I’ve been feeling very name-y, and everyone on here has such lovely taste, so I figured this would be a good thread to get (and share) some inspiration!
Tell me about your forever favorites. Not the ones that have managed to climb their way to the top of you list recently (although I’d love to hear those too, honestly), but the ones you’re sure you’ll use for a child, or would if you could have picked your children’s names by yourself. Tell me why you love them, what makes them special, what imagery you get from them. [name_m]Just[/name_m] gush
[name_m]Feel[/name_m] free to share as many or as few names as you’d like. I cannot wait to hear them all!
[name_f]Forever[/name_f] been in love with [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]. It was one of the options for my name but my dad vetoed it lol.
[name_f]Layla[/name_f] is my “I’ll cry if I cant use” name. Shes sweet but at the same time, wont be afraid to voice her opinion.
[name_f]My[/name_f] only forever favourite boys name is [name_m]Atticus[/name_m]. I wholeheartedly love him!
[name_f]My[/name_f] recent favourite obsessions are brothers [name_m]Fenwick[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and [name_m]Winslow[/name_m] George!! I adore them. Also addicted to [name_m]Oskar[/name_m]!
my forever favourite is lottie i will actually cry if i can’t use her one day. i have loved her since i was eleven and even though other names come and go, she will forever be my top name. i also can’t see myself having a girl and not naming her indy indie/indi/indy has been one of my favourites since i was ten and i have gone through indie/indi/indy spelling phases but at the moment indy is just perfection. mae will forever have a special place in my heart as i used to dream of sisters named lottie, indie and maisie, which has now evolved to mae.
as for boys, the first name i truly loved was knox but i have moved slightly away from him and now i am slightly preferring fox. a few years ago i found sonny and now i can’t see myself not having a boy named sonny. he just is so sweet and bright.
some of my recent loves (last year to present) that i can really see myself using would be eva, georgia, ottilie, kaia, odette, nell, noa, isadora, florence, greta, ozzy, rio and teddy
Your names are lovely, @kays! [name_m]Winslow[/name_m] [name_m]George[/name_m] is such a stunning combo, as is [name_m]Fenwick[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m].
Your daughter is forever [name_f]Indy[/name_f] to me, @oakbelle! [name_f]Lottie[/name_f], [name_f]Indy[/name_f], and [name_f]Mae[/name_f] are beautiful as sisters! [name_m]Fox[/name_m] and [name_m]Sonny[/name_m] are so sweet together.
@Julie_NameNerd Awe, I love that [name_f]Julie[/name_f] is part of your username [name_m]Wesley[/name_m], [name_m]Sean[/name_m], and [name_m]Evan[/name_m] would make for great brothers!
@Chewy A classic for a [name_f]December[/name_f] baby! These are great!
Oh, how I wish I could go on and on about names I’ve loved for years… but alas, my favorites are always changing. Here are the names that, for right now, I can conpletely see myself using for future littles.
Susanna has been on and off my list for multiple years now, but found a permanent spot on my shortlist about one year ago. She has been my favorite for several months. It’s just a name that puts a smile on my face. Susanna is so sunny and cheerful and vintage.
Elisabeth is a name that I’ve always known I would use in some capacity, but recently she has seemed like one of the most perfect names to me. Timeless, elegant, and with a host of lovely nickname options. The S spelling is so soft and dainty.
I think I fell in love with Peter about a year and a half ago. There are so many wonderful associations with the name Peter, but the one that is most prominent in my mind is Peter from The Chronicles of Narnia. He gives Peter such a courageous, storybook feel to it.
Finally, we have Timothy. Now, he actually is a forever favorite for me. There have been a few lists with Timothy omitted, but for the most part, he has been present on every name list for the past 4 years (ever since I’ve been making lists!) He is gentle and kind, but also sturdy. It’s just the perfect balance for me.
Oh, and some recent favorites that I’m obsessing over: Rosemary – Rose has always been on my list in some way, and right now Rosemary is just the most warm, summer-y version! Caroline – I worked with the most lovable nurse named Caroline, and her southern charm has completely worked its magic! Now I love the name Caroline! Jesse – such a sweet and friendly Biblical name! I love how laid back he is! (The Tuck Everlasting association is also a positive in my mind.) Isaiah – I’m just obsessed with the sound of Isaiah right now. It’s just a gorgeous name. And the nickname Izzy?! Are you kidding me?! So cute!
@may.rose These names are so you! I too love the [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] spelling! [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] “Izzy” is so inspired!
@orangeblossom This is such a good list! I really like [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Orla[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_m]Arthur[/name_m], [name_m]Harry[/name_m], [name_m]James[/name_m], and [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]!
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] - [name_f]My[/name_f] forever forever love. It’s been 8 years now. I love her length, her sound, her meaning, her style, her imagery, her flow, her adaptability, I could go on and on. She’s sweet but strong, classic but fitting, timeless and elegant… I need to stop rambling. If I never get to use her I might actually throw a fit and then cry about it.
