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Baby Names
alliejo725
member
Re-evaluating the Girls' List
alliejo725
member
in Baby Names
We don't find out the sex until next month (believe me, we're antsy about it), and we've agreed to re-evaluate the list once we find out. But because I like getting outside opinions, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the names that (as far as I'm concerned) are definitely in, (hopefully) out, and the names we've talked about adding for girls.
I'm convinced the baby's a girl. Which probably means it's a boy.
Without a doubt, we're keeping: Eloise, Georgia, Penelope and Scarlett
Names I'd like to ditch:
Donatella. It's just not that pretty, I don't like the NN Dona, and frankly, we're just not that Italian.
Guinevere. A pretty name. I've always kind of liked it. But I don't want to name my child this.
Josephine. Same story as Guinevere. Pretty. I just don't want it.
Michelina. A family name on DH's side that's just a little too prone to mispronunciation. Also, I like it better as a MN.
Names I'm on the fence over:
Sophia. Its popularity has tarnished its charm for me. And I think I'd like to let SIL use it.
Talulla. Fun and lyrical, but just too out there, I fear.
Names I'd like to add:
Rowan. I've been obsessed with this name for a girl lately. Yes, I know it's a boys' name. And frankly, it doesn't sound awesome with our LN. But I can't get it out of my head.
Hollis. I adore the NN Holly, and I like how soft and simple this name is.
Ava. Yep, popular. But I really like how lively and pretty it is.
Isobel. And I probably sound dumb for ditching Sophia for this name, but it's grown on me recently, and DH likes it. My mom despises this name (not that she wouldn't get over it), and I have two friends (neither pregnant, one unmarried) who are dead-set on using it (not that any of us "own" the name). I'm not sure how I like it spelled best. I like the simplicity of Isobel, but I also really like the flourish of Isabelle. I also secretly dig the offbeat Ysobel. And I'm not sure that any one spelling will gaurantee she'll never have to spell her name out her whole life, anyway.
Lucille or Lucia. The NN Lucy is positively adorable. I love how old-fashioned Lucille is, but I like the "exotic" tint of Lucia. Either would mean having to take Lucius off the boys' list, though (which I'm okay with, but DH....not so much).
Portia. I think this name is so lovely. I'm just afraid people will automatically think of the car....
Thoughts and opinions on any and all of the names are appreciated!
ETA: I remembered a few names we've talked about that I'd forgotten in the first post.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Re-evaluating the Girls' List
Natural M/C at 7 weeks 9.17.08 Natural M/C at 7 weeks 2.1.13
My DD is Portia. Usually the only people who think it's the car are white trash, I give them side eye and explain that it's Shakespeare?s strongest female character. Or if I'm in a good mood, I tell say "no, not like the car, like the lesbian."
We really don`t have much of a problem with it. I vote Portia. 
You have some really awesome picks! I'm jealous of some, as I love them and know my DH wouldn't go for them :(Anyway, I absolutely love your keepers and from your add-ons: Rowan, Hollis, and Lucille (I actually like Lucinda a lot too
Ava, Sophia and Isobel are lovely, but I just can't get excited about them. They're just boring to me.
I actually really, really like Tallula(h), but agree it might be a bit "over-the-top".
Portia is, indeed, beautiful...but I do think people will associate it with the car, regardless of how it's spelled. Sounds quite Italian as well.
LOL. I love that.
I've got to tell you, every time I see your daughter's name on the ticker, I like the name more.
I totally get that. I go back and forth on whether I should be discouraged by popularity. I hate being "unoriginal," but I also think it's lame not to use a name just because it's popular.
Tough call.
Really love Eloise, Georgia and Penelope.
On your ditch list I love Josephine, but you have so many other great choices that you'll have to let some of them go.
The name Portia has been growing on me lately. I think it's beautiful and I don't think of the car at all!
I LOVE Eloise, Georgia and Penelope!
I would definitely ditch the names you want to, although Josephine is not bad in comparison to the others.
I have a cousin named Rowan and it fits her wonderfully!
I know a Lucia, but it's NMS. I LOVE Lucy, so I would go for Lucille over Lucia.
I think Portia is very nice.
I'm quite jealous of your list because I love so many! You gave me great ideas to share with my DH tonight. I'd be interested in seeing your ideas for boys, so I can feast off of it as well!
Opinions on the keepers: I like Georgia and Penelope. Scarlett is fine, but I'm not a fan of Eloise.
Ditchers: I agree with all these.
On the fencers: I'm over Sophia. I think you could totally pull off Tallulah...it doesn't seem much more "out there" than Penelope to me. I say put it on your list!
