So the husband and I looked through the list of names you guys came up with in the previous thread an it’s been really helpful. We’ve taken the ones we somewhat like/are willing to consider further and are now trying to narrow that down as well. So if you could say your top ones of these and if there’s any you really don’t think fit, to try and shorten that list. Brother [name]Dominic[/name], surname the rather common J___son.
[name]Abigail[/name]
[name]Annabel[/name] (would use nickname [name]Anna[/name] or [name]Annie[/name], not [name]Belle[/name]/[name]Bella[/name])
[name]Lucia[/name]/[name]Lucy[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name]/beth
[name]Caitlin[/name]
[name]Esther[/name]
[name]Rosalind[/name] (I like nickname [name]Rosa[/name], he prefers [name]Rosie[/name])
[name]Tessa[/name]
[name]Victoria[/name]
[name]Ellen[/name] (only as a middle - I think it’s too close to cousin [name]Eleanor[/name] to use as a first)
[name]Suzanna[/name]
[name]Elodie[/name]
[name]Imogen[/name]
[name]Jemima[/name]
[name]Gabrielle[/name]
[name]Naomi[/name]
[name]Isobel[/name] (again, would be [name]Izzy[/name] not [name]Belle[/name]/[name]Bella[/name])
[name]Jasmine[/name] (would this work with J____son as a surname? I like it, but not sure if it goes?)
and one he came up with all by himself - [name]Tabitha[/name] (he says he heard it at work and liked the sound of it - it’s a complete contrast to his previous list but I’m not complaining!)
We’ve got no idea on a middle name either but I’m willing to let him have one of his names off his original list as a middle if he’ll accept a different first name.
Also, are there any boyish potential nicknames for any of these we’re yet to spot? Because as soon as we do, they’ll be off as one of his conditions. [name]Don[/name]'t want to fall in love with a name only to not be able to use it.
[name]Annabel[/name] - Can never go wrong with [name]Anna[/name]!
[name]Lucy[/name] - [name]Lucia[/name] is pretty, but can get the Loo chee a/Loo sha/Loo see a, pronounciation debate.
[name]Eliza/name - Either way is nice; you use [name]Eliza[/name] as the primary name with or without the [name]Elizabeth[/name] as a formal name.
[name]Tessa[/name] - Very pretty
[name]Suzanna[/name] - I prefer [name]Susanna[/name]
[name]Imogen[/name] - Pronounciation can be an issue, like this name straight, without a nickname.
[name]Isobel[/name] - Spelling might be an issue, but I do like the “o”.
[name]Tabitha[/name] - A sweet name. I work with a [name]Tabitha[/name], she gets called [name]Tabby[/name] all the time, so if this isn’t ok with you I would think again.
Won’t suggest middle names at this time. Some of these names go well with [name]Ellen[/name] but once to pare down to a few, start the middle name hunt in earnest.
Thanks for all your replies, it’s really helpful to know what names other people think work best.
I didn’t realise [name]Lucia[/name] had so many variations on how to say it. I’ve always thought the English way to say it was Loo-see-a, and Loo-chee-a was the Spanish way. [name]May[/name] have to leave that one if it’s going to be a big issue.
I don’t know how else to say [name]Imogen[/name] though, it’s always imm-uh-jen to me.
And I don’t mind [name]Tabby[/name], what about Bith/[name]Beth[/name] as a nickname or is it too weird? [name]Tabby[/name]'s cute on a child but I can’t see her using it once she’s a bit older.
[name]Caitlin[/name] - too “dated”
[name]Jemima[/name] - too similar in sound
[name]Tessa[/name] - too weak
[name]Jasmine[/name] - too trendy
[name]Esther[/name] - I like it but it’s too dowdy
[name]Imogen[/name] - too different in style
[name]Ellen[/name] - too bland
[name]Suzanna[/name] - the “z” is not a pretty as “s”
[name]Elodie[/name] - too cutesy
[name]Abigail[/name] - adorable! nn [name]Abbie[/name] is cute too
[name]Annabel[/name] - love this one! Also love nn [name]Annie[/name] instead of [name]Bella[/name]… [name]Bella[/name] has gotten too common!