[name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] - [name_f]My[/name_f] forever boys love. Also been around 8 years. I love him for many of the same reasons as [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]. And I just love my imagery of him - an adorable little boy who is full of energy, is the sweetest soul, and loves nature and his family and friends. I also find the nickname [name_m]Benji[/name_m] adorable.
Sweet [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is my forever love; so feminine and gorgeous, but still simple & not too frilly. I can’t imagine not using her on a daughter!
Shout out to [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] - I don’t love her quite as much as I used to, but still a stunning classic, and the nn [name_m]Kit[/name_m] is especially close to my heart!
The ballet imagery of [name_f]Clara[/name_f], along with the fact that my mum is also obsessed with her, gives her a very special place in my heart. If I couldn’t use [name_f]Rose[/name_f], this would be my second pick. [name_m]James[/name_m] is my oldest boys love; you simply can’t do wrong with such a tried and true sweetheart name. But I also have a soft spot for gentle biblical [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m]!
[name_m]Sindri[/name_m] - it’s been a favorite of mine since I first got into names. It’s so soft and elegant. It means “sparkling”, which is just adorable, and it’s connected to my heritage. [name_f]My[/name_f] father always said he would have named his son [name_m]Sindri[/name_m] if it had been up to him, so that makes it extra special to me
[name_m]Snær[/name_m] - he reminds me of my childhood so much. Cold weather, walking through the snow, sitting inside by a warm fire and drinking hot chocolate
[name_f]Salka[/name_f] - she’s simple but lovely, and very usable internationally. Also the title of one of my favorite Sigur Rós songs
I can find [name_m]Rowan[/name_m] making appearances on my list as far back as when I was 14 years old, but she didn’t become a top 2 favorite until I was in college. I love her soft strength, how she could be spunky and sassy or gentle and sweet (although, a child with my genes is far more likely to be the first), and how she’s gender neutral and modern. I love her nature connection and her connection to Celtic mythology as a tree which protects against dark magic.
my boys list has only come into its own in the last couple years. much like rowan though, I can find [name_m]Zephyr[/name_m] on my lists as far back as middle school, although back then I preferred it as a girl’s name. I still love the more neutral sound of [name_m]Zephyr[/name_m], even though I prefer it as a masculine name now. similar to [name_m]Rowan[/name_m], I could see [name_m]Zephyr[/name_m] being strong and soft, and I also love the mythological connection.
some others… [name_f]Boheme[/name_f], [name_f]Reverie[/name_f], and [name_f]Fable[/name_f] have been on my radar since I discovered [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f] Woolf’s blog sometime around 2015. [name_m]Oakley[/name_m] is on my boys list but was on my girls list back in middle school
[name_f]Forever[/name_f] been in love with [name_f]Isadora[/name_f]
I love how the first 3 letters match with my name, [name_f]Isabel[/name_f].
It’s different from what I usually hear where I live, and I always imagine a pink loving girly tomboy, if that makes any sense.
I can’t wait to actually use it!!!
[name_f]My[/name_f] names do continuously change. I am not incredibly consistent when it comes to names. I also find my tastes evolve and change as I go through life.
Anyways time to gush about my everlasting loves
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
I have loved [name_f]Rose[/name_f] for years and years and years! I honestly adore her she’s warm, romantic, elegant, timeless and has so many special connotations. She’s also a family name for me which makes her very special. I love literally all [name_f]Rose[/name_f] variants and I become envious when I encounter people named [name_f]Rose[/name_f] or with children named [name_f]Rose[/name_f]. If I’m ever blessed with another girl her name will be [name_f]Rose[/name_f].
[name_m]Noah[/name_m]
I come from an interfaith family my mum is Jewish and my father is a practising Catholic. So as a child bible stories were read to me a lot and honestly Noah’s [name_m]Ark[/name_m] was my firm favourite. As a result I love [name_m]Noah[/name_m]! [name_m]Noah[/name_m] is outdoorsy, soft, handsome, has gorgeous connotations through the bible story and for me just sounds joyous. I really love [name_m]Noah[/name_m]!
[name_f]My[/name_f] forever favorites for girls include [name_f]Athena[/name_f] and [name_f]Maryelle[/name_f]. These names have been at or near the top of my list ever since I first started being interested in names. [name_m]Even[/name_m] today I still feel the same rush of warmth and excitement when I think of these names as I did when I first heard them. Other girl names that have been evergreen on my favorites list include [name_f]Darcy[/name_f], [name_f]Laurel[/name_f], [name_f]Astrid[/name_f], [name_m]Sky[/name_m], and [name_f]Thalia[/name_f].
