Classic vs. Cool: Can we have both?

Girl Names
1

My husband and I are undecided on a few baby names. My list is incredibly long for both girls and boys, but I’ve managed to squeeze it down to a few for each. Please let me know what you think of the names. We can’t seem to agree on one solid name.

Thanks!

Boys:
[name]William[/name] (call him [name]Liam[/name])
[name]Hudson[/name]
[name]Max[/name] (thinking just [name]Max[/name] or possibly [name]Maxton[/name])
[name]Knox[/name]
[name]Jude[/name]

Girls:
[name]Alexis[/name]
[name]Audrey[/name]
[name]Lyric[/name]
[name]Harlow[/name]
[name]Emerson[/name]
[name]Logan[/name]

2

The only name I would recommend not using is [name]Logan[/name] on your girls list just because it is pretty popular as a boys name and that may cause confusion and complications for her. You have some great names though. My favorites are [name]Jude[/name] and [name]Harlow[/name]! (which would be a rockin’ sibset too ;))

3

[name]William[/name] ([name]Liam[/name]) - I like this one, the name [name]William[/name] is strong and classic and the nn [name]Liam[/name] is awesome!
[name]Hudson[/name] - While I like this name it seems super trendy recently
[name]Max[/name] - Have always had a soft spot for this name, it sounds good on a baby, a teenager and an adult.
[name]Knox[/name] - It’s okay
[name]Jude[/name] - Not my favorite on your list
For the boys, my favorites on your list are [name]William[/name] called [name]Liam[/name] and [name]Max[/name]

Girls:
[name]Alexis[/name] - Pretty, the little girl named [name]Alexis[/name] that I know is sweet
[name]Audrey[/name] - Absolutely adore, it’s a great name!
[name]Lyric[/name] - No, this is the type of name that you use in the middle, nobody is going to take her seriously when she is applying for a job
[name]Harlow[/name] - It’s okay
[name]Emerson[/name] - It’s okay, to me it sounds more like a boy name, but I am not into unisex names
[name]Logan[/name] - Please do not name your daughter this, [name]Logan[/name] is a boy’s name. She would probably get teased all the time.
From your girls list my favorites are [name]Alexis[/name] and [name]Audrey[/name].

4

[name]William[/name] & [name]Liam[/name] - both are too overdone right now for me, but this is a popular classic, not a trend, so you can’t go wrong with [name]William[/name] if you don’t mind the popularity. It’s a nice, timeless name.

[name]Hudson[/name] - This is more of the trendy type, especially with the -son ending, and therefore nms.

[name]Max[/name] - another one that is way too popular for me to use. It doesn’t have the same timeless feel as [name]William[/name], either. It’s also the #1 dog name. I wouldn’t use it but it is a perfectly fine name. However I would make it short for something, for lots of reasons but mainly to give your child more versatility as he grows. [name]Maximus[/name] is a good long form with a lot of history that sounds more antique than [name]Maxwell[/name].

[name]Knox[/name] - I like the sound of it, and for me it has a Dead Poets Society association, but the overwhelming connection is Brangelina. In any case to me there is just something unappealing about it.

[name]Jude[/name] - Seeing a lot of use nowadays, but for good reasons. It has a great sound, masculine but not aggressive, it’s got a lot of history and literary cred, plus it’s the name of a saint. This is your best bet for classic and cool in one name, and my favorite of your boy choices.

[name]Alexis[/name] - I don’t think this one wears well. It will always be an 80s soap opera name, [name]IMO[/name]. It seem dated and a little low-brow to me.

[name]Audrey[/name] - Not really my style but I completely understand why people like it and use it. It’s inextricably tied to Ms. Hepburn, so it comes with a sleek, retro-cool vibe built in, while still being a classic. This is your classic/cool girls choice, and the best of those you’ve listed.

[name]Lyric[/name] - I like many word names, and this one is ok. But I’m just afraid it’s going to go the way of [name]Destiny[/name] and [name]Diamond[/name] and seem very dated and deflated very quickly. If you’re looking for classic, look elsewhere.

[name]Harlow[/name] - The sound is nice (like the -ow ending), the association with [name]Nicole[/name] [name]Ritchie[/name] is less nice. These surname names for girls… I just don’t know that they’re going to hold up. To me they’re already losing their freshness.

[name]Emerson[/name] - See above, but subtract points for the trendy -son ending. It’s also got the very popular [name]Em[/name]- intro, so I understand the appeal. I just see this dating fast as well. It’s a surname, not a girl’s name.

[name]Logan[/name] - Please please no. LOL! This is probably my least favorite trendy name of all time. It’s bad enough for boys, but when I hear it for a girl I die a little inside. It is so not a girl’s name.

Those are my opinions, fwiw. [name]Jude[/name] & [name]Audrey[/name] are best.

5

My girls list is ridic long…I’ll put some more…

[name]Lilah[/name]
[name]Stella[/name]
[name]Ava[/name]
[name]Harper[/name]

6

Well for boys

[name]William[/name] - I absolutely [name]LOVE[/name] [name]William[/name]. But I’m not personally fond of [name]Liam[/name].
[name]Hudson[/name] - Really cute
[name]Max[/name] - [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Max[/name]. Better than [name]Maxton[/name] imo
[name]Knox[/name] - Cute, but might be considered “trendy” since this name is used for celebrities kids
[name]Jude[/name] - Really adore

As for the girls
[name]Alexis[/name] - Not really my style
[name]Audrey[/name] - Absolutely [name]ADORE[/name] this name
[name]Lyric[/name] - Not really my style.
[name]Harlow[/name] - Also super cute. But again might be considered “trendy” since it was used for [name]Nicole[/name] [name]Richie[/name]'s kid
[name]Emerson[/name] - I love it on a girl
[name]Logan[/name] - NO, this name sounds better for a boy.

