Please help me shorten my list!

I need some serious help in shortening my list of 'possible girl names', and would really appreciate your thoughts - positive and negative - about some of these....

Imogen - my favourite, but DH not completely sold on it. I would use the nn Immy when she's little, and think Imogen is a nice strong name for when she gets older.
Eilish (pronounced Ay-leesh) - DHs current favourite, but I have concerns about having to spell it out for people each time and correct pronunciation.
Annabelle / Annabel - this is currently growing on me, but unsure which spelling I prefer.
Amelia
Genevieve
Anneliese
Emmeline / Emeline

My preference is for a longer name as we have a one syllable (3 letters) surname.

I would also welcome any suggestions for middle names for any of these too. We started out thinking Imogen Eilish, but are concerned that this sounds a bit strange together??

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Imogen- I love this name but can't help think of that swimwear model imogen bailey that my husband had a huge crush on in the 90's so that was out... lol

Eilish - not a fan of this one.
Annabelle / Annabel - I love this too but it is quite common now, but such a beautiful name
Amelia- This is the name we have chosen for our little girl, so i am very biased. We are going with Amelia Poppy ( the poppy is very sentemental)

Genevieve - i am not a fan of this one too.

Anneliese-or this one.

Emmeline / Emeline - this name is beautiful either way you spell it.

I really LOVE Imogen. such a beautiful name if a friend hadnt of used it, i would be considering it if we were to have another girl...tell your DH that gorgeous supermodels are named Imogen LOL! (ha ha Mrs Hendo, i just read your reply....so true! but then again could be a good bargaining chip to get him to love the name LOL!)

I'm a bit biased as I have a Genevieve and she is gorgeous ;) She gets Gen or Vievie (like Evie but with a V) for short.

I like Imogen and Annabelle from your list. I'm not a fan of Eilish and I think it is a bit of a mouthful with Imogen. How about Imogen Annabelle?

Go with your favorites, Imogen is lovely but so is Eilish. You might want to explore some alternative spellings for Eilish as I have heard the same name spelt differently and it was never a problem for them.

I love your names! Most of them are on my list too! Sadly Imogen does not quite sound right with our surname, but I know a gorgeous little girl with this name whoes mum (and tiny little sis!) call her Immy and it is so cute!:lol:

I am having the same issue with Amelie as you are having with Eilish in that I am worried about having to spell and explain the pronunciation (no it is not Amelia, no it is not Emily!) so I understand your worries. A friend with a very unusual name (Amieka) has told me that as long as you are very clear when you introduce her and repeat it a couple of times in the conversation to new teachers, parents etc, you shouldn't have too much trouble. On the spelling, my name is Elizabeth (most easily recognisable spelling in the world you would think!) and I still get asked "is that with an s or is that an i or a y???? :wall:)

Annabelle is lovely (this is the sp I prefer, but only because I think it gives them more options for nice shortening - Anna or Belle/Bella)

Amelia - lovely but quite popular at the moment if that is a concern for you..

Genevieve - lovely, but can you live with Gen as a nickname? That is all that puts me off this one a little. (it came off our truly HUGE list only last week)

Anneliese - not to offend anyone who has a child called this, as I think it is a lovely name, but for some reason, everyone I have asked what they thought about it has said they think it is a bit of a bogan name (ie. possibly on the list of what to call your future lap dancer..:redface:) They have all been in the over 35 bracket who have said this, so I am wondering if it is just that aussie swimsuit/FHM model that is colouring their perceptions..

Emmeline / Emeline - the 'line' bit makes this a very strong ending name, so it very much depends if that sounds is good with your surname. Emmy is a very cute nn and it looks really nice written down.. hmmm sigh... now you've made me like it! :lol:

Good luck! I know who incredibly hard this is.:shakehead:

BTW: since we seem to have similar taste in names, have you considered:

Georgianna
Annalie (finnish version of Hannah)
Elara
Jasmine
Vivienne
Carys

I love your list. No wonder you are having trouble narrowing it down. I am a big fan of A names!

Out of your list my favs are:

Imogen
Annabelle
Amelia
Genevieve

GL deciding!! :)

I have an Anelise and I have received nothing but compliments on her name from people of all ages. I guess not everyone sees it as a 'Future lap dancer' name :rolleyes:

From your list I really love Imogen but I fear it may be a name that is getting to be way too popular, which might be okay for you though (FWIW, my DD1 has one of the 'popular' names and it has never been an issue)

I also love Amelia. I love Milly as a shortened version of this name :)

Out of your list I really like Imogen, Anneliese and Emmeline

I like the name Eilish, but I think it might work better if you changed the spelling a bit.

