Names on our list for future children - opinions?

General Name Discussion
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I posted this on the thread for mothers who are just curious, but thought I’d give it a wider audience, so to speak :slight_smile:

We have the names for our twin girls all wrapped up, but I was wondering what your thoughts were on the names we have picked out for future children. We will be leaving it at least four years between having the twins and adopting again, but we will adopt again - ideally, we would like two more children (probably both boys or both girls), unless we are matched to another sibling group, in which case that number could change.

Starred names are family names.

Boys :
[name]Arthur[/name] [name]Earnest[/name]* [name]Cloud[/name]* nn [name]Art[/name] - [name]Cloud[/name] is bizarre, I know, but has family significance, and I’d consider spelling [name]Earnest[/name] like that to give it a virtue connection … What do you think?
[name]Henry[/name] [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]George[/name]*

But there’s also [name]Benjamin[/name] and [name]Frederick[/name] … The problem is I thought we loved [name]Benjamin[/name] enough that the popularity wouldn’t bother me, but I find myself hearing it everywhere, and liking it less and less because of that :frowning:

Girls (we have four names … I don’t know how we’d choose between them!) :
[name]Honora[/name] [name]Juniper[/name] [name]Jane[/name]* nn [name]Nora[/name]
[name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Luella[/name]* [name]Mae[/name]* nn Bixie? or [name]Bibi[/name]?
[name]Felicity[/name] [name]Venetia[/name]* [name]Plum[/name]* nn Fliss
[name]Apolline[/name] [name]Lydia[/name] [name]Lark[/name] nn [name]Polly[/name].

Our children at the moment are [name]Rosie[/name] ([name]Ambrosia[/name]), [name]Jasper[/name] and [name]Raffy[/name] ([name]Raphael[/name]), and the twins will be [name]Dorothea[/name] ([name]Dottie[/name]) and [name]Marigold[/name] ([name]Maggie[/name]).

2

They’re all such beautiful names!
[name]Henry[/name] [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]George[/name] is so handsome… just gorgeous.

And [name]Apolline[/name] [name]Lydia[/name] [name]Lark[/name] is darling. [name]How[/name] can you resist sisters [name]Rosie[/name], [name]Maggie[/name], [name]Dotti[/name] and [name]Polly[/name]?
[name]How[/name] lucky are you to have so many children and be able to use all of these beautiful names!

3

Twinkle, I love your name combos! These are stunning. I love [name]Arthur[/name] so much. However, [name]Henry[/name], although super handsome, seems like it might be getting popular, just something to think about, especially as your other children have pretty unique names.

[name]Arthur[/name] [name]Earnest[/name]* [name]Cloud[/name]* nn [name]Art[/name] - I love [name]Arthur[/name]!
[name]Henry[/name] [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]George[/name]* - This combination is great!

I also really, really love [name]Frederick[/name]. Maybe instead of [name]Henry[/name] you could have…
[name]Frederick[/name] [name]Henry[/name] [name]George[/name]
[name]Frederick[/name] [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]George[/name]

I would positively swoon if I met brothers called [name]Arthur[/name] and [name]Frederick[/name].

[name]Honora[/name] [name]Juniper[/name] [name]Jane[/name]* nn [name]Nora[/name] - [name]Love[/name] [name]Juniper[/name] [name]Jane[/name].
[name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Luella[/name]* [name]Mae[/name]* nn Bixie? or [name]Bibi[/name]? - I [name]LOVE[/name] this combination. It’s spunky and vintage but also a little country, which I think is awesome. I think this is my favourite of your girl’s names.
[name]Felicity[/name] [name]Venetia[/name]* [name]Plum[/name]* nn Fliss - I think I’m one of a only a few but I really dislike [name]Felicity[/name]. [name]Plum[/name] is so adorable though.
[name]Apolline[/name] [name]Lydia[/name] [name]Lark[/name] nn [name]Polly[/name] - Adorable. I can really see [name]Rosie[/name], [name]Dottie[/name], [name]Maggie[/name] and [name]Polly[/name] together. But would you mind have both [name]Ambrosia[/name] and [name]Apolline[/name] together? That might bother me, but if you don’t mind then I wouldn’t let it stop you using it.

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Thank you both for the feedback!

[name]Abelle[/name] - Yes, DH was one of eight, so we always knew we were going to have a big family :slight_smile:

Liz22 - Thank you! I have noticed more and more little Henrys, too … it still hasn’t quite reached [name]Benjamin[/name] proportions, and I do love it, but we will have to take another look at popularity when we have more children, in a few years’ time. At the moment I don’t think [name]Henry[/name] is too much more popular than [name]Jasper[/name], so it doesn’t worry me, but I am concerned about not making the very unusual [name]Raphael[/name] stand out too much. I love both of your [name]Frederick[/name] combinations! We were settled on the nn [name]Fritz[/name], but I also think [name]Freddie[/name] is nice.

