Dang..starting over. Trying to love...

With help from this forum, I had what I thought was a lovely list of names to share with DH. He disliked almost all of them. Among others:

  • [name_f]Alice[/name_f] - DH said all he could think of was [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_m]Cooper[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Seren[/name_u] - couldn’t get past sarin gas
  • [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] - just wrinked his nose and asked if I made it up
  • [name_f]Elani[/name_f] - said everyone will assume she’s greek (which may be true), or Hawai’in

He wasn’t thrilled by, but didn’t necessary veto outright:

  • [name_f]Thea[/name_f] - except “th” may be hard to pronounce by his Chinese family
  • [name_f]Ada[/name_f] - except the only [name_f]Ada[/name_f] he knows pronounces it “[name_m]Ah[/name_m]-da”, which we both dislike (we prefer “Aid-a”).

Names he did like, and I’m trying to love:

  • [name_f]Helene[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Helena[/name_f] but for various reasons we can’t use it. [name_f]Helene[/name_f] is ok, I just don’t love it
  • [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] - I can’t get past Frozen and the meaning “pledged to God” really bothers me given our religious preferences (or non-preferences?)
  • [name_u]Josie[/name_u] - I love this name, but dislike [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and the meaning of [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] (again linked to Jehovah). I’m considering [name_f]Jocelyn[/name_f], which I don’t like as much but she could then go by [name_u]Josie[/name_u] and not have everyone assume she’s a [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]… ?

Any ideas / suggestions?

Names similar to others you liked:
[name_f]Mia[/name_f]
[name_u]Delaney[/name_u]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Serina[/name_f]/ [name_f]Sarina[/name_f]
[name_f]Joelle[/name_f] (for [name_u]Josie[/name_u])
[name_f]Althea[/name_f] (relatives could call her [name_f]Ally[/name_f] to get around the ‘th’ sound, you could call her [name_f]Thea[/name_f])
[name_f]Giada[/name_f] (pronun [name_u]Jay[/name_u]-da gives Aid-a nn)

Other names: [name_u]Aubrey[/name_u]
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] (for [name_u]Josie[/name_u])

If you went with [name_f]Jocelyn[/name_f], maybe spelling her nn [name_u]Josie[/name_u] as Jocie would help? I also don’t assume that someone with the name [name_u]Josie[/name_u] is automatically a [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]… there are many who’s name full name is [name_u]Josie[/name_u]. So I wouldn’t worry about that assumption if you love the name [name_u]Josie[/name_u].

[name_f]Elodie[/name_f], [name_f]Ada[/name_f] and [name_u]Josie[/name_u] are some of my favourite names as well! I have to admit that I prefer [name_u]Josie[/name_u] over any elaboration too. [name_f]Jocelyn[/name_f] could definitely work! Perhaps in the topic of [name_f]Elsa[/name_f], you’d like [name_f]Elsie[/name_f]? It it more of a nicknamey-type name, but perhaps with an elaboration like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Elsbeth[/name_f] or [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]? Or perhaps you’d like [name_f]Esme[/name_f] too! Perhaps you’d like [name_f]Alana[/name_f], [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] or [name_f]Gemma[/name_f] too?
You could also use [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], [name_f]Adelyn[/name_f] or [name_f]Adamine[/name_f] to get to [name_f]Ada[/name_f] as a nickname.
I agree with the other berry who suggested [name_f]Althea[/name_f] to get to [name_f]Thea[/name_f]!
Good luck! [name_f]Hope[/name_f] you find “the name”!

As for [name_u]Josie[/name_u], you could just name her [name_u]Josie[/name_u]. I think it’s sweet on its own. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like [name_f]Josette[/name_f] or any of the other [name_u]Jo[/name_u] names? For [name_f]Ada[/name_f], the ah-da you know shouldn’t worry you–most people will pronounce it ai-da.

Suggestions:
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u] - You could call her [name_u]Josie[/name_u] for short?
[name_f]Tea[/name_f]
[name_f]Edie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ida[/name_f]
[name_f]Ilsa[/name_f]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
[name_f]Tess[/name_f]/[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_u]Isa[/name_u]
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]
[name_f]Nina[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f]
[name_f]Lena[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f]
[name_f]Luna[/name_f]
[name_f]Mia[/name_f]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
[name_f]Iva[/name_f]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]/[name_f]Rosie[/name_f]
[name_f]Adela[/name_f]
[name_f]Selma[/name_f]
[name_f]Ines[/name_f]
[name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Maia[/name_f]
[name_f]Ebba[/name_f]
[name_f]Tuva[/name_f]
[name_f]Greta[/name_f]
[name_f]Mira[/name_f]
[name_f]Lotte[/name_f]/[name_f]Lottie[/name_f]
[name_f]Esther[/name_f]
[name_f]Imogene[/name_f]/[name_f]Imogen[/name_f]
[name_f]Sabine[/name_f]/[name_f]Sabina[/name_f]
[name_f]Alma[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Ella[/name_f]
[name_f]Una[/name_f]
[name_f]Orla[/name_f]
[name_f]Etta[/name_f]
[name_f]Fay[/name_f]
[name_f]Mae[/name_f]/[name_f]May[/name_f]
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Cora[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Ione[/name_f]/[name_f]Iona[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonie[/name_f]
[name_f]Mona[/name_f]
[name_f]Maude[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]

