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]… ?
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.
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]
[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.
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!
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]