I’m especially loving [name]Beatrix[/name] at the moment because, as someone on another thread pointed out, all of our children would have an A and an R in their name - unintentional, but I quite like it :slight_smile: I’m glad you like [name]Plum[/name] - it’s my cousin’s name! I was thinking about the [name]Ambrosia[/name]/[name]Apolline[/name] issue … I don’t think I mind too much, as they don’t sound too similar and our children go by their nicknames most of the time, but I did try to think of other names to get [name]Polly[/name] from. [name]Apolline[/name] was really the only one which works for me, though …

Thank you again!

5

Hey, Twinkle!

Okay, let me see if I can remember your kids’ names! So, you’ve got [name]Ambrosia[/name] [name]Frances[/name] [name]Sofia[/name], [name]Jasper[/name] [name]Theodore[/name] [name]Edmond[/name], [name]Raphael[/name] [name]Cyrus[/name] [name]Peregrine[/name], and the twins will be [name]Dorothea[/name] [name]Cecily[/name] [name]Blithe[/name] and [name]Marigold[/name] [name]Imelda[/name] [name]Pearl[/name], right? Okay, so I cheated with [name]Jasper[/name]'s name just a little bit…

[name]Arthur[/name] [name]Earnest[/name]* [name]Cloud[/name]*
[name]Henry[/name] [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]George[/name]*

What do I think? I love [name]Arthur[/name] so much, but the fact that it begins with an A, like [name]Ambrosia[/name], irks me slightly - and the flow of [name]Arthur[/name] [name]Earnest[/name] is a bit odd with the repeating ER sounds. And, [name]Henry[/name] is my absolute favorite, but it feels slightly lack-luster (am I really saying that?) next to [name]Jasper[/name] and [name]Raphael[/name]! Then, you’ve got [name]Frederick[/name] and [name]Benjamin[/name], both of which I love, but, again, they pale in comparison - for me - to the names you’ve already selected for your children. Where is the “wow”? Gosh, this answer is horrible - sorry, Twinkle!

Okay, would it make you feel better if I told you I adored [name]Earnest[/name], as a first name, for a future child of yours? Because, I really do! That, and [name]Dashiell[/name], are both stunning names that seem to be unusual enough to best fit with [name]Rosie[/name], [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Raffy[/name], [name]Dotty[/name], and [name]Maggie[/name]'s names! So, if I were you, I think I’d rework things slightly to names like these…

[name]Earnest[/name] [name]Benjamin[/name] [name]Cloud[/name]
[name]Dashiell[/name] [name]Frederick[/name] [name]Henry[/name]

(And, for kicks, I’ll add [name]Silas[/name] [name]Arthur[/name] [name]George[/name] as my extra name for you!)

Okay, let’s move on to your girl names! Oh, you know how much I love [name]Beatrix[/name] both alone and especially with your kids’ names! Definitely my favorite of your options! I believe I even suggested [name]Beatrix[/name] ([name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Viola[/name] [name]June[/name], was it?) on another of your threads. I’d eliminate [name]Apolline[/name] both because it has an A like [name]Ambrosia[/name] and because it feels a bit less “vintage” to me, for some reason. [name]Honora[/name] - though I much prefer [name]Annora[/name] (A’s, again!) - and [name]Felicity[/name] are lovely as well, but [name]Beatrix[/name] really stands out as a winner!

[name]May[/name] I ask why you’ve suddenly decided to try alliteration? I’m all for alliteration, but it feels a bit out of place when not a single other child’s name included alliteration. Then again, I’m big on unity among names! Another thing - wow, I feel like a horrible person! - I noticed is that [name]Luella[/name] and [name]Mae[/name], though both family names, have a much more “country” feel than the other names you’ve chosen for your children. They just feel a bit out of place to me, to be honest. Sorry!

Okay, so once again, I’m going to play around with these combinations of yours. Since you like both [name]Luella[/name] and [name]Mae[/name], perhaps you’d be interested in using alternate forms? [name]Luella[/name] is a combination of [name]Louise[/name] and [name]Ella[/name], so [name]Louise[/name] is a great choice, as would be “[name]Ella[/name] names” like [name]Isabel[/name], [name]Arabella[/name], [name]Bellamy[/name], or [name]Estella[/name]. [name]Mae[/name] is a diminutive of both [name]Margaret[/name] and [name]Mary[/name], so those are both great classic options! So, I think I’d dress your names up like this…

[name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Lydia[/name] [name]Plum[/name] “[name]Trixie[/name]”
[name]Felicity[/name] [name]Venetia[/name] [name]Lark[/name] “Fliss”
[name]Honora[/name] [name]Juniper[/name] [name]Mary[/name] “[name]Nora[/name]”

(And, my special “just-for-kicks” addition will be [name]Estella[/name] [name]Violet[/name] [name]Jane[/name] “[name]Stella[/name]” or “[name]Essie[/name]”…)

Okay, now that I officially feel terrible about ripping up your names, I’m going to excuse myself. Good luck, Twinkle!

