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Classic/Old fashioned - to me there are several different categories of these, according to how dated (ex. Edith vs. Zoe vs. Susan), how languagey (ex. Charlotte is French, Ophelia's Greek), and other differences in style (Margaret vs. Veronica, Alistair vs. Douglas).
I like: Edith, Victoria, Charlotte, Thomas, Charles.
Vera does not seem classic to me although I guess technically it is - it's just not of the usual "classic" origin and long use by English speakers. Ethel is classic but the datedness of it sort of overwhelms that impression.
George and Henry and Edward are too "classy" for my taste; if I were to use one I might feel a little pretentious. But they're fine names, I don't dislike them.
I like Valentina but not Clementine, Elva but not Clara, Raymond but not Theodore, Georgia but not Elizabeth, Adrian but not Hadrian, Jasper but not Jacob, Anthony but not William, Caroline but not Genevieve, Sophia but not Amelia ... it's just little taste-differences I guess, that make me prefer certain classic names over others.

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Surname names - I really dislike almost all surname names, on paper. If they're from within the person's family, they don't bother me as much. But I think they sound impersonal and slightly like someone's trying to reference their family social status (pretentious). Some I'm used to seeing as firstnames, start to seem like firstnames, and I dislike them less. Some I really just like the sound of so much, and they're so uncommon as surnames, that I like them.
I'm OK with Madison and Cole.
Hate Addison, Mason, etc.
Some I like: Clark, Woodrow, Morris, Keith, Elliot, Drake, Brandon, Merrick, Zane

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The "occupation names" are really just phonebook surname names to me and have all the same problems, often worse. Some I can think of that I don't dislike are Hunter (because it's evocative/naturey) and Marshall.

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Gender neutral names - I usually have preferences for what gender they are.
A lot of the ones you have listed are surname names, not gender neutral names.
Peyton, Avery, Bailey, Hayden, Riley, Taylor. I dislike them, except Hayden which seems firstnamey to me since it's an -ayden name.
Gender neutral names I like: Lee, Terry, Alex, Dana, Hollis, Jamie, Kelsey, Kelly, River ... I guess Lee, Hollis, Kelsey, and Kelly are surname names but I am more familiar with them as first names.
Trendier ones I like ok: Kai (prefer for boys), Skylar, Quinn (prefer for girls), Reese / Rhys

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Flower names - like some, dislike some.
I like Iris, Violet, Rose, Jasmine, Heather.
Azalea, Ivy, Zinnia are okay.
Don't like Lily, Poppy, Daisy - they seem weak.
I like a lot of nature-word names like Forest, River, Laurel, Raven, Summer

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Variant spellings - generally I don't like variant spellings.
Some I do like: Mellisant, Madlen, Evette, Karin, Karissa, Cristina

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-Lynn names like the ones you've listed seem a little tacky to me. I like Carolyn and Marilyn.

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-aden names - I sort of like Aidan (not Aiden), Caden (not Cayden), and Hayden & Jayden are OK.

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I like a bunch of trendy names that don't fit any of these categories - Kaia, Skye, Rowan m, Mia, Gemma, Sienna, Sierra, Isla - and some names that used to be trendy and are now sort of dated, like Audra, Darcy f, Kendra, Jody f, Drew m, Meryl, Alyssa.
I like a bunch of names that are classic-ish but not quite typical "Classic Names" ... Damon, Cyrus, Amy, Carol

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- mirfak

This message was edited 6/29/2015, 2:28 PM