Baby Name Poll Results

Some suggestions! Btw: I really don't think Arthur will be shortened to Art unless you introduce him as that!

Rosemary nn Rose / Rosie / Rosa / Mary
Rosalie nn Rose / Rosie / Rosa
Dorothy
Virginia
Evelyn
Alice
Florence
Lillian (nn Lily?)
Josephine nn Josie / Effie / Fifi
Lucille (nn Lucy?)
Eliza
Eloise
Clara
Elsie
Violet / Viola
Genevieve
Opal
Cora
Adeline / Adelaide (nn Ada?)
Flora
Caroline
Thea
Ruby
Naomi
Margot
Matilda
Freya
Maeve / May

Felix
Jasper
Ralph
George
Theodore nn Theo
Vincent
Murray
Jesse
Oscar
Isaac
Zachary
Alexander (nn Xander?)
Nicholas (nn Cole?)

Maybe a traditional name with a quirkier nickname e.g Josephine nn Effie, Alexander nn Xander is the way to go? Let me know if you both like any!!

I agree with the previous poster that a traditional name with quirky middle name could definitely be a good compromise. Also many of those older names are actually quite unique now as they aren't heard often anymore. I also agree that Art is unlikely unless you choose to use it. I also think Susannah is a good compromise and she may love her dad singing the song to her. It would be "her song" and she would likely love it! I would keep trying on a compromise. If you like Arthur and Susannah I'm sure there are others as well - just keep digging. Even the other way could work too with a frilly name and traditional nickname like:

Mariana or Mariah or Marjorie - nn Mary
Janina, Janessa, January - Jane
Jeannine - Jean
Genevieve - Eve, Gen/Jen
Harrison - Henry

You are doing exactly what you need to do. Keep looking for names that can straddle both styles. Nicknames can help a lot. Susannah, nn Sunny? Mary, nn Mimi? Katharine, nn Kat / Keats? Michael, nn Miles / Milo? Gregory, nn Rory?

Also look in your family trees for inspiration. Sometimes that connection to generations past can overcome usual naming tendencies. It isn't easy, but worth all the trouble you're going through. Good luck! :0)

I love Adelaide, Eliza, and Freya. I think Eliza might not be too "weird" for him so I will think on that and suggest it. I also really love Jasper, although I don't want to use anything that is too popular and I am not sure where that one lands. If he actually likes it, I might just agree anyway! 😅 Thank you for the ideas!

I think Susannah is a great option and honoring is a plus. Besides, when your newborn is crying, don't you think it would be great to sing "Oh, Susannah, oh don't you cry for me?" :) I think it's a great compromise name. There must be others that you could both like. I'm sure there are other frilly old-fashioned names. (Personally, I love Susannah, Amaia, and Elowen and hate Ruth and Willa.)

I've only known one Arthur who's gone by Art and that was ages ago, so I don't think Art would be automatic at all.
Good luck!

I guess I would react positively to him singing"Oh Susannah". It's cool as a kid to have someone sing you a song with your name in it.

I missed the next 2 comments when I was responding. I totally agree with the guest who said a little girl might love her dad singing Oh Susannah to her. I was thinking I might keep working on him about that name because a lot of things about it are perfect, and although he might think the song is funny right now, he does love to sing little ditties all the time. It would be right up his alley to have a song for his little girl.

I also totally agree, and have told him, that no one is going to call a little boy Art unless they are told that is his name. They will not shorten his name to that unless we or he asks for that.

FredaCat, I have never heard Keats for Katherine, but that is really cute! Now if you have any creative nicknames for a Walter, that could be really helpful because he loves that name and I think it is so outdated, but there is a family connection.

I meant to ask up front, but I am curious if others have faced this issue and do you both actually like the name you eventually used or was it more of a compromise and you were both OK with it but don't love it?

