naming a human being is hard...

General Name Discussion
1

[name]Hi[/name], I’ve posted a few times over the past few months. We find out if we are having a girl or boy in 2 weeks and until then my husband doesn’t want to sit down and have a real conversation about names. (We had a really hard time naming DD1) Our taste in names is drastically different, and the only name we could agree on for DD1 is [name]Sophie[/name] (and she was nameless for quite a while before we reluctantly agreed on that.) Her name is [name]Sophie[/name] [name]Scarlett[/name] and I have a bit of naming regret with her name- would really like to avoid that with baby #2. So here is my list of names- opinions please!

My [name]Favorite[/name] Girls Names:

[name]Violet[/name] (love this- it’s my top choice but DH says no so far…)
[name]Ruby[/name]
[name]Hazel[/name]

Considering but not completely sold on:

[name]Genevieve[/name] (we both like but DH would definitely call her [name]Jenny[/name] and it would drive me crazy so I’m thinking we should probably avoid it…)
[name]Adelaide[/name]
[name]Elisabeth[/name]
[name]Poppy[/name]
[name]Willow[/name]

Boys:

[name]Finn[/name] (my current top choice but not sure if it goes with [name]Sophie[/name]?)
[name]Oliver[/name]
[name]Asher[/name]
[name]Rowan[/name]
[name]William[/name]

Honestly in my head I keep thinking of the baby already as either [name]Violet[/name] or [name]Finn[/name], but I’m really not sure if my husband will [name]EVER[/name] go for [name]Violet[/name]…

2

Wow weHave similar tastes. I love violet and [name]Charlotte[/name]. [name]Violet[/name] a bit more cause less nn potential and love the nn vi. For boys I love [name]Oliver[/name] it is very distinctive and classic. [name]Ollie[/name] is cute for friends but [name]Oliver[/name] is great and I would use that all the time. Gl!

3

[name]Violet[/name] - great with [name]Sophie[/name], hope your husband can come around. [name]Vi[/name], [name]Vivi[/name], [name]Etta[/name], [name]Ettie[/name] are cute nns with [name]Sophie[/name], too, if you like nns. [name]Vivienne[/name]?
[name]Ruby[/name] - works with [name]Sophie[/name], but too me a LOT punchier and a lot of ee endings. But OK.
[name]Hazel[/name] - an interesting contrast to [name]Sophie[/name]. Somehow, [name]Hazel[/name] is made more youthful by [name]Sophie[/name] and [name]Sophie[/name] is made more mature by [name]Hazel[/name]. I like it! Can see nns [name]Hallie[/name] and [name]Ellie[/name].

What is the name regret with [name]Sophie[/name] [name]Scarlett[/name]? It’s quite pretty. Too popular? Too many S’s? I hope you can recover : ). I like it. If the issue is too popular than some of the nicknames here may be drawbacks, although most of them are not so obvious as to be automatic. If popularity is good, then the popular nns might be selling points.

[name]Genevieve[/name] - a beautiful name that is nicely French with [name]Sophie[/name]. Can you get over [name]Jenny[/name]? I know it was super popular in the 80s with [name]Jennifer[/name] but it really is a name with some solid English usage history. Alternately, would your husband and you be willing to nickname [name]Genevieve[/name] [name]Evie[/name] or [name]Neve[/name] or [name]Vivi[/name]?

[name]Adelaide[/name] - I also really like this with [name]Sophie[/name]. [name]Addie[/name]?

[name]Elisabeth[/name] - such a pretty, soft classic; I like this spelling with [name]Sophie[/name] a lot and I think this spelling is becoming much more standard than it used to be. INFINITE nickname possibilities, almost, [name]Ellie[/name] and [name]Lily[/name] being the really popular ones.

[name]Poppy[/name] - this is really cute and doable, but it seems much more like a nickname than [name]Sophie[/name] does. [name]Sophie[/name] and [name]Penelope[/name] works (Greek connection) and I’d really recommend you consider that. [name]Hazel[/name] hits some of the nature tones and works better, I think.

[name]Willow[/name] - is a lovely name, but doesn’t really sound like [name]Sophie[/name]'s sister to me if that matters to you. [name]Hazel[/name] hits some of the nature tones and works better. [name]Willa[/name] could work with [name]Sophie[/name] better too, I think, and I think you could nn her [name]Willow[/name].

[name]Finn[/name] - for me, this is fine with [name]Sophie[/name]! Shares her popularity, but it is trendier, I’d say. Grounded enough by some Irish traditions, though.
[name]Oliver[/name] - lovely with [name]Sophie[/name]! Only a step away from French [name]Olivier[/name], and a good match in terms of popularity-but-groundedness.
[name]Asher[/name] - I like it, it works. Another nature-y name from the wood ash. A bit Biblical with [name]Sophie[/name], but again that makes it somewhat popular-but-grounded.
[name]Rowan[/name] - I love this name but very Welsh next to [name]Sophie[/name], and I think becoming more popular for girls? I love that the O ties them together, though. [name]Owen[/name]?
[name]William[/name] - like this a lot!

Good luck!

4

I do love your daughter’s name [name]Sophie[/name]. It seems more friendly, down-to-earth and approachable than the megapopular [name]Sophia[/name]. Here are my opinions on your name list. All the best to you!
My [name]Favorite[/name] Girls Names:
[name]Violet[/name] - I like this name and it goes well with [name]Sophie[/name] but if your DH says “no” he’ll need a lot of convincing to come round, I hope he does but some men are stubborn and won’t bunge.
[name]Ruby[/name] - I like [name]Ruby[/name] but I would avoid any name that has the same sound at the end. [name]Sophie[/name] and [name]Ruby[/name] sound too rhymey and cutesy to me! I’m sorry to say but I think you should pass.
[name]Hazel[/name] - This would be an interesting vintage name paired with [name]Sophie[/name]. I think [name]Mabel[/name] would be another option.
[name]Genevieve[/name] - A beautiful French gem but if your DH would definitely call her [name]Jenny[/name], that would ruin it for me too! [name]Eve[/name] would be better by far!
[name]Adelaide[/name] - [name]LOVE[/name] this name with [name]Sophie[/name]
[name]Elisabeth[/name] - This would be a beautiful name for [name]Sophie[/name]'s sibling.
[name]Poppy[/name] - Too matchy with [name]Sophie[/name]
[name]Willow[/name] - Not with classic [name]Sophie[/name]

I like many French names with [name]Sophie[/name] so here are some other suggestions.
[name]Isabelle[/name]
[name]Marguerite[/name]
[name]Camille[/name]
[name]Madeleine[/name]
[name]Adeline[/name] (alternative to [name]Adelaide[/name])
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Caroline[/name]
[name]Giselle[/name]
[name]Charlotte[/name]
[name]Mathilde[/name]
[name]Gabrielle[/name]
[name]Constance[/name]
[name]Adele[/name]
[name]Corinne[/name]
[name]Eloise[/name]
[name]Clementine[/name]
[name]Juliette[/name] / [name]Juliet[/name] (would your DH like [name]Juliet[/name] better than [name]Violet[/name]?)

Now onto the boys list:
[name]Finn[/name] - Sorry but I find this very mismatched next to [name]Sophie[/name]. The name lacks substance paired with [name]Sophie[/name]. [name]Do[/name] you like [name]Finnegan[/name], [name]Finnian[/name], [name]Finbarr[/name] or [name]Fintan[/name] with the nn [name]Finn[/name]?
[name]Oliver[/name] - My fave name for [name]Sophie[/name]'s brother.
[name]Asher[/name] - OK
[name]Rowan[/name] - See [name]Finn[/name]
[name]William[/name] - I’m not a fan of [name]William[/name] but it does go well with [name]Sophie[/name].

