TTC soon (hopefully!)

[starcrossed.livejournal.com]

I have long lists of baby names. I have an awkward surname, two l syllables that is basically Longley (give or take a syllable.) I was wondering what you like, what you don't like, if you think the middle names fit, etc. I've have ranked them in my current order with some comments.

Also, I think my sister is dead-set on Charlotte for a girl but it's also one of my favorite names too, especially for a middle name. Is it fair game, or do I leave the name for her since I know it's her absolute favorite?


01. Jake Benjamin or Jake Joseph (JJ- too cutesy? Also my sister says Jake is a name she'd give to a dog, not a baby)
02. Charlie Thomas
03. Oliver Dominic
04. Archer York (but whenever I think of my future son he is named Archer)
05. Jasper Montgomery
06. Freddy Thomas
07. Archie Thomas
08. Alexander Joseph (Alex)
09. Ephraim Max
10. Anthony Marcus
11. Jacob Alexander (Jake. Also, my name is Rebecca and in the bible, Rebecca was the mother of Jacob)
12. Connor Henry
13. George Myles
14. Marcus Dexter
15. Luca Dominic
16. Dexter James
17. Cameron Owen
18. Lucas Evan
19. Zack Archer
20. Felix Henry (but all I can think of is the cat)
21. Sean Benjamin (too dated?)
22. Jayden Trevor


01. Abigail Charlotte or Abigail Molly (Abi)
02. Esther Claire
03. Amelia Charlotte
04. Vanessa Rachel (too dated?)
05. Ellen Gwendoline or Ellen Hannah (Gwendoline is my Nan's name)
06. Poppy Cordelia
07. Dana Grace (named after my favorite TV character)
08. Anna Carmen (my Godmother's name)
09. Rosie May (too cutesy? Also the name of my other godmother)
10. Alexandra Charlotte (Alex)
11. Jasmine Ava or Jasmine Alexandra (I love the nickname Minnie)
12. Madeleine Sophie (Maddy)
13. Georgina Charlotte (I love the name Georgia but it's taken by another family member. Also I don't like the nicknames George or Georgie)
14. Lydia Amelie
15. Aubrey Quinn
16. Scarlett Virginia (Virginia is my favorite US state)
17. Gracie Addison (is Gracie too cutesy?)
18. Evie Cleo
19. Hazel Joy
20. Jenna Holly (too dated?)
21. Alexa Charlotte (Alex)
22. Clara Florence (too dated?)
23. Dinah Grace (too much like diner?)
24. Caia Tatum
25. Carolina Sophie
26. Sapphire Madeleine (too quirky?)
27. Tessa Eve (too dated?)
28. Juliana Amelie (not sure these names go, also hate the nickname Julie)
29. Cassie Georgina (too dated?)
30. Clarice Rose (too Silence of the Lambs?)

Thanks in advance for your help ♥

Comments

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

If your last name sounds pretty much like Longley, I would remove any name that starts with an L, has a last syllable that starts with an L, or ends in an L for either the first or middle name. This is because any of those attributes in a name make it really obvious that the name is L heavy. If it is in the middle name, it makes it sound awkward when the full name is said, and if it is in the first name, while the middle name makes it sound better when the full name is said, most of the time it will just be first and last and you're back to sounding L heavy. If your last name ends in an ---ee sound, I would also remove any names that end in that same sound. Otherwise, you have name-EE name-EE, and it just sounds awkward. That cuts 10 off of your list, so now for individual comments:

Jake Benjamin or Jake Joseph - I think Jacob Benjamin sounds much better, and you can always call him Jake, as you know. I feel it is generally better for kids to have the full version for their given name because they may want to use it when they get into the professional world, if not before. It's nice to have options. JJ is a little cutesy, but it could work. There's always the possibility little JJ would grow out of his name and want to be Jake though, which I'm assuming would be fine by you since you're considering it as a given name. However, Jacob Joseph sounds clunky to me, and Jake Joseph is a bit choppy, so it doesn't get my vote either way. I never used to think of Jake as a "dog" name, but I've seen several people mention that on here and now it's starting to sound like one to me!
Oliver Dominic - Oliver and Dominic are fine names, although neither are favorites at this point in time. Oliver was on my list for a fair few years. I think Dominic Oliver flows better.
Archer York - Archer York sounds strong but may be better as a first-last combination than a first-middle. Both Archer and York are surnames, and I think it's a little weird to have a name entirely made up of last names. The fact that you say you always think of a future son named Archer makes me feel Archer, at least, should be higher on your list, if this list is at all in your order of consideration.
Alexander Joseph - I think this is a really classic and strong combination.
Ephraim Max - I adore Ephraim, but I don't really like Max either by itself or in this combination. The problem with the combo is that the last m and first M run together so it sounds like Ephra Max or Ephraim Axe.
Jacob Alexander - This is another strong name. I think the Biblical connection is pretty neat.
George Myles - I can't say I'm a fan of George, but it's not awful. Myles I would prefer to see spelt Miles, if only so there is only one Y in the full name. A lot of people use y's to make a name creative so they really stand out to me in names.
Marcus Dexter - Here is another name that I prefer switched around! There's no real reason for it; Dexter Marcus "Longley" just sounds better to my ears. Also, Marcus is an okay name, but there's no guarantee that he won't end up going by Marc (which I don't like), and I don't know how you feel about that nickname.

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

Apparently, I rambled on too long for one comment.

Dexter James - I think this sounds good together. Dexter is a kind of neat name, if a bit dweeby. It does make me think of poindexter, Dexter's Laboratory (cartoon), and Dexter (the serial killer show).
Cameron Owen - I really don't like Cameron, but that's my own deal. Owen is nice. I wouldn't do this pair just because of the matching ending sounds. When most people say Cameron, it sounds more like cam-ren so it would be cam-rEN oh-EN.
Zack Archer - This sounds pretty good. I do generally prefer longer given names, as I've said, but Zackery would bring up the Zacker-EE LonglEE issue. You could do Zachariah, but then, it is difficult to say with Archer so you would have to find a different middle name to go with it.
Sean Benjamin - Sean was more popular in the 80s and 90s in the US, but it isn't what I would call unpopular now. Sean Benjamin keeps making me think of Sean Bean for some reason.
Jayden Trevor - Jayden was ranked #4 in the US for 2011. Not only is it a really popular name, it is also a trendy one. It's not a classic. It is very much a name of the now, so it may end up dating your child to being born in the 2010s.Think Tiffany in the 80s. Also, it doesn't age well to me. Trevor is okay.

So I would say my top choices are: Alexander Joseph, Jacob Alexander, Dexter James, and Archer York.

Suggestions:
Archer Dominic
Archer Joseph
Ephraim Oliver
Ephraim George
Ephraim Owen
Jasper York
Jasper Ephraim
Jasper Miles
Jasper Sean
Jasper Thomas
Connor Joseph
Marcus Evan