[name]Lemon[/name] :slight_smile:

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Wow, I love your list so so much! And I’m sorry, but I just have to say again that all your children’s (including the ones on the way) names are incredible, I hope when I come to naming children of my own, the names I choose will be as brilliant as yours.

[name]Arthur[/name] [name]Earnest[/name] [name]Cloud[/name] - [name]Arthur[/name] and [name]Earnest[/name]/[name]Ernest[/name] are both favourites on my list, I’m not sure which spelling I prefer, maybe [name]Earnest[/name]. I adore nn [name]Art[/name] as well. [name]Cloud[/name] I like more for a girl but I love it’s whimsical feel and its so cool that it is a family name, wish I had a family name as cool as [name]Cloud[/name].

[name]Henry[/name] [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]George[/name] - I do really love this combination, the flow and all the names are fantastic although I do prefer [name]Dashiell[/name] [name]Henry[/name] [name]George[/name], just because I like [name]Dashiell[/name] a little bit more than [name]Henry[/name]. Not a bad thing to say about this.

[name]Benjamin[/name] and [name]Frederick[/name] are both great, I think I prefer [name]Frederick[/name] over [name]Benjamin[/name]; I know so many Bens! Personally, I love [name]Frederick[/name] [name]Earnest[/name] [name]George[/name].

[name]Honora[/name] [name]Juniper[/name] [name]Jane[/name] - It might just be me but I find [name]Honora[/name] [name]Juniper[/name] a little bit hard to say. I like [name]Annora[/name] better than [name]Honora[/name], because, to me [name]Honora[/name] just looks like the spelling of [name]Honour[/name] that I don’t use with an a on the end. Would you use [name]Honour[/name], or [name]Annora[/name]? I love [name]Nora[/name] though. [name]Juniper[/name] is gorgeous, so fresh and fun! I love [name]Jane[/name] with [name]Juniper[/name], like it balances the combination out a bit, if that makes sense.

[name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Luella[/name] [name]Mae[/name] - Wow you have [name]Luella[/name] as a family name? I am very jealous. It does sound a little country, but because you live in [name]England[/name], I don’t think that matters. I could be wrong, but I think if I wasn’t such a name nut, I wouldn’t have thought that about it. My favourite [name]Beatrix[/name] nn is definitely Bixie, I think [name]Bibi[/name] is cute, but maybe too cute after a certain age.

[name]Felicity[/name] [name]Venetia[/name] [name]Plum[/name] - [name]Felicity[/name] might just be my favourite name at the moment, love nn Fliss! Again, awesome family names. I think I love this one the most with your other children’s names. [name]Plum[/name] is so, so cool and I think [name]Venetia[/name] is more than beautiful.

[name]Apolline[/name] [name]Lydia[/name] [name]Lark[/name] - [name]Love[/name], again! I think the alliteration is brilliant, [name]Lydia[/name] has been growing on me for quite a while now, it is fairly popular where I live though (I know four). I do love [name]Apolline[/name], but maybe a bit more than nn [name]Polly[/name]. Altogether it is amazing!

I am still in awe of [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Venetia[/name] [name]Plum[/name] :slight_smile:

  • [name]Elena[/name] :slight_smile:
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[name]Don[/name]'t feel terrible, [name]Lemon[/name]! Compliments are lovely, of course, but we could never improve our names if we didn’t get balanced opinions and suggestions. Might I add that I can’t remember what field you’re planning on going into after university, but you’ll make a brilliant boss - you’ve got the balance of constructive criticism just right :slight_smile:

You got the names right! Well, we were initially planning [name]Dorothea[/name] [name]Cecily[/name] [name]Pearl[/name] and [name]Marigold[/name] [name]Imelda[/name] [name]Blithe[/name], but we’re not really set on the placing of [name]Pearl[/name] and [name]Blithe[/name]. I quite like them swapped around, as [name]Pearl[/name] feels like it softens [name]Maggie[/name]'s name to me - what do you think?

I don’t think I mind about repeating initials, although if we end up choosing between several names, it might be a deciding factor.

I never noticed the repeating ER sounds of [name]Arthur[/name] [name]Earnest[/name]! I feel a bit silly now … Although they are a little softer, perhaps, with our accent - I say Arth-uh rather than really pronouncing the R.

I completely see your point about [name]Henry[/name] - I adore it, and it’s about the same popularity as [name]Jasper[/name] (judging by the amount of little Henrys I meet - I haven’t looked it up), but we really challenged ourselves there with [name]Raphael[/name]! For some reason, [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Raphael[/name] and [name]Henry[/name] sounds more congruent to me than [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Raphael[/name] and [name]Arthur[/name], but still not perfect.

I’m not sure about [name]Earnest[/name] as a first (worried about spelling, plus the nn [name]Ernie[/name]), but I adore [name]Dashiell[/name].

