We liked Saima, Annika, Harlow and Luen for girls. A bit different. We settled on Luen pronounced Lou-en. Short sweet and everyone comments on how pretty it is. (not for everyone though) Boys: i like more traditional names like Christian, Lewis. Are you pregnant? I also agree some of the arabic names sound really sweet.
Make sure it is an international name. I don't like the way my name is pronounced in English and much prefer the Dutch/French way. I also have an umlaut in my name which in the digital age is not very handy and I find I'm leaving it out more and more. I do like the meaning of it: Shiny like the sea.
Just make a long list of names that you both like and keep trying them out.
Another stupid tip i heard years ago - go to the back door and call out the name, as if you are calling in a pet, and see how it feels lol If you don't feel comfortable calling the name out loud then it's not for you...
Stick to sensible names, that doesn't have to mean boring but who wants to grow up with a ridiculous name, and don't name them after any ten minute celebrity or they and you will always be reminded of that. :\:
I wanted to name my son Curtis, after the gorgeous chef and Australian role model, Curtis Stone, but alas it was not to be. Our son was named after a character in our favourite comedy and our daughter, our favourite season:)
some lovely suggestions here but if you speak to anyone who has a VERY unusual name they will probably tell you how sick they are of constantly being asked to spell it !!!
Oceane - French for Ocean and pronounced Osiaan (ok, may create spelling/pronunciation issues later but I just love the name!! My daughter is the female version of her father's name...would this work on your family?
I think a lot of the Arabic girls' names are beautiful, and quite nice for babies born here. We heard a little British Maitha at the hotel on our last holiday (her parents were calling her), and thought it was so pretty.
I have an unusual name which I loved when I was little. It's now more popular which I find a bit irritating lol :) I think it's nice to go with something unusual, but which is definitely a 'real' name (as opposed to a made up one or a weird spelling of a standard name).
i was named after the ward i was born in.. my mum wanted to call me nicola but my dad said "no she be called knickers" ha ha..
So true happened to my sister when she was little, not so much now :)
I was named my real name (not october lol) because my parents couldn't think of anything as they didn't expect me to survive - how sad is that - I was a rhesus baby! I hated my middle name and DDs don't like their names, despite DH and I putting a lot of thought into them, so I think we're d*mned whatever we do as parents when naming our children - it's luck of the draw as to whether they like what they're given when they're old enough to care.
I'm Lliking Harper..
Any other suggestions? Also how seriously do other Mums rate the 'meaning' of names?
i've never looked mine up and i don't know anyone personally who has lol