The Baby Name Thread

[steph]

Brian and I are working on baby names, although we never decide for sure on a name before the baby is actually born. We don't want to get monogrammed and embroidered gifts with that name and then change our mind.

What we're looking for in a name is something unique, but not weird. The spelling needs to look like it sounds and the name needs to sound like it looks. We don't like weird spellings that just confuse kids and teachers.

Even though we're not set on a first name, we do know the middle name will be Rae, the name of Ma'amaw (my grandmother from the south) who passed away when I was in elementary school.

Feel free to suggest other names as well, but know that they might be rejected. My boys want to name her "Suuuuuuusan" (from Monsters vs. Aliens) or Princess Leia. We vetoed both of them.

[Satya]

Aven Lee
Allie Luyah

[Luet]

Before I vote, a couple of questions:
Is Ansley pronounced like Ann-zlee? What about Elora, is it Ee-lora or Eh-lora? And lastly Amya, does the Am rhyme with ram or aim? Sorry if my phonetics are spelled weird!

[Young Val]

Kaylie!!!

[Jayelle]

I like Arianna and Kaylie, they are both really pretty. Arianna or Adrianna were both on my list for Guinevere's name (but Paul didn't like them).

I've never seen Ansley spelled that way, I've usually seen it spelled Ainsley instead.

Also, since I happen to be privy to your last name, I think the best name for you is Dottie. :P

[steph]

Before I vote, a couple of questions:
Is Ansley pronounced like Ann-zlee? What about Elora, is it Ee-lora or Eh-lora? And lastly Amya, does the Am rhyme with ram or aim? Sorry if my phonetics are spelled weird!

You are correct on Ansley. Jan, I picked that spelling of Ansley because Brian didn't want it with the i. It's too often mispronounced because the i makes it seem as if it should have a long a instead of a short a.

For Elora, it would be Eh-lora, as is the baby in Willow.

Amya would be pronounce Uh-my-uh.

Jan, I veto Dottie!

[Wil]

I like Arianna and Kaylie/Kaylin the most.

Arianna has three built-in nicknames: 'Ari', 'Awn-ah' or 'Anna', and my least favorite 'Ann'. Take that as you will, but all three are decent shorter versions.

Kaylie is good, but I'm not very fond of "Kay" as a nickname for shortening of the name.

Elora is a good third choice. The others are uncommon enough to have the "Did I say that right?" question on the pronunciation (Aiyslin, Amya), or just sound strange for a girl (Amya, Kinley, Ansley).

Also, did you only get through the first half of the baby names book? None of your options go above K.

[Petra456]

I went with Kaylie/Kaylin because I really like Kaylie! I knew someone with the name Arianna and people mispronounced her name all the time, and I have no clue why.

[Mich]

Also, did you only get through the first half of the baby names book? None of your options go above K.

Ha! I noticed this, too. However, I also can't think of any really good girl names that go above K, except for maybe "Marie."

But yes, what everyone else is saying: Arianna or Kaylie. I voted Arianna, but Kaylie is a great name. I'm not a very big fan of the super-unique names. All of my brother's in-laws have those style names and they drive me crazy. First I have a hard time remembering them, then I find out that I've been spelling them wrong the entire time...

[Luet]

You are correct on Ansley. Jan, I picked that spelling of Ansley because Brian didn't want it with the i. It's too often mispronounced because the i makes it seem as if it should have a long a instead of a short a.

Amya would be pronounce Uh-my-uh.

But on West Wing there was a character named Ainsley and it WAS pronouned with a long A. Just saying.

I was totally off on how to pronounce Amya. I thought it was Am-ya (the Am rhyming with yam). So, if there are a lot of people like me out there, you could have it mis-pronounced a lot.

[starlooker]

I was totally off on how to pronounce Amya. I thought it was Am-ya (the Am rhyming with yam). So, if there are a lot of people like me out there, you could have it mis-pronounced a lot.

Ditto.

[thoughtreader]

Even though we're not set on a first name, we do know the middle name will be Rae, the name of Ma'amaw (my grandmother from the south) who passed away when I was in elementary school.

Rae was my middle name... so I'm going to suggest Teresa Rae because well I think its cool and sounds best!

[jotabe]

I voted Kaylie, but i must clarify it's only because it sounds like Kaylee so i am not sure it should count...

[thoughtreader]

I voted Kaylie, but i must clarify it's only because it sounds like Kaylee so i am not sure it should count...

thats the reason I voted for it

[steph]

But on West Wing there was a character named Ainsley and it WAS pronouned with a long A. Just saying.

Even when spelled Ainsley, the correct pronunciation is Ann-zlee. (I've done my research!) It's a Scottish name which means "my own meadow." If you know enough about me (and some of you do), you should be able to see why I'm partial to that name. It's my top choice.

Brian's top choice is Arianna. If we chose that name, her nickname would be Annie.

Around here, Kaylie and Kaylee would be pronounce the same way. Does that make a difference? We're not set on a spelling of that name. I really like the name, I'm just afraid it's too trendy and too "little girl." I'm not sure it works as well for when she grows up. I might like Kinley better because I think it works for girl and woman.

Oh, and good to know about Amya. It's not a top choice for us, anyway.

Wil, we did go through the whole "book," but we both tended to gravitate toward A's and K's. We're not sure why.

[eggbalancer]

(I hope everyone votes before reading all the posts. It will be less biased.)

