shortlist of girl's names- please could I have your comments?

[penelopestrawberry]

We are trying to put together a shortlist for a baby girl. I had been v keen on Penelope but have had a couple of negative comments from family/ friends. It's still on the list but I have quite a few others on there too! We prefer something fairly unusual.

Penelope
Allegra
Vivian
Isadora
Genevieve
Francesca

Which do you all like/dislike?

[said]

Penelope -like as Penny
Allegra - um, no, not really. Sort of ok
Vivian - NO
Isadora - trying too hard
Genevieve - like
Francesca - like

[ScummyMummy]

I like Francesca. I think Fran and Frankie are both great nicknames too.

[catinthehat2]

Vivian - YES! Love it, and very unusual.

[penelopestrawberry]

Said- I'm least sure about Isadora. Sometimes I think it is a bit too pretty!

[janeite]

I love Vivienne (this spelling) and Isadora.

[diddl]

Like Genevieve and Francesca.

[MamaLazarou]

I like them all - you have very good taste, IMO! I prefer the original French spelling of Genevieve.

[jellybeans]

Penelope DISLIKE
Allegra LIKE
Vivian HATE
Isadora LIKE
Genevieve OK
Francesca OK

[boundarybabe]

I could be wrong but is Vivian the male spelling and Vivienne the female? I like it anyway.

[catinthehat2]

Well the Vivian I knew was a girl, and I do like that spelling. Vivienne would be pronounced differently. Also, Vivian is a bit girly for a boy IMHO.

[mathanxiety]

Penelope and Isadora. Allegra is the OTC name of a medicine in the US, also sounds like a car (maybe it already is a car?)

[catinthehat2]

(Austin Allegro)

[dizzydixies]

love Vivienne too
Allegra - nissan car
Penelope - love as either Penny or Nell
Isadora - like
Genevieve - nice
Francesca - not to my taste

have you considered

Ismay
Cordelia
Cecelia
Celeste
Araminta
Eugenie
Beatrice

they all seem in line with your preferences?

[BalloonSlayer]

Vivian is the boys spelling. Vivien Leigh was christened Vivian and had to change it.

(Clive James' real name is Vivian. And if that doesn't put you off, nowt will )

There are a LOT of Francescas where we live, mainly aged 14-15 IIRC.

[catinthehat2]

Interesting entry showing that while Vivian is limited to boys, Vivian is used for girls

and a few lady Vivians here

So, not exactly cut and dried and not a name to use if you follow the herd.

[HerHonesty]

i think they are all lovely but not personally keen on vivian

[penelopestrawberry]

Would probably use Vivienne. You are all right- it is more feminine.

[penelopestrawberry]

Thx dizzy- I like some of those a lot.
Thx MadameL too

[LynetteScavo]

I love Genevieve.

Not keen on the others.

[bethdivine]

love francesca, also like isadora - but guessing it would probably be shortened to dora (the explorer) by other children (she would be very cool tho' my DS would love her!) so depends what you think about that.

ooh, francesca, now let's see if I can persuade DH about DC3 after all...

[janeite]

Ooh I like Ismay a lot.

[Cadelaide]

Like them all except Penelope.

Would choose isadora.

[Tommy]

Francesca was on our short list for DS1 - so I like that one.
I like Genevieve
I don't like the others

[dizzydixies]

janeite - Ismay is DD3's middle name

[dogonpoints]

Penelope - quite like it but might grow tired of it if I had to use it all the time and not keen on Penny

Allegra - no, car

Vivian - nice sound, quit elike this

Isadora - no, too much

Genevieve - no, too much

Francesca - it's ok, much prefer Frances but then I'm a simple sort of gal.

Vivian... it's nice