Girls names - here's the shortlist

[Shirazz]

Hello, Baby girl arriving shortly!
Here's the shortlist. Keep going full circle here for various reasons! Last name one syllable Opinions on the following greatly appreciated!

Ava
Ella (worried about no "formal" option?)
Isabella (Bella or Ella for short)
Claudia
Grace (almost certainly will be a 2nd name)
Georgia
Lara
Alexandra
Nina

[janeite]

Claudia or Isabella.

[RustyBear]

I have a one-syllable surname and really liked Isabella, but DH wasn't keen.

I also like Claudia and Georgia.

[coffeefestival]

Ava - quite like, or how about Avelie or Evelina?
Ella - like as a nickname for something, such as Annabella, Ariella, Carmella, Estella, Gabriella or Louella.
Isabella - like, with Ella as nickname (not so keen on Bella).
Claudia - dislike
Grace - like
Georgia - quite like, although prefer Georgina
Lara - like if short for Larissa
Alexandra - like, also like Alexandria
Nina - like

[Ineedsomesleep]

We also have a one syllable last name and ended up giving DD a three syllable last name.

Ava - too popular for my taste.
Ella - like but see Ava.
Isabella - alwyas liked but see above
Claudia - love.
Grace - it is popular but I do like it. However, will it go with your last name?
Georgia - How about Georgette?
Lara - Croft?
Alexandra - like and I too like Alexandria
Nina - and the Neurons.

[MercyMe]

I love Ava, but I'm biased as it's my dd's name - isn't popular at all where I live!!

I also really like Georgia especially using Georgie as a nn.

[Ineedsomesleep]

Mercyme it is a lovely name, but very popular around here. Names are so regional aren't they?

[Haliborange]

Out of those I like Alexandra and Nina the best. Actually I really love Alexandra.

Ava, Isabella, Ella and Grace are extremely popular which may or may not bother you.

[pointydog]

Isabella, Lara, Alex(andra), Nina

[Jamieandhismagictorch]

Ava
Claudia
Alexandra

[mathanxiety]

Ava -- love but very popular
Ella -- a bit wispy and uber popular
Isabella -- too popular; it has spawned the legions of Ellas
Claudia -- a bit harsh to my ear
Grace -- nice
Georgia -- too grannyish for me
Lara -- LOVE
Alexandra -- LOVE
Nina -- LOVE

So, Lara, Nina and Alexandra, plus Ava, maybe Grace, but I like this as a mn.

[Hedwig3]

Claudia and Nina are lovely.

Prefer Clara to Lara.

[Shirazz]

Thanks everyone. Yes I think I am off Lara. I like Ella but would prefer the formal option as well so Isabella is a strong contender. I also like Claudia but dh is put off by the meaning. I'm not really bothered. Alexandra is looking strong for us too and I do like Ava. Although I like Nina a lot I always picture a dark haired little Spanish girl so since ds is very fair I have a feeling it wouldn't suit!
I think the front runners are
Isabella, Alexandra, Claudia, Ava and Georgia with Grace as a second name.
Still so unsure though. I think I have over thought them all actually and it's making me so confused!

[hollyoaks]

Isabella and Grace are my dd's names so thats what I would go for, both pretty rare around here.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

You say Ella is not the formal option but my grandmother was Ella and she was born in the last century. She was just Ella!

Ava is uber popular and I think Clara is going to be the next uber popular name

[Shirazz]

Rather - yes I know it's a name in itself - it's in the list of names from 1880! I guess it's just because a lot of people use Ella these days as a shortened version of Isabella. I think dh prefers Ella but he's also really on the fence and says he's be happy with any of the shortlist except not as keen on Nina and Georgia

Holly, what does your dd Isabells's name get shortened to? (If it does) I'm not so keen on Izzy but I know she'd get that most likely

[emmyloo2]

Lovely names!

The ones I love are:

Alexandra (this was my choice if it was a girl)
Nina
Grace (absolutely gorgeous - go first name not middle name!)
Lara (although prefer Laura)

I don't love Ella or Isabella. I don't like the nn Bella. Just a personal time. I prefer Isabelle.

Ava is nice but a little overdone in my opinion.

To be honest - all are perfectly nice and I don't think you could go wrong with any of them.

If I had to choose one I would go with Alexandra.

[Violet5]

Really like Lara (i liked Larissa with Lara for short too) and Claudia, and quite like Alexandra and Ella.
I'm in the South West and Ava, Grace and Isabella are really popular round here so although nice names i've heard them a lot.

[Ineedsomesleep]

Claudia Grace and Alexandra Grace are both lovely IMO.

[LetThereBeRock]

No to Ava.
No to Ella
Isabella is nice though I prefer Isobel.
Love Claudia.
Love Grace
Love Georgia
Lara is ok
Alexandra is nice
Nina is ok

[hollyoaks]

Shirazz - Isabella gets shortened to Belle more than anything, we've never used Izzy, Ella or Bella but that nn sort if just happened it wasn't planned iyswim. However, we do use her full name most of the time.

[Shirazz]

Belle is quite nice as a nn. Oh I'm so confused! I really just can't decide as I like all my shortlist names almost equally!