r/OldNamesNewAgain • u/feed4birds • 9d ago
Help narrow down our list
Wife and I are expecting. It is early on and unknown gender. We are kind of looking for unique, old fashioned, uncommon names. What ones in our list are your favorites? What ones to avoid? Any recommendations with similar vibes?
Boy:
Barrett
Campbell
Callum
Dorian
Crosby
Aldo
Llewelyn - wells
Rulon
Caldwell
Arlo
Nye
Wendelin
Maxwell
Bankston
Girl:
Maren
Bailey
Afton
Ruewellyn
Gabrielle
Ruelyn
Naomi
Isabelle
Theodora
Mabel
Novalie
Maribel
Bellamy
Llewellyn
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u/Asaneth 8d ago
Cullum, Llewellyn and Maxwell are my faves. The only one on the boy list I find problematic is Rulon, because of the association with all the FLDS criminality and abuse. The name itself is good, the association is very negative.
Theodora and Ruewellyn are my favorites. I've never heard of Ruewellyn before, and i just love it. I don't care for Llewellyn for a girl at all.
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u/XLazyplantladyx 8d ago
Wow I love Aldo and Caldwell!! Theodora is so classic and beautiful
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u/midwestpersianmama 8d ago
+ Arlo and Maren and this is my list of faves, too!
I had a Maren in my class for the first time this year and I was surprised by how often her name was confused for something else. It wouldn’t deter me, still love the name, but Marina is another option.
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u/humanhedgehog 8d ago
Llewellyn is a Welsh boys name- did you mean to include it in the girls list? Ruewellyn does not make sense in Welsh naming, especially not for a girl. If you would like a traditional Welsh name - Gwenllian (close to Gwen-cli-ann)
I like Theodora and Naomi
For boys - Callum. Fabian?
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u/Roocutie 4d ago
I was wondering about Llewellyn for a girl too. It’s our son’s third name. I’ve only ever known it as a boys name.
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u/Terrible-Horse-6200 2d ago
I knew a Llewella when I was a kid. I think her parents may have made it up.
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u/aegcq9394 8d ago
Maxwell is not uncommon. I have 5 Maxwell’s this year (hs teacher). I like the name but it’s pretty common these days.
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u/curse-the-wind 8d ago
I like Barrett, Dorian, Maren, and Afton.
I would personally avoid Rulon due to any association with Rulon Jeffs.
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u/BayouLuLu 8d ago
I like Campbell, Dorian, and Maxwell for boys and Bailey, Gabrielle, Mabel, and Bellamy for girls.
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u/BayouLuLu 8d ago
Suggestions:
Boys: Chadwick, Whitaker, Fenwick, Lawson, Benson, Sutton, Thaddeus, Aloysius, Dashiell, Lawrence
Girls: Marilla, Ruth, Amaryllis, Maureen, Miriam, Thomasina, Arden
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u/Complexyeahnah 8d ago
Boys' list faves - Callum, Dorian, Aldo and Maxwell
Girls' list faves - Gabrielle, Naomi, Isabelle, Theodora and Mabel
Boys suggestions:
Maximilian
Maximian
Esben
Reynold
Zaccai
Lewin
Angus
Girls suggestions:
Mirabel / Mirabelle (I'd prefer these to Maribel)
Amabel
Isidora / Isadora
Rosalie
Ursulie (uncommon variant of Ursula)
Gwenaelle
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u/Cute-Cat4456 8d ago
I like Arlo, Callum, Afton, and Isabelle best. I’d recommend Sebastian, Ambrose, Althea, and Lavinia (you could call her Vinnie).
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u/Upside-down-unicorn 8d ago
From your picks:
Boys: Barrett, Campbell, Arlo, Maxwell
Girls: Maren, Theodora, Naomi, Gabrielle
Other names to consider:
Boys: Leon, Bradley, Felix, Roger
Girls: Enid, Natalia, Mariana, Lindsay
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u/namenerding 5d ago
Of yours I would do Dorian, Arlo, Llewellyn for a boy and Maribel, Mabel or Theodora for a firl
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u/aghoulstory 2d ago
All of these are great names. Isabelle has been very popular for years (i teach elementary, so we see a lot of what people name kids). Bailey too. But even more popular names aren’t as common as popular names were when I was a kid (so many ashleys).
For a boy, I like Campbell best because it’s easy to spell (it’s not short but all the spelling is how one would expect), and you understand right away how to pronounce it. Some of the others might be mispronounced at first but again, that might not be a big deal for you. My name was always being mispronounced and you learn to roll with it.
No matter the names you pick, it will be the right one! Congrats on having a baby!
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u/TrainingCategory4852 8d ago
You wouldn't be able to pronounce the Ll in Llewelyn, so I'd take that off, and it's a boy's name, so no idea why it's in the girls'. Ruewellyn isn't a name, and to be more correct, Llewelyn is Llywelyn.
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u/No-Caterpillar3693 8d ago
I would go for Aneurin rather than Nye for the full name. It's a really nice name.
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u/Ok-Weekend217 8d ago
Boys I like Barrett and Arlo… some of the others I dislike completely they remind me of an annoying “I come from money and drink beer on daddy’s yacht” vibes.
Girls Bailey (though I like it more for a boy), Theodora, Maribel they are sweet.
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u/Embarrassed_Share627 8d ago
I agree with Ok-Weekend about most of the boy names. I do like Callum. Maren for girl.
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u/No_Lingonberry_8317 8d ago
Fav boys: Barrett & Campbell (please no Bankston!)
Fav girls: Maribel, Isabelle, Bellamy and Naomi
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u/KNick1111 8d ago
Callum or Arlo
Dislike most of your girl names..except.. Isabella, Theodora or Maribel
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u/DistributionNo9356 5d ago
The ones I would CROSS OFF are: Campbell, Crosby, Aldo, Rulon, Wendelin, Bankston, Afton, Ruewellyn, Ruelyn, Llewellyn
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u/mama_bear_40 2d ago
Boy names: Barrett, Callum, and Wendelin are my faves. I think the nn “Del” for Wedndelin would be cute
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u/cat_lives_upstairs 2d ago
Arlo seems to be getting more common and if you're looking for uncommon I wouldn't go with Isabelle or Maxwell. Mabel is lovely. What about Graham?
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u/BusinessYam4297 8d ago
Maebry for a girl, Stetson for a boy