New, expecting, need help!

General Name Discussion
1

[name]Hi[/name] everyone! I’m a first time Mom-to-be and huge etymology nerd. I’ve had a long list of names I’ve loved for years, but now that the birth of my baby is rapidly approaching, none of them seem good enough, and it’s NOT easy to get Dad on board with my naming style. I’m looking for input on my current ideas and any new suggestions:

If I had my say, all my own, I’d name a boy: [name]Apollo[/name] [name]Jude[/name] [name]Lysander[/name]
My girl choices WERE: [name]Aurelia[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Noelle[/name] or [name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Noelle[/name] - but now I think [name]Beatrix[/name] is becoming too trendy, and [name]Aurelia[/name] might be too hard for my family, and other folks, to pronounce/spell.

Other names I like:
[name]Lily[/name] - it’s too popular, I think
[name]Marisol[/name] - this is at the top of my list, currently, but I & my family would pronounce it “[name]Mar[/name]-ih-sol” (the English way) and baby will have some spanish-speaking family who will pronounce it differently (not sure if that would matter or not).
[name]Felicity[/name] - but I don’t like any nicknames for it and want something that can be shortened.
[name]Cordelia[/name]
[name]Aurora[/name]
[name]Ariadne[/name]
[name]Annabel[/name]

[name]Leo[/name] ([name]Leopold[/name], or [name]Leonidas[/name] but think the latter may be [name]OTT[/name])
[name]Tristan[/name]
[name]Milo[/name] - but used this on my dog.
[name]Darius[/name]
[name]Henry[/name]
[name]Rowan[/name]

Dad is 100% stuck on [name]Jayden[/name] for a boy, and has shot down all my suggestions except [name]Tristan[/name] (which he said “at least that’s sort of reasonable”). Girls names he likes are [name]Ariana[/name], [name]Alexandra[/name], [name]Melissa[/name]. He would probably agree to [name]Ariadne[/name], [name]Annabel[/name], [name]Aurora[/name], or [name]Marisol[/name].

I want something that would be easily pronounced by both of our families (so needs to be pronounable in English (Irish and American South), Spanish, [name]German[/name], not horrendously difficult for teachers/classmates/doctors/etc. to spell and read, preferably not within the current 500 most popular names in the US OR having kept a steady spot on the list for the past 100 years (nothing that suddenly spiked in popularity). It also needs to have either a really positive meaning or a good historical/literary connection.

2

Your pronunciation of [name]Marisol[/name] is pretty spot on to the Spanish pronunciation so I don’t think that should be a problem. It’s a very pretty name.

[name]Cordelia[/name] and [name]Ariadne[/name] would be my favorites from your list, but if you’re looking for a name easily pronounced in Spanish, [name]Ariadne[/name] is out. [name]Cordelia[/name] works in English and Spanish, but not sure about [name]German[/name].

What do you think of [name]Alina[/name]? It’s 265 so it breaks one of your rules, but I think it’s a very international name and has a similar feel to some of your other choices.

I adore [name]Tristan[/name] from your boys list, but that would be awkward to say in Spanish. All of your boy choices would be difficult to say in Spanish, actually except for [name]Leo[/name], another name I love.

3

[name]Beatrix[/name] is hardly trendy at this point. It’s not even in the top 1000 in the US, and even the more common [name]Beatrice[/name] is only at #707! I really think you should reconsider that, because [name]Beatrix[/name] is absolutely beautiful.

Anyhow, here are some other suggestions for you, trying to incorporate both your style and what little I can glean of your husband’s:

[name]Bettina[/name]
[name]Cecilia[/name]
[name]Helena[/name]
[name]Julia[/name]
[name]Natalia[/name]
[name]Renata[/name]

[name]Adrian[/name] (sorry this is the only one I can think of… when one person wants a [name]Jayden[/name] and the other a [name]Leo[/name] it’s tough to think of anything that splits the difference!)

Good luck! :slight_smile:

4

I just saw these names as possible nns for [name]Felicity[/name]: [b][name]Felicity[/name] /b - [name]Flick[/name], Lissy, [name]Letty[/name], [name]Tilly[/name]. (I think [name]Flick[/name] or Flicka is kind of cute!) [name]Ariana[/name]/[name]Arianna[/name] might be a nice compromise name for [name]Ariadne[/name] (which I think could be difficult for people to pronounce). [name]Cordelia[/name] is pretty with several nn possibilities and it sounds really similar to [name]Aurelia[/name]. My pick from your list would be [name]Aurora[/name], but if Dad shot down [name]Aurelia[/name], I have a hard time seeing him get on board with [name]Aurora[/name]. What do you think of [name]Arielle[/name] (nn. [name]Ari[/name], Rielle, [name]Elle[/name], [name]Ellie[/name], etc.)?

