The Short List Is In! Vintage, Nature, Popular, Unique...

… and I’m going to try not to add to it anymore! Please do not suggest any other names unless you really really think it’ll hit the mark. I’m trying to narrow it down. :slight_smile:

Family and friends are not much help in regard to names as most – while might voice a preference – generally say that they are happy with whatever name I choose.

I have decided a couple of things. After some serious thought I’ve decided that popularity and/or trendiness doesn’t bother me. Naming has become far more creative than in generations past, so even popular names don’t seem nearly as abundant (thinking of all those Johns and [name_f]Marys[/name_f], Michaels and Sarahs). My lil’ one will make her name hers regardless of who else bears it.

Looking for pros and cons of names, general comments. Anything really. Here I go:

[name_f]Ava[/name_f] / Avalynn
[name_u]Harper[/name_u]
[name_f]Calla[/name_f]
[name_u]Sequoia[/name_u] – nn Seeka or Quoia
[name_f]Briar[/name_f]
[name_f]Io[/name_f] – prn Eye-o. Nordic variation of this name with same prn is Ayo / Ayoe (my heritage is Norwegian and Swedish).
[name_f]Kaya[/name_f]
[name_f]Aya[/name_f] – lots of wonderful meanings from various cultures on this one!
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] – No way on [name_u]Clemmie[/name_u], [name_u]Clem[/name_u] or [name_f]Tina[/name_f]. Nn [name_f]Em[/name_f], Eme or [name_f]Mina[/name_f].
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] – with ‘lyn’ ending. Nn [name_f]Evie[/name_f] is quite adorable.
[name_f]Luna[/name_f]

And two boys names I just can’t shake:

[name_m]Bodhi[/name_m] – Before I knew that I was going to have a girl, I was settled on this one for a boy. I love the meaning behind this name and was in search of a longer version for [name_m]Bo[/name_m]. I think [name_m]Bo[/name_m] would be equally adorable for a girl. Not a fan of any girl names with [name_m]Bo[/name_m] nn possibilities.

[name_m]Levi[/name_m] – Not a traditional girls name and may rise some eyebrows among religious folk, however I think it has the potential to be wonderful. It would be to honor someone very important to me who has passed and so it sticks in the back of my mind.

[name_f]Love[/name_f] [name_f]Clementine[/name_f]! Like [name_f]Calla[/name_f] and [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]. Not a fan of the rest.

[name_f]Ava[/name_f] / Avalynn - though [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is super-popular, I prefer it to Avalynn, which sort of feels like it was thrown together for the sole purpose of avoiding the popularity loop, which may be even worse. It has a pretty sound, but I’d prefer [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u], which has a similar sound. [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is lovely.

[name_u]Harper[/name_u] - [name_u]Harper[/name_u] isn’t one of my favorites, and I find it very trendy. I think it’s going to get really popular in the next few years, so I’d watch out for it.

[name_f]Calla[/name_f]- I [name_f]ADORE[/name_f] [name_f]Calla[/name_f]! I find it quirky, sweet, innocent, and one of the best flower names! Not too popular, but still well-known enough to be accepted.

[name_u]Sequoia[/name_u] – nn Seeka or Quoia- Not one of my favorites. I don’t really like a lot of tree names (minus [name_u]Aspen[/name_u], which I think is a very strong name.)

[name_f]Briar[/name_f]- I think this one is AMAZING! (Wow, I’m using a lot of bolds and italics!) [name_f]Briar[/name_f] is just the right combo of sweet, strong, feminine, and unique and I really love it! Middle name suggestions: [name_f]Briar[/name_f] [name_f]Angelica[/name_f], [name_f]Briar[/name_f] [name_f]Kalila[/name_f], [name_f]Briar[/name_f] [name_f]Avalon[/name_f]

[name_f]Io[/name_f] – I’d never have the guts to use this, but I adore [name_f]Io[/name_f]! It’s simple and makes a statement in its two letters that just can’t be beat!

[name_f]Kaya[/name_f]- Not sure of the pronunciation ([name_u]KAY[/name_u]-uh or [name_m]KY[/name_m]-uh?). I like [name_u]KAY[/name_u]-uh better, but they’re both nice. I find it a little insubstantial.

[name_f]Aya[/name_f] – I do like this one, though I think it’s a bit short. Maybe [name_u]Arya[/name_u] nn [name_f]Aya[/name_f]?

