I’ve been seriously contemplating a few names lately that I’d like to hear your opinions on. They’re from my group of names (groups that I think we all have hidden away somewhere) where I know I like the name, but I’m not really sure why or whether they would ever work :rolleyes:
What are your thoughts on these? Good, bad, or ugly - as always I appreciate any and all comments, so have at it! If you want to share some of your more avant-garde choices as well, please feel free!
[name]Harlow[/name] - I love the sound and feel, don’t love the celebrity associations or the fact that it feels like it could become very trendy. I’d prefer something like [name]Marlo[/name] or [name]Marlow[/name] or [name]Harleen[/name].
[name]Austen[/name] - I love [name]Austin[/name] for a boy and I see where you’re going with the literary connection, but I don’t love it. I don’t hate it either but it will constantly be missheard as [name]Austin[/name] which is 100% boy to me. [name]How[/name] about [name]Aspen[/name], [name]Auden[/name], [name]Autumn[/name], [name]August[/name] or [name]Aurelie[/name]?
[name]Xanthe[/name] - this name seems very strong and historic, but I just don’t like the sound. What to you think of [name]Xenia[/name]? There was a [name]Xenia[/name] on The Voice who pronounced it [name]SEN[/name]-ya and I just found it so beautiful.
[name]Tabitha[/name] - one of my all time favourites! I adore the nn [name]Tibby[/name], or you could also use [name]Tabby[/name], Bitsy or [name]Bea[/name]. I really wish people would let go of the “cat” image of this name. To me, it belongs in a category with some of my other favourites [name]Matilda[/name] and [name]Harriet[/name]. I’ve loved this name since I was a little girl watching Bewitched and I still think it has a lovely warm, charming vintage feel.
I don’t think any of your choices are bad or ugly, but [name]Austen[/name] and [name]Xanthe[/name] aren’t my style, and I wouldn’t use [name]Harlow[/name] for other reasons. [name]Tabitha[/name] though I definitely love
[name]Harlow[/name]–I actually like this a lot. I know of someone who plans on using it for her next daughter ([name]Harlow[/name] Carrigan). Her first daughter is [name]Brinley[/name]. I think it’s cute. I have a pretty strict rule of no unisex names on girls at all (I’m [name]Ashley[/name] and I pretty much hate that my uncle’s MN is my first name…), so I can’t imagine using it, but it’s definitely a GP for me. I think it’s so cute, and the (semi-contrived) nns of [name]Ari[/name] and [name]Lola[/name] are too cute!
[name]Austen[/name]–I have a friend whose daughter is [name]Sophia[/name] [name]Austen[/name]! I actually like that. I think [name]Sophia[/name]'s girliness balances out the masculinity of [name]Austen[/name]. It’s too masculine for me, even though I love the namesake of [name]Jane[/name].
[name]Xanthe[/name]–I like it, but it’s a bit too exotic/over-the-top for me. I think [name]Thea[/name] or [name]Annie[/name] could be cute nicknames, though.
[name]Tabitha[/name]–Aww, I like this. It’s really old-fashioned, but sweet. I doubt I would ever use it, but I really do see its appeal. I think [name]Tabby[/name], [name]Tibby[/name], and Bit are cute nicknames for it. I actually really love it as a MN ([name]Claire[/name] [name]Tabitha[/name], [name]Sophie[/name] [name]Tabitha[/name], etc.), but it’s lovely as a FN, too.
I don’t know if it really qualifies as avant-garde, but the only name I remember seeing on an avant-garde list is [name]Aurora[/name]. Not sure if it will appeal to you? I think it goes well with the rest of the names on your list…
I like [name]Xanthe[/name], I love Greek names and this just feels historical and exotic and has a lovely soft sound to it.
[name]Tabitha[/name] seems to be getting popular, but it feels dated to me. My dad wanted to name me this and I’m over 40, so I see it as a 60s/70s name.
[name]Austen[/name] - not a [name]Jane[/name] [name]Austen[/name] fan, so I just hear [name]Austin[/name] the city and it feels like a boy’s name.
[name]Harlow[/name] - is a city as well, in [name]England[/name], and supposedly not a nice one. Also too close to Harlot for me.
[name]Harlow[/name] - As part of the [name]Harley[/name], [name]Hadley[/name], [name]Haven[/name] crowd, I think it’s usable. Modern/Trendy isn’t my style but if you like it, I don’t see a reason not to use it.
[name]Austen[/name] - This is a GP of mine. As much as I love [name]Jane[/name] [name]Austen[/name] though, I think [name]Jane[/name] would be a much nicer option for a girl.
[name]Xanthe[/name] - Not sure how to pronounce this one. [name]Zane[/name]-th? It’s okay. I prefer [name]Xavier[/name].
[name]Tabitha[/name] - I like [name]Tabitha[/name] and the nickname [name]Tabby[/name] is very cute!
I have [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Xanthe[/name] and have it on my girls list. I pronounce it [name]ZAN[/name]-Thee. I like Greek names and I find [name]Xanthe[/name] to be obscure without being too over the top. It is tendy but with class unlike some of the totally made up sounding names people tend to come out with lately.
[name]Harlow[/name] - a tad too “celebrity”, but it’s really not that bad. It just doesn’t catch my eye is all.
[name]Austen[/name] - I see the literary connection but without [name]Jane[/name] to further establish it, I think it will often be mistaken for an awkward gender-flop of [name]Austin[/name].
[name]Xanthe[/name] - other name boards have made this way too trendy for my tastes. I’m surprised it doesn’t get mentioned more often on here, really. I’m not really a fan of it because I think it’s too “over-the-top”, possibly “trying-too-hard”. I like (perhaps [name]LOVE[/name]) Greek names, but this isn’t one of them.
[name]Tabitha[/name] - I really like this one in that it has a lot of nickname potential. That, and it sounds so sweet and inviting! Discouraged from using it because BF thinks it’s clunky and old-fashioned.
[name]Harlow[/name] - Too trendy.
[name]Austen[/name] - Too masculine. I’m also not crazy about the surname as first name trend.
[name]Xanthe[/name] - Too out there. Plus, I’d be concerned about pronunciation issues.
[name]Tabitha[/name] - This one I could like. But it’s a celebrity baby name ([name]Sarah[/name] [name]Jessica[/name] [name]Parker[/name]'s), and I generally steer clear of these since they can become trendy rather quickly. The nickname, [name]Tabby[/name], makes me think of cats.
[name]Tabitha[/name] is on our shortlist for girls and I love [name]Xanthe[/name] (zan-thee), and I like the suggestion on [name]Xenia[/name]. [name]Harlow[/name] and [name]Austen[/name] are very much not my style. At all. [name]Harlow[/name] reminds m r or the word Harlot and [name]Austen[/name] seems masculine, surname-ish and is the name of a city ([name]Austin[/name]).
[name]Harlow[/name]-Very trendy since its a celeb baby name, but still pretty.
[name]Austen[/name]-[name]Love[/name] the literary connection, but I like it as a boy name instead.
[name]Xanthe[/name]-Seems a little too strange to me.
[name]Tabitha[/name]-[name]LOVE[/name] THIS NAME!! It’s lovely and uncommon and ages very well. [name]Love[/name] the nn [name]Tibby[/name] too, instead of [name]Tabby[/name].