I also agree with @esrever88 - I completely adore [name]Beatrix[/name]. You should reconsider it!

5

Congratulations!
I love your combinations why can’t Dad be on board? [name]Apollo[/name] [name]Jude[/name] [name]Lysander[/name] and [name]Aurelia[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Noelle[/name] are beautiful choices. I like [name]Beatrix[/name] as well but I think [name]Aurelia[/name] sounds prettier within that combination and I don’t think [name]Aurelia[/name] would be too difficult for your family especially as their are some Spanish-speaking members of the family.
Anyway onto the other names…
[name]Lily[/name] - I love this choice, so dainty and elegant. But yes [name]Lily[/name] is popular what about [name]Lilia[/name]? Slightly more unusual and has the nn [name]Lily[/name].

[name]Marisol[/name] - I love this choice she sounds so sunny and cute. However I think if their are going to be pronunciation issues and different family members pronouncing the name differently then you need to ditch this idea. Too confusing for the kid at the end of the day.

[name]Felicity[/name] - A lovely choice, really feminine and pretty. I also love the nickname [name]Flick[/name]. [name]Felicity[/name] just sounds so edgy and cool.

[name]Cordelia[/name] - I love this choice, I think [name]Cordelia[/name] feels really authentic and pretty. I like the nicknames surrounding [name]Cordelia[/name] and the fact that she has a lot of spunk. This [name]Shakespeare[/name] inspired choice is beautiful.

[name]Aurora[/name] - Similar to [name]Aurelia[/name] but most likely easier to pronounce due to exposure of the name. [name]Aurora[/name] is very spunky and pretty. I think [name]Aurora[/name] feels very majestic I also like the nickname ‘[name]Rory[/name]’. [name]Rory[/name] adds a tom-boy spin of this princess classic.

[name]Ariadne[/name] - I like this choice, it’s majestic and interesting. However I prefer your other names on this list. They have more attractive qualities.

[name]Annabel[/name] - My favourite spelling of this name! Very pretty and sweet.

[name]Leo[/name] - [name]Love[/name] this choice, a sweet intriguing name. Very spunky and cool. I think [name]Leo[/name] has a lot of charm. I think [name]Leo[/name] is far more attractive as a name in his own right compared to [name]Leopold[/name] and [name]Leonidas[/name] (which yes is [name]OTT[/name]) my favourite [name]Leo[/name] name would be [name]Leonardo[/name] or [name]Leonard[/name].

[name]Tristan[/name] - Has a cute, southern edge which I like. I think [name]Tristan[/name] is a safe choice though, which can be taken negatively or positively either way [name]Tristan[/name] is great name.

[name]Milo[/name] - I like this choice so sweet and spunky. The fashionable ‘o’ ending is really attractive. But I don’t know whether [name]Milo[/name] will ‘age’ well. Also the dog thing is a little dodgy…

[name]Darius[/name] - I dislike [name]Darius[/name] to me the name feels over the top and lacks the qualities I possess within a name. Not my style.

[name]Henry[/name] - [name]Ah[/name] I love [name]Henry[/name]!!! Gorgeously handsome choice! I think [name]Henry[/name] has a lot of strength and just works as dignified classical choice. [name]Henry[/name] just sounds so upper-Crust and cute. I think [name]Henry[/name] is great.

[name]Rowan[/name] - [name]Ah[/name] a lovely choice! Loving your style gal! I think [name]Rowan[/name] feels really natural and wholesome. [name]Lovely[/name].

I really dislike [name]Jayden[/name]. [name]Just[/name] feels so blah. I do like out of his suggestions [name]Arianna[/name] & [name]Alexandra[/name]! Especially [name]Alexandra[/name].