7

Boys:
[name]William[/name] (call him [name]Liam[/name]): Classic and with the right nn. it can be cool. I would use [name]Wim[/name] as nickname.
[name]Hudson[/name]: I imagine a strong man with great value. Not classic but definitely cool.
[name]Max[/name] (thinking just [name]Max[/name] or possibly [name]Maxton[/name]): simply [name]Max[/name] isn’t enough. [name]Maxton[/name] is nice but not classic. [name]Max[/name] can be cool.
[name]Knox[/name]: [name]Fort[/name]. Not classic but cool
[name]Jude[/name]: not classic, but cool. It’s simple but strong.

Girls:
[name]Alexis[/name]: reminds me of “lexus” the car. bit trendy compared to [name]Alexandra[/name].
[name]Audrey[/name]: bit trendy but beautiful namesake with Hepburn.
[name]Lyric[/name]: possible future stripper name. Much prefer [name]Lyra[/name].
[name]Harlow[/name]: sounds like “how low” not classic definitely cool. Such a soft sweet sound.
[name]Emerson[/name]: guys name. neither classic nor cool
[name]Logan[/name]: guys name. neither classic nor cool

I like [name]William[/name], [name]Hudson[/name], [name]Jude[/name] & [name]Audrey[/name], [name]Harlow[/name], ([name]Lyra[/name]).

I think you can have both cool and classic. [name]William[/name] does this best. The nns make it much more accessible.

Some suggestions:

[name]Arlo[/name]
[name]Caspian[/name]: nn. Casp
[name]Raphael[/name]: nn. Raphe
[name]Theodore[/name]: nn. [name]Theo[/name]

[name]Anastasia[/name]: nn. [name]Ana[/name]
[name]Cordelia[/name]: nn. [name]Cora[/name]
[name]Leocadia[/name]: nn. [name]Leo[/name], [name]Cady[/name], [name]Ada[/name]
[name]Victoria[/name]: nn. [name]Vita[/name]

8

[name]Lilah[/name] - Crazy overused right now. That double L sound is super trendy, and the more trendy something is the more dated its gonna eventually sound.

[name]Stella[/name] - I love this name. Its popularity keeps me from using it, but I am admittedly sensitive to popularity. I don’t think this one is insanely overdone, and it’s really lovely.

[name]Ava[/name] - Speaking of insanely overdone… LOL! This is done to death. You may not mind popular names but I’d urge you to stay out of the top 20 at least. [name]Ava[/name] is pretty but she will likely be one of three in every class.

[name]Harper[/name] - This is too popular for me, too. It’s a nice name, but for me it lives in the no-man’s land of too masculine for a girl and too feminine for boys.

Of all your girls names so far, [name]Stella[/name] gets my vote by a mile.

9

Oh wow, I never thought of [name]Lyra[/name] but I really love that. Thanks for the suggestion!

10

I like only [name]Max[/name] from your boy’s list and only [name]Audrey[/name] from your Girl’s list. Sorry!

11

I actually adore your boys list!

[name]William[/name] [name]Knox[/name]!
[name]Hudson[/name] [name]Jude[/name]
[name]Jude[/name] [name]Knox[/name]
love love love!
Not a big fan of [name]Max[/name], but that’s because of dog connections.

For your girls I really love [name]Audrey[/name] and [name]Lyric[/name].
The others aren’t really my cup of tea.
But [name]Lyra[/name] is one of my silent loves.

12

I think [name]Audrey[/name] is both cool and classic. It has a sleek, fashionable feel with a great namesake! Out of your boys names, my favorite is [name]Jude[/name] but I’m a bit biased as its my sons name. It’s familiar but not common, short and strong, and purely masculine.

13

I have a daughter named [name]Audrey[/name] and a son named [name]Jude[/name], so those are definitely my favorites! I think they definitely fit the bill of being classic and cool at the same time. They both have long histories, good namesakes, but are also very pretty/handsome and work on a child of today and not just an older person.

14

I love [name]Alexis[/name] from your girl’s list. It’s the name of my best friend, who is such a good person and really makes me love the name. She goes by [name]Lexi[/name].

As for classic and cool, I must suggest [name]Tabitha[/name] or [name]India[/name].

15

Boys:
[name]William[/name] (call him [name]Liam[/name])

Girls:
[name]Alexis[/name]
[name]Stella[/name]

As a teacher, let me just say all boys called [name]Max[/name] seem to be little challenges from my experience.

16

I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Lyric[/name], but I have that same worry about people not taking her seriously.

17

I am a teacher as well…some names I really loved have been “ruined” for me…haha! And some kids have made me love my names even more. I haven’t had a [name]Liam[/name] or an [name]Audrey[/name] so I’m holding out for those as they are my favorites. Thanks for the opinions–you all have been so helpful! [name]Liam[/name] and [name]Audrey[/name] are winning for now. [name]Alexis[/name], [name]Harlow[/name], [name]Max[/name] and [name]Jude[/name] are close behind if we happen to have more than a boy and a girl :slight_smile: