Completely Lost - No Idea What to Name Our First

[emmaholden]

Hello!
I need your help! My husband and I are expecting our first child and we’re getting absolutely no where with names. I’m terrified of having a baby and not knowing what to name him or her. Help us!

My name is [name]Emma[/name], my husband’s name is [name]Ben[/name] ([name]Benjamin[/name]), and our last name is [name]Holden[/name]. We want to give our children classic, timeless names that will suit them in whatever they choose to do. For a girl, we would like a feminine but not frilly name that is sweet on a little girl and strong on a woman. For a boy, we’d like a masculine but not macho name that is, again, suitable at all stages of life. Cute nicknames are always a plus.

I can’t wait to see what names some fresh eyes can suggest for us.
Thanks in advance,
[name]Emma[/name] ”

[system]

[name]Welcome[/name] and congratulations! I’m not really sure what kind of name you are looking for since your description of what you are looking for is quite general.

Here are a few random ideas based on you and your husband’s names and your description:
girls:
[name]Cecily[/name]
[name]Clementine[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name]
[name]Augusta[/name]
[name]Henrietta[/name]
[name]Alice[/name]
[name]Lydia[/name]
[name]Zara[/name]

boys:
[name]Tobias[/name]
[name]Arthur[/name]
[name]Thomas[/name]
[name]Elias[/name]
[name]Byron[/name]
[name]Calvin[/name]
[name]George[/name]
[name]Louis[/name]

Anything hit the mark? Let us know any names you are considering and/or dislike so we can provide better suggestions. Good luck!

[lemon]

[name]Emma[/name] and [name]Ben[/name],

Your names are so very classic and sweet together! So, you want something similar for your child, right? Maybe a little less popular? Here are ideas:

[name]Alice[/name]
[name]Amelia[/name]
[name]Audrey[/name]
[name]Charlotte[/name]
[name]Caroline[/name]
[name]Celia[/name]
[name]Eloise[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name]
[name]Iris[/name]
[name]Isabel[/name]
[name]Julia[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Katharine[/name]
[name]Lucy[/name]
[name]Lydia[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name]
[name]Margaret[/name]
[name]Molly[/name]
[name]Mariam[/name]
[name]Natalie[/name]
[name]Olivia[/name]
[name]Ramona[/name]
[name]Rose[/name]
[name]Ruby[/name]
[name]Sarah[/name]
[name]Stella[/name]
[name]Susannah[/name]
[name]Tess[/name]
[name]Violet[/name]
[name]Victoria[/name]

[name]Alexander[/name]
[name]Albert[/name]
[name]Adam[/name]
[name]Christopher[/name]
[name]Christian[/name]
[name]Curtis[/name]
[name]Donovan[/name]
[name]Douglas[/name]
[name]Eliot[/name]
[name]Ethan[/name]
[name]Frederick[/name]
[name]George[/name]
[name]Henry[/name]
[name]Isaac[/name]
[name]Julian[/name]
[name]Joseph[/name]
[name]Jonathan[/name]
[name]Jack[/name]
[name]Lucas[/name]
[name]Leo[/name]
[name]Maxwell[/name]
[name]Matthew[/name]
[name]Michael[/name]
[name]Martin[/name]
[name]Nicholas[/name]
[name]Nathaniel[/name]
[name]Noah[/name]
[name]Oliver[/name]
[name]Peter[/name]
[name]Patrick[/name]
[name]Paul[/name]
[name]Russell[/name]
[name]Rhys[/name]
[name]Samuel[/name]
[name]Simon[/name]
[name]Sebastian[/name]
[name]Tobias[/name]
[name]Theodore[/name]
[name]Thaddeus[/name]
[name]Timothy[/name]
[name]Thomas[/name]
[name]Vincent[/name]
[name]Victor[/name]
[name]Wyatt[/name]
[name]William[/name]
[name]Wesley[/name]

My favorites for you - with [name]Holden[/name] - are marked in bold.

[name]Lemon[/name]

[Mischa]

[name]Hi[/name] [name]Emma[/name], well, you do have a lovely surname [name]Holden[/name] which is always a plus in naming a child . Here are some classic names for both genders. My faves are in bold! All the best!
Boy
[name]Oliver[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Jasper[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Charles[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]James[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Thomas[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Frederick[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Christopher[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Nicholas[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Samuel[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Gregory[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Isaiah[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Augustus[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Jude[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Alexander[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Dominic[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Anthony[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Everett[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Matthias[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Xavier[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Benedict[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
Girl
[name]Caroline[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Jane[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Matilda[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Claire[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Susannah[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Charlotte[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Cecilia[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Amelia[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Grace[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Annabel[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Maeve[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Catherine[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Diana[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Lucia[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Felicity[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Adeline[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Georgiana[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Margaret[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Abigail[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Julia[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Holden[/name]