I love the name Walter you could use the nn Walt as in (Walt Disney) or Wally as in (Wally Cleaver) or extra cleverly the nn (Walnut) which I think is just the cutest. My favorite combo with Walter is
Walter Thomas.
I also know a Sarah Susannah. Her dad used to say to her "Sarah Susannah with a nose like a banana" BTW she hated when he said that to her. She complained about it all the time.
Me and my husband don't agree on every name either, so I feel you on that. I have tried to use some names in real life on our dog and I think he's coming around. Just hearing the name in real life, putting a face to it, making it come alive, puts a different spin on it imo.

Singing "Oh Susannah" could become bonding moments between your hubby and his little girl!

Oh, yay. Thanks for all the responses, poll Mom. Much more fun for us.

I have to admit that I stole the idea of Keats as a nn for Katharine / Kathryn from a regular at another site, behindthename.com. It's so kicky I instantly fell in love with it. She may like reading his poetry too, or at least give it a try. The name opinions board over at behindthename com can come up with more ideas for you generally.

As for Walter I really love the nn Walt since it brings up such fun old school Disney vibes. Wally ins't a personal favorite. It sounds kind of dopey, but maybe that makes it adorable too. The only other nn I'm aware of is medieval: Wat ("waht"). It's where we get the surname Watson from. Wat Tyler led the famous Peasants' Revolt in 1300s England. [It didn't end well for him though. :0( ]

Thank you so much for the feedback, I'm glad you like the names suggested!

Eliza could be a nickname for Elizabeth

If he's not sold on Eliza, how about Elizabeth nn Eliza!

Most men are a pain in the you know what and they'll never fully agree to anything you like and make fun of every name. Just wait. Picking a name will be the easier part

Gy, I was afraid of thst. 🤣

I actually kind of like Wat (or Watt). Walnut is cute too, but more for a silly nn and not one he would probably seriously use. Ironically, I might like Walter/Walt more if it wasn't a family name, but to me it is entirely associated with old folk. 😅 It isn't unlike Arthur, though, and the medieval nature of that grew on me.

Speaking of silly nn's, I will not mention Susannah with a nose like a banana because I could totally see him picking up on that and driving a girl nuts. lol

As for Eliza/Elizabeth, that is the name I would pick if I absolutely had to use a common name. I have always loved it and it has so many nickname possibilities. I just can't bring myself to use a common name because I have one and often wished it didn't just blend in so much. Elizabeth has to be the most versatile name I know, though.

I know a baby Elizabeth whose parents are waiting for her to pick a nn - thought that was cute. There are so many beyond Ellie/Beth/Betsy/Lizzie/Eliza/Libby if you open your search!

I know a toddler Susannah who is the cutest! And 4 Suzie/Susies in their 20s/30s so don't find it dated.

You could make the same jokes about "Anna with a banana," which are also very endearing.

Having said that, please don't ignore Dad in the name game - my OH and I have very different styles, which means our names have been compromised, but seeing him light up in saying them is FAR better than having strong-armed my "perfect" name that he didn't like.

Disagree that people will not shorten the name unless told. Maybe when the child is young. But not in middle school. Not in high school. And definitely not in the working world. Every Arthur I have ever met has been shortened to Art or Artie at one point or another.

Not saying you can't always call a child by their full name. And in front of you people will. But at some point children become their own person and may even PREFER a short form (or at least not object when inevitably shortened), and you as a parent have to accept that whether you would have chosen the chosen form or not.

I'm not trying to be controversial - but I think the comments are leaning too heavily to ignore nicknames you may not prefer. If you strongly dislike a nickname for a name, I would look elsewhere- there are too many names out there!

I have actually never known an Arthur and only know of one in real life. That 1 does go by Arty, but he is an elderly man and seems to like the nickname because he is the one who introduces himself that way.

I have also known a few people who are adamantly alike "My name is Edward, not Ed," and people get the hint. That is certainly up to the individual, though, not his parents, true.

I have also known a few people who are like "only my mother calls me Edward, everyone else calls me Ed." I feel those mothers' disappointment, but it certainly is up to the person.

I'm the guest who suggested the nn Walnut. Thank you for your pleasant feedback! It was so nice of you and I enjoyed reading your response.

I have heard of Arty, Ari, and Thor as nicknames for Arthur (Ari being my favourite) if that helps. Love Arthur!