chloe he hasnāt completely vetoed it, so iām sneaking it on here 
alice
charlotte
madeline
emily
elijah
ezra
felix
oliver
benjamin
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girls
- eve
- lydia
- june
- aviva
- katherine/katharine
boys
- james
- stephen
- christopher
- adrian
- joseph
it was so hard to choose only five girls names & come up with five boys ones! especially because this is specifically a āuseableā list and a lot of the boys names I like are names I canāt use (names already used in my family). at least I donāt have an SO to veto anything!!
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Love this thread! 
My husband and I havenāt sat down and had a serious name talk since right when we started trying for a baby, which was, unfortunately, a looong time ago. 
So there are definitely a lot of names that I want to talk about more seriously if we ever get to have the conversation again. But leaving those names out, and just going for names I know we both love:
Malcolm
Edwin
Ambrose
Orson
Francis
Augusta
Alba
Odessa
Ramona
Lavinia
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I donāt have a significant other yet, but considering that Iād like to be with someone of my same religion, Iām going to assume that weād maybe agree on my favourite names since they all have religious significance/connections.
Girls
Lucy
My forever name, I read about St. Lucy in a book when I was a little girl and sheās been my favourite ever since.
Rose
All around perfect for me, it honours generations of women in my family while also being a literary + Disney + saint name
Marianne
I flop between this and Mary every other week, but Marianne wins today. I love the mid-century charm and nn āMarnieā (!!)
Cecily
I adore how dainty yet classic it sounds, plus St. Cecilia is the patroness of music.
Clara
Every Christmas I get a new ornament of a ballerina or Clara holding the Nutcracker, so this name has a lot of cozy memories associated with it.
Boys
Henry
My other forever name, that I first fell in love with while watching Once Upon a Time with my mom. It makes me smile whenever I say it!
Arthur
Iām a little addicted to Arthurian legends, and Arthur Christmas was one of the last movies that my grandma and I watched at the cinema together 
Gideon
This used to be one of those names that I wished I could love, but now itās in my top 5! Itās friendly, strong, and I love the story of Gideon from the Old Testament that shows what amazing things can happen with a little bit of faith.
James
Iāve had James on my name lists since I was a kid, but The Infernal Devices cemented it by exposing my to the fantastic nn Jem!
Peter
I didnāt expect Peter to be on this list, normally I have it paired as an mn for Ambrose. When it came down to choosing realistically, itās the name of the teacher who changed my life and I think it sounds better in sibsets with the other names above.
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I love your whole list, itās gorgeous! [name_m]Simon[/name_m] in particular doesnāt get nearly as much love as it deserves.
Names Iād use realistically would either be of Croatian/Slavic origin or some international names which are used in Croatia. Iāve come to realize using names which reflect my heritage would be very important. So right now, my usable list is
Girls
-
[name_f]Dunja[/name_f] (DOO-nya, means āquinceā) - it has such a beautiful sound but itās quite rare at the moment, which I like.
-
Cvita (TSVEE-tah, means āflowerā) - currently getting more popular with the revival of some dated names; I love that it has such a unique sound and itās very laid-back and effortlessly cool!
-
[name_f]Iskra[/name_f] - the meaning (āsparkā) is gorgeous to me!
-
[name_f]Mila[/name_f] - a way to honor my grandmother (Milka).
-
[name_f]Edita[/name_f] (eh-DIT-uh) - itās one of those names everyone here knows of but itās so criminally underrated, I just love how it sounds and looks.
Boys
-
[name_m]Borna[/name_m] - by far the most popular boy name on my list but I donāt mind, it has so much history behind it and I love that!
-
[name_m]Vid[/name_m] (VEED) - I love how itās a part of the Slavic mythology, but also itās so short and sleek.
-
[name_m]Fabian[/name_m] (FAH-bee-ahn) - it has such a studious and gentle feel about it that I adore.
-
[name_m]Maro[/name_m] - quite a traditional name in the coastal region of the county, with some literature connections! I love how I can imagine it on both a jock and a bookworm!
