] - so my thoughts on this name are purely based on where I live. In some accents it’s lovely and works well. However, in my partners northern accent, it can sound like the word ruin. I would just say this one out loud and get friends to say it out loud to make sure they pronounce it right. Might be one that works well in your area, in which case this will be a non-issue.

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I will say I can easily see alternate spelling possibilities with some of these and could therefore see some of these becoming what you say you’re trying to avoid.

Ones I see doing This:
Elora
Ari
Rain
Roma
Jamie
Lawerence
Everest
Finn
Beau

I am the same about worrying about names that might be mispronounced, first impressions ect.

I look at your list and what stands out to me is [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] which can also be commonly spelt [name_u]Laurence[/name_u]. This would bug me the same way I love the name Catherine/Katherine.

Likewise [name_f]Elena[/name_f] although very beautiful, can often garner multiple pronunciations. Doesn’t have to be a deal breaker.

Another consideration that is important to ME is people assuming gender of my child incorrectly and how that is it’s own experience. I would be aware that a name like [name_u]Rune[/name_u], [name_u]Beau[/name_u] or [name_u]Jamie[/name_u] for example might lean boy to you but could leave someone else uncertain or with strong prior female associations. Not necessarily a bad thing, just feedback to consider when imagining how a name might work on a real life person.

[name_f]My[/name_f] favourites from your list are [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] and [name_m]Felix[/name_m].

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[name_m]Hi[/name_m] there.

Here are my thoughts-

Girls:

Willow-I go back and fourth on this one. I really like it for a middle name; I love the nature vibe. Something about it feels a bit trendy though, which makes it less special.

Elle-I love [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] as a nn for various ‘El’ names, but just [name_f]Elle[/name_f] is too incomplete.

Rose-I love the clean, classic romantic vibe. I don’t like the sound as much as I like this name in theory, but it’s lovely none the less.

Aurora-I think it’s pretty & bold & has cool Northern lights imagery. I just can’t say it that well! Maybe that’s a me problem; so many 'r’s next to each other.

Roma-It’s not unpleasant, but not my cup of tea. Feels a bit harsh & too tomato-y.

Rain-Cool as a middle name; a bit too hippy for a first name. I don’t think that I’d be disappointed at all though if I met a little [name_u]Rain[/name_u].

Elena-Very pretty & elegant.

Ari-This is my little boy kitty’s name, so it’s better for a boy in my opinion. I think maybe [name_u]Ariel[/name_u] or [name_f]Ariella[/name_f] nn [name_u]Ari[/name_u] is better for a girl.

Elora-Ooh, so gorgeous!

Boys:

Beau-Meh, I don’t know. Something about just the syllable ‘Bo’ as a name feels off to me. I know that it’s a totally legit name; I just don’t like the sound.

River-Beautiful…but in a masculine way! I love the nature imagery & it feels very much like a little boy running around playing in a creek. But also really easy to picture on a suave business man.

Jaime-This spelling feels weird. I’d prefer [name_u]Jamie[/name_u], but also prefer this for a girl. At very least, I’d do [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] nn [name_u]Jamie[/name_u].

Finn/Flynn-I don’t mind [name_u]Flynn[/name_u], but I’m in love with [name_u]Finn[/name_u]. It seems cleaner & just more charming.

Theodore-Handsome & adorable classic. A lot of great nn options too. I wish that it weren’t so popular.

Felix-I don’t know why, but this name feels goofy to me. I can’t get on board. I also see it on so many peoples’ lists, but it’s not that common in real life.

Lawrence-For some reason, I really need this to be spelled [name_u]Laurence[/name_u]. It looks cleaner & more Scottish-y.

Everest-I adore [name_u]Everett[/name_u], but [name_u]Everest[/name_u] feels a bit pretentious for some reason.

Rune-I don’t care for this. Reminds me of the word ruin.

Oaken-I looked this up on behindthename.com and it just says that it’s a name invented for the movie. Which makes me kind of not like it (Love the the movie…just not made up names.) I like [name_u]Oakley[/name_u] though!