Some other suggestions - Evangeline, Arabella

Good luck deciding! :)

Thank you all so much for all this helpful feedback! You ladies are fabulous! Please keep them coming.

Feueriosa - We do seem to have very similar taste in names. Some of your suggestions were on my original (much longer) list.... and I just mentioned Carys to DH this very morning as a possible middle name as he loves names with a Celtic/Gaelic history (hence why he likes Eilish so much I think!)

sneakysparkle - Evangeline and Arabella are also on my original list (I was too hesitant to post the full list earlier as it is a bit long!). My concern is that Evangeline is getting too popular - though I guess that can be said for some of my other names too!

Nai - hmm, I really do like those nicknames for Genevieve also. argh... what to do, what to do?! And I like Imogen Annabelle, but I think that could be quite a mouthful???

Anyway, please keep the feedback coming... it's very helpful! And any middle name ideas would be great... particularly for Imogen which I am still favouring... i think!

My only other dilemma is that my DS has 2 middle names, so part of me thinks that my DD should also... however, I tend to like longer names for girls and it could be quite a mouthful.

Why is this so hard?!

WRT 2 middle names - DD#2 is Evangeline and she has 2 middle names ;)

I think I like Imogen Anneliese better than Imogen Annabelle

Actually I think you could have something like Imogen Eilish Rose - that works quite nicely! Either way I think the second middle name should have one syllable :) HTH!

If you like Gaelic names my DD's name is Ashlyn which is a gaelic name traditionally spelt Aisling. Could be a nice middle name ;)

Imogen is nice, I have'nt heard many of them around.. I only know 1.

We really like Amelia but it is currently pretty hot well down here anyway, it is my auntys name and we like to use family names.

Annabelle go the longer spelling it looks prettier.

Eilish its too hard unless you change the spelling you will always be spelling it and no-one will know how to pronouce it.
I think you need 2 middle names if your DS has 2. There are plenty of pretty old fashioned short names that would go with what you have choosen, and how often do you use middle names? most people don't go around calling their children the whole name.

Goodluck !!! sounds like you are doing very well by yourself.

I love the name Eilish. I once taught a lovely girl with that name and have always liked it. Unfortunately DH doesn't like it so it will never be an option for us.

I LOVE the name imogen! Its definitely on my favourites list.
The only advice that I am going to give, is to remember that at school, it is annoying when teachers mispronounce, or when people have to constantly ask how to spell your name. I reccommend Imogen or Annabel.
Goodluck with your bundle of joy!
Jenna

In order, I like:

Anneliese
Annabelle / Annabel
Amelia
Eilish (pronounced Ay-leesh)
Emmeline / Emeline
Imogen
Genevieve

My DD's 1st name is long (8 letters) and she has two middle names (one name 6 letters and the other 5 letters) ... and it all goes & sounds great together :D

I love Imogen :heartbeat: (my DD's best friend at Kinder is an Imogen and i love hearing her name being called out :dance:)

... and Imogen Anneliese sounds so pretty !!!!!!!!!!!

Imogen Ariane (my DD's 1st middle name ;))
Imogen Helena Cate
Imogen Trelise Lyla
Imogen Arabella
Imogen Terese

In order of preference -

Amelia - This is number one on my list but my DH can't stand it :cry: I love Milly as a nickname.
Imogen - I love this one. I would love to use it myself but can't due to family reasons. I hope you can use it for me!
Genevieve - This one has made it's way onto my list. I like Gen as a nickname. The only thing I don't like it the G. I'm just not a fan of G for some strange reason but Jenevieve just doesn't look right.
Eilish I think this is quite pretty & unusual. I wouldn't spell it differently. I'm not sure how else to pronounce this? That might be because I came across this name when I was quite young and heard it before I saw it written.
Annabelle / Annabel - I prefer the spelling Annabelle, but I'm not a fan but it is a pretty name. I like Arabella.
Anneliese - It is a pretty name but not one I'd pick myself. I think it would be gorgeous on a little girl.
Emmeline / Emeline - I'm not a fan but it is a pretty name. Emmy I like though.

I think Imogen Eilish sounds lovely. I would like Amelia Paige/May/Rose. Amelia Imogen Rose. Imogen Amelia Rose.
Genevieve Cate/Claire/Rachel/Elyse

You have picked such pretty names, I'm not surprised you are having trouble narrowing them down. Good Luck.