reaction to these names

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2005
reaction to these names
16
Thu, 09-22-2005 - 12:52am

Today we found out we're expecting our 3rd in the spring :D :D :D

I started contributing to this board when I suspected I was pregnant, because my DH intends to take up an offer to work in the US next autumn, and I'd like to hear an American perspective on the names we like. So of the ones we're thinking of now, what is your immediate reaction? Are there any cultural references we should maybe steer clear of? Are they really far out there, or does being a uk/canada family excuse it?
We'd be living in Northern California, and my DH is Scottish, I'm canadian and english, and we currently live in ontario, canada.
Our elder two are Ewan and Isla- it's too late to change their names, but do say if there's something ppl might say about their names, too.

Eleanor Maude (known as Maude)
Winifred Ellen (Winnie)
Bridget Helen

Fergus Roger
Rory Douglas
Duncan Alexander

Thanks!
-Siena

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2004
Thu, 09-22-2005 - 9:28am

HI Siena

From you list:

Eleanor Maude (known as Maude)
Maude is nms, but it is ok -
I like Eleanor Mae/Maeve, Eleanor Maura or Eleanor Mirelle

Winifred Ellen (Winnie)
Winifred is ok, I might also try Wynne Ellen, Wynne Elena( Still using nn Winnie)

Bridget Helen - this one is my fave of your picks.
Other options: Bridget Helene, Bridget Helena

Fergus Roger
Fergus is nms,but it is ok. I might use: Finlay Roger or Flynn Roger

Rory Douglas - nice
Other options: Ryan Douglas, Riordan Douglas or Rory Daniel

Duncan Alexander - Fav from your picks:
Other options: Derek Alexander, Dylan Alexander

HTH, Let's talk again
Donna
mom to Alexandra, Samantha & Gabriella

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2004
Thu, 09-22-2005 - 9:40am

Well, I can only give my personal opinion of the names :)


Eleanor ~ love this name. I would suggest Maude as a first name, though, if you're just going to call her that anyway.
Winifred (Winnie) ~ so cute! Reminds me of a 90s tv show, although I can't remember the name of it right now :)
Bridget ~ so pretty. not uncommon, not un-heard-of, not uber-trendy. Perfect!


Fergus ~ nice...maybe a little "out-there" to me
Rory ~ love this one, especially as a given name for a boy
Duncan ~ a little grown-up for a baby but they do grow up don't they :) Very nice!


Congratulations! and good luck.







iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2005
Thu, 09-22-2005 - 10:49am

Thanks! It's good to have some feedback.
Eleanor is one of my favourite names, but there are too many Ellys/Helens/Eleanors/Elaines/etc in the family already. Maude Eleanor, Maude Ellen and Maude Helen just don't seem to flow as well (Plus M.E. plus our surname make slightly dodgy initials)- is there a particular taboo against going by a middle name in the US?

Sisi

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2004
Thu, 09-22-2005 - 10:59am
No, lots of people do it :) It's just my personal inclination to not do it :-)







iVillage Member
Registered: 02-22-2005
Thu, 09-22-2005 - 1:07pm

Ewan -- Is Ewan a girl or a boy? The most popular Ewan in the US is Ewan MacGregor.
Isla -- I have never heard this name before. It is the Spanish word for island (but then again, Lana is the Spanish word for wool, Linda is the Spanish word for pretty, and they are accepted names). I like Isla.

Eleanor Maude (known as Maude) -- I prefer Eleanor. Here in the US, "Maude" brings to mind a 1970s sitcom with Bea Arthur as an outspoken feminist.
Winifred Ellen (Winnie) -- I prefer Ellen. Winnie reminds me of Winnie the Pooh.
Bridget Helen -- I love Bridget

Fergus Roger -- Very Scottish sounding. Unusual but not "out there".
Rory Douglas -- Rory is also used as a girl's name in the US. I like Douglas.
Duncan Alexander -- Again, Duncan is very Scottish sounding. I like it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2005
Thu, 09-22-2005 - 10:44pm

Thanks for the input, it's really useful to have a sounding board :)

Ewan is Most Definitely a boy- "like Ewan Macgregor?" is what people (i.e. his friends' mothers) usually ask. I'm surprised it's not used at all really over here- Ewan and Euan are dead popular in Scotland (top ten names), and Euan is Tony Blair's eldest son.
Isla is a Scottish name that's been used a fair bit through the 20th century, and it's a top 10 name in Scotland too, which we didn't mean to do at all. It's supposedly derived from Islay, a beatiful island off the west coast. Yeah. Blame the wordiness on the hormones, and thanks again :P

-Sisi

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2003
Thu, 09-22-2005 - 10:53pm

Eleanor Maude - I love Eleanor, but what's the point of naming her that if you're going to call her Maude?
Winifred Ellen - very pretty, I also love the nn Winna
Bridget Helen - ok

Fergus Roger - blech, don't like either name
Rory Douglas - ok
Duncan Alexander - very nice

Also, I love the name Isla!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2005
Thu, 09-22-2005 - 10:54pm

Thanks for the input!

Maeve and Maura are lovely names we hadn't thought of- thanks!
Now I have to go off an do more research on M-names for girls :)

-Sisi

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2004
Fri, 09-23-2005 - 4:51pm

I love your choices. I think you'll find that many people in the US are very receptive to "different" names, and that the trend here is leaning toward European names. Irish names are especially popular.


We almost named our third son Ewan! But we have a "W" last name, and it was too many Ws. Anyway:


Amy, mom to Nate (9), Calvin (7), and Tobias (4). You can find me at my blogs:

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-03-2004
Fri, 09-23-2005 - 5:04pm

Hi Siena...


          

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