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps. :slight_smile:

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Willow
- lovely, soft and dignified (and established enough now not to get too many confused responses - may get occasional [name_u]William[/name_u], [name_f]Milla[/name_f] or [name_f]Willa[/name_f] mishearing etc)
Elle - like the confident one syllable name but I prefer Eve or Elle as a nickname - it’s a bit too swallowed /limp for me.
Rose - love! One of my faves.
Aurora - a fave on here! I like it - nn [name_u]Rory[/name_u] is sweet - but too many R sounds for me to choose it - a bit like a dog bark
Roma - prefer [name_u]Romy[/name_u] or Romilly/Rosemary nn [name_u]Romy[/name_u], think of city of [name_u]Rome[/name_u] and [name_u]Roma[/name_u] / Romani people or “aroma”, nope for me
Rain - prefer [name_u]Reign[/name_u] for a boy. But screechy, “pain” sounding for me. Would go [name_f]Meadow[/name_f] or [name_u]Skye[/name_u] instead.
Elena - a sophisticated, international name. I prefer [name_f]Helena[/name_f] or even the tailored [name_f]Helen[/name_f] but I can see the appeal. You could use nn [name_f]Elle[/name_f] (or Leni). A girl in my class called [name_f]Elena[/name_f] had to correct us often for saying “Elayna” instead of “Elenna”. Might not be a problem in [name_f]Canada[/name_f] where more nationalities that use the name a lot.
Ari - prefer as nn for [name_u]Ariel[/name_u] or similar, I like [name_u]Ari[/name_u] for a boy.
Elora - lovely! This is a fave with [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_u]Willow[/name_u]. It’s an enchanting name to me. Might get mistaken for [name_f]Laura[/name_f] or other names but not enough of a risk to not use it!

Boys:

Beau - I don’t like this name. I can see why others do esp given meaning but I just don’t like the sound. Could get some teasing among buddies given the meaning depending on what kind of guys he hangs with but would still use if you love it!
River - really like this name (and to show my age, I’m a [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] fan), seems to be used more on gals these days (from the people I know, not sure if that checks out with the stats). It’s a handsome choice. [name_u]Will[/name_u] get some comments but less than ever before.
Jaime - much prefer [name_u]James[/name_u] nn [name_u]Jamie[/name_u] (and not sure about spelling [name_u]Jaime[/name_u] esp for a boy - would make me think it’s probably for a girl) or I might think it was J’aime (one syllable).
Finn/Flynn - prefer [name_u]Finn[/name_u] for a longer name (Finnian, [name_u]Finley[/name_u] etc). Don’t like [name_u]Flynn[/name_u]. The sound doesn’t appeal to me. But I get it has that soft, hip, gentleman feel.
Theodore - wonderful name but very overused these days - the [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] boys’ name of today. Prefer Edward/Edward/Edwin or even [name_m]Wilfred[/name_m]
Felix - still has the cartoon cat association for me but I do really like the name. [name_m]Feel[/name_m] like if you’re a charming, extroverted person it works but not so well on a timid and introverted boy.
Lawrence - prefer as a middle, don’t like the nicknames [name_m]Lawry[/name_m], [name_m]Larry[/name_m] or [name_m]Lars[/name_m] enough to use the name.
Everest - a handsome, outdoorsy and reliable name - like a lot
Rune - not style - and might get “rude” but overall prefer for a girl.

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My process in reviewing these was to rank them from least favourite to most favourite, give my first knee jerk impression and then additional thoughts.n mi

Girls:

  1. Elle. First thought: Elle Woods.
    I like short names. It feels ultra feminine, maybe a bit too distinctly so for my tastes. That being said, it’s a pretty name.

  2. Aurora. First thought: Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.
    I love that nn options could be Aura or Rory. Conjures images of both princesses and the Northern Lights. A really beautiful name, maybe too long and girly for my personal taste.

  3. Roma. First thought: Roma tomatoes.
    Honestly the fact that that comes to mind is why I’m ranking this at 7, because I LOVE Rome for a girl. I would use Rome, not Roma personally. But again, lovely name.