[name]Lucia[/name]/[name]Lucy[/name] - I prefer [name]Lucy[/name] over [name]Lucia[/name], but I like both
[name]Eliza[/name]/beth - [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name]! tons of nn options, but none of them are at all masculine. I prefer [name]Elisabeth[/name] (French/[name]German[/name] spelling).
[name]Caitlin[/name] - love this one too!
[name]Esther[/name] - I like the biblical connection, but don’t love the name itself.
[name]Rosalind[/name] - not a huge fan of this, but no major problem with it either. I prefer [name]Rosalie[/name]
[name]Tessa[/name], [name]Victoria[/name] - don’t like because of personal connotations
[name]Ellen[/name] - okay as a middle, I don’t like it for a first
[name]Suzanna[/name], [name]Elodie[/name] - love these
[name]Imogen[/name], [name]Jemima[/name]- have never liked these, just sound awkward to me
[name]Gabrielle[/name], [name]Isobel[/name] - too popular, at least where I live
[name]Naomi[/name] - sounds like an old lady name to me
[name]Jasmine[/name] - maybe a bit too awkward with the last name
The reasons you give for liking or not liking names are really helpful, thankyou. I also like [name]Abbie[/name] as a nickname, though I think I prefer it as [name]Abby[/name].
And I like [name]Suzanna[/name] better than [name]Susanna[/name] or [name]Susannah[/name], the s just looks weak to me. The same with [name]Elizabeth[/name] and [name]Elisabeth[/name], the z version just seems stronger.
Well, almost any name you could probably find some sort of boyish nn if you looked hard enough–[name]Al[/name] for [name]Abigail[/name], [name]Cal[/name] for [name]Caitlin[/name], [name]Lou[/name] for [name]Lucy[/name], [name]Vic[/name] for [name]Victoria[/name], [name]Jim[/name] for [name]Jemima[/name], [name]Gabe[/name] for [name]Gabrielle[/name], [name]Sal[/name] for [name]Rosalind[/name], etc. but they are all quite feminine names, so I can’t imagine that happening spontaneously.
Is your last name 3 syllables or 2? Usually names sound a tad better if the syllables don’t match. So [name]Abigail[/name] [name]Jack[/name]-son sounds better than [name]Abigail[/name] [name]Jami[/name]-son. This isn’t a deal breaker of course, it’s just a suggestion.
[name]Abigail[/name] - like it, particularly like nn [name]Libby[/name]
[name]Tabitha[/name] - I like it! especially [name]Tibby[/name]
[name]Esther[/name]/[name]Tessa[/name] - I really like this one! You could also use [name]Tess[/name] or [name]Tessa[/name] as a nn.
[name]Lucia[/name]/[name]Lucy[/name] - gorgeous. [name]Lovely[/name] name with a limited # of nn’s and it goes well with [name]Dominic[/name]
[name]Naomi[/name] - pretty, I like this one a lot
[name]Rosalind[/name] - lovely name, lots of great options
[name]Suzanna[/name] - underused classic. Lots of options to take her through life from [name]Zuzu[/name] to [name]Suzie[/name] to [name]Sue[/name] to [name]Anna[/name] to Zany
[name]Annabel[/name] - I really like this one, doesn’t “match” as well with [name]Dominic[/name] as some of the others, but it’s a great name
[name]Eliza[/name]/beth - lovely name with a million and one options, maybe too many if you’re worried about nicknames.
[name]Imogen[/name] - just doesn’t have a pleasant sound to me, like emergent
[name]Jemima[/name] - It’s a lovely name! but all I think of is syrup.
[name]Gabrielle[/name] - I adore [name]Brielle[/name]! [name]Gabby[/name] and [name]Gigi[/name] irritate me though, which is what keeps it off my list.
[name]Elodie[/name] - I don’t like that it sounds like the letters L O D
[name]Caitlin[/name] - I don’t like the numerous ways it’s spelled, feel very trendy, definitely a pretty name, just not one I’d use.
[name]Isobel[/name] - it’s a nice name, but super common in it’s many variations, similar to [name]Caitlin[/name] in that.
