Short list [New and Improved! :D]

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2007
Short list [New and Improved! :D]
13
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 2:37am

This is the new list of names that I'm considering (some were on my original list, but I've also added and removed quite a few). All of your comments and suggestions have been a great help!

George
Peter (called Pete)
Roger
Mark
Arthur (called Art)
Paul
Thomas (called Tom)
Edmund (called Ed, Eddy, or Ted)

Antonia (called Annie)
Catherine (but Katherine is )(called Cate or Cat)
Alice
Margaret (called Meg or Greta)
Anne (but Anna is +) (called Annie)
Virginia (called Ginny)
Jane (maybe called Jenny)
Mary
Penelope (called Penny)
June

So what do you all think? What are your favorites? Are there any you would never even dream of using? Why?




Edited 4/16/2007 1:24 pm ET by betsychocolate

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 5:20am

My favs for you in order of preference:

Peter (tremendous name, no one uses it, strong, masculine)
George
Paul
Thomas
Edmund

Penelope (adorable, unusual, spunky, tremendous history)
Jane (never hear this as a fn, classic, pretty. My name, so I'm probably biased, but I've always loved it)
Anne (similar to Jane but a little less distinctive to me)
Mary (soft, feminine, classic)
Alice (sweet and spunky)
Virginia (love)

I just left those off that I don't care for (Antonia and Mark, etc) or think are too popular/common for you (Catherine).

Avatar for midwestmom2000
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 9:24am

Boys:

My favorites are Roger, Mark, Peter and Edmund (but I dislike Ed/Eddy - how about Ned?)

Thomas, George and Paul are okay, but I associate the names with older relatives. Arthur is my least favorite.

Girls:

Like Antonia, Alice, Margaret (w nn Meg), and Jane.

The rest are fine, but not my style. Catherine is lovely, but I know too many (variety of spellings)

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2003
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 10:03am

George- love it, but can't use due to family
Peter love it, but our ln ends in "er" & I don't like the sing-songiness
Edmund-love it on my short list
Thomas- love it despite it's popualarity, also DH's name :P
Mark OK
Arthur OK but I wouldn't use
Roger OK but I would't use
Paul don't like
other ideas for boys: Charles, Henry, Leo

I could see myself using any of the girls names, so I put them in my order.
Penelope-loving this one
Antonia- cool name- very lit IMO
June-super cool because it's *known* without being popular
Virginia- on my short list
Jane- love it but would use Jenny as nn
Anne- love it too w/this spelling, I'm a total Anne of green gables junkie
Catherine- classic beauty
Mary- traditional classic
Alice- very nice
Margaret- my favorite nn is Daisy
other girl names: Beatrix, Genevieve, Hazel, Eleanor & Lucy
HTH
Andi

Andi


iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2004
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 10:04am

Great
Arthur (called Art) Love this for you... sounds just like your style (old-fashioned, underused, classic, British), and Art makes it so cute and spunky, plus it ages well.
Paul I personally love Paul because it's simple, classic, and ageless, but I'm not sure whether it has the same amount of "personality" as some of your others (it's pretty common).

Good
George Very fitting for you, just not my favorite--seems a little too big/old/clunky to me.
Peter (called Pete) Fits your style beautifully, it just sounds sort of childish/wimpy to me (I guess like Peter Pan and Peter Rabbit).
Thomas (called Tom) I like Tom a lot for you... Ageless/masculine/traditional... Thomas is pretty common (the tank engine, lol) but these days I think most would go by their full name, so Tom is probably not too popular.
Edmund (called Ed, Eddy, or Ted) After reading The Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond looks more "correct" to me, but that's neither here nor there. I like it, though.

Wouldn't use
Roger Just sounds way too old to me.
Mark Sounds very common, overdone, and dated to the 70's-80's. From your survey earlier, it seems that people have some bad associations with it, too.

