Your vote will decide this baby's name. Really

mh89

I know I've made quite a few threads about the name for this baby in the past, but this will officially be the last one. My husband and I have finally narrowed it down to two names but are torn on which to go with. I love one, he loves the other, but we'd both be okay with either. So, we leave it up to you, we'll go with the majority vote. Really.  

Thank you all!

edited to add: DD1 is Lily.

mh89

Really lol. It was either this or a coin toss, but I figured this would be more fun.

Manderlin923

I actually really like both names BUT I don't love the flow of Arwen Natalie because I think the n's flow together too much.

mh89

mjreilly2 said:

Meh, I don't see the big deal.

We had two names that we both loved and couldn't decide on. I did a few polls/posts on here, hoping it might help, but you ladies made it more difficult because it was always 50/50 on the polls! Haha.

In the end, we did a coin flip for DD2. No regrets. We knew we would be happy with either names. We just couldn't think of any other way to decide between the two.

For what it's worth I think you went with a great name for her mj!  

mh89

lrachelle80 said:

Since you're from my BMB I know your sibset, and I like Arwen better with it. But I agree with PP that I like the flow of Natalie Arwen better.  So no help, basically. haha

Huh, I never noticed that the N's flow together, though I probably should have. When I say the full name out loud it doesn't seem to run together though and still sounds good in my opinion. (lol can you tell which name is the one I prefer?)

Thanks for the comment about my sibset, I edited the original post to add what my other daughter's name is in case it helps people with their vote.

diamondduck13

DaisyBlinks said:

Ok so here's my thing. I can understand and appreciate tie breakers. But you have to know going into this that Natalie is going to win. It's a top twenty name! And even on a board where popularity is the leprosy of baby names, a classic top 20 name is going to win out over something that's off-beat and daring and only-brings-to-mind-one-specific-thing. If you've decided that "what people like more" is going to be the final vote, then the SSA list should tell you all you need to know, though I can also understand that this board's opinion can be more meaningful than the entire population of the USA. 

Just random thoughts... So... Discuss? Anyone? 

Agreed.

mh89

DaisyBlinks said:

Ok so here's my thing. I can understand and appreciate tie breakers. But you have to know going into this that Natalie is going to win. It's a top twenty name! And even on a board where popularity is the leprosy of baby names, a classic top 20 name is going to win out over something that's off-beat and daring and only-brings-to-mind-one-specific-thing. If you've decided that "what people like more" is going to be the final vote, then the SSA list should tell you all you need to know, though I can also understand that this board's opinion can be more meaningful than the entire population of the USA. 

Just random thoughts... So... Discuss? Anyone? 

You're probably right. Crap. Here's to hoping the unique name fans and literary buffs come out to vote for my favorite. Really I'll be fine either way, though I am hoping Arwen wins.

My husband prefers the safe bet of a "normal" name, and I prefer a unique name since I grew up with a very popular name and was always known as Firstname Lastinitial through school.

Knelson84

Arwen over Natalie, though both lovely.

TripMomma

I like both. I'm surprising myself and voting for Arwen. It gets the edge because of the nn factor. I like Ari, better than Natty.

brooksidebride

I do really like Arwen, but Natalie is one of my all time favorite girl names, and I think that combo flows a little better.

emilyray14

I love Arwen! Natalie is nice, but it's so... normal! I think you should go with Arwen because it's unique and beautiful.

RedCardinal

I like Arwen better, and the flow of Arwen Natalie doesn't bother me.

Cricket Bug

I love Arwen! Both because of and in spite of the LOTR association. I don't think that you need to be concerned with the pop culture of it, since it does have such an elegant sound. It isn't like you are naming a child Bilbo or Meriadoc.

allardr

Sorry call me crazy but I wasn't even sure if Arwen was a boy or girl name (I don't remember  Lord of the Rings that well), so my vote went Natalie. I must say I like the pairing at least since it's a nice balance traditional & not traditional.

I agree this is more of a "fun" tie breaker!

Skeemer

I prefer the flow of Natalie Arwen

PB&J714

As far as the names themselves, I prefer Natalie.

However, in your case I voted for Arwen (gasp!). I love the sibset Lily & Arwen. Lily & Natalie just sounds too cutesy for my taste.

GL!

ObLaDi

I voted Natalie, because like Joy said I think Arwen is somewhat devalued in the wake of the movies.

But, I do really like Arwen. And I met an Arwen pre-movies and thought it was awesome. And I know a sibset Lily and Arya. So I feel a little bad to have been a part of squelching your favorite 

:-S

actinup23

Joy2611 said:

oh goodness... not Arwen.  I'm surprised that people are voting for it.  It's like naming your child Katniss - trendy and pop culture.  It can barely stand next to Lily without looking a little silly.

I understand that Lord of the Rings has a big following, but using the name in the wake of the movies just cheapens it down to a trend and a craze.  Maybe before the movies it would've had a "literary" edge, but I think that's long gone. 

Obviously, this is just my opinion.

Sorry, but I feel like this as well.

klgallup

I vote Natalie but these ladies brought up some great points. I change my vote. I now like arwen better. It goes better as a sibset.

Paradisemoon

If I had known your DD1 was Lily I wouldn't have voted for Natalie. Too matchy for me. I change my vote to Arwen.

June2007

Arwen is so much nicer that Natalie. I have never seen all of The Lord of the Ring movies and didn't know that name is from there but I don't get why a book being made into a movie makes it no longer a literary reference. Either way I really dislike Natalie and Arwen is lovely.

mirdamae03

Subtract one from the Natalie votes and add it to Arwen. Love the LOTR reference and the name is beautiful.

cmw&tdm

I'm not a fan of Arwen and love Natalie but I do think it's matchy with Lily and Natalie with -lee endings.