Other options for boys
[name]August[/name]
[name]Gabriel[/name]
[name]Isaac[/name]
[name]Jasper[/name]
[name]Julian[/name]
[name]Leo[/name]
[name]Maxwell[/name]
[name]Laurence[/name]
[name]Xavier[/name]
[name]Hugo[/name]
[name]Marcus[/name]
[name]Milo[/name]
[name]Oscar[/name]
[name]Silas[/name]
[name]Joseph[/name]
[name]Tristan[/name]
[name]Thomas[/name]
[name]Peter[/name]

5

Thank you all so much for your in-depth answers. I think I have narrowed my list down a bit based on your responses. I’m taking [name]Poppy[/name], [name]Willow[/name], and [name]Ruby[/name] (for girls) and [name]Rowan[/name] (for boys) off my list. I do love [name]Ruby[/name] but I agree that it is a bit much with another name ending in an ee sound.
jesba- yes, my naming regret with [name]Sophie[/name] is largely because of popularity. Your comments were super helpful. I do like [name]Penelope[/name] but have a niece named [name]Penelope[/name] so can’t use it unfortunately. It is beautiful though
mischa- Of your suggestions I really like [name]Isabelle[/name], [name]Camille[/name], [name]Madeleine[/name], [name]Charlotte[/name], [name]Clementine[/name], and [name]Juliet[/name]/[name]Juliette[/name]. I have had several of these on my long list for a while and think they are all really beautiful. I do like the idea of using a French name with [name]Sophie[/name] but also would really like a name that has nature tones… For boys like your suggestions of [name]August[/name], [name]Milo[/name], and [name]Silas[/name]. Have considered all three of these but ultimately decided against using them for different reasons.
I really appreciate all of your thoughtful and detailed feedback and found it so helpful. Thank you.

6

I’ve never understood the concept of name regret. I know we spend a lot of time pondering names for our babies, but in the end it comes down to finding a name both parents like. I’ve read all sorts of articles that talk about the psychological effects the name has on a baby, how it can label them “right out of the box,” and how you should never give your child a name more than two syllables because that could lead to learning defects and slow development. I think all that’s a load of garbage designed to sell books. Yeah, your baby will have to live with the name longer than you will, but if you can’t live with the name then your child will have a harder time feeling comfortable with themself.

One trick hubby & I came up with is to say the name over and over again in every tone and frame of mind you can think of (and make sure you combine it with the middle name, too). If any of the times you say or hear it it doesn’t sound right, then cross it off your list.

7

[name]Glad[/name] this has been helpful as you narrow down your list!

I worry about naming regret down the road because I’m very sensitive to this stuff. But I think alliekat’s comments really hit the nail on the head. As I’ve posted elsewhere, I’m a [name]Jessica[/name] from the 1980s, and I like my own name, and have also never been like in a class that was half Jessicas or something (I mean, I have had two classes with one other, and I do meet a fair number of women my age, but also older and younger). If that means popularity isn’t so bad, I’m not sure what else would prove it. I’ve posted at length about this name elsewhere, so I’ll be shorter here, but I think of all its positive connections, most importantly how my parents picked it for me, and I’m just happy with it.

So think about what you liked about [name]Sophie[/name] [name]Scarlett[/name], and remember popularity does happen for a reason. It’s a lovely name with great sounds, great meanings, and a connection to you : D. [name]Hope[/name] that helps. If you want to go less popular for the next one, more power to you, but I hope you feel better about [name]Sophie[/name]'s popularity, and keep the perspective that these things are out of our control. [name]Sophie[/name]'s been a name a long time, and it just trended up at a certain time. My middle name was pretty rare the year I was born (in the 300s), and I always liked that contrast, but it’s slipped into the top 40 or so lately. Of course, I still love it – the sound was what mattered to me, and that it came from my parents, and I’d be delighted to start coming across girls with the name!

Best wishes!

8

I agree, its a lot of pressure and my tastes are always changing. I want to make sure I like the name in ten years, but I think that the name always seems to settle on the person, which makes it feel right.

For a girl I like [name]Stella[/name] with [name]Sophie[/name].

Good luck!

9

I adore [name]Genevieve[/name], and would nickname her [name]Vivi[/name] (and start calling her that from day 1 so your partner gets it in his head that that’s her name!!!)
Finna and [name]William[/name] are lovely names.

10

Thanks to everyone for your follow up answers. Jesba, all of your comments have been so helpful and I really appreciate all of your input!! Lousiefromnz- I would love to use nickname [name]Vivi[/name] for [name]Genevieve[/name] but my husband does not like it at all so I don’t think it would be an option for us :frowning:
This thread has really helped me narrow down my list so thank you all again! I’m sure I will be back with another post once we find out what we are having :slight_smile: