Effie or Ezra ?

[ClementineAndCordelia]

Hi everyone - this is my first ever Mumsnet post , so please go easy . DC 2 is due in a couple of months and we're down to two names for a DD . I realise Ezra is usually a boys name, but we live very rurally and there aren't any boys with this name in the area . We LOVE it for a girl . Have also always loved Effie . Middle name will be Clementine .
Which- if you had to choose- do you prefer ? Thanks

[EmpressOfJurisfiction]

Welcome to MN.

I think Ezra would be awkward - even if you live very rurally, she might well move when she's older.

Effie is pretty but it's also similar to effing. Maybe you could make it short for something? Elizabeth?

[stiffstink]

Effie is a great name in Dreamgirls but in my accent is too sweary.

The only names similar that I can think of without googling are Elfreda and Ephraimia (sp?)

[VegasIsBest]

Ezra is a boys name. Your daughter may grow up, go to university, travel the world. Why give her a name which will be confusing everywhere she goes.

[Methe]

What about Euphemia nn Effie

As Pp have said Ezra is a boys name and Effie is a nickname.

[NancyDroop]

How about Etta? Similar to Ezra, but less awkward maybe? Otherwise Effie.

[ClementineAndCordelia]

Thanks for your responses so far , much appreciated . We really don't see a problem with ezra for a girl as we've never met an Ezra , but it seems a problem on many name threads , so I would consider spelling it Esra . Does that make it more acceptable ? Same pronunciation but not the boys name as we know it ?
Re Effie , have just always loved Effie as it is . We could use a more traditional longer name but we would never use that in public , so not sure if there'd be any point just for the sake of it .
I've spent months looking at responses for both names and I know the issues people tend to have with both names separately , but still we love them. It's just a case of which to go for rather than 'should we ?' . Interested to know if Esra is winning you over any more ?! thanks !

[nauticant]

I would consider spelling it Esra . Does that make it more acceptable ?

Giving a girl a boy's name will probably cause difficulties. I can't see how giving her a mis-spelt boy's name will improve matters.

[lancaster]

I have an Effie. Fab name.

[JassyRadlett]

I think the trouble with Ezra isn't simply that it's a boy's name, it's a book in the Old Testament, and will always be associated with the male prophet by a fair whack of the population.

Because of the way we studied it at school, I mentally add 'and Nehemiah' whenever I hear 'Ezra'.

[5446]

Esra is quite a popular Turkish girl's name.

I went to school with one, never had any problems with spelling, associated with the boy's name etc.

[ClementineAndCordelia]

Apparently Esra is a common girls name in Turkey (?) I think , so it is a name in its own right ( so a previous thread said ) .
Lots of girls are called , for example, Morgan ,Brogan , Cameron etc - i'm not sure why it would matter for Esra to sound like Ezra , but it seems like that's just me !

[Theas18]

If you really want to use Ezra I expect the world will cope but she might go through phases of hating it.

It's not properly gender neutral like Alex Sam or Jordan. It's more like a female Jamie - a bit odd but you get used to it. Some names have swapped gender through history like Shirley,which used to be a mans name.

[Laquila]

I think Esra is very pretty for a girl. If probably instinctively pronounce it as Ess-ra though, rather than Ez-ra.

[ClementineAndCordelia]

Ah yes thanks 5446 , I knew I hadn't imagined seeing that ' Esra' fact before somewhere

[Sleepyhoglet]

Go with esra

[seaoflove]

Please don't call a girl Ezra. It doesn't matter that you've never met one. I've never met a boy called Jack but it's still a boy's name.

Spelling it Esra doesn't help either.

[Sleepyhoglet]

Or esmeralda shortened to Ezzie

[Ludways]

I like Effie but Ezra is a boys name.

[ClementineAndCordelia]

Other names I've also liked in the past have been Alba and Iara ( with an 'i' . I have a thing about four letters/ two syllables I think ?!( our surname is one syllable )

[atticusclaw]

Ezra is a boys name and would be weird. Effie is lovely.

[TaperJeanGirl]

I have an Effie, I love it, it isn't short for anything
I also have a girl with a boys name, in fact same type of name as Ezra, she's still a baby but I've not had any negative comments, it's her name so in her case it's a girls name

[ZenNudist]

Neither. Both Esra and Effie are awful. I would seriously rethink.

Suggestions below (some not my taste but proper names):

Emma
Etta
Elsa (good name, despite the frozen connection)
Elsie
Esme
Ella
Eleanor nn Ellie
Various names which Effie could be a nickname

[AnnieHoo]

Effie is lovely, to me it sounds soft and feminine.

I absolutely love Clementine.

I also automatically think of "Ezra and Nehemiah" as in books of the bible from learning at school but that's not an issue if you like the name.

[reuset]

Esra is better and at least is a proper name. Effie sounds fluffy and insubstantial, and short for something...which it is.

[Penguinotterfoxbadger]

Esra is gorgeous, unusual and a "proper" girl's name". Sounds pretty perfect to me.

Effie is cute too, but I think Esra has more gravitas.