So, I finally got my list down to 4 names that I really, really like
Ansley Grace
Isla Rose or Isla Grace
Phoebe undecided on middle name, but I usually drag out the middle name until it’s time to sign the BC!
Arabella Rose or Arabella Grace
I love Ansley so much. I love that it’s unique without being overly weird. My only problem is that -ley names have been played out for some time now. I wish it were less common. Ansley actually hit the top 1000 before Ainsley arrived on the scene and took off a bit. I hate that the one teen mom that everyone hates gave her daughter name Ensley which is so close to Ansley. I don’t want people to associate the name with that lady.
I love Isla Rose, but I sort of like it as a double barrel name. However, I worry that I’ll have to constantly remind people to use it as a double barrel. I don’t know if my child would like it when she went to school. Thoughts? I do look Isla alone, but prefer it as a double barrel I live in The States for reference. My only problem is that I worry over time I won’t love the name the same way. I don’t like names like Ida, Ira, or Eva because they feel very cold to me. If that makes any kind of sense.
I don’t love Phoebe, but there are things about it that I strongly like about it. It’s not super common although common names are not an issue for me. I just wish it were more girly sounding. It feels fresh and fun to me. Not weird, but also unexpected.
Arabella is another I love and I like the option of a full name and the name Bella or even Ari (that would be pushing it, I think. It does feel a little pretentious though. LIke sickly sweet or Disneyish. I still obviously like it.
My favourites from your options are [name_f]Isla[/name_f] and [name_f]Arabella[/name_f].
Have you considered using [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] as a middle? I think [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] or [name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] would be lovely.
[name_f]Ansley[/name_f] is nice, just doesn’t have the same spark to me as your other names.
they’re all beautiful names
maybe wait till your baby girl is born and see what she looks like (I don’t quit understand it because they all kinda look the same)
but
[name_f]Arabella[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is pretty mine is [name_u]Madison[/name_u] [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and my little sister’s [name_f]Italy[/name_f] [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
Ansley is very pretty but I also like [name_f]Braelynn[/name_f] rae/tate it’s very cute
I would scrap [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]. I love it, but you obviously don’t, and it’s not worth settling on something that isn’t really for you. [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] is frilly, yes, but it’s beautiful, and easily wearable (I know a few). I don’t think it sounds stuck up - and [name_u]Ari[/name_u] isn’t a reachy nickname! If you really want [name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] as a double barrell, you can easily throw in a hyphen ([name_f]Isla[/name_f]-[name_f]Rose[/name_f]), which seems to solve your problem rather easily. It’s not my style, but lovely nonetheless. I wasn’t aware with the teen mom lady, so it doesn’t concern me. I think the one question you have to ask yourself is “if I named my daughter [name_f]Ansley[/name_f], would I be constantly reminded of my negative associations?”. If you would, it’s a concern, and might not be the one. Otherwise, though not for me, it seems like the one for you.
My favorite is [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]. I don’t think it’s all that pretentious. [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] is a bit frilly, but it’s still a well-known name. I think it’s pretty.
I also agree with scrapping [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]. It seems like your least favorite
I’ve scrolled through your older posts and I think that [name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is perfect with big brothers’ names! I’d suggest having it as a fn mn instead of a double barrel, and then call her either [name_f]Isla[/name_f] or [name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] - that way she can choose which she prefers.
My favorite is definitely [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] but if you don’t love it I wouldn’t use it. [name_f]My[/name_f] second choice would be [name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] followed by [name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f].
My favourite is [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] (definitely not pretentious) but [name_f]Ansley[/name_f] seems like the one for you. I’m not aware of this teen mum and I’m sure many others wouldn’t pick up the association. I’m sure the association you hold with the teen mum will fade and you’ll begin to think of your beautiful daughter when she is born.
This is a tough one! [name_f]My[/name_f] personal favorite from your list is [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]–I agree with you that it’s a great name!–but you just don’t sound excited about it. So I’d be inclined to scrap that one.