But for the other name … Well, I think we might have to let [name]Benjamin[/name] go in first place, due to the popularity (and the only alternatives I can think of are [name]Bennett[/name] - lacks the pizazz for me - and [name]Benvolio[/name], which is handsome and has a great meaning and connotation, but is frankly too poncy even for someone who named their son [name]Raphael[/name]!). I am really liking [name]Luca[/name] at the moment, and wish I could get DH to agree to [name]Bartholomew[/name] (although, a nn would have to be worked out). Other than that, I’m all named out for boys!

You did suggest [name]Beatrix[/name], and I [name]LOVE[/name] it - thank you!

At the moment, [name]Apolline[/name] is my favourite way of getting to [name]Polly[/name], which I adore. I’m personally not bowled over by [name]Paulina[/name], and I worry that [name]Polina[/name] (an eastern Eurpean variation) would always be written as [name]Paulina[/name] … I entertained the idea of [name]Pollyanna[/name], as I love the book, but I worry that it sounds too storybook?

I have a weakness for alliteration! We actually didn’t do it on purpose, though - I put each name on a scrap of paper and then moved them around until I liked the flow of all of the combinations - and my love for alliteration shone through :slight_smile: We wouldn’t use two names with alliterative middles, though.

I really like the country feel of [name]Luella[/name] and [name]Mae[/name] - to me, as a [name]Brit[/name] who has visited [name]America[/name] only a couple of times, both names have a charming Southern [name]Belle[/name] feel. You’re right, though - together they do sound incongrous with our other children’s names.

[name]Luella[/name] actually honours DH’s grandmother [name]Lucinda[/name] and my aunt [name]Fenella[/name]. I was playing around with the names on our list, and making the combos I was fussing to DH about how I want to honour our relatives, but I SO wanted to use [name]Luella[/name] (and [name]Juniper[/name]) and [name]Rupert[/name] looked at where I was holding the [name]Lucinda[/name] and [name]Fenella[/name] papers in one hand, and the [name]Luella[/name] in the other, gave me a ‘you need more sleep’ look, and pointed out I could do both :slight_smile: I was thrilled!

Keeping the two alliterative names (for now at least), I’d change it up to :
[name]Felicity[/name] [name]Venetia[/name] [name]Mae[/name] (we could use [name]Mabel[/name], too, but I just love a one-syllable name to finish it off)
[name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Luella[/name] [name]Plum[/name] (I don’t think [name]Plum[/name] is country, but an American opinion would be very helpful!)

I really wish I liked [name]Estella[/name], especially as it is beautiful with [name]Violet[/name] [name]Jane[/name], but I just am not very fond of it. I can’t put my finger on why - the sound is fine, I like [name]Ella[/name] names, it’s fairly unusual, it’s vintage, there are good nn options, it even has an astronomy connection. Hmm … perhaps I can talk myself into it :slight_smile:

Thank you so much, [name]Lemon[/name], and please excuse my very long reply!

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Twinkle!

You gave me so much to reply to - I’m excited! And, I’m glad you don’t take offense to my comments.

I agree with you completely that [name]Pearl[/name] softens [name]Marigold[/name] a bit and sounds sweet when paired with [name]Imelda[/name]. Thus, I am in favor of [name]Dorothea[/name] [name]Cecily[/name] [name]Blithe[/name] and [name]Marigold[/name] [name]Imelda[/name] [name]Pearl[/name], personally. I know you like [name]Blithe[/name] as opposed to [name]Blythe[/name] because it gives it a more virtuous feel - right? - but I still think I like [name]Blythe[/name] better, myself. I think it is because [name]Blithe[/name] makes me think of lithe which makes me think of lithe dancers or something, which really isn’t a bad connection, just a bit odd. [name]Blythe[/name] feels more, well, established to me…

I also agree that the combination of [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Raphael[/name], and [name]Henry[/name] feels more congruous than [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Raphael[/name], and [name]Arthur[/name]. Part of that might be that both [name]Jasper[/name] and [name]Raphael[/name] are fairly romantic, whimsical names, and [name]Henry[/name] has a bit of that flair, while [name]Arthur[/name] - to me - feels comparably serious. That being said, I still think [name]Henry[/name] - as much as it pains me to say it! - might not be the best fit due to its relative popularity. I find it odd that you say [name]Henry[/name] and [name]Jasper[/name] are about the same, popularity-wise. Though [name]Henry[/name] certainly isn’t [name]Liam[/name], I still think it is far more popular than [name]Jasper[/name] is, and will ever be - perhaps things are different in [name]England[/name]. That concerns me a bit, so I’d use [name]Henry[/name] in the middle!

