I was Kristin K all through elemetry school and HATED it! DSS was Andrew D in Kindergarten, but now goes by Drew (always a nickname at home, just not used at school until Grade 1.)
You're really lucky!! Oliver is probably a top 10 name in my area so even though it's a name I love, it got nixed a long time ago!
Okay, so I've been pretty quiet on this thread because the name game (errr well... battle really) in our house has been pretty intense. And we have been super annoyed with friends and family constantly asking about names... then giving us their opinion, because we really care if you don't like a name because so and so was a jerk to you in grade school... pppfffttt!!! Since this seemed to be an on going problem, we decided to tell everyone, parents included, that we would decide on a name and they will find out after the birth. Then no one can have a say, and dissuade either of us from something we may like.
That being said... I do need some opinions other than DP's. But we are totally keeping friends and family in the dark until the birth, so I can't (although I wouldn't want to anyway!) ask them, so I am coming to you ladies.
Now let me start by saying, I am being a touch difficult because my two DS's have extremely popular names, and I refuse to follow the same trend with this baby, so as a result I have pretty much banished anything and everything in the top 150... And would be really happy to use something that wasn't even in the top 1000, but that seems almost impossible. These names are the ones we both like, and I hate to admit it, but DP came up with 90% of the list... Hmmm, he talks about nameberry.com all the time! it's sort of funny. I would just like to get feedback about how they sound to you, and maybe a general top 3...
Lucianna or Luciana (Lucy or Lulu for short, and #565... yay!)
Liliana (currently #115, and it makes me nervous that it's going to grow in popularity, but I am really in love with the melodious and feminine sound)
Aeliana [ay-lee-AHN-ah] (another one of our favorites, although the spelling makes the name hard to pronounce so we have talked about changing the spelling. And its not on the top 1000, bonus! This is also the only name I was able to get on the list)
Aria (currently #157, and may get more popular as more simplistic names are starting to take hold, which is why we like it... its pretty but simplistic and uncomplicated)
Emeline (another name that's from the late 1800's and has been lost, and it sounds so pretty!)
Lucilla (not on the top name list at all, almost reminds me of Cruella DeVille... But I think I could be crazy because they don't sound alike at all! It also sounds like a good adult name, along with Lulu as a nick name when she's a child)
Noella (not on the top name list, but her nick name would be Elle or Ella... That is definitely in the top 10! Yuck! That's the only reason I shy away from it)
Soooo... thoughts?
My top three from these would be:
Liliana - Such a pretty sound to it.
Emeline - This one is just cute, like a teddy bear. But classic.
Aria - The only thing I'll say is, this is sort of related to a character in Game of Thrones (Arya), but she's kind of an awesome little girl, so that's probably okay.
I feel like Aeliana might be a bit of a magnet for made-fun-of-ness (Alien?)... But it does have a really pretty sound to it.
After having all my name list basically shot down by my DH, we are still working on it. We kind of both like Sylvie, so it might just be Sylvie. Suggested by my 3-year-old daughter because of Muzzy cartoons.
I feel like Aeliana might be a bit of a magnet for made-fun-of-ness (Alien?)... But it does have a really pretty sound to it.
After having all my name list basically shot down by my DH, we are still working on it. We kind of both like Sylvie, so it might just be Sylvie. Suggested by my 3-year-old daughter because of Muzzy cartoons.
Oh that is so funny!! That was exactly what DP said when I texted the name and the pronunciation to him... he texted back "Alien??" Hmmm... maybe that one should be nixed.
I Love Sylvie!! But DP said nope right off... These men are so difficult aren't they!? I say, if he likes it use it, it has such a pretty sound.
Liliana - it's in my top 3, too. So pretty sounding! But I'm really attracted to anything "ana" sounding lately...
Emeline - gorgeous! And unique. I'd be tempted to explore "Emelina" or "Emelana"...
Noella - I would shy away from it for the same reasons you already are. But it's such a beautiful name!
