Helena, Alexandra, Natalia or Lucinda?

[imustbepatient]

Struggling to choose between these for DD2's first name.

Love longer more formal names with lots of option for shortening / nicknames so she can choose different versions at different stages of her life.

She will have two middle names (family ones) and last name starts with E.

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

I prefer the first two, but must say if my last name began with E I wouldn't choose a first name which ends in A, or it comes out like Helener Edwards/ Alexandra (R)Etheridge etc when said aloud.

[LondonNadiy]

Natalia or Helena. LOVE Helena but can't use it. Would you pronounce it HelENA or HELEN-a (my cousin is called HelENA rather than the more commonly used HELEN-a, also why I can't have it!). Adore both names though.

Lucinda is a bit 'much', and there are a LOT of Lucys around nowadays, and Alexandra is more common, its also a bit long if she's got 2 mns, she will have to learn to spell them all at school.

All gorgeous choices though, and congrats on DD2 as well.

[manicinsomniac]

Alexandra or Natalia. Both lovely. Not keen on the other two.

[NarkedRaspberry]

Really not keen on Natalia unless you have Russian/Eastern European links. The others are nice. Try saying them without the middle names as that's how she'll be known most of the time. Does the a E sound odd?

[darthsillius]

I love Alexandra and I like Natalia but only said in an eastern European accent. Helena is ok but dull and lucinda evokes a horsey posh woman in a headscarf

[AKMD]

Lucinda was my first choice for DC1 if DS had been a girl, right up until I mentioned it to my mum and she said it was a seaside donkey name This time round I mentioned Jemima and she said 'puddleduck'. I have told her that I'm not sharing any more name ideas!

[Bodice]

Alexandra without a doubt - so pretty

Natalia sounds russian or something. not a fan of trying to sound exotic.

Really dont like Lucinda agree with darth about horsey women. Although lucy is nice if she shortens it to that.

Helena - OK - but just helen with an add on.

[YodasMummy]

I think Lucinda is beautiful and underused with a lovely meaning. I also like Alexandra, I think it sounds very elegant and allie is a cute nn.

[FreelanceMama]

In Russia, Natalia is pronounced Natasha, which might be confusing?
I think Alexandra has a great set of potential nicknames - I know a Sandra, Lexie and Sandy.

[emmyloo2]

Helena or Lucinda.

Alexandra is also lovely but more popular I think.

Natalia - not unless you are Russian or Eastern European. The nn for Natalia is Natasha. It is still pronounced Natalia but a lot go by Natasha. The Russians do that with their names. Have a completely separate name as a nickname. I.e. Tatiana - nickname is Tanya.

[mnistooaddictive]

Lucinda is awful (I am a Lucy and that isn't much better).
Helena is good, Alexandra ok and Natalia is great for eastern Europeans.

[imustbepatient]

Thanks so much everyone for your comments, all really helpful!

For "Helena" we would use the pronunciation Hel-AN-a rather than Helen-a.

The "a" ending followed by "E" for our surname doesn't quite work with some "a" ending names, but oddly it does sound fine with others, probably something to do with whether there is a strong consonant as the penultimate syllable to give a good swing and rhythm (I sound like a cricketer!) into the "E" sound.

Thanks also for the tips on how Natalia would be viewed / pronounced etc.

[Ebb]

Love Alexandra.

[Dillydollydaydream]

Natalia is my favourite.

[WaitingFor12]

Alexandra definitely. I would use it if I could! Love the nickname Ali.

[Mollydoggerson]

I like Helena or Helen, kinda reminds me of Bridget Jones - not try hard and still has the potential to be fun.

[TenthMuse]

I really like Helena. It's not overly common, classic and has a good literary heritage. Alexandra also nice, but know lots, which would put me off a bit. Natalis just OK, and I dislike Lucinda - it sounds fussy, frilly and horsey to me, and I don't think the world really needs another Lucy, as nice as that name is (I'm assuming she wouldn't be Cindy...)

[TidyDancer]

Alexandra or Helena. They are the two most beautiful, although none of your list is hideous!

Really not keen on your pronounciation of Helena though, Hell-ay-ner just sounds wrong to me. Helen-er is much much nicer.

Please don't shorten Alexandra to Lexi though.

[Yama]

Alexandra for me. The others are nice but Alexandra is beautiful.

[WithACherryOnTop]

Alexandra is lovely.

Natalia is too.

I hate Helena.

Lucinda is awful.

Alexandra would be my first choice.

[baskingseals]

my favourites are Alexandra and Natalia.
My dd is Alexandra and also has 2 middle names. she is always known as Alexandra, but does have a completely different very short nickname as well.

[NightLark]

Well we chose Helena! Alexandra was second choice, but didn't like the shortenings (Alex, Lexi, Ali) and knew I would use one. Helena tends towards Hellie, but I have high hopes of Elle or Lennie for the future. I have been banned from calling her Nell or Nella or Nellie.