[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] – I can’t stand this one. I don’t know why I find it so unattractive, but no matter if it’s Clemen-teen or Clemen-tyne, I can’t stand it.

[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] – I prefer [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] with the ‘leen’ ending. It seems a little vampiress to me, though that may be a personal opinion. [name_f]Evie[/name_f] is adorable!

[name_f]Luna[/name_f]- It’s getting a bit popular, but I still can’t help but adore it!

[name_m]Bodhi[/name_m] – I honestly love this for a girl! I never considered it, but with the cute nickname of [name_m]Bo[/name_m], I suddenly realized that it has great unisex potential! ([name_m]Bo[/name_m] is one of my soft spot nicknames)

[name_m]Levi[/name_m] – I don’t know about it for a girl… but if it means something to you, it isn’t the worst I’ve heard (etc. [name_m]Thomas[/name_m], [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_u]Kyle[/name_u] on girls… ugh), so if it’s important, use it!

Edited for privacy.

Avalynn— This is pretty. Tons of Berries probably would look down on this, but the sound of it is undeniably pretty, and the -lynn trend is a trend right now for a reason. I’d probably like the spelling [name_f]Avalyn[/name_f] best though.
[name_u]Harper[/name_u]-- It’s cute but definitely not my favorite.
[name_f]Calla[/name_f]-- This is gorgeous and severely underused.
[name_u]Sequoia[/name_u] – nn Seeka or Quoia— I really don’t like this. It’s way too out there for my taste.
[name_f]Briar[/name_f]-- The image of a [name_f]Briar[/name_f] patch is extremely unattractive to me. The name isn’t ugly, the association is.
[name_f]Io[/name_f] – prn Eye-o. I just think of a space shuttle or satellite or something.
[name_f]Kaya[/name_f]-- Very cute. Prefer the spelling [name_f]Caia[/name_f].
[name_f]Aya[/name_f] – Eh. I’d rather see [name_f]Kaya[/name_f].
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] – I don’t love this like most Berries do.
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] – This is classic, and pretty. [name_f]Evie[/name_f] is cute. This isn’t my favorite though.
[name_f]Luna[/name_f]-- I’ve been crushing on this name lately. I think it is beautiful.
I think your best bets are Avalynn, [name_f]Calla[/name_f], [name_f]Kaya[/name_f], or [name_f]Luna[/name_f].

I love love love [name_f]Briar[/name_f], [name_f]Calla[/name_f], and [name_f]Luna[/name_f]. I am not a huge fan of the rest. From the boys, I prefer [name_m]Levi[/name_m].

Avalynn— Pretty, but I prefer just [name_f]Ava[/name_f]. I adore [name_f]Ava[/name_f]. It’s gorgeous and spunky at the same time.
[name_u]Harper[/name_u]-- Cute but not my favorite. I like it as a middle name.
[name_f]Calla[/name_f]-- Seems incomplete to me.
[name_u]Sequoia[/name_u] – nn Seeka or Quoia— NMS. I see it as more of a boy’s name. But I do think Quoia is a cute nn.
[name_f]Briar[/name_f]-- [name_f]Lovely[/name_f]. The best pick with [name_u]Lynn[/name_u] I think.
[name_f]Io[/name_f] – prn Eye-o. This is a dumb reason to not like a name, but it just seems too short.
[name_f]Kaya[/name_f]-- Sweet.
[name_f]Aya[/name_f] – [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is better.
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] – [name_f]Adore[/name_f] it! I like all of your nn preferences, especially [name_f]Em[/name_f] and Eme (though I love the full out name).
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] – [name_f]Love[/name_f]! [name_f]Evie[/name_f] is adorable.
[name_f]Luna[/name_f]-- Very cute! Reminds me of [name_f]Luna[/name_f] Lovegood from [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] and I love her character.

My favorites are [name_f]Ava[/name_f], [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], and [name_f]Luna[/name_f].

boyandgirl – [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] is a name I love but can’t really explain why!

Matti12 – thanks for the detailed input. I love the name [name_m]Bodhi[/name_m]/[name_m]Bo[/name_m] and every time I pull away from it I meander back. Can’t be helped.