I think that [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Raphael[/name], and [name]Dashiell[/name] is sweet, but does [name]Dashiell[/name] sound too much like [name]Raphael[/name] to you? I know the names aren’t identical in sound, but it does throw me off a bit. I agree with you, the [name]Ernie[/name] nickname is certainly less than ideal with [name]Earnest[/name], but [name]Earnest[/name] is a darn cool name! And, you’ve so already got that “Importance of Being [name]Earnest[/name]” thing going on with your last name - match made in heaven? It also makes me think of [name]Ernest[/name] [name]Hemingway[/name], which is nice. He could be like [name]Jasper[/name] and not have a nickname, right?

Yeah, I think [name]Benjamin[/name] does need to go, even though I love it - it is my brother’s name! I think [name]Luca[/name] feels a bit out of place, especially with the girls’ names, and the other [name]Ben[/name] options aren’t ideal. Have you considered [name]Benedict[/name]? I think [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Raphael[/name], and [name]Benedict[/name] is a pretty great match-up, honestly!

[name]EDIT[/name]: I just thought of [name]Conrad[/name] to go with your set. It feels very British to me, and I love it with [name]Jasper[/name], especially. And, you get another literary connection with [name]Joseph[/name] [name]Conrad[/name] (Heart of Darkness)! [name]Conrad[/name] [name]Benjamin[/name] [name]Arthur[/name] is so cool, I think…

[name]Beatrix[/name] is awesome with your set. [name]Just[/name] going to leave it at that…

You know, I used to despise [name]Paulina[/name] and its various forms, too, until I met the most wonderful [name]Pauline[/name]. I can’t say it is my favorite name, but it is growing on me, I suppose. For some reason, [name]Apolline[/name] just doesn’t do it for me, at all. It feels more like a place or something - I can’t put my feelings on it to words. Believe it or not, I almost suggested [name]Pollyanna[/name] as an alternative to get you the [name]Polly[/name] nickname! [name]Pollyanna[/name] is such a classic novel - I think it is great! Yes, the name is excessively frilly, feminine, and sweet, but you do have an [name]Ambrosia[/name], and, after all, she’s the food of the gods! [name]How[/name] much sweeter could you get? (I don’t mean that in a bad way!) I don’t think it is too story-book as long as you pair it with something “smart,” like [name]Pollyanna[/name] [name]Bryony[/name] [name]Louise[/name] or something. You know, I think I like it…

I like alliteration, too, but I’m still iffy on the concept in light of your other names. [name]Just[/name] saying…
I don’t know if [name]Luella[/name] and [name]Mae[/name] have quite a “Southern [name]Belle[/name]” feel for me, but they do feel Southern to me. Southern [name]Belle[/name] might be more a [name]Scarlett[/name], [name]Augusta[/name], [name]Caroline[/name], [name]Vivian[/name], or [name]Georgia[/name]. But, that’s just my opinion! I think that [name]Lucinda[/name], for your husband’s grandmother, would be a perfect compliment to your kids’ names, however. I just don’t know what to say about [name]Luella[/name], though…

I think that [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Venetia[/name] [name]Mae[/name] is pretty, but I would definitely change it to [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Venetia[/name] [name]May[/name], myself. [name]May[/name] feels so much more elegant to me, and it reminds me of [name]May[/name] Welland in [name]Edith[/name] [name]Wharton[/name]'s The Age of Innocence, who I personally think is much stronger than she comes off in the novel. I love a literary connection, as you know!

[name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Luella[/name] [name]Plum[/name] feels a bit too whimsical for my taste, honestly. I think [name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Luella[/name] [name]Plum[/name] would be the perfect name for a little old woman-cat, dressed in flowered skirts and a crisp white apron, spectacles covering her tired eyes as she leans back in her wooden rocking chair, feet resting on a small tufted ottoman with years of wear showing through. The perfect [name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Potter[/name] character, really! [name]Plum[/name] doesn’t feel country to me at all - it is whimsical, sassy, and feminine! - but paired with [name]Luella[/name], it is too much, I think. Change it to [name]Lucinda[/name] (don’t love [name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Lucinda[/name], though), and you get more of a sugar-plum fairy feel, adorably whimsical, and less of a character name, I think…

I think [name]Estella[/name] is definitely ideal, so I hope you give it further consideration for all of your reasons. It is fairly unusual, for sure, has that astronomy connection, and has a literary connection to [name]Estella[/name] Havisham in Dickens’ Great Expectations. [name]Love[/name] that one, too! I also think both [name]Christiana[/name] and [name]Georgiana[/name] would be pretty with your set…

Can’t wait to hear back from you! Sorry for MY long post!

[name]Lemon[/name] :slight_smile:

9

Thank you so much, [name]Elena[/name] - you have no idea how absolutely wonderful it was to read your comment! And I seem to remember you suggesting some lovely names on other threads, so I am sure you will name your children beautifully :slight_smile: (What are your favourites at the moment?)

Thank you, I’m glad you like [name]Cloud[/name]! I thought about using it for a girl, but we have plenty of girls’ names we like and not very many boys’. It was my mother who suggested it, actually - [name]Saint[/name] [name]Cloud[/name] had grandparents who bore my brother’s name, and my middle name (both are very unusual). I thought it was a great connection!

