Ways for a Name Nerd to Cut The Name List Down?

General Name Discussion
1

[name_f]My[/name_f] boys list has never been a problem for me, I’ve always added to it, but when it comes down to it, the same 30-40 names are always listed, and from there, I can always choose a top 10. However, girls names are a totally different story for me. I can never make my mind up on what I like/dislike (although now it’s always the same 100-120 names appearing on the list), and I can never narrow it down without wanting to go back and re-add a name (or 5…or 10…).

I am not pregnant (and won’t be for at least 5 more years I hope?), and do not have a partner, so I don’t have anyone to run this massive list by,

except my best friend who;

A) doesn’t like names as much, and
B) has a different taste than I do for most names (there’s about half that we like the same).

And my sister who;

A) dislikes almost every name I like, and
B) happens to be a 15 year old girl who is very passive, so the names are met with either “I like that”, a cringe, or ‘I don’t know’.

And the name is too large to post on a NB thread, so I really don’t have any methods to use to narrow this down. Most methods online involve a surname (any child I have will hopefully not have my surname, as it cancels out anything with a ‘s’ sound), or actually being pregnant, or having a partner.

Does anyone have any ideas or methods to cut a list down? I’ve currently gone from 113 to about 86 (which is still a lot).

2

[name_f]My[/name_f] taste is quite unusual (compared to the general populous,) so sometimes, it’s a bit easier for me to narrow down what I could use on an actual person vs. what only sounds good in my head. I know your style is more vintage and that probably makes it super hard to cut down a list. Surely you don’t love all the names equally. There HAVE to be some you only like instead of love. Get rid of those. OR you could put them on a “plan b names list” for when your front runners start feeling stale (as it happens with us sometimes.)

3

It does make it hard! :stuck_out_tongue: That sounds like a really good idea though, normally I highlight my favourites with a pink highlighter, so I could use a different colour for plan b names :slight_smile:

Thank you!

4

Someone on these boards suggested a name test. You say out loud "the honorable judge (insert name) presiding. If it sounds crazy, the name is not usable.

5

Perhaps use some of those names as middle names for names you really, truly love. Like names you know you would want your little girl to have, then pick middle names from the list to cut it down.

For example, I’ve already decided I love [name_u]Sasha[/name_u] so much, I’d use it as a first name, but [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] I’m just not sure if I’d love it more than [name_u]Sasha[/name_u]. So I decided on the name [name_u]Sasha[/name_u] [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]. I did the same with [name_f]Bianca[/name_f] and [name_f]Aveline[/name_f]. [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Bianca[/name_f] as a choice for second baby girl and [name_f]Aveline[/name_f] I love enough to use as a middle, so [name_f]Bianca[/name_f] [name_f]Aveline[/name_f]. :slight_smile: Maybe try that?

6

That is a really good idea! :slight_smile:

7

@hungrymuse - I may try that, I know babynamegenie has a test drive generator, where you input the name and it spits out test sentences at you :slight_smile: Thanks!

@heatherleigh - I think that’ll likely happen. I love [name_f]Isobel[/name_f], but don’t see myself with a daughter named [name_f]Isobel[/name_f], but I’ll likely use it in the middle for a lot of different names on my list :slight_smile: I’ll try that with the whole list too, thank you :slight_smile:

8

I just posted a thread with the exact same question yesterday! XD So far I’ve only gotten sympathies and no solutions sigh

It’s difficult when when you’re the only one who has any say in it…
[name_f]My[/name_f] lists are sadly longer than yours, at 120 for each gender at least.
I manage to rule out (or bump to middle name only) about 5 names from each list with every method I’ve tried so far. It’s not making big enough dents! And I’m always reminded of names that should be on the list.

9

We should email each other the lists for feedback and opinions :stuck_out_tongue: I’m re-adding everything to my girl’s list again, it puts it back up towards the 200’s.

I miss being picky with my names :frowning:

10

I don’t have quite the same problem because I have like a top 50 for each gender and probably a half of it is controversial because of the associations, a few ones don’t go with the last name and from the remaining there usually are like 3-5 names that I am sure are safe and will be pronounced easily by some of my relatives who don’t speak English. But it can’t stop me from adding the ones I will never use to my list.
[name_f]My[/name_f] advice is to do a little research and find out which of your names have the best associations, meanings and whether they will be safe from teasing, bullying or mispronounciation. I know some Berries use their favorites at Starbucks, which I think is a nice “crush test”.

11

By the way, I don’t have a GP list because I think you always have a little hope that you marry 1) A Welshman and have a sibset of [name_f]Arianwen[/name_f], [name_m]Tristram[/name_m] and [name_f]Gwyneira[/name_f] 2) A Russian and have twins named [name_m]Rodion[/name_m] and [name_m]Fyodor[/name_m] 3) A man from the hot Spain and become mother to [name_m]Ambrosio[/name_m] and [name_u]Carmel[/name_u].
According to the theory of probability, it can happen, so I need some good names just in case. :slight_smile:

12

I wish I had over 100 favourites. [name_f]My[/name_f] current girl list stands at about 6 and some of those are iffy.

I’d try limiting yourself more; set certain criteria for names and combinations. Restrict yourself to categories that are most special to you, like family names (and their variations), Celtic names, [name_m]German[/name_m] names, vintage names etc then rule out names that don’t fit. Personally I like playing with combinations where the names are biblical, honouring family and/or linking to my heritage. It rules out a heck of a lot of possibilities but if there’s a combo that combines all three then it’s pure gold.