We technically already decided on two girl names before we even got married: Arianna Rae and Elora Lois. Then we had Tyler (which took some time to decide on) and Brayden (which took some time to decide on). We pretty much knew we'd be having a girl next, so I was glad that we already had decided on our name choices. Then we found out it really was a girl and my cute (silly) wife decided the names were "stale" and she likes going to great lengths before deciding on a name, so she decided to go back to the old drawing board. So here we are.

Anyway, I'm a fan of vowel names for our girl, partly because our boys are consonants, but I'm weird. O and U are pretty much out, and so is I, which leaves A and E, and sometimes Y. I think we're too white to pull off Yasmina.

Thanks for voting. We'll post our decision in about 6 weeks!

[Gravity Defier]

I was likewise confused on Amya but with that said, knowing how it is pronounced, I like that one best. As someone who has a name that, strangely, is constantly being mispronounced/mispelled, I find that the pride over having an awesome, mostly uncommon (though that is changing ) name easily beats the frustration of correcting people.

Not that some of those other names weren't uncommon as well. Anyhow, I would vote against Arianna and Kayleigh just because of how common they are.

[Luet]

It doesn't even take having an uncommon name to have people mispronounce it. I would say over half of people say my name as Nye-omi which drives me NUTS. And probably 75% of people spell it wrong (Niomi, Nyomie, Niome, etc.). I guess the fact that people don't know that it is spelled NAomi, leads to the mispronunciation.

[Jayelle]

You're a Nay-omi I assume?
I have heard it both ways. I have a childhood friend who was Nye-omi.


Speaking of spelling/pronouncing... I knew Guinevere was an uncommon name, but I had no idea people wouldn't understand it even when we TOLD them how it was pronounced. She gets Genevive.
Also, people don't know why Ginny is a nickname. I hope she doesn't hate us too much when she's older.

[Satya]

With that pronunciation of Amya, that's my choice. Sounds like the Japanese word for rain.

[Syphon the Sun]

Who the heck doesn't know how to pronounce Guinevere?!

[Luet]

You're a Nay-omi I assume?
I have heard it both ways. I have a childhood friend who was Nye-omi.

Yes, I'm a Nay-omi and I've never known a Nye-omi but I guess I have them to blame for everyone who says my name wrong. I think my way is the standard/traditional/Hebrew way as shown here.

[Rei]

I knew Guinevere was an uncommon name, but I had no idea people wouldn't understand it even when we TOLD them how it was pronounced. She gets Genevive.
Also, people don't know why Ginny is a nickname. I hope she doesn't hate us too much when she's older.

I actually never even ran across the French form until I was at least in high school. Now if you'd done the WELSH version, I'd get it. But you'd think nearly everyone would recognise Guinevere from the Arthurian legends.

[Eaquae Legit]

We live in such a geek-bubble.

[Jayelle]

We live in such a geek-bubble.

Yes, exactly. It's amazing how many people just give you a blank look when you say "Guinevere...like from King Arthur". Seriously! Who doesn't know who King Arthur is?? It's not like it's some obscure legend. There have been lots of movies about it.

[Dr. Mobius]

That's just it, though. Everyone knows who King Arthur is, but who the hell is this Guinevere chick you speak of?

[Craig]

"Kaylee, what in the sphincter hell are you playin at? We got the primary buffer panel--"

"Everything's shiny cap'n..."

Any questions? I think they're all nice, steph. I voted for Kaylie as well, but Arianna was a close second. Hell, I liked them all. You're giving me ideas!

Salaam

[locke]

I'm fond of old fashioned names, my favorite is Angharad, which is in one of my favorite movies, and it sounds a lot pretty than it looks. it's welsh.

I probably will use Ailene, for a daughter, though, my grandma's name.
My other Grandma's name is Beulah, another beautiful name, in my opinion, particularly when you consider what it means, I think Ailene's a better first name, and one that can work today, and Beulah is a good middle name and couldn't really work as a first name today.

And Atticus is probably my favorite boys name, I'm holding out for middle name on that one.

[Jeesh_girl15]

All of the names are really beautiful original names, but I liked Kaylie/ Kaylin best.

Numbering them from favorite to least favorite, I would have to say 1)Kaylin, 2)Elora, 3)Arianna, 4)Kinley, 5)Amya, 5)Aislynn, 6)Ansley.

I'm not to fond of A names, for some reason, but they do make a statement. K names seem more laid bak to me... Plus, I have a K name, so I just like K's. For some reason, I just looove Elora. There's just something about it that attracts me to it.

Once again, I love all of them, but Kaylin is my favorite.

[steph]

Seriously? No one likes my favorite name but me? I'm a little disappointed about that.

I'm glad the overall response to our name list is good though. Naming kids is hard, dang it!

[Eaquae Legit]

I grew up near the Elora Gorge, so all I think of there is geography. Kinley and Ansley aren't my favourites for some reason.

I like all the others, even Aislynn, though Aislynn reminds me of the movie Dragonheart. Seriously, if I ever met your family and you named her Aislynn, I would absolutely be COMPELLED to put on a terrible Sean Connery accent and call her "Daughter of the Celts".

[steph]

Seriously, if I ever met your family and you named her Aislynn, I would absolutely be COMPELLED to put on a terrible Sean Connery accent and call her "Daughter of the Celts".

That, right there, might convince me to use the name. I'd be highly entertained by that!!

[Gravity Defier]

She should be here now, I think...so what do we call her when we welcome her into the world?

[Jayelle]

I know what the name is, I know what the name is! *dances*

I'll let Steph announce it, but I can say she's healthy and 7lbs, 11oz.

[Eaquae Legit]

Yay! Congrats, Steph!