I think all of those are nice - but there probably WILL be a spate of little Aryas running around soon so that one might not meet your less-than-hugely-popular criteria. Luciana is nice - I automatically use the Italian pronunciation though (Lu-chi-AH-na) - is that what you were going for? I like it - my niece is Lucille, which is also really pretty. She gets called Lucie or Lulu a lot.
Spughy yes, the Italian pronunciation is what I was aiming for although I was saying it more like {Lu-she-AH-na}... but I like your version as well. My mother is Italian and has been begging us to use something Italian weather first or middle. Not that we are determining a name simply for her (DP had it on a list he came up with), but she would be beyond thrilled with this choice. Same with Liliana, it also has Italian roots.
Scruffy I too have been bitten with the "ana" bug! I love the way it sounds, and I feel that girls should have strong yet feminine names. Something that can be sweet while they're young, but could easily transition to a lawyers name, I think Lily as a baby and young girl is so sweet but Liliana could be a beast in the court room! I like how you changed Emeline around... I will have to see what DP thinks about Emelina...
Luciana, Emeline, and Noella are my top 3 picks.
Liliana may not be in the top 100 but Lillian (or variation of) most certainly is and they all are likely to be called "Lilly" as a nn.
I have a friend who's little girls name is Noa. In your case Noa could be a nn for Noella if you love it but don't want the Elle/Ella nn.
I love Arya, but I also agree that it's likely to shoot up in popularity because of GoT though maybe not so much that it's a problem. At minimum, you'll probably get asked if that's where you got the name all the time. My middle DD's name is Rheannon and I can't tell you how many times I've answered the questions "So, are you a Fleetwood Mac fan?" (everyone thinks they're so clever lol!)
FWIW, I'm a big fan of staying off the top 100 lists but also choosing "real" names and prefer older English sounding names which sadly are gaining in popularity. I also can't be of much help since DD3 was a solid week old before she was named and we've got almost nothing for this babe so far 
I love the Game of Thrones! I think that Arya/Aria may become more popular, but being a genre specific sort of show (and being on a premiere channel like HBO) I would think that it would only gain popularity with in that group of fans. It might be okay to use.
Yup, I think Aeliana is done for. I mentioned to DP lat night about it being the first thing to pop up on here, and he wrinkled his nose up at it! So, I doubt we will go that route. I'm glad I got the response though, I thought he was just being silly, like he tends to be sometimes, but now that it's been confirmed I feel okay with letting it go. Besides, I would feel awful if she got called that in school! 
Liliana may not be in the top 100 but Lillian (or variation of) most certainly is and they all are likely to be called "Lilly" as a nn.
I have a friend who's little girls name is Noa. In your case Noa could be a nn for Noella if you love it but don't want the Elle/Ella nn.
I love Arya, but I also agree that it's likely to shoot up in popularity because of GoT though maybe not so much that it's a problem. At minimum, you'll probably get asked if that's where you got the name all the time. My middle DD's name is Rheannon and I can't tell you how many times I've answered the questions "So, are you a Fleetwood Mac fan?" (everyone thinks they're so clever lol!)
FWIW, I'm a big fan of staying off the top 100 lists but also choosing "real" names and prefer older English sounding names which sadly are gaining in popularity. I also can't be of much help since DD3 was a solid week old before she was named and we've got almost nothing for this babe so far
Yes, Liliana is very close... its right near the top 100 and I am nervous it may gain more popularity...
We love old English style names as well... And this is where we have hit a major road block because they are getting super popular! I love 6 names on the top 10 list, so we have had to branch out more in order to stay off the top 100/150. Emeline is an old English name, and just sort of slipped by the way side... Seems a lot of you like it too.
