Looking for a name with distinction and depth for baby due in 2 weeks!

We don’t know the sex of the baby, so we need to think of names for both!

Girls:
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]–our top pick; middle would probably be [name_f]Louise[/name_f] (family name)
[name_f]Louise[/name_f]–I like this as a first as well, not sure about my husband. Having trouble finding a middle name that flows.
[name_u]Ariel[/name_u]–my husband loves this; I am ambivalent.
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]–a total wild card name for us, but we both actually really like it
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f]–another one we both like
My husband likes name likes [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Ivy[/name_f], which are nice but a little boring to me.
I like names like [name_f]Mallory[/name_f], [name_f]Magdalene[/name_f], [name_f]Phillipa[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Georgia[/name_f], (see my signature for more)
Some options we both like that would go in the middle spot: [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_u]Sequoia[/name_u], [name_f]Astra[/name_f]

Boys:
[name_u]Morgan[/name_u]–our top pick, but I’m not 100% sold on it like I am on [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_u]Reed[/name_u]–I thought we both liked this, but my husband confessed a few days ago that he feels it’s too cool-sounding. Reid is also an option–spelling would probably be determined by what name it is combined with; I like visual balance in my names.
[name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m]–he really likes it, plus it’s his grandpa’s name. I’m just not that into it =/ I do like Old Testament names, just not that one…I think it’s the Z that bothers me.
[name_u]Remy[/name_u]–a surprising suggestions from my husband…it’s growing on me.
He doesn’t like any of my other suggestions ([name_m]Calvin[/name_m], [name_m]Reuben[/name_m], [name_m]Abram[/name_m], [name_u]Jude[/name_u], or see my signature for more), and we’re having trouble coming up with any other boys names that we both like! Whenever we discuss boys names, we end up talking about girls names–I think those are just easier/funner for us.

I read a blog recently that talked about the difference between distinctive and uncommon names*, and I think we prefer distinctive names. I want something that is distinctive and that has depth (of meaning, history, or family connection), but that is “blank” enough that our child has space to color that name with his/her personality. I don’t like names that sound like they are trying too hard. I’m not sure what my husband likes/wants in a name…he is constantly surprising me =P

*Pregnancy, Parenting, Lifestyle, Beauty: Tips & Advice | mom.com

Well I think your girl choices are great! [name_f]Olive[/name_f] is beautiful. Second to that I love [name_u]Ariel[/name_u] and [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]. What about [name_f]Aurielle[/name_f]? And of your middle choices I definitely prefer [name_f]Astra[/name_f] & [name_f]Clara[/name_f] over [name_u]Sequoia[/name_u] or [name_f]Louise[/name_f].

Too bad your DH doesn’t like most of your boys names - I really like [name_m]Calvin[/name_m], [name_u]Jude[/name_u], [name_m]Reuben[/name_m] & [name_m]Holden[/name_m]! Of the ones he likes I think my fave is [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m]. I honestly don’t see the appeal of [name_u]Remy[/name_u]! I prefer [name_u]Reid[/name_u] over [name_u]Reed[/name_u] and [name_u]Morgan[/name_u] is too unisex for my taste.

I love love love. [name_f]Olive[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]! I also love [name_u]Remy[/name_u]. But for me, I’d use it for a girl. I like [name_u]Reed[/name_u] as well. I think [name_u]Remy[/name_u] [name_u]Morgan[/name_u] or [name_u]Remy[/name_u] Eziekaial would work, I also think [name_u]Reed[/name_u] Eziekial sounds fine. congrats on your new addition.

Thank you @katieydenberg! [name_f]Aurielle[/name_f] is too close to two friend’s daughters’s names ([name_f]Aurora[/name_f] and [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f]) and a family member’s name ([name_f]Arielle[/name_f]). I don’t know why [name_u]Ariel[/name_u] feels “removed” enough, but it does =P Maybe it’s where the syllabic emphasis is placed.

I actually meant to put that [name_u]Reid[/name_u] is an option for [name_u]Reed[/name_u] as well. I don’t really have a preference either way; I think it would matter more what name it was combined with, for a sort of visual balance. Normally I’m much more of a stickler when it comes to name spellings, but I’m kind of OK with either. And I know what you mean about the unisex side of [name_u]Morgan[/name_u]…honestly, I’m surprised it doesn’t bother my husband more! (but apparently [name_u]Morgan[/name_u] is an X-[name_m]Man[/name_m] name? so that makes it OK…I guess [name_u]Remy[/name_u] is an X-Men name as well, haha!) [name_u]Morgan[/name_u] isn’t my favorite, but it’s my favorite of the ones that we agree on!