[name]Jasmine[/name] - nice name, but I agree that it wouldn’t work with last name J___son
My favourites are:
[name]Rosalind[/name] (having a [name]Rosalind[/name] daughter is fantastic, just to let you know ;))
[name]Lucia[/name]
[name]Jemima[/name]
[name]Elodie[/name]
[name]Isobel[/name]
[name]Jasmine[/name]
[name]Imogen[/name]
[name]Annabel[/name]
[name]Tabitha[/name] ([name]Do[/name] you like [name]Talitha[/name]? I think it’s even cuter than [name]Tabitha[/name], and there’s sweet nicknames [name]Litha[/name] and [name]Tallie[/name])
[name]Tessa[/name]
[name]Naomi[/name]
My favorite would probably be [name]Suzanna[/name]. (Partly because my younger daughter’s middle name is [name]Susannah[/name], in honor of my sister, whose middle name is [name]Suzanne[/name]!) It’s a classically pretty name, not overly used right now, and goes well with [name]Dominic[/name]. From your list I also like [name]Rosalind[/name], [name]Esther[/name], [name]Jemima[/name] and [name]Gabrielle[/name].
If you want to eliminate names with boyish potential nicknames, [name]Victoria[/name] is out - [name]Vic[/name].
I love:
[name]Lucia[/name] and [name]Lucy[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name]/[name]Elizabeth[/name]
[name]Rosalind[/name]
I like a LOT:
[name]Tabitha[/name]
[name]Annabel[/name]
[name]Elodie[/name]
[name]Naomi[/name]
I like:
[name]Esther[/name]
[name]Tessa[/name]
[name]Jemima[/name]
[name]Imogen[/name]
[name]Isobel[/name] (I [name]LOVE[/name] the full name [name]Isobel[/name]/[name]Isabel[/name]/[name]Isabelle[/name] but honestly cannot stand [name]Izzy[/name]- [name]Belle[/name]/[name]Bella[/name] is alright)
I think these are OK:
[name]Abigail[/name]
[name]Victoria[/name]
[name]Gabrielle[/name]
[name]Suzanna[/name] (I don’t really like the Z, otherwise it would be a bit higher)
I dislike:
[name]Caitlin[/name]
[name]Jasmine[/name]
I don’t find any of your names awful- I only dislike [name]Caitlin[/name] because of the popularity of the [name]Kate[/name]/[name]Cate[/name]/[name]Kait[/name]/[name]Cait[/name] names, and [name]Jasmine[/name] because [name]Jasmine[/name] and pretty much all of the J___son names sound really similar, with the J and the strong S and the N ending- and all the rest would be wonderfully refreshing in the sea of names right now. Good luck!
You ladies have been super helpful, thanks ever so much. We’ve got it down to a top ten, now to try and crop it even more, and then find a middle. Good job we’ve still got another couple of months to go, as long as he or she doesn’t decide to pop out early anyway!
Our top ten, and probably nicknames. As you can probably tell with [name]Nico[/name], we don’t mind going against the norm ([name]Dominic[/name]>[name]Dom[/name]) when it comes to nicknames.
[name]Abigail[/name] - [name]Abby[/name]
[name]Annabel[/name] - [name]Anna[/name] or [name]Annie[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name]
[name]Elizabeth[/name] - we can’t decide on a nickname for this, there’s too many!
[name]Isobel[/name] - [name]Izzy[/name]
[name]Imogen[/name] - [name]Mimi[/name] or [name]Immy[/name] or [name]Genna[/name]/[name]Jenna[/name]
[name]Jemima[/name] - [name]Mimi[/name] or [name]Jemma[/name] or [name]Jemmy[/name]
[name]Rosalind[/name] - [name]Rosa[/name] or [name]Rosie[/name] or [name]Lindy[/name]
[name]Suzanna[/name] - [name]Suzie[/name] or [name]Zuzu[/name]
[name]Tabitha[/name] - [name]Tabby[/name] or [name]Tibby[/name] or Bithy
We decided [name]Tessa[/name], [name]Lucy[/name] and [name]Ellen[/name] would go onto our middle name list though, as we like them but don’t think they would work as a first name next to [name]Dominic[/name]. I’ve also sadly crossed off [name]Jasmine[/name] as not working with our surname, even though I think it’s really pretty.