I like [name]Annora[/name] (not so much [name]Honour[/name], because I worry people would always spell it [name]Honor[/name]), but I think [name]Honora[/name] just has the edge for us … we will see, though!

The nicknames are my only concern with [name]Beatrix[/name] - I really like Bixie, and [name]Bibi[/name] too. But Bixie reminds me of [name]Trixie[/name], and I find myself thinking poodles, and that it wouldn’t work on an adult … And [name]Bibi[/name] isn’t much better (although I thought it was slighly more grown up! Funny how different people have opposite thoughts on that!).

Thank you again!

10

It’s quite alright - I am always totally unable to summarise ANYTHING :slight_smile: (Writing reports when I was a teacher was just awful! I had to type very small to fit everything I wanted to say about each child on!)

My name-popularity view is slightly skewed by the fact that the primary school I worked at was fee-paying, so there were lots of Henrys and Freddies and Neds and Jaspers and not many Aidens at all (I taught TWO Lettices. I think parents were trying to out-vintage each other :slight_smile: ).

Oh, I’m so glad I have you, [name]Lemon[/name] - I didn’t notice the repeating ends of [name]Raphael[/name] and [name]Dashiell[/name], either! It does bother me a little written down, now that I see it.

[name]Earnest[/name] is growing on me in first place, actually … And no, he doesn’t have to be nicknamed. [name]Ah[/name], The Importance of Being [name]Earnest[/name] - perhaps we should just name any future children [name]Gwendolen[/name] [name]Laetitia[/name] Bracknell and [name]Oscar[/name] [name]Earnest[/name] [name]Algernon[/name]! Actually, those aren’t bad names …

I did a bit of brain-wracking, and I came up with two more boys’ names : [name]Reuben[/name] (shares an initial with [name]Raffy[/name], though) and [name]Mordecai[/name] (more-du-k[eye] - would share an initial with [name]Maggie[/name], but I think they’re different enough names for it not to matter). Ack, I’ve got to get better at writing pronunciations - it is keye, but rather than being ‘key’ it is ‘eye’ with a K in front. Moredecai was the adoptive father of [name]Esther[/name], which is a reference I [name]LOVE[/name]! DH hasn’t been consulted yet, though, but Biblical names generally please his family.

Well, perhaps [name]Pollyanna[/name] can be re-introduced. I’ll see what [name]Rupert[/name] says, but I love it, just as much as [name]Apolline[/name].

Hmm … I’m going to give the girl combinations another look over, and see what I can come up with - I’ll let you know!

Thank you again!

11

[name]Hi[/name], Twinkle!

Wow, two [name]Lettice[/name]'s? That’s interesting! Can I just say that I hope you haven’t considered that one? Anyway, growing up going to a Catholic, private school, classics were big at my school, so I’m a bit unfamiliar with the more trendy names as well…

[name]Ah[/name]! Too bad about the [name]Dashiell[/name] thing, but I think it is too great not to at least consider as a middle name again.

Yeah! [name]Earnest[/name] as a first name! Keep thinking about it, because it is just too cool, I think. I can totally see [name]Earnest[/name] as a sibling to your other children, especially [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Dorothea[/name], and [name]Marigold[/name]! Your “[name]Earnest[/name]” names are amazing, but I think if I had to pick names for a boy and girl from [name]Oscar[/name] Wilde’s piece, I’d go with [name]Cecily[/name] [name]Gwendolen[/name] Prism and [name]Frederick[/name] [name]Earnest[/name] Merriman! Such amazing names!

[name]Reuben[/name] and [name]Mordecai[/name], eh? Luckily for you, I didn’t need your pronunciation guide to say [name]Mordecai[/name] correctly. I don’t not like it, but at the same time, it feels a bit more Biblical than your other choices, and it carries a bit of a solemn sound for me. What do you think? I love [name]Reuben[/name], but the R initial repetition bothers me, personally. Why can’t I get over that? Here are more I thought you might like:

[name]Ezekiel[/name] “[name]Zeke[/name]”
[name]Horatio[/name]
[name]Leopold[/name] “[name]Leo[/name]”
[name]Oscar[/name]
[name]Tobias[/name] “[name]Toby[/name]”
[name]Vincent[/name] “[name]Vince[/name]”

I’m glad you like [name]Pollyanna[/name] as much as [name]Apolline[/name], but I do think that [name]Pollyanna[/name] fits better with your whimsical, feminine names, especially Miss [name]Marigold[/name]! Can’t wait to see what you come up with for the other girl combinations! I think names like [name]Alice[/name], [name]Flora[/name], [name]Florence[/name], [name]Eliza[/name], [name]Georgina[/name], [name]Primrose[/name], and [name]Tabitha[/name] could be cute, too! Actually, I think [name]Laetitia[/name] ([name]Letitia[/name]) is pretty cool, too, and it has a great meaning!