He wants to call [name_u]Morgan[/name_u] “Morg” and [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] “[name_m]Zeke[/name_m]”. My thoughts on those nicknames aside…maybe he likes distinctive names that can be shortened to a tough-sounding nickname?

From your list, I love:

[name_u]Morgan[/name_u]
[name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] ([name_m]Zeke[/name_m] is a fantastic name)

[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Louise[/name_f]/[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f]

Sorry, but I am not a fan of [name_f]Olive[/name_f].

Probably. Or you can look through names that come from fantasy/comics/video games etc, if he’s swayed by the X-man factor - though those might be too out-there for you.

I like [name_f]Olive[/name_f], [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], [name_u]Reed[/name_u] and [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m].

I love all of your girls names except [name_u]Ariel[/name_u] —*too Disney / [name_u]Ariel[/name_u] [name_f]Sharon[/name_f] too me. I’d rather see [name_f]Arielle[/name_f], [name_f]Ariella[/name_f] or [name_f]Ariane[/name_f].
My favorites are [name_f]Louise[/name_f] and [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]. [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] or [name_f]Louise[/name_f] [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] would be gorgeous!

For boys, I love [name_u]Remy[/name_u] best. I suggest [name_u]Remy[/name_u] [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] (family names are ALWAYS a plus) or [name_u]Remy[/name_u] [name_u]Morgan[/name_u].

Some ideas (based on the names you like):
[name_f]Livia[/name_f]
[name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f]
[name_f]Poppy[/name_f]
[name_f]Daisy[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgiana[/name_f]
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Livia[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Sophronia[/name_f]
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Amalia[/name_f]
[name_f]Odile[/name_f]
[name_f]Ottilie[/name_f]
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]
[name_f]Amabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Annabel/name_f
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f]

[name_m]Ronan[/name_m]
[name_m]Roman[/name_m]
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]
[name_u]Rohan[/name_u]
[name_u]Roan[/name_u]
[name_u]Rory[/name_u]
[name_m]John[/name_m]
[name_m]Julian[/name_m]
[name_m]Abel[/name_m]
[name_m]Axel[/name_m]
[name_m]Calum[/name_m]
[name_m]Louis[/name_m] —*to honour the [name_f]Louise[/name_f] in your family
[name_m]Ezra[/name_m] —*alternative to [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m]
[name_m]George[/name_m]
[name_m]Malcolm[/name_m]
[name_m]Charles[/name_m]
[name_u]Elias[/name_u]
[name_m]Ivor[/name_m]
[name_m]Riordan[/name_m]

What about [name_m]Malcolm[/name_m]? Its distinguished & you get the cool nickname “[name_u]Mal[/name_u], means Bad, in the Latin” and there’s a connection to Firefly/[name_f]Serenity[/name_f] your husband might approve of. Plus the human rights activist [name_m]Malcolm[/name_m] X. Its not too far of a jump for you if you already like [name_u]Morgan[/name_u].

I really like [name_u]Morgan[/name_u] for a boy. Since you like [name_u]Remy[/name_u], maybe you’d like [name_u]Rory[/name_u] as a nickname for [name_u]Morgan[/name_u]? Slight stretch, but I like it. (unless your friend’s daughter goes by [name_u]Rory[/name_u])

I like [name_u]Morgan[/name_u] [name_u]Reed[/name_u]/[name_u]Reid[/name_u], and [name_u]Remy[/name_u] [name_u]Morgan[/name_u]… the only name I don’t care for is [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m]. :confused: if you don’t love it now, I wouldn’t try to convince yourself.

A few other ideas: [name_m]Desmond[/name_m] ‘[name_m]Dez[/name_m]’; [name_u]Dexter[/name_u] ‘[name_m]Dex[/name_m]’; [name_m]Declan[/name_m] ‘Dec’/’[name_m]Dex[/name_m]’; [name_u]Everett[/name_u] ‘[name_m]Rhett[/name_m]’; [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] ‘[name_u]Spence[/name_u]’; [name_m]Vincent[/name_m] ‘[name_m]Vince[/name_m]’; [name_m]Truman[/name_m] ‘[name_m]Tru[/name_m]’; [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m] ‘[name_m]Linc[/name_m]’; [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] ‘[name_u]Van[/name_u]’; [name_m]Evander[/name_m] ‘[name_u]Van[/name_u]’; [name_m]Oscar[/name_m] ‘[name_m]Oz[/name_m]’; [name_m]Conrad[/name_m]/[name_m]Conall[/name_m] ‘[name_u]Con[/name_u]’.