For boys, the name [name_m]Slade[/name_m] has been my number one favorite boy name again since I first started being interested in names, and he still sits atop my list. To be totally honest, I have cooled down just a tad bit on [name_m]Slade[/name_m] ever since “slay” entered popular vernacular (I can’t help but hear “slayed” ) but I literally just can’t picture another name dethroning [name_m]Slade[/name_m]. I even use this semi-frequently as my “Starbucks name”. At first, I remember thinking it was just a cool, bada$$ name but now - even though I still think it’s cool - I really admire its distinctive, handsome, sleek quality. Other perennial favorite boy names include [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], [name_m]Garrett[/name_m], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m], [name_m]Kasey[/name_m], [name_m]Rafferty[/name_m], [name_m]Rhys[/name_m], [name_f]Shea[/name_f], [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], [name_m]Vaughn[/name_m], and [name_m]Zane[/name_m].
[name_f]My[/name_f] forever favorite girl name is [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]!
I used to live near [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], NC and I just have such wonderful memories associated with that name. I love how pretty and feminine it is while also being a strong and solid choice. I fell in love with it again when [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] was born and when my brother suggested it as a name for my new rabbit. I so hope to use this name for my daughter one day!
I don’t have a favorite forever boy name but I’ve always loved the name [name_m]Seth[/name_m] for some unknown reason. While it’s not on my list for potential baby boys - I still love how soft and masculine it is. [name_f]My[/name_f] most recent favorite boy name is [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] - I’ve loved it for almost a year I think and I just adore the nicknames [name_m]Theo[/name_m] or [name_m]Teddy[/name_m]!
I’m sure you know this, but my forever favorite will always be sweet Augusta!!
I don’t remember exactly when I started loving her, but it was definitely inspired by the character of [name_m]August[/name_m] from The [name_f]Secret[/name_f] Life of Bees. I love the gentle [name_m]August[/name_m] for a girl, and I adore the stately, empress-y gold-glinting [name_f]Augusta[/name_f], she just feels so powerful yet soft at the same time.
If I had free reign over middles (for all kids, not just Augusta) I would definitely use [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] and Susannah!! They’re honors for both of my parents, and I love that they’re kind of evergreen classics without being overly common or overused!!
[name_f]Tillie[/name_f] & [name_f]Lily[/name_f] are longtime favorites of mine and by longtime I mean since I was a child!!
[name_m]Theo[/name_m] was a looongtime favorite of mine but I’ve gotten a bit sick of it.
@CattheBat13579 I feel similar to [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] as you do to [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]! [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] are great together!
@Mary_Rose These are all gorgeous! I especially love [name_f]Clara[/name_f]!
@Rosebeth [name_m]Snær[/name_m] is so lovely. I love how much your family and/or heritage is always represented in your names, Ró!
@SparkleNinja18 These names are all so you, Aeli! Specifically [name_m]Rowan[/name_m] and [name_f]Fable[/name_f]!
@XxIzzixX That’s such a sweet connection! [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] is lovely.
@tori101 [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is forever a name I associate with you, [name_f]Tori[/name_f]! I do hope you’ll get to use her in the future if you have another girl! [name_m]Noah[/name_m] is so lovely.
@Youssarian Awe, that’s so sweet! I love that your favorites have been that since you’ve started getting into names!
@jalexis15 [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] are great together! [name_m]Seth[/name_m] doesn’t get as much love as he should. [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] is my top favorite too!
@winterlyricalfox [name_f]Augusta[/name_f] is so you! I totally get that with the powerful and softness, I often feel that way with my favorites too!
@pixelatedinfants [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] and [name_f]Lily[/name_f] are super sweet!
i will actually cry if i can’t use her one day. i have loved her since i was eleven and even though other names come and go, she will forever be my top name. i also can’t see myself having a girl and not naming her indy 
indie/indi/indy has been one of my favourites since i was ten and i have gone through indie/indi/indy spelling phases but at the moment indy is just perfection. mae 
will forever have a special place in my heart as i used to dream of sisters named lottie, indie and maisie, which has now evolved to mae.
but i have moved slightly away from him and now i am slightly preferring fox 
. a few years ago i found sonny 
and now i can’t see myself not having a boy named sonny. he just is so sweet and bright.
[name_m]Wesley[/name_m], [name_m]Sean[/name_m], and [name_m]Evan[/name_m] would make for great brothers!
) but I literally just can’t picture another name dethroning [name_m]Slade[/name_m]. I even use this semi-frequently as my “Starbucks name”. At first, I remember thinking it was just a cool, bada$$ name but now - even though I still think it’s cool - I really admire its distinctive, handsome, sleek quality. Other perennial favorite boy names include [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], [name_m]Garrett[/name_m], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m], [name_m]Kasey[/name_m], [name_m]Rafferty[/name_m], [name_m]Rhys[/name_m], [name_f]Shea[/name_f], [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], [name_m]Vaughn[/name_m], and [name_m]Zane[/name_m].