I love the name [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] so it’s a shame your husband doesn’t.
Suggestions:
[name_f]Mia[/name_f]
[name_f]Leah[/name_f]
[name_f]Hope[/name_f]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleanora[/name_f]
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Liana[/name_f]
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]
[name_f]Sienna[/name_f]
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f]
[name_f]Bronte[/name_f]
[name_u]Kennedy[/name_u]
[name_f]Joy[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f]
[name_u]Harper[/name_u]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f]
[name_f]Francesca[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]

Lots of ideas to ponder! Thanks again ever so much, berries!

What about:

[name_f]Amelia[/name_f]/[name_f]Amalia[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f]
[name_f]Leontine[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Hilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Alberta[/name_f]
[name_f]Rena[/name_f]
[name_f]Louise[/name_f]
[name_f]Anna[/name_f]
[name_f]Dorothea[/name_f]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]
[name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Emma[/name_f]
[name_f]Tilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f]
[name_f]Meta[/name_f]
[name_f]Susie[/name_f]
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f]
[name_f]Antonina[/name_f]
[name_f]Emily[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonore[/name_f]
[name_f]Rhea[/name_f]
[name_f]Maida[/name_f]
[name_f]Audra[/name_f]
[name_f]Adele[/name_f]
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u]
[name_f]Claire[/name_f]
[name_f]Sidonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Adeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Therese[/name_f]
[name_u]Piper[/name_u]
[name_f]Hannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f]
[name_f]Molly[/name_f]
[name_f]Sophie[/name_f]
[name_f]Mila[/name_f]
[name_f]Lisette[/name_f]
[name_f]Mitzi[/name_f]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f]
[name_f]Mariel[/name_f]
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Evie[/name_f]
[name_f]Johanna[/name_f]
[name_u]Lisa[/name_u]
[name_u]Mattie[/name_u]
[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f]
[name_f]Elvira[/name_f]
[name_f]Abigail[/name_f]
[name_f]Millie[/name_f]
[name_u]Marion[/name_u]
[name_f]Julia[/name_f]
[name_f]Sadie[/name_f]
[name_f]Katrina[/name_f]
[name_f]Annie[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]
[name_f]Rachel[/name_f]
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]
[name_f]Rebecca[/name_f]

[name_f]Helene[/name_f] and [name_u]Josie[/name_u] are beautiful! I don’t think [name_u]Josie[/name_u] needs a longer form. [name_f]Jocelyn[/name_f] is pretty, though.

So sorry you’re having such trouble! Maybe one of these names will be the one:

[name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f]Adeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Gemma[/name_f]
[name_f]Wendy[/name_f]
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Sadie[/name_f]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_u]Demeter[/name_u]
[name_u]Marian[/name_u]
[name_f]Elsie[/name_f]
[name_f]Grier[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f]
[name_f]Flora[/name_f]
[name_u]Raven[/name_u]
[name_f]Katrina[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwen[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]

Good luck!

[name_f]Elaine[/name_f] is a name that popped into mind, reading your names.

[name_f]Elowen[/name_f]
[name_f]Melody[/name_f]
[name_f]Mallory[/name_f]
[name_u]Meredith[/name_u]
[name_f]Natalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Alicia[/name_f]
[name_u]Sasha[/name_u]
[name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonora[/name_f]
[name_f]Amy[/name_f]
[name_u]Jody[/name_u]/[name_u]Jodie[/name_u]
[name_f]Justina[/name_f]
[name_f]Joy[/name_f]

I love [name_f]Josette[/name_f] and the previous suggestion of [name_f]Joelle[/name_f] nn [name_u]Josie[/name_u]. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help- good luck!

I have a weird mix for you

Lousia
[name_f]Katya[/name_f] (watch some of the drag queens videos if you need to double check the pronounciation)
[name_f]Katherine[/name_f]
[name_f]Bethany[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucille[/name_f]
[name_u]Allison[/name_u]
[name_f]Lucia[/name_f]
[name_f]Clary[/name_f]
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Melina[/name_f]
[name_f]Nettie[/name_f]
[name_u]Kaye[/name_u]
[name_f]Fia[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]