Thea, Ramona, sylvia, Florence, olive, Elizabeth?

[emmyloo2]

Ok, new short list for DD. Seems to be an impossible task for DH and I to agree on a name and time is ticking. I don't recall it being thing hard with my son. Requirements are not too popular, definitely not faddy, perhaps little bit quirky, but also not too try hard. We have quite an eclectic short list and I have given my thoughts on each below. Would love any opinions. DS is George and so I want it to go nicely with George.

Ramona - DH's current favorite. Probably my "brave" name in that I think it's a little more unusual and not really a "pretty" name that people will immediately like. But I like it.

Thea - I like the simplicity of this.

Sylvia - not sure about this one.

Florence - I like this but suspect in Australia it's on the way up in popularity and I know it's very popular in the UK.

Elizabeth - my safe name. Classic, lovely but unlikely to raise eyebrows. I know I could safely name my daughter and be quite happy but not quite sure it's quirky enough for me.

Olive - love this because it's short and old fashioned and I love the ok'd fashioned names. Bit too try hard though? I feel like it might be now. 5 years ago it would have been original but not sure now.

Mabel - I adore this. DH not convinced.

Your thoughts?? Thanks so much!!

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Florence.

Have you considered Sylvie rather than Sylvia? I think the former is infinitely more pretty,though I can't put my finger on why.

[twinsister]

how about Elizabeth, nn Betsy?

I love all those names. Are you me?! We have a Beatrix, which seems to fit your list too

[emmyloo2]

Thanks. I was thinking Sylvie could be a nickname for Sylvia? Twin - Beatrix is fabulous, I adore it! But it's a tough one with our surname which starts with 's' and is a big like Sistich....

What about Theodora with the nn Thea? Too OTT? Just stick with Thea?

Thanks!

[KittenOfDoom]

Ramona is the winner for me by a distance.

[emmyloo2]

Thanks kitten. Do you think it's femine enough? That is my main concern with it? That and we are not Spanish...

[bigbluebump]

I like Sylvia and Theodora the best! Florence is quite trendy and I'm not keen on Ramona.

[sydenhamhiller]

Love Olive- seems less Laura Ashley than Olivia, and have only met one little Olive after 3 children, and 4 years of childminding (lots of babies and toddler groups!)
Recently met 5 year old Mabel and Agnes- love Mabel, and she is a feisty girl too, great name.

[KittenOfDoom]

Yes, I do think it's feminine enough, and it doesn't scream Spanish too much to me, not as much as something like Dolores or Pilar.

[imonkey]

Love Thea! It's a beautiful name!

I would assume a Ramona had Spanish ancestry

[OrangeFootedScrubfowl]

I like Olive.

[janey68]

Thea is lovely.
Elizabeth- timeless classic. Beautiful
Florence- has become very popular
Ramona- A bit try-hard and as you say, not a pretty name
Not keen on olive or Sylvia

Thea would be my top

[Astley]

Romona for me.

[AndWhenYouGetThere]

Mabel is FAB - stands out by a mile for me, I love it!

[Snazzynewyear]

I have never liked Ramona before, but having read your OP I said 'Ramona Elizabeth' in my head and think they sound great as first and middle names. Elizabeth is a superb name but I get that it is not quite what you're after - making it middle name adds a classic contrast to the first.

My second choice would probably be Thea.

Don't like Olive or Sylvia, sorry. Florence is ok but popular now. Mabel I think will date quickly as being on a wave of popularity now.

[SuburbanRhonda]

Ramona (from the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) is a very cool young woman who changes her hair colour every day and that's who the name reminds me of.

Olive reminds me of that poor woman from On the Buses, but that really ages me, I know.

I love Elizabeth, but now you know I'm no spring chicken, that may not be the image you're looking for!

Sylvia is gorgeous, nearly chose that for my DD, who is a Rosemary, my fave girl's name of all time!

[OneLittleToddleTerror]

Theadora is quite in I think. I know two baby Thea. I think they are both Theadoras.

[OneLittleToddleTerror]

I mean it's not too try hard! It would be normal in the UK, not sure about Australia ofc.

[MortifiedAdams]

Most of your names are ones I would use if I had a DD2. In order, Olive, Sylvie, Florence. I also have George as my no.1 boys name, so I think you have impeccable taste

DD1 is Meg, if thats any good to you.

Im.not keen on Thea as I think it could be pronounce Fear (by t'southerners / lazyfolk) and that would bug me.

Mabels a bit too old lady for me but I wouldnt let that put you off.

I really like Elizabeth, and its having a bit of a revival atm. Makes a good MN too.

[exoticfruits]

Elizabeth is lovely.
Mabel is 'old lady'
Florence is nice.
Don't like the rest.

[thermalsinapril]

Florence is lovely, Sylvia is very pretty (and less faddy than Sylvie).

Elizabeth is a safe classic if a little dull. Don't particularly like Liz/Lizzie but Beth is quite nice (or how about Bethany with Beth for short?)

Ramona is OK but the ending does sound like "moaner" - how about Rowena?

Thea OK as nickname for Dorothea or Theodora, although personally I prefer Dora as nickname.

Have to agree with your reservations about Olive. I prefer Olivia, though it's very popular ATM if that bothers you?

Not keen on Mabel but how about Maisie, Maya, or just May? Or Annabel if you like "bel" names?

[sandberry]

For me Ramona is a clear winner, nice, easy to say and spell, not girly girly, not that common, could become trendy but you'd be ahead of the trend

Thea is going to date and already it is slipping and on the decline

Sylvia is nice enough, a bit too close to current trendy Sylvie but okay

Florence is the original old lady chic, trendy 10 years ago, now dated already

Elizabeth is safe but would be my second choice, lots of short forms, traditional, people can say and spell it. Multicultural and would be better than Ramona for that, you see it in all age groups and races.

Olive I just don't like but it is old lady chic and has not really got that popular so could be usable

Mabel was original old lady chic with Florence but only had a burst of slight popularity then faded so hasn't dated. I really like Mabel but I just think Ramona is more of a kick ass name. Mabel is a bit wimpy girl.

[whyno]

Sylvia or Thea

[ZZZenagain]

Quite like Florence. If you shortened it, what would you shorten it to though?

[invicta]

If you like Ramona, how about Rowena?