I like [name_f]Isla[/name_f], and [name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is a pretty combo. I think it’s very doable as a double barreled name if that’s your preference; it’s short and sweet and they flow nicely together. You might have to remind some people, but I think in general it wouldn’t be a big issue.
I don’t find [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] pretentious, but I do find it a little…princess-y maybe? That’s not a bad thing, though! It’s a really beautiful name.
I think [name_f]Ansley[/name_f] is my favorite overall for you. It’s a really sweet name and you just sound so excited about it! I’m vaguely, but only very vaguely, aware of the association you mentioned; I don’t really think it would be a big issue. So that would be my top pick for you, and then I think [name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f].
Isla [name_f]Rose[/name_f] sounds beautiful. I do think you could get away with a double barrel name. You’ll probably introduce your daughter out loud much more often than in written for so people will hear “[name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]” as one name.
It does sound like your favorite is [name_f]Ansley[/name_f] though I wouldn’t worry about trends if it’s the name you love.
If you like the nickname [name_u]Ari[/name_u] you could consider [name_f]Ariela[/name_f]/Ariella.
Isla [name_f]Rose[/name_f] sounds like the right name for you!
I sometimes watch the [name_u]Dallas[/name_u] Cowboy Cheerleader show and someone in the most recent season is named [name_f]Alora[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]. This is either a double first name, or she goes by her first and middle name. Either way, it feels natural on the show. I don’t think anyone accidentally says [name_f]Alora[/name_f] on it’s own.
Love [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] myself! [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] or [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] are both pretty. I also like the idea of [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] [name_f]Ansley[/name_f] or [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]? If [name_f]Isobel[/name_f] wasn’t my favorite girls’ name, [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] would probably be on it; I’m a huge fan, and I surprisingly love [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]!
Regardless, it seems like [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] isn’t a huge love, so maybe it’s not the best choice? [name_f]Isla[/name_f] is super pretty, but I can see your concerns for it; it is quite popular at the moment so if you’re going for rarer, I think [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] might be the ticket? I know a cute little [name_f]Arabelle[/name_f] so it really doesn’t seem all that crazy or pretentious to me, but I can see how it would be if you’ve not seen it used in real life. Plus, [name_u]Ari[/name_u] and [name_f]Bella[/name_f] are two of my favorite nns of all time.
Phoebe is my favourite, but it doesn’t sound like it’s yours. I also like the suggestion of [name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]. However, [name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is the one I’m drawn to for you. You could hyphenate or accept that you might have to remind people to call her [name_f]Isla[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] instead of just [name_f]Isla[/name_f] sometimes. She may also choose just to go by [name_f]Isla[/name_f] (or [name_f]Rose[/name_f]) herself whether you hyphenate or not.
Have you ever considered [name_f]Annalise[/name_f]? After reading your list, I feel like it meets all of the criteria you love about your four names, without having the drawbacks that are holding you back from committing:
It is unique like [name_f]Ansley[/name_f] (and even sounds a bit like it), but is not overly weird and doesn’t end with -ley or have the connotation you are concerned about.
It is essentially a double barrel name ([name_u]Anne[/name_u] + [name_f]Elise[/name_f]), but since it’s blended into one you wouldn’t have to worry so much about people cutting your child’s name short.
Like [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], [name_f]Annalise[/name_f] is unique, but not weird. At the same time, it’s more feminine sounding than [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], in my opinion.
I think [name_f]Annalise[/name_f] has the elegance of [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] without the potential pretentious vibes it can give off. It also has several fun nickname options ([name_u]Anne[/name_u], [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Annie[/name_f], [name_f]Elise[/name_f]).
Another thing I love about the name [name_f]Annalise[/name_f] is that there are several spelling options to choose from, so you can pick a spelling that fits the vibe your going for.
I’ve never just recommended one name based on someone’s list, but I just got strong [name_f]Annalise[/name_f] vibes when I read your post.
I wouldn’t worry about trends if it’s the name you love.