Great
Antonia (called Annie) Unusual, old-fashioned, intriguing, feminine... plus Annie is sweet : ) I love this.
Alice LOVE Alice... sweetly old-fashioned, simple, familiar but not overused.
June See Alice, but this seems a notch or two more grown up/less girlish. Love both.

Good
Anne (but Anna is +) (called Annie) I would love to love Anne--how great would it be to grow up with the same name as Anne Shirley?!? It's underused and graceful, just cant't get over seeing it as "plain"
Penelope (called Penny) Still not sure what to say about this one, it's maybe a little cutesy/exotic/like a cat name lol. It's not bad though... it's unexpected.
Virginia (called Ginny) Love Virginia, not as crazy about Ginny but it's still not bad.
Jane (maybe called Jenny) I like Jane a lot... regardless of the phrase "plain Jane," (I'm sure you'll hear a lot of that) it's not common or plain at all these days. I wouldn't take away from it by calling her Jenny, though... I like Janey/Janie better.
Margaret (called Meg or Greta) Love Meg and Greta, although Meg is more common since it's short for Megan. I dislike Margaret and would never use it (sounds clunky and not pretty to my ear) but it's the right style for you, and you should use it if you like it.

Wouldn't use
Catherine (called Cate or Cat) I like it, I like the nicknames, but Kate and Kat with C's look a little silly to me. It's also painfully popular when you include all of the Katherines and Kathryns and Kaitlyns...
Mary I wouldn't use this because I'm not religious, and it just sounds so plain and common that it's almost like a "no-name" kind of name. It just doesn't have any personality to me.

HTH
Valerie

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-1999
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 10:17am

Fun! Here are my thoughts:

George -I like the sound of this, but don't like it for different reasons. It's a shame too.

Peter (called Pete)-Peter is very handsome, but Pete makes it sound less classy imo.

Roger -That's kind of refreshing. I don't love it, but it's not bad.

Mark -Meh, that's okay. I'd prefer Marcus or Marco.

Arthur (called Art)-Arthur is very handsome, & I love Artie. Art seems a bit bland though.

Paul -Yes, very handsome. I know an amazing two year old called this.

Thomas (called Tom)-Nice nice.

Edmund (called Ed, Eddy, or Ted)-Okay. I like Ned.

Antonia (called Annie)-Fabulous.

Catherine (called Cate or Cat)-I like this called Cate a lot. Cate w/a 'c' looks great! That 109 is deceiving though. Adding up all of the names that have 'Kate' as a nn it'd likely be #1.

Alice -Aw, how lovely.

Margaret (called Meg or Greta)-Margaret is nms, but I do like Greta on its own a lot.

Anne (but Anna is +) (called Annie)-Classic.

Virginia (called Ginny)-Cute cute.

Jane (maybe called Jenny)-I like Jane. Why not Janie as a nn? That makes more sense, & is more interesting imo.

Mary -I'm not in love w/this one.

Penelope (called Penny)-Penelope is fun. I like the nn Nellie.

June -I really like this one. Junie is a a super cute nn as well.

Hope this helps!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 10:31am

I love Arthur, Roger, and Edmund (not as common around here).

I also love Catherine, Virginia, Jane and Penelope.

I'm kinda old fashioned and like classy names and those grabbed me.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-13-2004
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 10:38am

Your list is great!

George~~~ Not a fan. I know a few and all are nice, but there is some reason I don't like it.
Peter~~~Like Pete...greatly dislike Peter...it sounds so "momma's boy"-ish to me, but Pete's a cool name.
Roger~~~Not bad.
Mark~~~LIke it don't love it. I prefer Marcus as a full first name with Mark as a nickname.
Arthur~~~Not My style at all
Paul~~~Weak sounding name. I wouldn't use it. Some of the others are far better.
Thomas~~~~I think this is my Favorite name on your list.
Edmund~~~ OK. it is different...in a good way. It does sound VERY old manish to me. Edward is better for me.