WashingtonQueen

I think you should go with Arwen just because it seems so you.

(I originally voted for Natalie but after thinking about it I want to change my vote.)

LisaM06

Natalie!  I have always thought it was a beautiful name.

mh89

Sakura0019 said:

@mh89 - so what was the final decision?? I'm so curious!

We're going to wait a few more days to see if anything changes, but it looks like Natalie is winning in the polls by a long shot. I'm slightly disappointed, but Natalie is a nice name so I won't be too unhappy if it stays the winner. DH is feeling smug lol. >.>

To everyone commenting about the double -lee ending being cheesy, I know. I agree. My name is Molly, so it's really a triple -lee ending. But Natalie is the only other name we've been able to agree on and it's the one my DH likes best. 

hazelrora

I'm surprised by all the Arwen votes. I think it seems strange paired with Lily. I know sibsets aren't a huge deal but I think Lily and Arwen are so different from each other. Natalie and Lily are both recognizable and feminine. It gets my vote

mh89

hazelrora said:

I'm surprised by all the Arwen votes. I think it seems strange paired with Lily. I know sibsets aren't a huge deal but I think Lily and Arwen are so different from each other. Natalie and Lily are both recognizable and feminine. It gets my vote

They are pretty different I agree. Lily was named for two literary characters - Lily Potter from HP and Elizabeth Bennett from P&P. I wanted to stick with the literary theme with the name Arwen, so they'd go together but not in a very obvious matchy way. We chose Natalie because we're due in December and the name means "Born on Christmas Day".

hope1017

Love the name Natalie! If we have a girl (when we have a girl lol) me and my husband will be naming her Natalie Hope. We were going with Izabella but I just love the name Natalie.

Paradisemoon

mh89 said:

hazelrora said:

I'm surprised by all the Arwen votes. I think it seems strange paired with Lily. I know sibsets aren't a huge deal but I think Lily and Arwen are so different from each other. Natalie and Lily are both recognizable and feminine. It gets my vote

They are pretty different I agree. Lily was named for two literary characters - Lily Potter from HP and Elizabeth Bennett from P&P. I wanted to stick with the literary theme with the name Arwen, so they'd go together but not in a very obvious matchy way. We chose Natalie because we're due in December and the name means "Born on Christmas Day".

I think you should re-do the poll. So many people changed their vote after they found out your sibset.

LaurelJoy91

Joy2611 said:

oh goodness... not Arwen.  I'm surprised that people are voting for it.  It's like naming your child Katniss - trendy and pop culture.  It can barely stand next to Lily without looking a little silly.

I understand that Lord of the Rings has a big following, but using the name in the wake of the movies just cheapens it down to a trend and a craze.  Maybe before the movies it would've had a "literary" edge, but I think that's long gone. 

Obviously, this is just my opinion.

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Cricket Bug said:

I love Arwen! Both because of and in spite of the LOTR association. I don't think that you need to be concerned with the pop culture of it, since it does have such an elegant sound. It isn't like you are naming a child Bilbo or Meriadoc.

LaurelJoy91

mh89 said:

hazelrora said:

I'm surprised by all the Arwen votes. I think it seems strange paired with Lily. I know sibsets aren't a huge deal but I think Lily and Arwen are so different from each other. Natalie and Lily are both recognizable and feminine. It gets my vote

They are pretty different I agree. Lily was named for two literary characters - Lily Potter from HP and Elizabeth Bennett from P&P. I wanted to stick with the literary theme with the name Arwen, so they'd go together but not in a very obvious matchy way. We chose Natalie because we're due in December and the name means "Born on Christmas Day".

I think I love you.

I hope that wasn't too weird. How about I put it this way: you are my book soul mate.

Cricket Bug

I agree with @Paradisemoon about taking into account all of the posters who changed their votes!

mh89

Paradisemoon said:

I think you should re-do the poll. So many people changed their vote after they found out your sibset. 

That's a good idea, but it looks like only 5 or 6 people changed their vote, and Natalie is still winning by over 100 votes, so I don't know if it would make much of a difference. I wouldn't want to annoy anyone by reposting the question either. Thank you though!

LaurelJoy91 said:

mh89 said:

hazelrora said:

I'm surprised by all the Arwen votes. I think it seems strange paired with Lily. I know sibsets aren't a huge deal but I think Lily and Arwen are so different from each other. Natalie and Lily are both recognizable and feminine. It gets my vote

They are pretty different I agree. Lily was named for two literary characters - Lily Potter from HP and Elizabeth Bennett from P&P. I wanted to stick with the literary theme with the name Arwen, so they'd go together but not in a very obvious matchy way. We chose Natalie because we're due in December and the name means "Born on Christmas Day".

I think I love you.

I hope that wasn't too weird. How about I put it this way: you are my book soul mate.

Creepy internet hugs back at you haha.

macska3

MH!!!! PLEASE DO ARWEN!!!!

strawberrytree

I really like Natalie. Arwen doesn't do anything for me and it's a bit of a mismatch for me with Lily, if how the names sound together matter to you. 

oneblessedmess

I picked Natalie. I never read LOTR or watched the movies so I actually thought Arwen sounded masculine (I'm pretty sure there is a male TV character with that name but I can't place it). I like Lily and Natalie better together. I don't think the double lee ending is too much.

Cricket Bug

Me too!

Kate070

...Another vote change from Natalie to Arwen here  I hadn't realized how popular Natalie was!

As far as it being "in the wake of" the movies, I think I'd have been concerned about that if you were considering Arwen a decade ago.  It's been awhile now, so I don't think it's a big deal.

sunnyday016

Love Natalie!

nittanyllama

I like the name Natalie overall better, but I voted for Arwen because I don't like the sound of LiLY and NataLIE together.