Would LOVE your opinion on these

dharmakaia · March 2011

We are having a surprise baby, so collecting names for boy and girl. My partner is Jewish, so any typical goy names are out - like no Catherine, William or James or anything like those. We both want a unique first name. I'm a novelist. Please tell me what you think.....

Girl:

Quinn, Chloe (too popular now?), Aven, Anuk, Alexa, Lavender, Isa, Ilsa

Boy:

Liam (maybe spelled Leighm), Hawkins, Rumi, Sullivan, Pearce, Kai, Trevlan

Boy has been easier than girl. Girl I seem to change my mind daily. I kinda hope we have a boy so I know what to call him! My best friend just had a baby who went nameless for 3 weeks before they could decide on something. I don't want that to happen!

If you know of any other unique names please contribute. Just know my partner's last name ends in "cow"

Thx!

magsugar13 · March 2011

Liam and Chloe would be the only ones out of all of them I would even consider.

Quinn and Chloe are both very popular.

Anuk? really?? Ick!

Fuzzy21 · March 2011

dharmakaia:

We are having a surprise baby, so collecting names for boy and girl. My partner is Jewish, so any typical goy names are out - like no Catherine, William or James or anything like those. We both want a unique first name. I'm a novelist. Please tell me what you think.....

Girl:

Quinn, Chloe (too popular now?), Aven, Anuk, Alexa, Lavender, Isa, Ilsa

Boy:

Liam (maybe spelled Leighm), Hawkins, Rumi, Sullivan, Pearce, Kai, Trevlan

Boy has been easier than girl. Girl I seem to change my mind daily. I kinda hope we have a boy so I know what to call him! My best friend just had a baby who went nameless for 3 weeks before they could decide on something. I don't want that to happen!

If you know of any other unique names please contribute. Just know my partner's last name ends in "cow"

Thx!

Girl: Quinn is cute but I think it will become pretty popular (hello Glee). I'm not a fan of Chole personally, but I think it's cute.

Boy: Liam is cute but I do not like the spelling of Leighm. The others are okay too, Rumi (cute. I know a boy and a girl named Rory), Sullivan (are you okay with a nickname "Sully"...I see that happening, Pearce (cute), Kai (different but I like it)

Mrs.Deputy · March 2011

What the eff is Leighm?

laurakaz13 · March 2011

Quinn - Like

Chloe - Yuck

Aven - NMS

Anuk - Dog Name

Alexa - Yuck

Lavender - Really?

Isa, Ilsa - Like, especially Ilsa

Boy:

Liam (maybe spelled Leighm) - Only if you spell it Liam

Hawkins - As in Stephen Hawkins?

Rumi, Sullivan, Pearce, Kai, Trevlan - NMS at all.

WifeofaMarine · March 2011

FWIW - I'm Christian and DH is Jewish.

Girl names: Though none are really my style, Quinn and Chloe are okay, far better then the others on your list. I prefer Alexis over Alexa.

Boy names: The only name I really like is Liam, actually I LOVE the name (it's DS's name), but please don't spell it Leighm.

forensicmama · March 2011

Yes: Lavender, Isa, Ilsa, Liam, Sullivan, Pearce

No: Quinn, Chloe, Aven, Anuk, Alexa, Leighm, Hawkins, Rumi, Kai, Trevlan

Moxie27 · March 2011

dharmakaia:

Girl:

Quinn - dislike

Chloe (too popular now?) - like

Aven - it's okay

Anuk - dislike

Alexa - dislike

Lavender - dislike

Isa - dislike

Ilsa - love

Boy:

Liam (maybe spelled Leighm) - it's okay, but leighm is horrible!

Hawkins - dislike

Rumi - dislike

Sullivan - it's okay

Pearce - it's okay, but i prefer pierce

Kai - i like!

Trevlan - dislike!