Talk to you later…

[name]Lemon[/name] :slight_smile:

PS Have you ever thought of using [name]Myrtle[/name] somewhere to honor the story of [name]Esther[/name]?

12

Well, now that you mention it … No, don’t worry! [name]Lettice[/name] is much too salad-y nowadays, for my taste.

Prism and Merriman are just brilliant!

I’m still liking [name]Mordecai[/name] - it may just be a phase, though, so we’ll have to see.

I really like [name]Leo[/name] and [name]Toby[/name], but one is a neighbour’s child, and one is DH’s cousin. I adore [name]Oscar[/name], but I’m worried about theming with [name]Earnest[/name]. Another name came to mind - [name]Percy[/name]? [name]Percival[/name], perhaps? I sort of like it for its fustiness!

So many of your girls’ name suggestions are family names (you have our style pegged, clearly :slight_smile: ) - one of my neices is [name]Flora[/name], [name]Alice[/name] is my middle and [name]Primrose[/name] is my mother’s name! I like [name]Eliza[/name] of your suggestions, a lot. I’m going to attack DH with possible combos as soon as he awakes!

[name]Myrtle[/name] - I think of Moaning [name]Myrtle[/name] (and I haven’t even read most of the [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] books), which is unfortunate, because I actually think it’s a very interesting name.

[name]Winnie[/name]

13

[name]Winnie[/name],

Definitely too salad-related nowadays! I’m honestly surprised its showing up anywhere, really. Why not just use [name]Letitia[/name]? Or [name]Violet[/name], if they are looking for that [name]Lettie[/name] nickname…

Sadly, I don’t think many people would put two and two together with the [name]Oscar[/name] and [name]Earnest[/name] connection. It helps that it isn’t something like [name]Earnest[/name] and [name]Algernon[/name], too, as I personally think the connection is more subtle with an author-character pairing. I think [name]Oscar[/name] is an amazing fit with your kids’ names, and it doesn’t even bother me too much that it has the same end sound as [name]Jasper[/name]! I still think [name]Benedict[/name] would be cool, though.

[name]Ah[/name], [name]Percy[/name]! Yes, [name]Percival[/name] certainly is rather “fusty,” as you put it. It sounds like a distinguished ship captain’s name, doesn’t it? I can’t say I’d love to be named [name]Percival[/name], but the idea intrigues me. And, yes, I do like [name]Percy[/name]. However, it never fails to reminds me of the obstinate little pug in Pocahontas, [name]Percy[/name]. It would either be acceptable with more grounded middle names - [name]Percival[/name] [name]Frederick[/name] [name]Arthur[/name] - or as a middle name with a flourish - [name]Earnest[/name] [name]Henry[/name] [name]Percival[/name]. What do you think?

Goodness, that’s right! Your family just has so many amazing names going on, I can’t help but suggest them! [name]Eliza[/name]'s lovely, but I do think [name]Alice[/name] - being your middle name - would be a sweet middle name to pass on. I think [name]Eliza[/name] would have to be a middle name, honestly, because it, like [name]Henry[/name], feels too classic to work in with [name]Ambrosia[/name], [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Raphael[/name], [name]Dorothea[/name], and [name]Marigold[/name]. A shame, really! You know, I want to find you some more girl names that don’t end in A - like [name]Beatrix[/name]! Or, maybe I’ll just throw out some new ideas…

[name]Amabel[/name]
[name]Augusta[/name]
[name]Clementine[/name]
[name]Cressida[/name]
[name]Evangeline[/name]
[name]Geraldine[/name]
[name]Honoria[/name]
[name]Lavinia[/name]
[name]Mabel[/name]
[name]Millicent[/name]
[name]Mirabel[/name]
[name]Penelope[/name]
[name]Philippa[/name]
[name]Romola[/name]
[name]Verena[/name]
[name]Vivian[/name]

([name]Mirabel[/name] seems ideal for you! [name]Mirabel[/name] [name]Esther[/name] [name]Rosemary[/name] is cute!)

Oh, right, Moaning [name]Myrtle[/name]. But, [name]Myrtle[/name] is such a quirky name! I could get passed the [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] connection, and HP is even part of my generation. You could use [name]Esther[/name], too!

Okay, talk to you later…

[name]Lemon[/name] :slight_smile:

14

It’s really nice to know that you enjoyed reading my comment, thank you for saying that you are sure that I will name my children beautifully, it means a lot from someone who names their children so beautifully herself.

I always feel funny posting my favourites on here, not because I wouldn’t want negative feedback, just that sometimes I look back on names I’ve liked and felt pretty embarassed. Anyway, a few that have satyed on my list for quite a while are, [name]Tobias[/name],
[name]Edmund[/name], [name]Vincent[/name], [name]Conrad[/name], [name]Zinnia[/name], [name]Felicity[/name], [name]Cecily[/name] and [name]Charlotte[/name].