Antonia~~~ I like the idea of this name, but I have never found it to FLOW...If she will be called annie..I'd just go with Anne.
Catherine~~~Love it.
Alice~~~NMS, OK though.
Margaret~~~I love Meg and Greta
Anne ~~~Like Anne...not so much Anna...Love nn Annie
Virginia~~~NMS...
Jane~~~I like Jane...Hate Jenny. There is no need to nn a girl who already has a short name.
Mary~~~Prefer Marie
Penelope~~Like it...prefer Poppy
June~~~I know a few girls with Month names...April, September, June and I love it!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 10:45am

I'll mostly comment on the new additions (from what I remember LOL):

George - love it!

Peter (called Pete) - like it a lot (it's been growing on my lately, and I do love it for someone else)

Roger - still dated in my mind.

Mark - not the best associations for me, and it seems you might prefer a "fresher" traditional/classic name, KWIM (Matthew, Mark, Michael, etc. are great, popular choices, but from your list it looks like you're looking to branch out a bit).

Arthur (called Art) - I do like this (not sure if my previous FIL comments reflected that accurately, so I'll clear that up now LOL). You might also like Archie as a childhood nn (just saw an Arthur who went by Archie, so thought it worth mentioning).

Paul - like Roger, still dated for me.

Thomas (called Tom) - a fine choice, but I grew up with a LOT of them (per the Mark comments above), and it seems you'd be happier with something a bit less usual.

Edmund (called Ed, Eddy, or Ted) - LOVE IT. Wonderful reflection of your style without being overused or dated. You might also like Edwin.

Antonia (called Annie) - I didn't get to comment in your thread, but I do like Antonia, nn Annie, quite a bit. ;) Like others, I've most often heard the an-to-NEE-a pronunciation, and I'd expect a few corrections no matter which you plan on using. Not necessarily a negative. Just something to keep in mind.

Catherine (called Cate or Cat) - a wonderful classic, but like a few of the boy names, not as uncommon/fresh as it seems might suit your style (with all the other "Cate" names out there right now). ;)

Alice - wonderful!

Margaret (called Meg or Greta) - great! All the different nn options make this a fresh choice no matter the actual numbers, KWIM?

Anne (but Anna is +) (called Annie) - good, but Anne names in general seem to be gaining (Anna, you mentioned, Anneliese, Annika and the like).

Virginia (called Ginny) - sweet and southern

Jane (maybe called Jenny) - LOVE Jane, not too fond of Jenny (because of the whole Jennifer/Jenny craze of the 70s). Janey is sweet, though, and I don't associate it with that trend.

Mary - Love, love, love Mary. ;) So sweet, and not the popular staple it once was. Along the lines of some of the other nns you've mentioned, you may also like Molly here. Just a thought!

Penelope (called Penny) - Penny isn't my favorite, but I do like Penelope (prefer nns Poppy or Pippa).

June - eh. Not a bad choice, but I like many of the others (including the similar Jane) much better.

Nice list, btw. ;)


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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 11:11am
Just replied, but forgot to mention I also prefer Ned for Edmund (or Edwin). ;) Nell is wonderful for Penelope as well.

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Registered: 03-06-2007
Mon, 04-16-2007 - 6:21pm

George---this is very cute and I definitely think it could use a revival!
Peter---don't like this, I think it has potential to be picked on as a child...think male genitalia
Roger---ehh not crazy about this
Mark---this is good
Arthur---like Arthur, but not nn Art
Paul---this is okay
Thomas---love Thomas, but do not prefer any nn's
Edmund---sounds a little stuffy to me

Antonia---this is pretty, prefer nn Anna to Annie though
Catherine---classic, love nn Cate
Alice---okay
Margaret---like this, nn Meg, love nn Maggie though
Anne---nrms
Virginia---this is okay, love nn Ginny
Jane---like Jane, not nn Jenny, but do like nn Janie
Mary---only like this paired with cute double name: Mary Ella, Mary Grace, Mary Clare, etc
Penelope---okay
June---sounds old to me

HTH!

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