TanyaKM · March 2011

Liam (spelled this way) and Chloe would be my choices if I had to pick from your list.

ara_cale · March 2011

dharmakaia:
Girl:
Quinn - I feel like this is going to skyrocket in popularity because of Glee. I'm also not a big fan of the name in general.
Chloe - I like this for a little girl, but it's hard for me to picture it on a grown woman.
Aven - For some reason this name makes me think of Wren, I like Wren much better. After looking at it again it also makes me think of Avon so I would say no.
Anuk - Anouk, a French and Dutch diminutive or Anna, is actually one of my guilty pleasure names ever since I read Chocolat, it's the daughter's name. I just don't think it is a name that will work well in the US because people will be so unfamiliar with it.
Alexa - There's nothing wrong with this name, it's just not my favorite.
Lavender - This would be my choice from your girl names! I actually really like this name and think it's just far enough out there to be unique without being uneek and strange.
Isa - Maybe as a nickname for Isabel, but not as a standalone name for me.
Ilsa - This would be my second pick from your girl names. For some reason it also makes me think of Liesel, which is another one of my favorites that I could never use.
Boy:
Liam (maybe spelled Leighm) - This would be my first pick from your boy names, but please don't spell it Leighm.
Hawkins - No
Rumi - Someone else mentioned Rory, I think I prefer that to this.
Sullivan - I actually like this name, but like someone said the nn Sully isn't exactly great.
Pearce - I like this name, but prefer it spelled Piers, like Piers Anthony the author. Or Pierce.
Kai - Sounds like a nn to me.
Trevlan - No. It kind of sounds like a fantasy character name to me.

tct1219 · March 2011

your style seems to be all over the place because you have some rare ones and some really popular ones as well. out of those, i would go with:

aven [never met one but it's an interesting name]

hawkins or sullivan

if the "cow" sound is obvious, i would avoid hawkins because you don't want an animal theme going on. hawkins is a family name for my husband and we planned to use it for a middle name and also had to work around that because one of our boy names [also a family name] is wolf.

i think it's awesome you're team green. i was and even though i got a lot of rude comments about not finding out, it was so much fun to hear h and my mom say bay was a girl when she was born. good luck!

Manderlin923 · March 2011

Quinn - dislike

Chloe (too popular now?) - like

Aven - it's okay

Anuk - I like Anouk

Alexa - dislike

Lavender - dislike (maybe for a mn?)

Isa - dislike

You may like (girl): Sonia, Sabina, India, Magnolia, Juniper (June), Selma, Miriam, Claudia, Jada, Marina, Tabitha, Tallulah, Bette, Anastasia, Ruth, Beatrice

(boys) Simon, Edmund, Curtis, Cole, Hudson, Lennon, Desmond, Devin, Teague, Jonah, Harvey, Truman, Micah, Nicolai

Ilsa - like- also Elsa

Liam (maybe spelled Leighm) - it's okay, but leighm is horrible!

Hawkins - dislike

Rumi - dislike

Sullivan - love

Pearce - it's okay, but i prefer pierce

Kai - like

Trevlan - dislike!

cococupcakes · March 2011

i love quinn!

im a chloe and have been doomed to a life of mispronounciation - shlo, kleo, cole - but perhaps since it is gaining popularity it may not be as bad! that being said i have always enjoyed having a more scarce name.

for boy i love rumi

sugarpumpkin716 · March 2011

alexa, chloe and liam are the only ones i like.

juniper19 · March 2011

I don't see how any of the names you listed are less goyish than William, James or Catherine. If you don't plan on using a traditionally Jewish name (which is fine) then I think anything goes, except for maybe Christopher or Christina.

dinnerfor2 · March 2011

From your list, I like Alexa, Sullivan and Pearce. The others are NMS.

quezzo · March 2011

Quinn - I always see boy when I see this. Chloe (too popular now?) - I like it but it is very popular. Aven - Like Avon? Anuk - I see it as a dog's name too.Alexa - This one is ok. Lavender - This is a scent. I can also see people calling her Lav - like lavatory. Isa - OK, NMSIlsa - NMSBoy:Liam - Yes. Wonderful!(maybe spelled Leighm) - I need to judge this on its own. It is awful spelled this way and would be pronounced Lee - M. Hawkins - Last nameRumi - NMSSullivan - I like this one.Pearce - This is good too. Kai - This, for some reason, makes me think a specific ethnicity. Trevlan - How do you pronounce this? Tre- I- ann?