[alexa400]

Girls:
[name]Alexandra[/name]: [name]Alex[/name]/[name]Alexa[/name]/[name]Lexi[/name]/[name]Ali[/name]/[name]Sandy[/name]
[name]Annabel[/name]: [name]Anna[/name]/[name]Bell[/name]/[name]Bella[/name]/[name]Ann[/name]
[name]Bianca[/name]: [name]Bee[/name]
[name]Camilla[/name]: [name]Millie[/name]/[name]Cami[/name]
[name]Carina[/name]
[name]Charlotte[/name]: [name]Lotty[/name]/[name]Lola[/name]/[name]Charlie[/name]
[name]Evelyn[/name]: [name]Eve[/name]/[name]Lyn[/name]/[name]Evie[/name]/[name]Eva[/name]
[name]Georgia[/name]
[name]Hannah[/name]
[name]Honor[/name]
[name]Hope[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name]
[name]Maura[/name]
[name]Mercy[/name]
[name]Patience[/name]
[name]Paulina[/name]: [name]Polly[/name]
[name]Philippa[/name]: [name]Pippa[/name]
[name]Ramona[/name]: [name]Mona[/name]/[name]Romy[/name]
[name]Susannah[/name]: [name]Susy[/name]/[name]Suki[/name]/[name]Anna[/name]/[name]Sunny[/name]
[name]Vivienne[/name]: [name]Vivi[/name]/[name]Anne[/name]

Boys:
[name]Abraham[/name]: [name]Abe[/name]
[name]August[/name]: [name]Augie[/name]/[name]Gus[/name]
[name]Arthur[/name]: [name]Artie[/name]
[name]Amos[/name]
[name]Charles[/name]: [name]Charlie[/name]
[name]Frederick[/name]: [name]Freddie[/name]/[name]Fred[/name]/[name]Red[/name]/[name]Rick[/name]
[name]Gideon[/name]: [name]Ian/name
[name]Graham[/name]: [name]Gray[/name]
[name]Hugo[/name]
[name]James[/name]
[name]Jasper[/name]: [name]Jazz[/name]
[name]Leopold[/name]: [name]Leo[/name]
[name]Lincoln[/name]: [name]Link[/name]
[name]Louis[/name]
[name]Milo[/name]
[name]Samson[/name]: [name]Sam[/name]/[name]Sonny[/name]
[name]Sebastian[/name]: [name]Seb[/name]/[name]Ian[/name]/[name]Ash[/name]
[name]Simon[/name]
[name]Wallace[/name]: [name]Wally[/name]/[name]Ace[/name]
[name]William[/name]: [name]Will[/name]/[name]Bill[/name]/[name]Liam[/name]

[leah_9]

Congrats on the baby! [name]Holden[/name] is a great last name and will flow nicely with lots of names

[name]How[/name] about:
[name]Amelia[/name] [name]Holden[/name] - nick name options [name]Mia[/name], [name]Millie[/name], [name]Amy[/name]
[name]Charlotte[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- nn [name]Lottie[/name], [name]Charlie[/name]
[name]Caroline[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- nn [name]Cara[/name], [name]Carrie[/name]
[name]Julia[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- nn [name]Jules[/name]
[name]Katherine[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- nn [name]Kate[/name], [name]Kat[/name], [name]Kit[/name]
[name]Genevieve[/name]- nn [name]Genny[/name], [name]Eve[/name], [name]Evie[/name]
[name]Isabel[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- nn [name]Izzy[/name], [name]Bel[/name], [name]Ibby[/name]
[name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- nn [name]Ellie[/name], [name]Nora[/name], [name]Elle[/name], [name]Nel[/name]

[name]Edward[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- nn [name]Eddie[/name], [name]Teddy[/name], [name]Ted[/name], [name]Ned[/name]
[name]Charles[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- nn [name]Charlie[/name]
[name]William[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- nn [name]Will[/name] or [name]Liam[/name]
[name]Dominic[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- nn [name]Dom[/name],[name]Nic[/name]
[name]Oliver[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- nn [name]Ollie[/name]
[name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- [name]Nate[/name]
[name]Graham[/name] [name]Holden[/name] - nn [name]Gray[/name]
[name]Lucas[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- [name]Luke[/name]
[name]Elias[/name] [name]Holden[/name]- nn [name]Eli[/name]
[name]Isaac[/name] [name]Holden[/name] - nn [name]Ike[/name]

[michaela]

Girls;

[name]Lillian[/name]/[name]Lily[/name]/[name]Lila[/name] [name]Rose[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Abigail[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name] [name]Miranda[/name] [name]Holden[/name] or [name]Miranda[/name] [name]Ivy[/name] nn [name]Mira[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Sarah[/name] [name]Catherine[/name] nn [name]Sadie[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Victoria[/name] [name]Emily[/name] [name]Holden[/name] nn [name]Tori[/name]
[name]Cassandra[/name] [name]Jane[/name] [name]Holden[/name] nn [name]Cassie[/name]
[name]Caroline[/name] [name]Louise[/name] [name]Holden[/name] nn [name]Carrie[/name]
[name]Zara[/name] [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Phoebe[/name] [name]Rebecca[/name] [name]Holden[/name]

Boys;

[name]Samuel[/name] [name]James[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Caleb[/name] [name]Benjamin[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Thomas[/name] [name]Adam[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Nathaniel[/name] [name]Jack[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Matthew[/name] [name]Ellis[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Dominic[/name] [name]Michael[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Spencer[/name] [name]Henry[/name] [name]Holden[/name]

[rollo]

I think [name]Katherine[/name] is one of those timeless names that never seems old fashioned.

[name]William[/name] is the same.

[system]

I adore so many of the suggestions so far!

A few more ideas:

[name]Peter[/name] - sweet on a little boy, but ages brilliantly, and a classic, but never boring. I find that it holds all of the same qualities as [name]Thomas[/name] (and is almost 150 places lower on the SSA list).

[name]Harriet[/name] - perennially popular here in [name]England[/name], and for good reason, but doesn’t even make an appearance on the SSA’s top 1000 in [name]America[/name]. Such a classic, certainly feminine but not at all frilly, and just look at the host of nicknames, which would suit all sorts of personalities and all ages - [name]Harri[/name], [name]Hattie[/name], [name]Happy[/name], [name]Etta[/name], [name]Ettie[/name].

[name]Mira[/name] - this sort of short, simple and sweet name does a very good job of being feminine without overdoing the frills, and also often seems to defy the ebs and flows of popularity which dates other names. [name]Nora[/name] has a similar feel.

[name]Sarah[/name] - such a classic. I know Sarahs of all ages, and it suits everyone. Plus, [name]Sadie[/name] is spunky and [name]Sally[/name] is vintage sweetness as far as nicknames go. I also love [name]Sara[/name] (SAH-ra, as opposed to SARE-a), but it is very open to mispronunciation.

[name]Julia[/name] has been mentioned, but I must remind you of the equally lovely alternative [name]Juliet[/name], and also the male equivalent [name]Julian[/name]. And if nicknames are important to you, the lovely [name]James[/name] can be not-particularly-shortened to [name]Jem[/name], which I think is very cool

Good luck!
[name]Auburn[/name]

[cressida]

[name]Both[/name] [name]Emma[/name] and [name]Ben[/name] share a classic feel, and they’re both names that get international usage. Other names along those same lines that come to mind for me are:

[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Julia[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Nina[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Serena[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Lydia[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Susannah[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Caroline[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Miranda[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Diana[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Sabrina[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Marina[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Flora[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Charlotte[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Sophie[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Viola[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Laura[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Matilda[/name] [name]Holden[/name]

[name]David[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Marcus[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Felix[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Victor[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Daniel[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Silas[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Joshua[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Charles[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Samuel[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Theodore[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]William[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Gabriel[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Thomas[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Arthur[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Oliver[/name] [name]Holden[/name]

**apologies for any repeats

[everwaiteing]

I love the style of names you described! It’s what I strived for in naming my children. You’ve received some great suggestions, but here are a few more. For girls, [name]Katherine[/name]/[name]Catherine[/name] and [name]Rebecca[/name] (my daughter’s name) are the first names that popped into my head when I read your name criteria (classic, feminine, not frilly, sweet on a girl, strong on a woman).

[name]Rebecca[/name] [name]Eve[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Rebecca[/name] [name]Claire[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Katherine[/name] [name]Emma[/name] [name]Holden[/name] (your name in the middle?)
[name]Katherine[/name] [name]Elise[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name] [name]Maeve[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name] [name]Jane[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Eva[/name] [name]Katherine[/name] [name]Holden[/name]

[name]Nicholas[/name] [name]James[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Raymond[/name] [name]Scott[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]James[/name] [name]Benjamin[/name] [name]Holden[/name] (your husband’s name in the middle?)
[name]Jonathan[/name] [name]Seth[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Oliver[/name] [name]James[/name] [name]Holden[/name]
[name]Christopher[/name] [name]James[/name] [name]Holden[/name]