For girls, [name_f]Olive[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] is very cute! If you want distinction and depth though, I think [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] wins. [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] [name_f]Ruth[/name_f]/[name_f]Ruth[/name_f] [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]? Any love for [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] or [name_f]Aster[/name_f] as a first?

I love [name_f]Arielle[/name_f] (w/this spelling…it shifts the pronunciation a bit, too). [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] is also gorgeous! [name_u]Morgan[/name_u] and [name_u]Reed[/name_u] are nice, and [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] is a smoother option than [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m], albeit lacking your family connection. Some more boy options: [name_m]Clive[/name_m], [name_u]Rhys[/name_u], [name_m]Cabot[/name_m], [name_u]Spencer[/name_u], Ashford, Ariston (an ancient Greek name I love).

@sugarplumfairy,

Ooh I do love [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f], and [name_u]Remy[/name_u] [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m]/[name_u]Remy[/name_u] [name_u]Morgan[/name_u] are great combos as well! I agree family names are always a plus. I’m sure I would be more open to [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] if it was from “my side”…I love his grandpa and would love to honor him, but would feel more “comfortable” with one of my grandpa’s names, does that make sense? But grandpas aside, the Z in [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] does bug me–it’s just not a name I ever pictured on “my” child. But neither is [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] or [name_u]Ariel[/name_u], for that matter. (I agree [name_u]Ariel[/name_u] is too Disney, but he really loves the name)

Thanks for your added suggestions. My favorites are [name_f]Poppy[/name_f], [name_f]Astrid[/name_f], and [name_f]Clementine[/name_f]; [name_m]Abel[/name_m], [name_m]George[/name_m], [name_m]Julian[/name_m], and [name_m]Charles[/name_m].

What a great suggestion!

@emsky,

Yeah I know what you mean about not trying to convince myself, but on the other hand…I’m sort of feeling like I should “give” this one to my husband. He hasn’t asked for much during this pregnancy, I’ve been making most of the plans/decisions, and it’s one meaningful way that he can involve himself in this process. I dunno.

Thanks for your suggestions. I really like [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m] and [name_m]Evander[/name_m]. I do also have love for [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] and [name_f]Aster[/name_f]! My concern is the “ass” sound–easy target? And yeah [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] is really growing on me, and combining it with [name_f]Ruth[/name_f] does help ground it…but I would love to hear more of your thoughts on the distinction and depth of [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] versus [name_f]Olive[/name_f]. One of the reasons I love [name_f]Olive[/name_f] is because of how ancient the fruit is. It makes me think of Bible times ([name_u]Noah[/name_u]'s ark and the olive branch, anointing with oil, etc.). As far as I can tell, [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] was pretty much made up for a literary character, although it is based on a Greek word…but it is so pretty!!

Thanks for your suggestions, @rkrd! We already have a family member named [name_f]Arielle[/name_f] (but not one that I would want to honor with a name…nothing against her, she’s extended step family so we’re not super close but we do see her often enough at family gatherings).

I think the problem I have with [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] is the Z, which is still a problem in [name_m]Ezra[/name_m]! I do like how it is softer though…but I think if we’re going Old-Testament-starts-with-E-and-has-a-Z, we’ll go with [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] because of the family connection. Also my husband said he just plain old likes the name, grandpa aside.

I love your boy options! So handsome and distinguished =) I’ve got to bring up some one-syllable boy names to my husband; I wonder if that’s where we’ll find our “sweet spot.”

I love [name_u]Jude[/name_u] for a boy what a shame your husband doesn’t! Have you thought about [name_u]Noah[/name_u]? [name_m]Just[/name_m] read what you said about [name_u]Noah[/name_u] and the olive branch and it’s such a lovely name.

For girls I love both [name_f]Olive[/name_f] and [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], I think they are both distinctive and [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] can be easily grounded with a classic middle name like [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] as mentioned, [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] or [name_f]Rose[/name_f]…

Thanks for your suggestions, @lily79! I hadn’t thought of [name_u]Noah[/name_u] before, but I do like the connections between [name_u]Noah[/name_u] and the olive branch! 2 concerns: 1) is it getting too popular? and 2) our last name starts with “wine”…does the “wuh” sound of [name_u]Noah[/name_u] sound silly with the “wah” of WINE? Yes [name_u]Jude[/name_u] is SO cool…sigh.

[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] is growing on me so much, especially, as you point out, with a more grounded middle name. So pretty! I love that you mentioned [name_f]Rose[/name_f]…recently my husband said that [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is “pretty much a given” for a middle name, which I thought was funny because we hadn’t [name_u]EVER[/name_u] discussed it, but it is a beautiful name AND it’s my sister’s name! (my sister is [name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f], so obviously her name is being taken into high consideration for a namesake).