Kadie331 · March 2011

Liam is the only name I like from your lists.

Kadie331 · March 2011

Mrs.Deputy:
What the eff is Leighm?

HAHA!

pazrana · March 2011

I love Isa! I used to live in Guam and Isa is the Chamoru word for rainbow. We considered it for our daughter

Ms Molly · March 2011

I like Quinn, Chloe, Aven, Liam, Hawkins, Sullivan, and Pierce (spelled like this).

quartz02 · March 2011

juniper19:
I don't see how any of the names you listed are less goyish than William, James or Catherine. If you don't plan on using a traditionally Jewish name (which is fine) then I think anything goes, except for maybe Christopher or Christina.

Ditto

bobmonkey · March 2011

juniper19:
I don't see how any of the names you listed are less goyish than William, James or Catherine. If you don't plan on using a traditionally Jewish name (which is fine) then I think anything goes, except for maybe Christopher or Christina.

This exactly.

ycristina84 · March 2011

Wow. You are all over the place! Here it goes...Girls: Quinn - I really like. But, because of Glee, I thinks it's too popular for me.Chloe - sound like a cat. Dislike.Aven - It's ok, but too "bird like"Anuk - TERRIBLE.Alexa - Too 80's.Lavender - Cute.Isa - Love Isa as a nickname for Isadora. I adore Isadora.Ilsa - No. Boy:Liam - Great name, very popular. That weird spelling you came up with is atrocious. Please, no.Hawkins - Don't like Rumi - Too feminine for a boy. Sullivan - I like it, and it's nickname Sully. Pearce - Really like it. Kai - One of my favorite names. Trevlan - YUCK.
Hope this helps! Good luck!

HAFranklin · March 2011

To be honest, I don't like any of them except Liam (spelled this way). I have a weakness for floral names, so I kind of like Lavender, but as more of a guilty pleasure kind of name. Isa is pretty, but if you've ever seen Dora the Explorer, then you'd know Isa is a cartoon iguana.

amber2718 · March 2011

Girl:

Quinn - Glee is gonna make this one explode - pass

Chloe (too popular now?) -Yup

Aven - dislike

Anuk - dislike

Alexa - really like

Lavender - like

Isa - only as a nickname

Ilsa - still can't figure out how to pronounce

Boy:

Liam (maybe spelled Leighm) - like, but leighm is terrible!

Hawkins - okay

Rumi - dislike

Sullivan - like

Pearce - like

Kai - dislike

Trevlan -dislike

Sunshine is mine · March 2011

Girl:

Quinn- getting suddenly annoyingly popular for a girl

Chloe (too popular now?)<--you got that right!

Aven-actually my fav of your girls names

Anuk-hate it in general but even worse for a girl

Alexa-stripper

Lavender-stripper, klassy, youneek, good color for a room

Isa, Ilsa- Better but as a NN for Isabel

Boy:

Liam-yes (maybe spelled Leighm)-absolutely NOT

Hawkins-sadie hawkins dance?

Rumi- is this pronounced Roomy or Rummy? either way no

Sullivan-ehh

Pearce-its ok

Kai-fav of your boys names

Trevlan-klassy

Not really sure what being Jewish and a novelist has to do with some of these choices but your style is everywhere so I can't even suggest something. good luck

ZTAsunshine · March 2011

Chloe and Pierce are the names that I like out of your list. Pierce spelled this way instead of Pearce.

jesstellina · March 2011

laurakaz13:
Quinn - Like

Chloe - Yuck

Aven - NMS

Anuk - Dog Name

Alexa - Yuck

Lavender - Really?

Isa, Ilsa - Like, especially Ilsa

Boy:

Liam (maybe spelled Leighm) - Only if you spell it Liam

Hawkins - As in Stephen Hawkins?