  4. Elena. First thought: The Vampire Diaries.
    Elena feels pretty close to perfect for me, it’s classic, has international appeal and also has the option of my all time favourite nn, Leni. It’s also a perfect length not too short not too long. I would rank it higher but I love your other options more.

  5. Rose. First thought: Um… roses lol.
    To me, Rose is the ultimate classic and I love that it’s becoming less of a middle name. I think it deserves the first name spot. Like Elle, it feels ultra feminine, but in a vintage way that I love.

  6. Willow. First thought: Grandmother Willow from Pocahontas.
    I love nature names and this one is really lovely. It feels both sage and wise but also young and cool. I love it, and actually have it on my own list.

  7. Ari. First thought: Dutch name.
    I love Ari so much. It feels light and bubbly but also kinda spunky and sparky. This seems to be a very popular name in the Netherlands, but for boys (seriously, six of my uncles and male cousins have this name.) I would love to see it used for girls.

  8. Elora. First thought: It’s on my list as a middle. My husband and I have chosen Elora as an honour name, and I just melt every time I see it. I love its meaning, to me it brings images of fairy lights and flowers and i just think it’s gorgeous.

  9. Rain. First thought: Also on my list as a middle. Rain to me is perfect. I love that it is a nature name, i like that it’s short, I love the images that come to mind, it’s gender neutral (which I love.) It’s just stunning.

Boys:

  1. Lawrence. First thought: A cross between an old man name and a frat boy name. Everything about it is unappealing to me personally. I don’t like Larry as a nn, and it just feels really dated.

  2. Everest. First thought: Mount Everest. As in can I mount Everest…Sorry, I know that’s crude and I cringe writing it but my friend named her daughter Harley and kids quite frequently tease her with “riding” remarks (she’s fifteen) So yeah, that’s what turns me away from it.

  3. Beau. First thought: Beau as in a boyfriend/ suitor.
    I like it. I think that it’s got a romantic, southern vibe and it feels like a solid name.

  4. Jaime. First thought: Main character from Outlander.
    I really like Jaime and even though it’s gender neutral, I actually prefer it for boys over girls. To me it feels kinda rugged and sporty. It’s possible that’s due to the association of Jaime Tartt from
    Ted Lasso. Still, I think it’s a great choice.

  5. Felix. First thought: Felix the Cat.
    I love Felix, it feels quirky and old fashioned but also kinda hipster. I like seeing it making a comeback.

  6. Theodore. First thought: lovely, old fashioned name.
    Theodore feels classic and really nostalgic to me. Theo or Tay-o as it is pronounced in Holland, is another family name and I love it just on its own. In saying that, Theodore is also beautiful.

  7. Finn/Flynn. First thought: Finn McCool/ Flynn Rider from Tangled.
    Due to these associations probably, I think of both names as kinda badass, warrior names. I quite like them both.

  8. Rune. First thought: Rune stones/ rune marks.
    I love this name so much. To me it has both a mythological and nature connection, which I love. It’s on my list as well. Lovely name.

  9. River. First thought: My all time favourite nature name.
    Like Rain, to me River is perfect. I love the length, the imagery, that it’s gender neutral, and of course that it’s a nature name. Love it.

*Oaken. I like that it’s unique but I’m not sure where to rank it. It doesn’t make me think of Frozen at all, but it does give me the sense of a made up fantasy name which I don’t love. I do however like the Oak part. I think if I were to go that way I’d prefer Oakley or Oaklen.

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Most has already been said, they are all lovely names. I just wanted to add a few things.

[name_u]Roma[/name_u] makes me think of tomatoes but school bullies probably won’t be that advanced.

I used to live on [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] St and ALWAYS had to spell it over the phone. If spelling is to be avoided maybe place it on the middle spot.

And I think the next generation will definitely think of [name_m]Oaken[/name_m] from Frozen, I do with my small kids, but he’s a nice character, you’ll just get a lot of “Yoo Hoo!”.

