Eliza or Miranda?

[SleepyCatOnTheMat]

Eliza (NN Elsie) or Miranda (possible NN Marnie?)? Which goes better with Gabriel?

[bootsycollins]

How about Eliza Miranda? I love Marnie as a name in it's own right.

[nurseneedshelp]

I really like Miranda, its my best friends name!

[NadiaWadia]

But Eliza and Miranda are much nicer than Elsie and Marnie. Well, Marnie is OK. Why do you need the nicknames?

[FingersCrossedLegsNot]

Miranda with nn Marnie is very cute, in fact I would be tempted to just go with Marnie on the BC.

[SleepyCatOnTheMat]

I like the idea of a 'sensible' name on the BC (and CVs and the spines of books should she become a writer etc.!) and a cutesy NN.

[AcrylicPlexiglass]

Eliza is a lovely name. Not sure why it would need a nickname, though I don't mind Elsie.
Not very keen on Miranda but like Marnie. I agree Marnie is a name in its own right.

I think you are taking the proper name/nickname thing to new extremes!

[SleepyCatOnTheMat]

It's not unusual to have a formal name and an informal name, no?

[night1971]

Miranda is so pretty and much less common than Eliza. Probably likely to get shortened to Andy more than Marnie, if it is shortened at all.

[Wishfulmakeupping]

I prefer your nn to the real names I don't like Miranda at all reminds me if that comedy programme no

[SleepyCatOnTheMat]

Interestingly, Miranda was #1342 in the latest ONS stats, down from #894 in 2011 - a big drop! I don't like Andy as a NN for it coz of once knowing a horrible Andy. Also not keen on Mandy or, of course, Randy. Miri is ok, as is Annie.

[Vijac]

Miranda and marnie. Lovely. Eliza cute too.

[CruCru]

Miranda is the name of the girl in The Collector. I like it more than Eliza.

[Blanketsandpillows]

I really don't like Miranda at all. I like Eliza a lot. I like both nicknames too.

[antshouse]

I like Eliza nn Elsie. How about Miriam nn Miri. I can't take Miranda seriously at the mo because of the comedy show.

[Pixielady83]

I like both but Miranda is my favourite, I've been thinking of putting it on my list. I was thinking of 'Mira' as a nn prounouced 'mee-ra' but not sure if that would sound odd.

[SleepyCatOnTheMat]

I think Mira as a NN would be fine. Miriam is a name I really liked when I first read it in a book years ago but sometimes now I think it's a bit...stodgy. Hmmm...do you think Miranda's gone down in popularity coz of the TV show (which I actually really like so it's a positive association for me)?

[antshouse]

I like the show too but now associate Miranda with the character. I'm sure that won't be the case in 20 years though when your dd is filling out job applications.
I met a very dainty toddler called Miriam a few years ago and haven't met anyone else with the name since so I like the name.

[Vijac]

I think Miranda is much nicer than Miriam. Just more modern I think. Miriam must be from Mary-Ann right?

[Pixielady83]

The TV show puts me off a bit but I doubt it will run for years and years so it may not be an issue once your DD is in school. I met a lovely little Miranda at a wedding a couple of years ago.

[OrlaNuttin]

I like Miranda, and love Marnie. You could definitely use it as a name on its own.

Loathe Eliza and much prefer Elsie. Elsa is also very nice.

[antshouse]

I think its from the bible, Moses' sister.

[LaRosaBella]

Don't like Miranda? Eliza is nicer but people are more likely to call her ellie as a nickname rather rather than Elsie. I don't understand this nickname thing on here any way. I thought nicknames were what other people such as friends might shorten your name to, rather than it being another name your parents choose for you before you are born.

[SleepyCatOnTheMat]

She would have a cousin called Ellie so we couldn't use that. You may not be able to decide what their friends call your child but you can decide what you as parents are going to call them on a day-to-day basis.

Yes, Miriam is from the Old Testament. Mary is a later variant of Miriam.