Adders: I dislike Rowan, Hollis, and Isobel. Ava is pretty (I like it better than Sophia), but maybe a bit too popular. Portia is interesting, but I don't know if I could deal with the dumb comments personally. LOVE some of the names for Lucy, including both Lucille and Lucia. I took Lucia off my own list, however, when I realized how all the existing pronunciations (loo-see-yah, loo-chee-yah, loo-sha) would bother me. What about Lucinda?
My overall favorites are Lucille/Lucia/Lucinda, Tallulah, and Georgia.
Ditchers: There's no reason to keep names on the list that you know aren't contenders and you won't use. I say ditch them for good.
Fence Names: I don't think Talulla is too out there. But if it bothers you, you might as well ditch it. Sophia is an ok name, but I think the other names on your list trump it, no question.
Add-Ons: I can't say Rowan with your LN five times fast without stumbling on the sounds. Part of me feels like I'm the one who's a failure at talking, but part of me feels like it just doesn't work. I love Ava. It has such an Old Hollywood glamour feel to it. Lucy is adorable. I prefer Lucille to Lucia. Personally, the car comments would bother me too much to ever consider Portia, though it is pretty.
An Observation: I feel like your journey to loving the name Isabelle is very similar to your journey to liking the name Sophia. You didn't like either name at first, then they grew on you cause you're husband liked them. You became enchanted, but can't decide on the best way to spell them. The popularity of both bothered you, but you tried to get over it. Women you know have loved each name and want to name their own child that. There isn't really a point to this observation, I just noticed a lot of similarities. If I were a betting woman, I would guess that your current love of Isabelle will wear off.
Can I caution you against continuing to add names to your list? I've seen several of your name lists and they tend to contain names of very similar styles. You have a "type," just as I do. Can you really see yourself changing completely and going with something like Rowan?
I know that I occasionally toy with the idea of using something like Fable or Story. Names I do love, but that don't really fit my overall naming style. I even occasionally add them to my list . . . but adding them at a time when you're actually considering a name for a child (which is a little different than my situation) seems counterproductive.
Ask yourself if you really, truly love Rowan more than you Eloise or Scarlett or Georgia, or is it just a passing fancy? Because, realistically, there are a limited number of names you'll be able to use (assuming you don't intend to have nineteen children), how likely is it that you'd be happy passing up your all-time favorite names in favor a name that doesn't really fit your style, doesn't match the other names on your list, and that you might not think is quite so wonderful ten years from now?
ETA: Do you have any criteria? I've found that having criteria like: three-syllables or more, feminine, easy diminutive, etc. really helps me to keep my master list in check.
Agree with above.
Scarlett is by far my favorite though.
Mommy to Rachel 1.15.06 and Ashley 5.17.11
Without a doubt, we're keeping: Eloise, Georgia, Penelope and Scarlett
Good. These are some of my favorites from your list.
Names I'd like to ditch: Donatella. Guinevere. Josephine. Michelina.
I like Guinevere and Josephine more than you, but I agree that if you only "kind of like" them, they should all be removed immediately.
Names I'm on the fence over:
Sophia. Lose it
Talulla. I like it (prefer the Talullah spelling). But if you are on the fence, lose it.
Names I'd like to add:
Rowan. I'm not a fan of unisex names... especially ones that sound like verbs.
Hollis. Another unisex name... that sounds like a surname... definitely not my style... and actually, I don't think it's yours either.
Ava. I like it on its own merits, but the popularity would be enough to keep me away from it. But that's up to you to decide how important popularity is to you.
Isobel. Nahh... it's way too popular, regardless of spelling. If anything, I would pick Isabelle, because it fits your style best.
Lucille or Lucia. Lucille is the only name on your "possible additions" list that I would actually add. Lucy is adorable, but I only like it as a nn for Lucille. BTW, when I see Lucia, I automatically want to pronounce it like Lucius without the S.
Portia. The Porsche references would bother me to the point of insanity. It's up to you whether or not you could handle the stupidity.
So I'm left with Eloise, Georgia, Penelope, Scarlett, and Lucille.
Here are my favorite combos:
1. Georgia Eloise
2. Penelope Lucille
3. Eloise Scarlett
the only ones i can say i definitely like are rowan and hollis.
most of the rest are just too flowery/girly for my taste.
I seriously tried to respond to you THREE times last night, and TB's glitches just wouldn't post. So frustrating!
Anyway, what I was going to say is that I really appreciate your thoughts and I think you raise some good points. These are things I've considered myself before: If I use this name, does that mean I have to ditch all these other names? But the truth is, the answer to that question is no.
Name congruence is a trend---not a must. And even though I like sib sets that go together as much as the next guy, it's not more important to me than using names that I love.
However, I do see your point in the counterproductivity of adding names when we should be working to narrow them down. That's totally true.
(Spoiler alert side note: Rowan is most likely off the list, anyway, due to the fact that it just doesn't sound great with our LN. There are worse combos, but there are definitely better ones. I always try to opt for better)