Suggestions:
Boys…
[name]Elias[/name]
[name]Samuel[/name]
[name]Andrei[/name]
[name]Lawson[/name]
Maxmilian
[name]Reuben[/name]
[name]William[/name]
[name]Zachariah[/name]

[name]Susannah[/name]
[name]Margo[/name]
[name]Verity[/name]
[name]Clementine[/name]
[name]Aria[/name]
[name]Niamh[/name]
[name]Scarlett[/name]
[name]Willa[/name]
[name]Charlotte[/name]

Good luck

6

I love your style and all of your names. [name]Aurelia[/name] is gorgeous! And I love [name]Cordelia[/name], [name]Aurora[/name], [name]Ariadne[/name], [name]Annabel[/name] for a girl. And [name]Leo[/name], [name]Tristan[/name], [name]Milo[/name], [name]Henry[/name], and [name]Rowan[/name] for a boy. I also love the suggestions of [name]Natalia[/name], [name]Clementine[/name], [name]Helena[/name], [name]Julia[/name], [name]Aria[/name], [name]Cecilia[/name], [name]Willa[/name], and [name]Charlotte[/name].

A few other suggestions…

Girls-
[name]Lavinia[/name]
[name]Anais[/name]
[name]Genevieve[/name]
[name]Colette[/name]
[name]Ophelia[/name]
[name]Isaline[/name]
[name]Iris[/name]
[name]Clara[/name]
[name]Mariana[/name]
[name]Isla[/name]
[name]Thalia[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name]
[name]Isolde[/name]
[name]Juliet[/name]
[name]Katherina[/name]
[name]Eden[/name]
[name]Lucienne[/name]
[name]Ondine[/name]
[name]Mila[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name]
[name]Esme[/name]
[name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Edith[/name]
[name]Matilda[/name]
[name]Evangeline[/name]
[name]Lilith[/name]
[name]Lila[/name]
[name]Rosalind[/name]
[name]Juniper[/name]
[name]Natasha[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Tess[/name]
[name]Eleanor[/name]
[name]Elodie[/name]
[name]Cora[/name]
[name]Gabrielle[/name]
[name]Blythe[/name]
[name]Alexandrine[/name]
[name]Lyra[/name]

Boys-
[name]Silas[/name]
[name]Isaac[/name]
[name]Holden[/name]
[name]Atticus[/name]
[name]Callum[/name]
[name]Rafferty[/name]
[name]Theo[/name]/[name]Theodore[/name]
[name]Sebastian[/name]
[name]Augustus[/name]
[name]Quentin[/name]
[name]Rhys[/name]
[name]Sawyer[/name]
[name]Gideon[/name]
[name]Everett[/name]
[name]Liam[/name]
[name]Charlie[/name]
[name]Alistair[/name]
[name]Malcolm[/name]
[name]Julian[/name]
[name]Atlas[/name]
[name]Dante[/name]
[name]Griffin[/name]
[name]Cian[/name]
[name]Cassius[/name]
[name]Orion[/name]
[name]Phineas[/name]
[name]Ezekiel[/name]
[name]Vincent[/name]

I kind of went all over the place stylistically, but hopefully you’ll find something that inspires you!

7

I love your name choices! My husband and I are totally butting heads too in similar ways.

I think [name]Beatrix[/name] and [name]Marisol[/name] are lovely and not at all too popular. [name]Ariana[/name]/[name]Ariadne[/name]/[name]Aurora[/name] are nice, too - can’t help with pronunciations in other languages.

You’ve already gotten a lot of name suggestions, so I’ll throw just one more girl name in: [name]Eliora[/name]. It’s Hebrew and means “light,” and it feels similar to some name trends right now but isn’t a name you’ll find very frequently. I’d guess you could say it fairly easily in other languages, too.

Boy names are so, so hard in general (for me at least) and it sounds like you’re majorly at odds. I like the [name]Silas[/name] + [name]Elias[/name] + [name]Reuben[/name] suggestions above - again with the Hebrew names! - so I’ll throw in a few more of the same ilk: [name]Saul[/name], [name]Emmett[/name], [name]Ezra[/name].

Looking forward to hearing what you guys pick eventually…maybe it will inspire me/my husband!

8

Oh wow, your sort of in the same boat as me. (Well I’m not pregnant but with language requirements - English, [name]German[/name] and Spanish).
Check out my top 10 (signature below).

Otherwise off the top of my head: [name]Paloma[/name], [name]Noelle[/name], [name]Lucas[/name], [name]Henry[/name], [name]Alvar[/name], [name]Hector[/name], [name]Hugo[/name], [name]Leopold[/name], [name]Oscar[/name], [name]Sebastian[/name], [name]Theodor[/name], [name]Vincent[/name], [name]Carlotta[/name]/[name]Charlotte[/name], [name]Theresa[/name] and [name]Julia[/name].

