What would you go for?

[nessmay]

I'm determined not to tell family or friends what we've chosen, so relying on you lovely people for an opinion. We are having the middle name Maria (after my auntie) and our surname is similar to Hanson. I'd also like a first name that isn't too popular but not too unusual. So, the list is:

Connie
Esme
Beatrix
Nell
Emmeline
Isla
Nyla
Renee (pronounced in the french way)
Erin

At the moment Connie is my favourite (but that could change in about 30 seconds).

[mathanxiety]

Connie -- I love Constance and Constanza but really dislike Connie
Esme -- Like a lot
Beatrix -- Love, also love Beatrice
Nell -- Love, also love Nellie
Emmeline -- Love
Isla -- Like a lot
Nyla -- Love
Renee -- Maybe my favourite here
Erin -- bleugh

I love Renee, Beatrix, Emmeline, Nyla and Nell (would it be short for Elinor/Eleanor?) in that order.

[ozmetric]

Connie - yes if short for Constance
Esme - don't like
Beatrix - can't get away from "Potter". Beatrice much nicer
Nell - only if short for something
Emmeline - like this best of your list
Isla - too "Generation Game"
Nyla - don't like
Renee (pronounced in the french way) - unusual and pretty, quite like
Erin - OK

[MrsJohnDeere]

Like Connie. Beatrix is OK (Beatrice much nicer).

Not keen on the others.

[Prinpo]

Connie - sweet
Esme - love
Beatrix - agree that Beatrice is nicer
Nell - love, I know 2 and it's great on them
Emmeline - not heard this before but love it and putting on my own shortlist (so thanks for that!)
Isla - don't like
Nyla - don't like (sounds a bit made up)
Renee - I just think Renee and Renato (showing my age there)
Erin - like but a bit overused

Of them all, Esme and Emmeline are my favourites.

Christ, just remembered Emmeline Pankhurst. How could I not have thought of that? Great legacy for a name too - I'd go with that one.

[ReneRusso]

I like Isla and Connie (but prefer Constance, with Connie as nn)

[Haliborange]

Connie - not my cup of tea but not offensive
Esme - I have just spent the day in the park listening to parents screeching "Esmay!" at the most unruly collection of little girls known to man. I would avoid.
Beatrix - prefer Beatrice tbh. The X makes me think of dominatrix.
Nell - I like.
Emmeline - very good. Poss my favourite of this lot. and can shorten to Emme, which I think is sweet.
Isla - nice, but makes people's last names sound like a holiday destination. "Isla Wight? Take the 2 o'clock ferry". Very popular too- I know 4 under 6 months!
Nyla - I like this. It will work for any age and is unusual too.
Renee (pronounced in the french way), nice, but what's the French way?
Erin - Nice too.

[said]

I know a Nyla and it was definitely made up by her parents.

[compo]

Connie Maria would remind me of the Connie woman who won the Maria show

I like Isla, Esme is pretty popular round our way, not keen on the others except Nell

[compo]

jeez four Isla's under 6 months? blimey I take that back, isla is too popular

[compo]

Nyla reminds me of the mummy lion in the Lion King

[nessmay]

Haliborange: I worry with Renee that people would pronounce it like re-knee (especially as I'm from the north)

said: Nyla is in my baby names book so it must be becoming more popular, wherever it comes from.

[Haliborange]

Ah yes, can see Reknee doesn't have quite the same ring.
I think you should choose Emmeline or Constance. I know a chap called Constant which I think is lovely which may be why I now like Constance too...

[mathanxiety]

I know a few African American Nyla's. Apparently it has Greek origins (means Winner?)

[whywhywhydelilah]

I really like them all but Renee is my favourite.

[CelticStarlight]

Nyla is the name of Halle Berry's daughter.

I like Emmeline the best out of your list OP, I've always wondered why Emmeline isn't more popular, it's a very pretty name with great connotations. I also like Erin, Esme, Beatrix and Connie (but only if short for Constance). I think Esme is becoming very popular though.

[SirBoobAlot]

Emmeline and Beatrix are my favourite out of your list. Like all of them except Nell, all I can think of is "Nellie the elephant packed her trunk and trundled back to the circus..."

[BitOfFun]

Hehe, SirBoobAlot- that is my name, or at least ny nn. I am biaised- pick that!

[nooka]

I like Constance, Beatrice and Eleanor (but not Connie, Beatrix or Nell) all of which sound good with Maria. Emmeline should be really good, but somehow isn't (is there a Hot Chocolate song about an Emmeline? I'm getting a somewhat horse Emma, Emma, Emmeline in my head).

[SirBoobAlot]

Oh God BOF I'm sorry

[henry37]

Connie and Isla my favs i know two Connies under one but no Islas.

[birdofthenorth]

Love Emmeline with Emme as a nn. Like Esme, Isla and Renee too. Nice list.

[Ineedsomesleep]

Connie - love
Esme - like
Beatrix - love but always think of Heather Mills - prefer full names to shortened ones.
Nell - ok
Emmeline - got one!
Isla - too popular for me.
Nyla - ok
Renee (pronounced in the french way) - not sure
Erin - don't really like.

[JosephineClaire]

I love Beatrix, Nell, Emmeline and Erin

[nessmay]

Ooh this is very helpful. I'm going to rule out Esme because it seems to be getting quite popular. Will suggest Beatrice instead of Beatrix (also just thought the latter may turn into Trixie which I don't like). Not sure about using Constance as it would be a real mouthful with our surname, but my OH isn't 100% on the name anyway. I'll push for Emmeline a bit more - at the end of the day I've told him I'm having the final say on it considering some of the suggestions he's come up with (it's not the 80's any more dear)

[Ineedsomesleep]

We love Emmeline too, its our DD's name Do be prepared though for almost everyone to think she is named Emily.

Its got to the point where I only bother to correct the people we will be meeting again.

Did meet a lovely Nurse yesterday though who said, "oh, like Mrs Pankhurst"