Because of our struggle to nail down even a top 3 list, I sort of lost my cookies last weekend and bawled my eyes out to DP, saying she would be weeks old and still have no name! I went on and on about how this poor little baby needed a name, how we were awful parents for not figuring it out... blah blah blah. I am totally blaming that one on the baby!! I don't know how he puts up with my emotional roller coasters sometimes, but he just shrugs it off (although Monday night he came home with a new list... haha).
Am I weird because I'm not freaking out about names yet? I can't see how it really matters if you don't settle on a name for several weeks after the baby is born.
I wish our culture had the concept of a childhood name and an adult name. Yes, it would cause havoc in computer systems, but how much easier would it be to name children if they were just going to rename themselves once they'd hit puberty?
Am I weird because I'm not freaking out about names yet? I can't see how it really matters if you don't settle on a name for several weeks after the baby is born.
I'd totally agree with you, except I think it depends a lot on where you live and how they deal with birth certificates and other official paperwork (insurance registration, social security cards, and sooner or later a passport application, etc). My last child was born in New York, and I was getting pressure to select a name by baby's day 3 so that the midwife could file the birth certificate paperwork with the state. Maybe she was just being extra cautious about the punctuality of the official paperwork because it was a homebirth?
DD's middle name is actually a family name from my great great grandmother, who did indeed name herself when she was a child. The story goes that she was called some little nickname till around age 7, when she chose this totally crazy string of about 20 rhyming names (I'm sure you guys can imagine the kind of stuff a 7 year old would come up with). I'm hoping it works out to give this baby one of GGG-grandma's crazy names as a middle name as well.
Spughy - I definitely think it depends on where you live. I had a hospital birth and was feeling pressure before I left to have DD named (I had I just hadn't given them the paperwork yet). In order to get SS#, insurance, anything they have to have a name.
Babytoes - Oh gosh do I understand. This baby has made me all kinds of emotional. I was freaking out way early because I insisted we had to have a name by the U/S. We did and then wound up changing it. Now I'm in love with and excited for a boy! You are very right on the Arya thing. It is a bit of a target crowd - I think a lot of it will depend on the popularity in your area but I wouldn't knock it off the list personally. My DD's name is Phoebe and it drives me up the wall when people ask if she was named after the character from Friend's or Charmed. (She was named for my grandmother although I do love Charmed!)
Spughy, glad I'm not the only one wondering if I'm weird for not freaking out about a name. A girlfriend had to apply for an extention after a month as she hadn't decided a name for her child. I would like to think I'd think of a name within a month, but I guess you never know.
DP and I haven't even seriously discussed any names. But we may be slightly avoiding the issue as the last name is still up for grabs... .... ... Neither one of us is quite prepared to open that can of worms yet - especially with my sun-shiny personality of late...
Spughy and Scruffy I honestly don't know how you do it! Although I wish I wasn't being such a nut! Poor DP, at least half of my texting to him has to do with names, I don't think he's all that settled on a name either so we may be good company for each other... On the other hand I do not, for a second, think you guys are weird, its the one thing that's not weighing on you and you should feel blessed about that, it's tons better than being a psycho about it. 
I told DP about the top 5 from here... So far it looks like this--
Emeline - 5
Luciana - 4
Noella - 3
Liliana - 2
Aria - 1
DP says he likes all of these, so as things stand right now, I think we're going to hang on to this list... We have always said that we would really need to see her to make a final decision. But breaking the list down to 5 is a huge accomplishment! Thanks so much for all your input ladies and if anyone else wants to add to the numbers please do!
Oh, yeah I guess if there are bureaucratic reasons you need a name right away... that would explain some of the more interesting names that show up on that Bad Baby Names site (which I still read when I need giggles). Although the best one I've heard wasn't from there, it was from a friend of a friend who's a maternity nurse in California - a baby girl named L-a. WTF you say? It was pronounced "La dash ah". Cute.
Last night DH suggested "Greta" for a girl. I like that one.
Chapsie: We had Noella on our list, too. :) Mostly because my son is Nathan, my daughter is Neva and my husband is pushing to keep the same initial trend going.
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