Most of my favorites have already been mentioned, but here are a few more I really like:
Isabella … (Bella)
Lindsey
Lara
Thanks for suggestions. There have been a lot of good ones that we’ve discarded for various reasons (wife hated them, relatives/close friends already named their kid the same, and for some reason I feel odd about using the same names as any serious girlfriend in the past)
Seems to be down to
Audrey - nobel strength (this was runner up to Jacqueline last time around)
Iris - rainbow, a play of colors
Yvonne - archer
None of the above make the top 100 girls (or boys) names. All different sounding, no matching initials, intitials don’t spell something nasty, no really horrid teasing nicknames, etc.
Still waiting on my parents to weigh in with a surprise choice but don’t think that will happen.
Any additional thoughts or suggestions?
Beautiful names, all, but what nicknames were you hoping to get out of them? Seems that you’ve picked names without diminutives, etc. Unless, you thought Audda, Ira, and Vonnie would do.
If you haven’t chosen one yet, how about Tamara? Mara as a nick, pronounced Tah-mara, Russian-style.
Anyway, good luck. Wish your family well.
Yeah, you point out the one thing I would prefer and that is diminutives. (Although Yvonne can easily be Eve). But it often works out that kids do get completely unrelated yet perfect nicknames so it is what it is.
I call eldest daughter Jacqueline “Cicciolina” more often than not and more rarely Jac or Jackie, so go figure.
Anyhoo, any thoughts, suggestions or strong objections to these names?
Since you asked, I really don’t like Iris. It’s a body part. Yes, it’s a flower too. Both categories that shouldn’t be sources of baby names, IMHO. Not crazy about Yvonne, either.
Audrey’s great, though.
But hey … your kids. Name 'em whatcha want 
I would look into history for famous “first” women; for example, Helen and Frances are the first names of America’s first female head-of-station (Middle East) and ambassador, respectively. Amelia and Sally for Amelia Earhart and Sally Ride, if you’re into aviation. One thing I think is important with twins is to name them for significantly different people, and tell them for whom they’re named; the rest of the world will always assume they’re two halves of the same person, but giving them dissimilar names (and telling them why) will help them each keep an identity.
Yin & Yang, of course 
More seriously, how about
- Alyssa & Danielle
- Rebecca & Michelle
- Elizabeth & Andrea
- Maude & Helen
This goes right past me, though I do get the film reference. Can you elaborate on what his location has to do with it?
Plus, that was Scarlett and Rhett.
I really like Audrey and Iris. Can’t come at Yvonne, makes me think of bleached blonde hair and leopard skin print miniskirts and stillettos. Wonder why that’s such a vivid picture? Anyway, Audrey and Iris are - IMHO - beautiful and classic and I really like them.
For the record, my favorite name is Stella.
Okay, now I’m going to suggest something that may seem silly, but I was raised the twin of a person who was always sore that her name came last when people called our names. I thought maybe it was because I was older, but to be perfectly honest, I think it has to do with pronunciation. You see, her name ends with the sound “an” and it’s much easier to say myname and hername than vice versa. It sounds trivial but we find all kinds of reasons to feel slighted because we were twins.
And Grasshopper has good comments. I never liked my own name because of the emphasis on the “s” sound. But of course you should choose what you like.
I happen to like Stella a lot but think it kinda clashes with my last name beginning with S. Also my wife doesn’t like it so much. It’s kinda interesting as we are both from different cultures and languages what names one likes that the other really doesn’t. For example, my wife’s number one choice is Veronica, which to me is absolutely something I would never name my kid. [I’ve got nothing against people named Veronica, but it just doesn’t work for me.]
I do appreciate the twin feedback. I’m already reading up and bought into the fact that twins (even/especially identical) are separate individuals. The world may not think that. So, definately different names and ways to cope. I think Iris and Audrey or Audrey and Iris fit the bill for different names, and is different again from eldest daughter Jacqueline.
Yvonne seems to be running a distant third in our household.
I had the same thing with my brother. He was a year older and his name always came first (alphabetically first as well), and it always irked my drawers. I’ve also got a first name that is not very common and widely believed to be a girls name, and even recently when a 40 year old highly educated and suave colleague saw my passport, he started making fun of my "girls’ name. so I am putting a lot of thought into the names, nicknames, teasing names, twin names, etc.
Audrey and Evelyn?
Congrats!
Audrey & Zoe?
A-Z
Audrey & Beatrice
Audrey and Anneliese?
Audrey and Katherine? (heh, someone had to say it…)
I like Sophie and Helen. Also Miranda, Melissa, and Kathleen. I really, really, like Lucinda (nickname Lucy of course), but my DH flat-out rejected it, along with all my other suggestions :mad: Not that I’m bitter, or anything…
hmmm, looks like we are back to Audrey and Serena. Any thoughts?
[Personally, I really want Penelope, but ChinaWife thinks that is the goofiest name ever. That cross cultural communication stuff - don’t question just accept]
Saw the OB last Sat and will see him again on Christmas day. He’s agreed that next week would be okay for planning a c-section. China Wife is in touch with her favorite geomancer, who should come up with a lucky day and time based on parental birthtimes, buddhist calculations, the eye of a newt, etc. I suspect the bambinas will choose their own time. Anyhoo, early next week looks like the time.
OB said don’t worry about the c-section as he has personally done over 10,000 (OB for 30 years in China - what can I say, they have a lot of babies here.
Will update if anyone is interested.
I was thinking about you ( well, the babies and your wife. Sorry, you are fourth on the list, China Guy ) and hoping all was going well.
You must post pictures when the BIG DAY is here and we get to see the little ones!
Good luck!