Narrowing down the list... suggestions please!

Soon2bStaff

Team surprise so need to pick two favorite names. Definitely a lot harder than just one. DD is named Leah. We both didn't know a Leah before naming our daughter that but go figure it's within the top 50 names. DH and I both work in education so names can be "ruined" (mostly with DH since his student population is a lot bigger than mine) with current students. Below is our list as of now. We are 95% sure on a boys name and open to a girls name. DH likes more traditional names (like top 100 names), and I'm more top 500 names... nothing too common but a name we don't hear too often. 

Boys

Caleb (agreed on first name with a family middle name)

Other possibilities were: Brody (DH's favorite), Callen (my 2nd favorite), and Seth.

Girls

I wanted to have a "V" first name. After going through suggestion from this board with DH and nameberry.com, we liked Violet. Then, Violet had to go get popular and is now in the top 10 names for 2016. Back to the drawing board.

 

Others from our short list: Sadie, Savannah, Lydia, Brynn, Paige. Favorite from that are Sadie and Brynn. However, Sadie is a popular dog's name and Brynn is close to an extended extended friend's daughter's name. Wouldn't make me not name my daughter that though. I love Savannah but DH can't get on board with that and Lydia is too close to a family members name. DH likes Paige and I do too but can't get 100% on board... I think it doesn't flow nicely with our last name. I brought up the name Brynlee but that's rhymes with a friend's daughter's name that we see all the time. 

If we picked Brynn, I would feel like the middle name has to be two or more syllables but I'm drawing a blank. Also, I'm throw off that this is a one syllable name and DH, mine, and DD are two syllables. Should that matter? Also, should I just stick with these five girl names and pick from there or come up with a completely new list?!?

Other names that were vetoed (just for reference): Cheyenne, Iliana, Liliana, Lucy, Raelynn, Raina, Reece, Vada, Viola, Vivian, Viviana, Liliana, Vera, Morgan, Hadley. 

TIA!!

ETA: syllable line

Knottie1442268460

It shouldn't matter if this child has a different # of syllables. Sadie is getting increasingly popular for girls too.
I love Callen. What about Callie for a girl? It's on name matchmaker (nm) using Caleb, Sadie & Brynn.
Other options from nm are: Michaela, Keira, Sydney, hallie, Megan, Felicity & Quinn.

I'll just throw out Haddie & Sevi

satuttle1014

Caleb is a great name, it was on our boys list and one of my DH favorite names. 

From your short list for girls, Lydia is my favorite but that's just me. Lydia and Paige are the top 2 then Savannah and Brynn are the next and Sadie is last for me. 

Syllables shouldn't matter, it may bother you but I don't think a deal breaker not to use a name if you really like Brynn. If you are not happy with your short list then maybe try and browse some more? They are great names but you should go with a name you really love. 

lm45678

Love your list- Savannah, Brynn and Paige are all on our list and Brody is our puppy!

If we do Brynn it will be Brynn Elizabeth if that helps.

I absolutely love Savannah but would use a short mn- Kate, Jane, May, June, Beth, Lee, etc

I really like Caleb and Brody, Callen is okay and Seth is NMS.

Bringmemylongswordho

I like Lydia best from your list.

Would Vanessa or Victoria be an option for you? V names that weren't on you rejected list.

keri0426

Veanna

ashleighjade90

My favorite ever girls name is Ivy willow!! I love it

MamaWren919

Violet isn't going to be top 10. Some websites post those lists, but they are way off. It's probably in the 30s or 40s. I would use it, if it's your favorite.

magsugar13

Valentina

klirwin82

Seth & Brynn. Or Oliver & Willow.

Ildri

Baby'smom said:

I love Callen. What about Callie for a girl?

On that note, I'll mention Calla as well.

saham07

Violet is not in the top 10 (or going to be) I would use it!

Vivian

Valentina

Valerie

Vanessa

Victoria

Vera

Veronica

Vevette

Viola

Virginia

Veda

Victoria

Sassenach1743

I think it's absolutely ridiculous to discard a name you like simply because some people have used it for their pet's name! Seriously, don't let that ruin a name for you. The trend is to use 'people' names for pets... my cats are Clyde and Ollie, my mom's dog is named Abby. If we started discarding names because people are using them for pet names then we'd run out of perfectly good names. Silly. 

That said, Sadie is lovely. As long as your pet's name isn't Sadie (or someone you're close with and see all the time, like your parents or a sibling) then it's fine. Who cares if some random people have dogs called Sadie? You shouldn't. 

Also, the name Brody means "ditch" in Gaelic. Not good, IMO.

SisterMaryNapalm

Violet is a lovely name and I agree with PP that the likelihood it will be in the top 10 is unlikely. Nameberry is awesome but, like other name sites, they use their own ranking systems to drive internal traffic. If you want objective data, look at how it performs in social security rankings for the last 5 or so years and you'll get a really good idea of how it's trending. You can also check by state to get a local perspective. I also think that BehindtheName.com gives accurate rankings by country and year.

Soon2bStaff

Thank you all for the comments! Great suggestions to take back to DH!!