-
Juraj (YOU-rai, the second syllable is like cry without the c) - only recently started think about this one as a way to honor my dad (Jure), itās a variant of [name_u]George[/name_u] which just exudes strength to me!
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] your recovery is coming along nicely!
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@emeraldsea thank you!! (and your bf has a very cool name!!)
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You have a fabulous list Marnie 
This is really hard because my list of names are currently under reconstruction (
) and Iām not sure what my OH would actually seriously consider I just know of the names heās vetoed like Eve because of negative biblical associations for example. I also would want to make sure they work with Liliaās name so this is a challenge!
Anyways I think my top 5 combinations at this very moment are
Girls
- Clara Rosemary Otema
- Sofia Jane Lalela
- Flora Marianne Lockhart
- Cordelia Lavender Helen
- Iris Alexandra Ann
Boys
- Malachi John Otim
- Ezra Joseph Erifasi
- Noah Leonard Robert
- Abel Rooney Scott
- Leo Alexander Forest
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these are absolutely gorgeous tori! i especially love cordelia lavender helen, and abel rooney scott. malachi and ezra and sofia and clara would all be gorgeous siblings for lilia, as well!! 
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- adora āroryā ~ i love the sound, i love the look, and itās just such a lovely name.
- fern ~ packs a lot of punch into a single syllable and i love the nature connection.
- sappho āsapphieā ~ after the greek poet! it may be a little heavy to wear, but sapphie is such a cute nn.
- cecily ~ iāve been crushing so hard on cecily, iād love to see a little one with this name.
- maeva ~ meabh is my favorite spelling, but that would be hard to wear in the us, so weāll have to go with an alternate. itās also an honor for my mom and sister, who were born in may.
runners up: freyja + florence
- alistair āasterā ~ i love the sounds and vibes of this name!
- percy ~ reminds me of percy jackson my beloved, and also is just so lovely.
- viggo ~ the nn iggy is cute and it would fit right in with all the leoās and theos of the world
- winter ~ has soft, icy vibes and honors the season my great grandmother was born in!
- roman/romulus āromyā or āromaā ~ (roman pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable) i love both names and romy is amazing.
runners up: apollo + edmund
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Iām single and not expecting, but this would be my list as of now [iām greek so some of the names are more useable for me]:
Boys
- [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [nn Theo] - I love the name, and it has greek roots
- [name_m]Hadrian[/name_m] - Donāt really have a reason except that I just really like it
- [name_u]James[/name_u] - Same as the last one, though maybe for a middle name due to its popularity
- [name_m]Leonidas[/name_m] [nn Leo] - I really like rare names and itās greek
- [name_u]Calder[/name_u] - I really like the name, also Iām an artist and there was an [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_u]Calder[/name_u] statue that I really liked near my childhood home
Girls (Iāll admit Iāve put more thought into these)
- [name_f]Esmaria[/name_f] [nn Esme] - Its really common in greek families to name a couples first daughter after the maternal grandmother, and my moms name is [name_u]Maria[/name_u]. Iām not a huge fan of the name, but I still want to follow the tradition and honor her, so I came up with this name and really love it.
- [name_u]Florence[/name_u] [nn Ori] - It means āblossomingā or āflourishingā, and I really love that meaning [also iām a little bit in love with florence pugh]
- [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] - Iāve just always loved the sound of this name, and just using a traditionally male name on a girl
- Fotini [nn Nia] - It was my great grandmotherās name, and this is actually what my parents were going to name me, but they ended up going with my grandmotherās name instead.
- Efthalia - It means āthe rich and blooming oneā which I love and its greek
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Girls ~
[name_u]Fable[/name_u]
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]
[name_u]Cleo[/name_u]
[name_f]Amity[/name_f]
[name_u]Ridley[/name_u]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f]
[name_f]Eska[/name_f]
[name_f]Boheme[/name_f]
Boys ~
[name_u]Cove[/name_u]
[name_u]Rune[/name_u]
[name_u]Evren[/name_u]
[name_u]Atlas[/name_u]
[name_u]Everest[/name_u]
Boys were much harder, as usual.
maybe some surprises that didnāt make it?
