naming little one...(sorry I know there are millions of these)

[northcountrymamma]

So I just need to bounce these names off some people who I don't know IRL...I keep getting those wide eyed looks...

boy:
Cedar
Rowan
Casper
Silas


girl:
Hazel
Ayla (eh-lah)
Alice


what I am going for is, unique enough that they won't share a name with anyone else in school one day...some interesting kind of meaning (dd is named after a tree)...and something that is simple enough to not be mispronounced or difficult to spell.

anyone have any thoughts on any of these names?
thanks!!

[hollytheteacher]

Hmm well Ayla as "Eh leh" well be confusing. Why not just do Ella? Then again it's pretty common.

I think Hazel is cute. So is Rowan but it's kinda trendy right now in some areas.

[LSUtwinMama]

I know several little Rowans born in the last 3 years, seems like it's getting "trendy". One of the other twin moms in my playgroup has B/G twins named Ayla and Ari, I think Ayla is a lovely name.

I also love Alice and Silas, they seem classic but no over used.

[northcountrymamma]

yeah I have kinda wondered about Rowan...I've heard a few lately. It was dd's boy name but then that was nearly 7 years ago.

thought of another one...Calvin...how popular is that?

[ecky]

we must be on the same wavelength...
silas is on our short list and our dd's name is hazel...
we like rowan but a friend named their child that and we also know an alice so that name is out...
cedar is adorable.

[MoonStarFalling]

I've always loved Cedar. I love Silas as well as Soren. My top pick now is Roan simply because we already have a friend who's used the other spelling. I like Calvin, and Clive! Check your states top 100 names.

I'm not crazy about the girls names.

[philomom]

Originally Posted by northcountrymamma

yeah I have kinda wondered about Rowan...I've heard a few lately. It was dd's boy name but then that was nearly 7 years ago.

thought of another one...Calvin...how popular is that?

Calvin and Alice are great. Casper is good.


Rowan has become trendy and girlish. Ayla will always be "Clan of the Cave Bear" to me.

[Galatea]

I love them all!!!!!!!!! And they are not weird at all.

[paintedfire]

I LOVE Alice. It's on my favorites list. My favorite of the boys' names you listed is Casper, but I'd go with Silas because I'd worry about "Casper the Friendly Ghost" jokes once the kid hit school age. But if that doesn't bother you then I say go for it - it's a great name.

[annablue]

Honestly, I don't really like any of them except Alice.

[~Adorkable~]

The best advice I have heard about names so far?
Take your short list to a group of 10-12 year olds and see what they do with them! If there is anything too strange with spelling or rhyming they will let you know fast!

On the other hand the kidding will end at some point, but spelling or pronunciation issues will follow then for life.

[paintedfire]

Originally Posted by •Adorkable•

The best advice I have heard about names so far?
Take your short list to a group of 10-12 year olds and see what they do with them! If there is anything too strange with spelling or rhyming they will let you know fast!

That is great advice. Whoever told you that needs some big props.

[ThisCat]

boy:
Cedar (I want to love it because it's , but I don't for some reason)
Rowan (very popular here for little girls)
Casper (Casper the friendly ghost stuff could get annoying)
Silas (Love it )


girl:
Hazel (Yay! )
Ayla (eh-lah) (very pretty, but she will have trouble with it for the rest of her life)
Alice (Yay again! )

[northcountrymamma]

dp thinks that casper the friendly ghost stuff would come up too, but because we don't have a tv, I don't know...do kids actually know who casper is anymore, or would that only be the 30 something generation and older?

how popular is bronwen in your areas? I can't seem to find a popularity list for canada...

I still adore cedar (and it's thus far the only name dp and I can agree on!)

oh and by the spelling ayla - what would you pronounce it as?

btw, this is so helpful!

[That Mom]

Cedar and Hazel would get my vote. The only little girl named Hazel I have ever met would be 18 by now and Cedar is a nice strong name (and my favorite tree). Have you thought about Myrtle or Cypress?

[ThisCat]

Originally Posted by northcountrymamma

dp thinks that casper the friendly ghost stuff would come up too, but because we don't have a tv, I don't know...do kids actually know who casper is anymore, or would that only be the 30 something generation and older?

I thought about that exact thing when I posted that, and almost threw it in there. I don't know if little kids know who he is anymore either. But even he's not popular now, it's still out there. Most adults remember him and might feel compelled to comment (you know, like those annoying people who you meet the grocery store ). Also, it might affect how people perceive someone with the name.

[Galatea]

I think Casper the friendly ghost is so old and so long ago that it doesn't matter. And stupid rude people at the grocery store should be ignored. It is tough, b/c they congregate there, but do your best.

[ThisCat]

Now I've got that darn theme song in my head.

[A&A]

I love Rowan. The other names....not so much.

[Ellenems]

I LOVE the name Cedar. It's my absolute favorite boy's name, and if I could have somehow gotten my husband to agree, I would have used it for my son. He ended up Soren, which I also really like, but he still looks like a Cedar to me, with gorgeous bright red hair. My husband felt that Cedar was too feminine, and everyone we mentioned it to gave us funny looks. It seems like a very masculine name to me, but I'm pretty sure he won't give it any more consideration this time around .

For girls, I really like Hazel, and have also considered it for my own children. It seems like it's gained in popularity quickly over the last few years, so I have a feeling it could end up in the top 100 soon. I'd like my children to have somewhat uncommon (but not strange) names, but it can be hard to predict the trends. I think we already have a girl's name picked out this time, but no ideas for a boy...