I think as [name]Cloud[/name] is so unusual, I wouldn’t expect it to be a girls name, and I can really see it with all your other childrens names.

[name]Honora[/name] is growing on me, the next time I look at this thread, I’ll probably really like it and feel bad for ever not liking it.

I think the sound of [name]Bibi[/name] is more grown up than how it looks and I am liking it more and more. [name]Do[/name] you like just [name]Bea[/name] as a nn?

  • [name]Elena[/name] :slight_smile:

P.S I think [name]Mordecai[/name] is SO cool

15

My favourites are
[name]Arthur[/name] [name]Earnest[/name] [name]Cloud[/name] & [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Venetia[/name] Plume

I love [name]Appoline[/name] [name]Lydia[/name] [name]Lark[/name] though…just loove your name taste!
:stuck_out_tongue:

16

[name]Just[/name] wanted to say, Twinkle, that I love [name]Mordecai[/name], and I love it with all your children’s names. [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Ambrosia[/name], [name]Raphael[/name], [name]Dorothea[/name], [name]Marigold[/name] and [name]Mordecai[/name] - love it!

I also like [name]Lemon[/name]'s suggestion of [name]Benedict[/name].

17

Thank you, Jacjac!

18

Thank you! [name]Mordecai[/name] is quickly becoming a favourite, so I’m glad it sounds nice with our other children to you. And [name]Benedict[/name] is really growing on me, but DH seems less sure :slight_smile:

19

I occasionally come across lists in old notebooks, and I am frequently embarassed! I will often get fixated on a really ‘out-there’ name for a while - like [name]Esme[/name] for a boy (it used to be a boys’ name, centuries ago).

I love your names! Obviously, we’ve used [name]Edmond[/name] (French spelling) will be using [name]Cecily[/name], and [name]Felicity[/name] is on our list. [name]Zinnia[/name] is very cool, and I adore the nn [name]Lottie[/name] for [name]Charlotte[/name]. [name]Tobias[/name] is our neighbour’s son, otherwise I’d use it in a flash!

I do quite like [name]Bea[/name]. I’m naturally inclined to two-syllable, -ee ending nicknames, but I’m becoming better at one-syllable ones ([name]Art[/name], Fliss) - perhaps I’ll learn to love it :slight_smile:

And it’s great to see that others like [name]Mordecai[/name]!

Thank you again,
[name]Winnie[/name]

20

[name]Lemon[/name],

[name]Benedict[/name] is really growing on me - thank you for suggesting it! DH says he thinks of eggs, but I’ll work on him :slight_smile:

As much as I like my middle, the idea of passing down my own names has always made me slightly uneasy. Besides, [name]Alice[/name] is very popular here, so I don’t really feel the urge to.

I’m still working on the girls’ names, but on the subject of boys’, I have noticed a pattern in the names we like but can’t use - we like -ian names ([name]Florian[/name] - my neice [name]Flora[/name], [name]Caspian[/name]'s too close to [name]Jasper[/name], and [name]Dorian[/name] to close to [name]Dorothea[/name], [name]Maximilian[/name] - too popular, [name]Fabian[/name] - he likes, I don’t so much). So, I used Nameberry’s really handy search feature and we have these new considerations, which both DH and I like :
[name]Cyprian[/name]
[name]Emilian[/name] - too close to the popular [name]Emily[/name]?
[name]Finnian[/name] - the whole name is #1082 in [name]Britain[/name] (2008) but [name]Finn[/name]/[name]Finley[/name]/[name]Finlay[/name] are much more popular …
[name]Thorian[/name] - a variation on [name]Thor[/name], apparently. I think [name]Thor[/name] is a pretty great nickname!

I looked up the popularities of some of the other names that we like (2008), too. I thought I’d put up a list for you all to play with!

Possible firsts (plus the -ian names above) :
[name]Benedict[/name] - #382
[name]Frederick[/name] - #101
[name]Wilfred[/name] nn [name]Freddie[/name] - #358 (it doesn’t bother me that this is so close to my full name, [name]Winifred[/name], but would that be strange?)
[name]Oscar[/name] - #30! More popular than [name]Henry[/name], even, so we might have to forgo this one.
[name]Earnest[/name] - not in the top 1000. [name]Ernest[/name] is #647
[name]Percival[/name] nn [name]Percy[/name] - possibly not in the top 1000
[name]Mordecai[/name] - not in the top 1000.

Middles :
[name]Henry[/name]
[name]George[/name]
[name]Cloud[/name]
[name]Benjamin[/name]
[name]Dashiell[/name]
[name]Jude[/name]
[name]Arthur[/name]
[name]Amos[/name].

[name]Jasper[/name] and [name]Raphael[/name] are #196 and #246, respectively.

I’ll get back to you on girls when I have another moment!
[name]Winnie[/name]