[name_u]Parker[/name_u] - super sweet, super important honor name, but the popularity and overall lack of unexpectedness makes this feel less usable to me
[name_u]Scout[/name_u] - maybe a little too cutesy for me
[name_u]Finn[/name_u] - Iāll have to brainstorm a full name because I love it but it also feels rather expected
[name_m]Weston[/name_m] - similarly, just feels too expected
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Boys:
[name_m]Silas[/name_m]
[name_m]Alistair[/name_m]
[name_u]Morgan[/name_u]
[name_m]Ronan[/name_m]
[name_m]Lachlan[/name_m]
Girls:
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Anya[/name_f]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
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Girls
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
Definitely a name NB helped me love ā I love slightly old-fashioned, but still spunky and cute names and [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] just hits the spot for me.
[name_u]Romy[/name_u]
A firm favourite ā I first encountered it as the (nick-)name of the actress [name_u]Romy[/name_u] Schneider. [name_u]Romy[/name_u] feels uniquely universal to me and ticks all my boxes.
[name_f]Flora[/name_f]
[name_f]Flora[/name_f] was the surprise here ā Half a year ago, sheād have never made this list. Recently, Iāve come to admire her effortless chic. I also love the sound and nature connection.
[name_u]Cleo[/name_u]
I first heard the name [name_u]Cleo[/name_u] as the name of a friendās cat when I was about eight years old. Itās basically been on my mind since 
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
Like [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f], I started appreciating [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] more thanks to Nameberry (But also, Despicable Me). I love the retro feel. She didnāt make the list but I also love the related [name_f]Ines[/name_f].
Runner-up: [name_f]Pauline[/name_f]
Boys
[name_m]Bram[/name_m]
Bramās been a favourite for a long time and has recently made his way towards the top of my list. I love that itās a recognisable yet still fairly uncommon name. Bramās also unbelievably cozy 
[name_m]Hugo[/name_m]
[name_f]My[/name_f] top boy name for a long time, I havenāt been paying him much attention lately but heās definitely still up there 
[name_u]Laurie[/name_u]
[name_m]Reading[/name_m] [name_m]Little[/name_m] Women powered my appreciation for [name_u]Laurie[/name_u]. I love how it sounds adorable but not cutesy.
[name_m]Vincent[/name_m]
[name_m]Vincent[/name_m] is a name thatās incredibly versatile ā He feels cozy cottagecore, but dark academia at the same time. I love the artist connection too.
[name_m]Otto[/name_m]
[name_m]Otto[/name_m] to me feels like something between a bubbly toddler in rubber boots and a lovely old grandpa. I love the look and simplicity, regal yet down-to-earth.
Runner-up: [name_u]Rafa[/name_u]
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@emeraldsea I feel like our styles are really similar since I adore both of your shortlists
Girls
Mari
I donāt even know why I love this name so much, but itās always stood out to me. something about it just makes it magical. but this is definitely a name I want to, and can, use in the future.
Abigail
been loving this name recently, it also sort of honors a great grandmother of mine. I think itās perfectly usable and the nn Abby is just so darn cute.
Charlotte
many people consider this too popular, but I actually really like it!
Hannah
timeless, but adorable.
Olivia
again, many people think itās really popular. but I think it has a nice ring to it.
Boys
Emerson
my current favorite boy name. I think realistically I would be able to use this. it also has lotās of middle name options!
Lucas
I got nothing, I just love the sound of it.
Blake
kinda old fashioned ish? but I like the simplicity of it.
James
itās an honor name that means a lot to me.
Oliver
I always ask myself, if I were to have a boy & girl. will I use oliver or olivia? since I wonāt name siblings those two names. anyway, itās just a super sweet name.
listās are not in any particular order
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[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Eva[/name_f] āEvieā
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_m]Dashiell[/name_m] āDashā
[name_m]Isaac[/name_m]
[name_u]Oliver[/name_u]
[name_u]James[/name_u] āJamieā
[name_u]Jack[/name_u]
That was hard narrowing down my list to just 5 each! I also love [name_u]August[/name_u] and [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
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i love your list, daisy!
and my boyfriend and i have the same problem!