13

Good news! I’ve tried the suggestion of relegating names to a ‘Like but not love’ category. Luckily, I have a four pack of highlighters, so I colour-coded the different groups I’m sorting them into;

pink - favourite
purple - like but not love
yellow - guilty pleasure (if I love it enough/don’t feel awkward using it, it’ll be added on)
orange - not as special/no.

It’s working so far, I think more than half are purple names for me! ;D

@handsallover - I love doing research (I’ve switched from childcare in uni to research analyst, haha), so I think that’ll be my next step, I always seem to do a chart plotting how the name’s changed in popularity (normally for the UK as most of these don’t rank in the US), so background info will be fun :slight_smile: I know that BritishBabyNames has Name of the Week posts for quite a few of my choices, so I’ll look at the data on there too for connections and background!

As far as the GPs go, I’m already hoping to marry a [name_u]Brit[/name_u] (English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern [name_f]Ireland[/name_f]-ish(?), I’m really not fussy, but those accents make me melt) or an Australian :wink: [name_f]My[/name_f] GPs are generally just too cute or “low class” to most people for me to use. (Not like [name_f]Nevaeh[/name_f] or Gynisess or anything odd, just names like [name_f]Lacey[/name_f]-[name_f]May[/name_f], [name_f]Gracie[/name_f]-[name_f]May[/name_f], [name_f]Lacey[/name_f], [name_u]Lexie[/name_u], and ones that are a bit too [name_m]OTT[/name_m] for me, like [name_f]India[/name_f]).

@charlieandperry1 - haha, trust me, it’s not fun :wink:

I’m thinking of that though. I know I have a lot of variants on my mum’s name ([name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]) and my nan’s middle ([name_f]Anne[/name_f], which is also my mum’s middle), so I’ve definitely got a family names category going. Mine are basically like, Diminutives, Vintage, Welsh/Cornish (not enough in the two categories alone, so they’re squished into one), and Irish/Gaelic (again, same as Welsh/Cornish). That definitely sounds like a good idea! It looks like names like [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f] and [name_f]Martha[/name_f] [name_f]Niamh[/name_f] are going to be good ones to keep :stuck_out_tongue:

Thanks for all the help everyone!

14

Mine doesn’t make it past twenty because I have a strict no A names, no J names must sound similar and native in English, Spanish and [name_m]German[/name_m] rule. These just make sense for our life style and who we are.

I’m always telling people to keep their lists open when they aren’t actually naming a child but if you feel your list is too long or unmanageable I’d suggest giving yourself some guidelines you organize your names in. I have an excel spreadsheet where I have multiple pages with different criteria. 1) Top 30 list 2) Family related names/ honoring names 3) Nature names 4)alphabetical and color coded girls list 5) alphabetical and color coded boys list… Maybe something like that would work for you too.

you can also combine similar names or cut out names that are nn of longer names you like. If you want some help feel free to PM me and I’ll give you my email address and help you take a look at it or whatever else you might need.

15

Ooh, that’s a really good idea, haha. [name_f]My[/name_f] list is colour coded right now, but roughly, haha. I’m going to type it up and tidy it tomorrow, when I have printer access (it’s not hooked up to my laptop -.-). If I need anything tomorrow while I’m doing it, I’ll definitely PM you :slight_smile: Thank you!

16

I used to be super picky in a way, only names outside the US top 1000. But that completely backfired because most names aren’t in the top 1000 :wink:

I’m working hard at narrowing down the boys, so far 33 (35) names have been bumped to middle only, some will probably be removed for good, but I’ll have to do that after. It now has 50 names and about 20 word names (most of them middle only), with some 20 names yet to consider…

I’d be open to switching list, but I see we have very different styles so I’m not sure how helpful it would be…?

Quite a few good strategies have also surfaced, I might try my hand at some more of them :slight_smile:

17

And if you need help, I would be happy to take a look on your list and give some advice. :slight_smile: Drop me a line if you want to.

18

For me, the best tests are:

  1. “[name_m]Hi[/name_m], my name is __________.” (because, personally, I don’t think it would be fair to give a child a name that I wouldn’t feel comfortable having)

  2. “This is my son/daughter, __________.”

I thought I really liked the name [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] but it immediately failed both of those tests and I took it off my list.

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] that helps!

19

@dearest - I use the UK charts for mine, they fit my style a bit nicer than the US lists do :slight_smile: [name_f]My[/name_f] boys list has about 80 or so names I properly love, but nothing more usually. I’m working on the boys right now, actually. As for the girls, I re-did my whole list, and ended up with over 200 to go by, and now, the favourites are down around 75-80, so the girls and boys lists are now equal, which makes me happy, but I think I need to distinguish between them a bit more.

@handsallover - I will do actually :slight_smile:

@alveraolive - I think doing the name test and some research are my next steps to find some definite favourites :slight_smile: I know that some names on my list aren’t ones I’d choose to have, like [name_f]Maryam[/name_f], but I think that may be because it doesn’t suit me.

Thank you again everyone!

20

@lawsonhaley - The UK charts would probably be more realistic for me as well, I’ve already eliminated a couple of names like that.
The lists I have now started with 12 :stuck_out_tongue: It adds up really quickly, I’m not surprised at all that you suddenly find your girls list has 200 names. I was recently thinking about why there were no Nordic names on my list, and suddenly remembered that I like [name_f]Liv[/name_f]. And [name_f]Mari[/name_f], and [name_m]Iver[/name_m] more than [name_m]Ivo[/name_m], word names like Soleia and Vivendel, [name_m]Alvar[/name_m], [name_u]Bo[/name_u], Torarinn, [name_f]Eira[/name_f]… There’s no stopping it!
Equality between the lists is also my goal, it feels very tidy and successful ^^ After all the work I’ve done with the boys, I’m not looking forward to do the same with the girls!