9

Oh my goodness! I’m used to a much, much quieter name forum, so I’m excited to see all these responses! I don’t think I can quote multiple posts, so I’ll just respond in one big post:

My issue with [name]Beatrix[/name]'s popularity isn’t it’s current ranking (I know it’s rather unpopular, still), but that’s it been making massive jumps the past few years, and I’ve seen many articles in baby magazines and online citing names that will be making a comeback or are going to be a new trend, and every one has included [name]Beatrix[/name].

I love lots of these suggestions - many are already on my general list of names, but didn’t make it as top contenders for this baby, but perhaps I’ll need to rethink that.

10

As you can tell, I’m pickier with boy’s names!

ETA: I had quoted and replied to more responses, but this is the only one showing up :frowning:

11

[name]Love[/name] [name]Cordelia[/name], [name]Leo[/name], and [name]Henry[/name]!

12

[name]Apollo[/name] [name]Jude[/name] [name]Lysander[/name]-- I like the first two names but not the last.
[name]Aurelia[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Noelle[/name]–I think this fn is great! Very under used imo. Not fond of the mn’ s but if they have some significants to you then thats great.
[name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Noelle[/name]-- I can’t quite figure out why by I do like this combo. all the names seperate are not really my style though.

Other names I like:
[name]Lily[/name] - I agree way too popular
[name]Marisol[/name] - its ok it kind of remindes me of parisol but it is pretty and different.
[name]Felicity[/name] - sorry never really been fond of this one although it is under used and relatively pretty.
[name]Cordelia[/name]- I love this choice would have been a contender in my list if it had gone better with my last name. bummer!
[name]Aurora[/name]–this is on my mn list and love the feel of it.
[name]Ariadne[/name]–I like this but most people I would have to say would not know how to pronounce it. It is very beautiful and unique
[name]Annabel[/name]–My cousin just used this for her daughters mn so I think this one is becoming pretty popular for babies recently.

[name]Leo[/name], [name]Leopold[/name] I love! I can’t get my dh to like [name]Leopold[/name] even though it is my favorite out of the two but he said ok to [name]Leo[/name] so we may use it to honor my great grand father but not sure yet.
[name]Tristan[/name]–Sorry but not liking it. I think I have similar tastes to you and your dh has similar tastes to my dh lol! Not real into his style lol
[name]Milo[/name]–nope not if you already used it on the dog. sorry.
[name]Darius[/name]–nmsaa
[name]Henry[/name]–This is a family name of mine but i can’t decide if I like it or hate it at the moment.
[name]Rowan[/name]–[name]Love[/name] it! LOL! I think i am partial though cause I used it for my son’s mn [name]Silas[/name] [name]Rowan[/name] [name]James[/name]. LOL It means little red head and used it for that reason when I saw he had red hair. So cute on a red head by the way.

Other suggestions:
[name]Sullivan[/name]
[name]Caspian[/name]
Exra
[name]Theo[/name]
[name]Lucian[/name]
[name]Luca[/name]
[name]Declan[/name]
[name]Axel[/name]

Girls:
[name]Circe[/name] (pro. sear-see)
[name]Sinead[/name] (pro. Shin-aid)
[name]Ailis[/name] (pro. ay-lish)
[name]Alba[/name]
[name]Augusta[/name]
[name]Waverly[/name]
[name]Piper[/name]

13

I think [name]Edgar[/name] would be good in all three languages. Or [name]Eric[/name]. [name]Leo[/name] is totally charming (it does mean “I read” in Spanish).[name]Lucas[/name] would be good and is so cool! The suggestion of [name]Axel[/name] was good. [name]Tristian[/name] would be a little weird in Spanish, honestly. [name]Triste[/name] is the word for sad. You don’t usually catch the meaning in English but in Spanish you certainly would and putting the name ‘sadness’ on a child seems… off.

[name]Marisol[/name] is lovely. You could also go with something like [name]Mariana[/name] or [name]Mariela[/name]/[name]Mariella[/name]. Or [name]Solana[/name]. [name]Alma[/name] (the Spanish word for soul) is beautiful. [name]Carolina[/name] (pn Care-oh-lee-na) is beautiful as well. I don’t know how you feel about popularity but [name]Isabel[/name] and [name]Isobel[/name] would be good in Spanish.

Best of luck!

14

BTW: you can quote multiple people at once. Right next to the “reply with quote” link there is a little quote bubble with a +. You can click on this for multiple posts on multiple different pages. [name]Just[/name] make sure that for the last post you want to respond to you hit “reply with quote” and they should all show up.