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Girls:

Willow - trendy cute name.
Elle - I think it’s gorgeous. Simple and ultra feminine. But maybe since they speak French in Canada, she will be basically named ‘Her’? Or ‘Female’?
Rose - Simple and gorgeous. Uhhh Elle-Rose… Rose Aurora Elle … etc :heart_eyes:
Aurora - I love it. Never thought this name would be bullied, but I saw a tiktok of a little girl named Aurora and the comments were brutal. The name bullying was insane. Most people thought the mom just named her little girl after a sound monsters make. edited: nah, I actually recently met a baby Aurora and it’s totally fine! I stand my ground - I love Aurora.
Roma - I think of the romani people
Rain - sweet and trendy
Elena - very pretty! I also love Eleonore, Elouise etc
Ari - nicknamey for me. I’d assume her name is actually Ariana
Elora - sweet

Boys:

Beau - I think it has it’s charm, but doesn’t beau mean ‘boyfriend/ sweetheart’?
River - handsome cowboy vibes
Jaime - Jamie Lannister. Not sure if it’s a good thing considering he had a relationship and kids with his twin sis. But maybe GOT popularity will fade?
Finn/Flynn - Flynn Rider/ a person from Finland. But overall I think Finn/ Flynn are handsome trendy names and I like them.
Theodore - I like it.
Felix - in EU it’s a popular Ketchup brand, but I think it’s fine.
Lawrence - handsome
Everest - handsome and trendy
Rune - trendy, but I think it’s an okey name.

Oaken - LOVE it! For me it has a Lord of the Rings connection (Thorin Oakenshield :crossed_swords::shield::deciduous_tree: ) and I’m a fan, so ya. :blush: I have seen Frozen a few times and I absolutely don’t remember someone named Oaken :smile::smile:

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I love these names and your taste!

Girls:

[name_u]Willow[/name_u] - I love the sounds and how easily it rolls off the tongue, however, I associate it as a name for a dog, because that is what I saw it on first.
[name_f]Elle[/name_f] - Short, sweet, to the point, and feels super ageless.
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] - Hard to miss with this name.
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] - This name is hard for me to pronounce and has strong [name_f]Disney[/name_f] connections for me.
[name_u]Roma[/name_u] - I associate it with [name_u]Rome[/name_u], Romania, and the tomato. But none of these things are inherently bad.
[name_u]Rain[/name_u] - I prefer that common word names are spelled differently than the word so that it can stand out as a name but, again, that is a me thing.
[name_f]Elena[/name_f] - I know that this name has multiple pronunciations so it would statistically probably be mispronounced a lot.
[name_u]Ari[/name_u] - [name_u]Super[/name_u] simple, and super sweet-sounding name. Might be assumed to be a nickname.
[name_f]Elora[/name_f] - This name gives me very feminine princess vibes.

Boys:

[name_u]Beau[/name_u] - I have only ever known this name on puppies, but I am sure it would be just as cute on a human.
[name_u]River[/name_u] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] this! probably one of my favorite nature names
[name_u]Jamie[/name_u] - Makes me think of [name_u]James[/name_u], and the TV show Outlander. Has a vintage vibe to me.
Finn/Flynn - No strong associations other than the [name_f]Disney[/name_f] ones.
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] - Makes me think of [name_m]Little[/name_m] Women and the US [name_m]President[/name_m]. Definitely expect nicknames with this one.
[name_m]Felix[/name_m] - This name has never been my favorite, the pronunciation just doesn’t sound nice to my ears, but I don’t have any associations with it either.
[name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] - Again, [name_m]Little[/name_m] Women.
[name_u]Everest[/name_u] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] this. Great nicknames and the name itself is pretty ageless and versatile.
[name_u]Rune[/name_u] - I have a hard time envisioning this on somebody, but it feels like it is brimming with middle name potential.

[name_m]Oaken[/name_m] - It doesn’t seem overly trendy to me at all. As someone who works with kids and has seen Frozen more times than the director himself, I definitely get the Frozen link, but it is a super vague one. I think more of the character from [name_m]Lord[/name_m] of the Rings.

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[name_u]Willow[/name_u] - 7/10
[name_f]Elle[/name_f] - 3/10
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] - 10/10
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] - 8/10
[name_u]Roma[/name_u] - 7.5/10
[name_u]Rain[/name_u] - 1/10
[name_f]Elena[/name_f] - 9/10
[name_u]Ari[/name_u] - 6/10
[name_f]Elora[/name_f] - 7/10

[name_u]Beau[/name_u] - 7/10
[name_u]River[/name_u] - 5/10
[name_u]Jaime[/name_u] - 6.5/10
[name_u]Finn[/name_u] > [name_u]Flynn[/name_u] - 6/10
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] - 9/10
[name_m]Felix[/name_m] - 7/10
[name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] - 4/10
[name_u]Everest[/name_u] - 2/10
[name_u]Rune[/name_u] - 6/10

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Girls: I would choose [name_f]Rose[/name_f] 100%, it’s elegant, timeless and classy without being posh, extra or having a difficult pronunciation, it’s also well known internationally.
[name_f]Elena[/name_f], [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] and, on a less degree [name_f]Elle[/name_f], are also nice names. [name_f]Elle[/name_f] sounds more like a nickname than an actual full name.

Boys: I like [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] and [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u], [name_u]Jaime[/name_u] isn’t my cup of tea but [name_u]James[/name_u] definitely is.

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[name_u]Willow[/name_u] - [name_u]Love[/name_u]. It’s very common (top 10) in my country, but still a sweet gentle nature name that feels bright and fresh; I’ve known some truly adorable Willows!
[name_f]Elle[/name_f] - This one feels a little incomplete to me, but I do like it - I think of the magazine and [name_f]Elle[/name_f] [name_m]Woods[/name_m] in Legally Blonde!
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] - Yes, yes, yes. [name_f]Rose[/name_f] one of my favourite favourite girls names, I just adore her!
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] - I appreciate the elegant princess vibe of this name, but I do find the double r sound a touch awkward.
[name_u]Rain[/name_u] - I like the bright outdoorsy vibe, but I have to say I’m not sure this would be the easiest name to live with
[name_f]Elena[/name_f] - Sweet, bright and lovely although I strongly prefer the Eh-LAY-nuh pronunciation
[name_u]Ari[/name_u] - Fun, strong and intriguing! It does sound like a nn but I could definitely get used to it as a full name
[name_f]Elora[/name_f] - Magical; soft, melodic princess name!
[name_u]Beau[/name_u] - I actually love this one, I think he sounds so dashing!
[name_u]River[/name_u] - I do see the gentle nature appeal - I think it would be stunning as a middle for one of your other choices and I love the connection to the [name_u]Joni[/name_u] [name_m]Mitchell[/name_m] song! It’s on my list as a middle for [name_m]Jacob[/name_m]
[name_u]Jaime[/name_u] - Nothing strongly against it (although the spelling might be tricky) but I do prefer [name_u]James[/name_u]
Finn/Flynn - I do like both these names, although they’re so short and soft they feel a little insubstantial. [name_f]Lovely[/name_f] nevertheless!
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] - I adore Theodore; so gentle and yet so strong. The popularity is thre only drawback but all nickname options (Theo, [name_m]Ted[/name_m], Teddy) are cute!
[name_m]Felix[/name_m] - Another yes; sweet, simple and strong; familiar but not overused - I would say you can’t go wrong
[name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] - I really like this one; a more unexpected classic with a gentle hint of little women (only drawback is that I do think of [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] [name_u]Fox[/name_u] :joy:)
[name_u]Everest[/name_u] - If you want something more unexpected this might be a good choice… I’ve definitely met one, but hopefully because of the mountain most people would be familiar with it? Personally I like if as a middle for [name_u]Flynn[/name_u]!
[name_u]Rune[/name_u] - Not a fan of this one; it feels a little incomplete, but I can imagine it being very cute on the right child