Seren, Sylvia, Mathilda, Eleanor? Long list must be shortened!

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

Baby is due in 6 weeks and we're flying out on holiday 6 weeks later so need to be ready to apply for a passport quite quickly.

Not sure what we're having yet. We already have a daughter called Iris, which I love, but I just don't feel as attached to any of the girls names we have listed this time.

My favourites are the 4 above but not keen on Ellie, tillie, Millie nicknames. I like something classic but strong. Also considering:

Audrey
Beatrice
Bronwen
Thea

Any thoughts? Any great names that fit our style I've somehow missed? We're in London do no explosion of serens here yet but I've seen people saying it's over used/ chavvy in Wales.

Please help!

[Pippafisher]

I have an Eleanor, so love that name, but seren is beautiful too. Primary school teacher and I've only ever met one!

[MargieBargie]

I love Seren and Sylvia, and also Audrey and Beatrice.

Other ideas - Margot, Ray, Erica, Briony

[MargieBargie]

Or Aubrey?

[EllenTheEgret]

Sylvia and Thea are both lovely, as is Eleanor but I get what you're saying - she may well become an Ellie.

Personally I think Seren is a bit "trendy" unless you actually have a Welsh connection. It is a nice name though.

How about
Althea
Or
Alethea ?

I think Althea means healing herb or such such so kind of goes with your daughter's name but not too much?

[pinkchampagne1]

I like Thea but was put off a bit after someone pointed out that it would become 'Fear' to children (and some adults) that can't pronounce the 'th' sound.

Eleanor, Seren and Beatrice are my favourites of your list

[CadenceRoastingByAnOpenFire]

I've got an Elinor and she's never been called Ellie. So don't worry about that. Elinor is her name. Ellie is a name on its own these days and there are so many of them about so in my experience people don't tend to shorten it to Ellie. Also have a friend Eleanor who had never been Ellie.

[RockUnit]

I like Beatrice, Sylvia, Eleanor and Seren.

[Sophronia]

I like Sylvia, Beatrice and Bronwen

[Mclaren37]

I love Sylvia / Sylvie! Also Matilda, Thea and Audrey in that order. I like the idea of Seren but not the way it sounds out loud, I find it quite a weak sounding word if that makes any sense. Really not keen on Eleanor and I can't stand the nn Ellie! A nn for Matilda could be Matty or Tilda, or just stick with the full ne which is lovely.

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

Thanks for all of the enthusiasm! Not much consensus so far but im encouraged that people think we can avoid cutesy nicknames.

Seren has been the frontrunner but I'm just cautious as we don't know any here but keep reading that it's everywhere in Wales. We do have a Welsh connection as both my grandparents in my dads side were Welsh but he and I have a strained relationship so if anything it puts me off a little.

[CakeRattleandRoll]

My favourites from your list are Sylvia and Audrey (and love Iris).

Other suggestions:
Miriam
Lydia
Juliet
Mary
Josephine
Abigail
Zoe

[elor11]

Iris Eliza Flora Maisie Fern Clara

[ifigoup]

I love Seren and Bronwen from your list. Bronwen is so underused and underrated!

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

Thanks for the suggestions, some of these I really like but have already been ruled out by DH.

Interesting to see Sylvia getting a lot of love. That's DH favourite but I wobble back and forth on it.

[madimia]

Seren is really lovely. Pretty without being over the top. Love love love Mathilda, but prefer Matilda. Eleanor - a beautiful classic. All fabulous IMO!
Beatrice and Thea are both very pretty too.
Irrational hatred for Bronwen and Audrey. But the rest are gorgeous
Good luck! Lovely taste! And sorry to have not been more helpful

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

Argh you're all so nice! I'm no closer at all

[RockUnit]

I'm no closer at all

That probably means they're all good choices and you can't go wrong!

[5BlueHydrangea]

Seren, Eleanor or Beatrice. someone i know has a Beatrice but only ever calls her B. Took me ages to find out her actual name!

I really like Seren - meaning Star. Just googled it and quite a few interesting name meanings came up so maybe have a look at the meanings of the names you like best as it may help your decision.

[joyfulworld]

Love Beatrice, Audrey and Thea.

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

Hmm. Still no consensus despite all the positive feedback! Maybe rock unit is right and we should just pick one at random from our list. Any more thoughts in Seren? That's the one that I keep coming back to.

[ThomasSofty]

I know a Sylvia, such a lovely name. Would you be happy with the inevitable shortening though? 'My' Sylvia gets called Sylvie or Sylv/Silv (and even Silver) more than her full name.

[EllenTheEgret]

Seren is very pretty. I have never met one IRL (live in London and also spend time in Wales). I am always put off names that are popular on mumsnet but that is silly really..

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

No problem with sylvie as a nickname. Still sounds like a grown up for some reason while the ones I mentioned above seem girly. Not sure if that makes any sense!

[BigMacEater]

My name is Eleanor. I'm 28, and it wasn't a very cool name to grow up with during the 90's and 00s. That said, no one has EVER called me Ellie. Sometimes now as an adult my close loved ones call me Elle, but that's it.

On a separate note I do love Seren. Where I live it is a popular Turkish name for girls, I think it is very pretty.