Ok so our final list stands:

Leo James
Jude Alexander
Declan James

Madeleine Lucy
Phoebe Clare
Lila Elizabeth

My only problem occurs when it comes to nicknames! My favourite of our names is Jude But will he get Judy? Prude Jude? Nude Jude? Lewd Jude? - Im not at all concerned about Hey Jude (I actually like that song). I really LOVE this name - I think it is the one, but I cant help but think about the teasing. What do you think?

Also, will Declan get the nn Dec(k)? What other possible nn's are there?

(There isn't a problem with Leo - unless any one can think of any?)

Madeleine - This is the forerunner - but I dislike the nn Maddy for some reason. Is it inevitable (sp?).

Phoebe - freaky Phoebe? Freebie?

Lila - Lie much?

Please make me feel better
Am I reading too much into it?
Just looking for opinions, experience, anything.
Thanks heaps in advance!

Like I said before, I have a nephew called Declan, and he gets Dekky.
I really dont think you need to be so worried, they are all great names, and if you love them go for it!!

I know you have to think about all nn options, but you can be damn sure, kids will find a nn you haven't thought of.

I absolutely love Declan James and Madeleine Lucy from your list.

Now nicknames...
Jude- I really like Jude but wouldn't use it as a first name as I don't like the idea of him getting Judy or Nude Jude etc as you have said. How about using it as a middle name and having Declan Jude? I love it.

Declan- I love the nickname Dec or Deccie for when his really young. You could also use Dexter/Decstar? I think it sounds really cute/cool.

Leo- I can't think of any bad nicknames either.

Madeleine-I love the nickname Maddy so I'm no help there. I think it's pretty automatic that she's going to get called Maddy at some stage in her life. I can't really think of any other nicknames for Madeleine other than just M. If you don't like Maddy maybe just use it as a middle name? Phoebe Madeleine and Lucy Madeleine are both beautiful names.

Phoebe-I've never known a Phoebe who got called Freebie or Freaky Phoebe by anyone. Kids can put freaky in front of any name if they're that way inclined. I like the nicknames Fee/Phee/Fi and Phebes though.

Lila- I'm not very familiar with this name as I've never know anyone called it.

Every name is going to have a NN if you really sit down and think about it.

But remember, if you start the NN first, like calling madeline Mad, then others will follow, or simply say, we rather ????? whatever...

We have a Jaxon (9), and he has never been called Jack, only Jacko, which is fine because we don't like Jack,

And Chandler(10) has Never been called Chan, or anything else.

Hunter (2) never been called anything other than Hunter

But if they get a nickname, so be it. Its a fact of life.

.

I love Jude and I wouldnt worry bout the teasing nn's.

Declan could be shortened to Dex or Decs. I like that.

I do think Madeleine will get Maddy. I acctually like Maddy better than Madeleine.

I never thought of nicknames when i named DS Declan, He usually gets called Dec, Deccy, or just plain D.

Its not often people call him something like that though, he mainly just gets called Declan, by most people. I find IM the one calling him something else most of the time.

Oh and i call him Ducky

Our Phoebe gets called Phoebe, Pheeb, Pheebs or Pheebles

unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about what they will get called at school..

We werent going to call our DS Aiden for fear of him being called Aids (which we would HATE!!) but then decided, well, with any name there is sure to be something that he is called that isnt very nice...

What we did though was for a nickname we call him AJ and just hope it takes when he gets to school...

This would work for you with D(eclan) J(ames) but wouldnt with the others, but I was also thinking, especially with JUDE, that you are reading too much into it and dont think anyone would really play around with it too much...

I agree.

Our Phoebe gets Phoebs and Phoeb.
Madeline - you could call her Del?

I loved them too!!! Got a few in a box somewhere

Totally agree i wouldn't worry about .
The names i like best are
Lila Elizabeth
Declan James

As a PP has already said, and we've discovered after naming 4 children, other kids in the school playground (not to mention their own siblings and cousins) will make nns from whatever you call them. We just tried to make sure that we didn't use names starting with vowels as middle names - harder to make 3letter words if there's not a middle vowel.

oh i forgot to mention that my good friends daughters naem is Madeline. She gets called Maddy/Maddie

Just wanted to add that, if you have a boy, he's more than likely going to get a nn based of your surname if his friends can come up with anything

I would not worry about the nickname thing. If you like Jude, use it. There are heaps of unisex names around nowadays.

The name we chose for dd has a word in it she could get teased about, and initially I worried about this. But then I thought if this is the worst name they can call her, I will not care. I think I would much rather her be teased about her name rather than her weight or appearance! Put the energy into raising your child to treat others with respect and to not tease rather than worrying about other chidren might call him or her.

I know only one Jude- he's 6 and lives down the street. No nicknames, but his mum is partial to calling him the Prince of Darkness...

Great name IMHO!

I have a Madeline and she does gt called Maddie..So I'm no help there...

I also know a Jude who is 18 (i think) and his nn is Dudes..It does really suit him...

I also know a Declan and he has always been caled Delcan he has got any nn that I know of...

Thank you everyone for the opinions, I do feel a little better

Any other opinions are most welcome

The recent thread on Judah got me thinking.

What do you like better?
Judah Alexander nn Jude
Judas Alexander nn Jude
Jude Alexander - I still think this is def my fav

I would like some more opinions, please

TIA

Jude Alexander is lovely. I prefer Alexander Jude but I think Alexander was a family name for you was it not?

Yep! DH's name, so it is def out as a first name!

I know a Madeleine who gets, "Lainey" as a nn.

In terms of a nick name, I agree you can't control it too well when they get to school but before they do you can.

We called our DS Harrison James and thought that he would eventually be called Harry. But in the last 3 years he has never been called Harry by me and if someone else calls him that I remind them that it is Harrrison. I really love the name Harrison and don't like Harry.

We have given him the nn Hay-jay at times though!