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lilia - my ultimate favourite girls name! it is so gorgeous and quite uncommon here in the uk but has a familiar sound and also the nickname ālilyā is very sweet (also loosely honours my sister)
eden - love the imagery, just peace and nature and good vibes (also loosely honours my brother)
clara - soo gorgeous and graceful, i love the nutcracker so much and if i had a daughter in the winter time i would love for her to have this name <3
sylvia/sylvie - i just find it so pretty
elara - this makes me think of stars and space (itās the name of one of the moons of jupiter) but i also love the sound of it
kit - honour name (can be used as a nickname for christopher and catherine which are my grandparentās names) and also just love the vibes
theodore ātheoā - fav boys name!! i would also consider just using theo on its own but this name feels super soft and sweet and comfy and i just love it sm
river - been high on my list for such a long time, love the peaceful nature imagery i get from this one but it also feels quite handsome
august - similar to theodore i love the softness and sweetness of this one but itās also very handsome at the same time!
elio - makes me think of gold and sunshine <3
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i had enough time to do my boys! iāll do the girls tonight.
oliver
oh oliver, my longest love for my future little boy. i donāt remember exactly when i fell in love with him, but heās been on every future baby names list iāve ever had. i love that itās the name of a few catholic saints, and that it has multiple meanings from mulitple cultures- one of which honors a loved one who recently passed away.
theodore
i first fell in love with theodore because itās a family name. it honors both sides of my family, as one has multiple theodoreās and the other has a few dorothyās and dorotheaās. i also love the meaning āgift from godā and the nickname theo.
august
funnily enough, wonder made me fall in love with august- though i never read the book. i had never heard of anyone using the nickname āauggieā, and that is exactly what i would call my august. itās cuddly and adventurous, but is regal and ages well too. plus if itās good enough for mandy moore, itās good enough for me.
hugo
a basic baby name rule for me is that if asa butterfield plays a character called it, i add it to my baby name list- iām looking at you otis and willoughby. hugo just feels so british and whimsical, and i love just about any name with an o ending!
simon
simon is a relatively new addition to my list. i first fell in love with it when i read appalachian mountainās post featuring simon as their name of the day. for me, itās a less common max or samuel that deserves much more love than it gets!
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[name_f]My[/name_f] actual shortlist would vary depending on the country any children of mine would primarily grow up in, but those would work in most places I can see myself living I the future.
In no particular order
- [name_f]Flora[/name_f] - I especially like this one in [name_f]English[/name_f] and [name_u]French[/name_u].
- [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] - not my absolute favourite in any one language but I really like the sound in all languages important to me. Still, Iām not sure if I can see myself using this as a first name.
- [name_f]Lola[/name_f] - love this one in all languages; sadly itās either very close to my other favourites or very different stylistically to them, so Iām considering using this as a nickname instead.
- [name_f]Ofelia[/name_f] / [name_f]Ottilie[/name_f] / Olaia - I keep coming back to them but canāt quite make a decision on which one I prefer long-term
- [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] - this I much prefer in some languages over others but I love the nickname potential; also, while never really being at the top of my list, a name I could actually see myself choosing for a daughter
The boys are a little less exciting and my front runner would depend very much on the language Iād hear it in when said by others.
Also in no particular order:
- [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] - love this in [name_f]English[/name_f] and [name_u]French[/name_u], like it in [name_m]German[/name_m], dislike it in Spanish
- [name_u]Arthur[/name_u] / [name_m]Artur[/name_m] - love it in [name_m]German[/name_m], Spanish and [name_u]French[/name_u], dislike it in [name_f]English[/name_f]
- [name_u]Theo[/name_u] / [name_m]Teo[/name_m] - similar to [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] in that it doesnāt top any of my lists but I really like it in all languages, not sure if I wouldnāt think of it as too boring in some of them, though.
- [name_u]Henry[/name_u] / [name_u]Auguste[/name_u] / all my other names that only really work in one or two languages for me
- [name_m]Victor[/name_m] / [name_m]Edgar[/name_m] - I go back and forth on them, currently not totally loving either though
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I adore your shortlist! 