Saracita00 – thanks. I never thought about [name_u]Harper[/name_u] [name_u]Lynn[/name_u] being so close to [name_u]Harper[/name_u] [name_u]Lee[/name_u]. Or [name_f]Calla[/name_f] [name_f]Lily[/name_f] / [name_f]Calla[/name_f] [name_u]Lynn[/name_u]. I do agree that with certain names it just doesn’t work.

Marshmallow1207 – I’ve noticed that [name_f]Briar[/name_f] gets a lot of mixed reviews. When I think of [name_f]Briar[/name_f] I think of Sweetbrier which is a beautiful wild rose that has thorns, yes, but beauty with an edge. [name_f]Caia[/name_f] is a pretty alternative spelling for [name_f]Kaya[/name_f]. Thanks!

[name_u]Shilo[/name_u] – yes! I love love those ones too. Gah.

Stlmama225 – I think of [name_f]Kaya[/name_f], [name_f]Aya[/name_f] and [name_f]Ava[/name_f] I like [name_f]Ava[/name_f] best too. This one has my mom’s vote. I think it’s funny that people one gripe with the name [name_f]Io[/name_f] is that it is too short, as sound-wise it has two syllables. [name_m]Just[/name_m] the look I guess.

Thanks everyone for the input so far!

With [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] I’m just a little off-put by the association with Evangelicalism. While we are not religious or around very many overly religious people and living in a very liberal state, my boyfriend does have family who is indeed Evangelical. Is this a deal breaker? Can’t quite put aside so I’m thinking it is.

I really like [name_m]Levi[/name_m]. I’d go with that.

If you are worried about gender boundaries, you can name her [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], and only call her [name_m]Levi[/name_m]. That can help ease some tension with people/make her gender more obvious on a class roster :slight_smile:

If I were to narrow it down to 3…

[name_f]Ava[/name_f]: It’s a little on the popular side, but since that doesn’t bother you, I think it’s classic and beautiful.

[name_f]Clementine[/name_f]: I love the nn [name_f]Mina[/name_f]!

[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]: I’m probably in the minority, but I like the -lyn ending as well as the -leen ending, if not more. [name_f]Evie[/name_f] is really sweet, and [name_f]Eva[/name_f] as a possibility is great, too :slight_smile:

Like ava a good amount like avalynn better, briar sounds ordinary to me tho i like greer, aya is pretty, love luna!
[name_m]Bodhi[/name_m] is adorable and def has unisex potential especially w nn bo. [name_m]Levi[/name_m] I like on a boy I could be swayed on a girl but it isnt my favorite.
[name_f]Luna[/name_f] and bodhi overall

[name_f]Briar[/name_f] is my favorite. Definitely hits the sweet spot of underused but not hard to pronounce. Plus, it has a really nice feminine aspect to it without being frilly.

[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] is my second favorite. I prefer the nickname [name_m]Lemon[/name_m], but [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] is definitely a favorite of mine–so spunky.

[name_m]Levi[/name_m] as a girl name is lame. Sorry. I’m one of those people who want my boys to have an obviously gendered name, and there are so few left. I know this is an old argument. [name_m]Bodhi[/name_m], however, has more gender flipping ability, I think. Mostly because there are fewer of them around so the gender doesn’t seem as set in stone.

Thanks for all the input everyone! I appreciate it.

I am surprised at how many good reviews [name_f]Briar[/name_f] is getting. I adore it.

[name_m]Levi[/name_m] as a girls name would definitely raise some eyebrows and while I like names that are on the fence or unisex, I don’t go for obvious boy names on girls. Best just to save it and I’m sure someone else will honor him.

I wonder if I would constantly be correcting people on the pronunciation of [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] as there are three legitimate ways to say the name. Somehow this seems like it could be more annoying then having a difficult-to-pronounce name.

I always wanted to use [name_m]Boden[/name_m] for a girl (still do) so I don’t see why [name_m]Bodhi[/name_m] couldn’t work…so, that one gets my vote!

I also really like [name_f]Luna[/name_f]. The rest of the names don’t excite me at all…

I love [name_f]Calla[/name_f], [name_f]Briar[/name_f], [name_f]Aya[/name_f], [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], and [name_f]Luna[/name_f] and like [name_f]Io[/name_f] and [name_f]Kaya[/name_f] (with prn. [name_u]KAY[/name_u]-uh).

Great options! I like [name_u]Sequoia[/name_u] [name_f]Clementine[/name_f].