Rumi, Sullivan, Pearce, Kai, Trevlan - NMS at all.

It's actually Stephen Hawking...

kmv68 · March 2011

Isla is the only girl's name I like.

Kai is the only boy's name I like.

meplusone · March 2011

Just an FYI....Liam is the Catholic version of William.

I like Liam, Sullivan and Pearce. Sorry-not crazy about any of your girl choices. If you are looking for unique girl names I would not choose Quinn or Chloe.

How about:

Pippa

Gemma

Sloane

Maren

Eden

Lainey

dharmakaia · March 2011

Thanks everyone SO MUCH! This was very helpful. Seeing as we are not American, our choices are a bit different. And we are all over the place lol. But this helps me to get a sense for what other women think, and I really value your opinions!

I had no idea Liam was short for William and that Isa meant Rainbow! I feel like I consulted the name oracle. What a gift.

We will let you know when he or she comes along and what name get picked. Some of the names on the list are family names. Not sure if we will go traditional or unique. We'll see ; )

StefB28 · March 2011

CabbageCabbage:
dharmakaia:

typical goy names are out - like no Catherine, William or James or anything like those.

Did you know the Liam is nickname for William? It's accepted as a name on it's own, of course, but it comes from William. Not judging, just something to consider before you fill out a birth certificate.

This. Our son's name on his birth certificate is William and we call him Liam. FYI, it was the #1 boy's name in 2010 according to The Bump so if you're trying to avoid popular names, skip this one. I, obviously, love it!

SheLovesMrHip · March 2011

Alrighty then.... you have some super cute ones and then you have a few that get the side eye from me Hmm

I beg you not to even think about Anuk, what is that? Are you having an eskimo?

Lavender is a color, flower, just not a baby name.

I will say that I do like Quinn, and I like Liam as well. Those are top two for you!

Brodyrox30 · March 2011

dharmakaia:

We are having a surprise baby, so collecting names for boy and girl. My partner is Jewish, so any typical goy names are out - like no Catherine, William or James or anything like those. We both want a unique first name. I'm a novelist. Please tell me what you think.....

Girl:

Quinn (don't like for a girl, just a boy), Chloe (too popular now? Yup.), Aven (not bad), Anuk (don't do it, please), Alexa (it's okay but NMS), Lavender (it's okay, NMS, and I don't like Lavender, haha), Isa (I don't even know how to say that!), Ilsa (don't like it). How about Iliana?

Boy:

Liam (maybe spelled Leighm) (don't like the alternate spelling; and Liam is the short form of William, you realize. That's the meaning of it. WilLIAM), Hawkins (I know several ppl with this last name and would not have my children associated with them), Rumi (NMS...is it like ROOMY?), Sullivan (like it), Pearce (same as Hawkins), Kai (not bad), Trevlan (NMS, too made-up sounding) How about Dallan?

Boy has been easier than girl. Girl I seem to change my mind daily. I kinda hope we have a boy so I know what to call him! My best friend just had a baby who went nameless for 3 weeks before they could decide on something. I don't want that to happen!

If you know of any other unique names please contribute. Just know my partner's last name ends in "cow"

Thx!

queenbone · March 2011

Quinn- Too unisex for me, and will rise in popularity.

Chloe- Nice, but popular

Aven- doesn't do anything for me

Anuk- This looks like it is short for a nuclear weapon, not very feminine

Alexa- okay

Lavender- I really like this, probably my favorite from your list.

Isa- okay

Ilsa- Nice, my second favorite

Liam/Leighm- I don't understand how William is too goy, but it's diminutive, Liam, is okay? And sweet, fancy Moses do not use Leighm!!! It's not just goy, it is totally uneducated goy!!!

Hawkins- don't like the hawk in there

Rumi- okay

Sullivan- This screams goy to me, it is pretty Irish and we're not known for being very Jewish

Pearce- okay, I prefer the spelling Pierce unless this is a family spelling

Kai- okay

Trevlan- The first boy I kissed was named Trevis, I think in both cases it would be better to stick with Trevor which is not super popular.