This was such a hard task. I spent nearly twenty-four hours on it but I think I finally got it down to my perfect ten! Iād like to give an honorary salute to Duncan & Joanne who just missed out to Joseph & Felicity. They both would have made it into the number six spots and it was incredibly difficult to leave them out. Two names I feel play a huge part in my now summarised naming style. Sweet, half vintage and half midcentury-retro with quintessentially British-Cottagecore vibes.
Paul
Sweet, charming, vintage, old man, classic and understated is Paul. Itās like he might only be one syllable and four letters long, but he has uncomplicated dignity. He might not be as grand sounding as Richard or Charles but in his own way, he can totally hold his own.
Jamie
I donāt tend to vibe with nicknames as a full names but Jamie is one of the few exceptions. Iām really not into James but Jamie has my heart. I feel like he is more of a full name than some of the other nickname names and he can kind of get away with it. My only reservation about being fully committed to using him is that, with the exception of possibly Sophie, he doesnāt really go with any of my Top 5 girl names. Still, there is something about him that I just canāt let go of!
Gwion
If I was to use Gwion, Iād need a really fabulous Welsh surname to go after him. Only kidding! Welsh surname or no Welsh surname, I am completely and utterly in love with Gwion. He makes me think of my glorious summer holidays in the Welsh countryside and when a name has the power to replicate such a personal but beautiful feeling, you know youāve found a winner.
Robert āRobbieā
Retro, old man, slightly more dusty sounding than he should do. Until you give him a nickname. Rob makes him sound like the guy who ran your childhood youth club. Call him Robbie and suddenly he is young, hipster, and fits in with all the Freddieās, Charlieās, Frankieās, Harryās and Alfieās of 2020. Whatās not to love about Robert!
Joseph
Since posting this two months ago, I have had a re-think of my boys names and Rory has been replaced by Joseph. I have a lot of history with Joseph but ultimately itās a name that I keep coming back to, time and time again. Like Harriet (in my girls list), I think I have loved Joseph for the longest so it was remiss of me not to put him on in the first place. He is truly classic, has so much warmth and also somehow covers all the possible vintage/mid-century/old man/90s retro vibes in one go. Joseph basically sums up my style and I am so glad I have finally put him back on my list!
Harriet āHettyā
I have loved Harriet for 10 years now. She has been the one name that has been a solid, firm yes since teenage hood, I can so see myself with a daughter called Harriet. āHarriet? yes thatās Eleanorās little girl.ā āHi, Iām Eleanor, Harrietās mum!ā She is vintage, is spunky but also has grace without being considered overtly classic. A bonus is that she goes with a lot of boys names that are on my list. I just adore her so much!
Victoria āVickyā
My favourite historic name with European flair. Elegant, refined and of course directly relates to my favourite period of history! Blending well next to the little Sophiaās, Oliviaās & Isabellaās of today, Victoria sounds so 2020ās while Vicky takes you back to the classrooms of the 70s and 80s for that retro feel! Victoria has it all!
Sophie
Sophie is my āpopularā name choice. If I was ever in a relationship and having a baby with someone who wasnāt a name nerd and vetoed all my more out there vintage and unusual choices, Iād be flying the flag for Sophie. She also has that sweet vintage charm but because she is way more popular than most of the names on my list, she feels more run of the mill. She is simply āperfectly acceptable.ā
Tegwen
My most favourite Welsh girls name. She is easily pronounceable, slightly more tricky to spell and an absolute gem of a name. The night after the first time I encountered her name, I dreamt about a daughter called Tegwen and the rest is history. She sounds mischievous and and a bit of a monkey but is also incredibly sweet both to say and look at. She gives me the same vibes as Olive, Elsie & Molly and is just a name with perfect balance.
Felicity
Felicity reminds me of two of my favourite things. The book āMalory Towersā and the actress Felicity Kendal. Both of which had a massive impact on me growing up and she is a name that sparks a powerful reminiscent feeling that is both safe and comforting. I know where I am with Felicity.
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