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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Sophia, Clarissa. Clara or Iris? Please help!

32 replies

toomanydoughnuts · 04/08/2010 13:48

I love the name Sophia but am a little worried that its so popular every second girl will be a Sophie or Sophia. I've enjoyed having a fairly unusual name so don't really know if it gets annoying having to always be Sophia X or blonde Sophia or so on.
Other options are Clarissa (nn, Cleo), Clara, Iris.
Opinions please!

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Kathleen123 · 05/08/2010 10:32

Love Clarissa and Iris.

Ineedsomesleep · 05/08/2010 10:09

Love Clarissa, Clara and Cleo. Sophie is ok but really don't like Iris, just makes me think of eyes.

Jojay · 05/08/2010 09:07

I love Clara, Cleo and Iris, in that order.

telsa · 05/08/2010 09:00

Clarissa and Clara are both lovely. Clarissa gives scope for great nicknames - Issy, Issa, Clare, Cassie, Clara, Clarabelle (which verges on the cow-like but is still sweet) etc.

Other two names are too po-faced for my taste.

mathanxiety · 05/08/2010 00:23

I like Cleo, Clara and Sophia. I think I prefer Sophia to Sophie -- it seems more of a classic name that way. I like it spelled Sofia too. I also like Sonia (Russian diminutive)

muminthemiddle · 04/08/2010 23:12

I simply love Clarissa. I think it is a name you either adore or dislike.
Clara is lovely too. Those are my favourites.

FreddosMa · 04/08/2010 23:03

Clara is my favourite. Sophia is nice but not fond of Clarissa. Iris is a bit trendy, popular with the 'cool' set if you know what I mean?

Clara would be in the running if I were to ever have a girl.

Avocadoes · 04/08/2010 22:59

I love all your choices. Good taste!
If I had to put them in order it would be:
Iris
Clara
Sophia
Clarissa

midnightexpress · 04/08/2010 22:47

I like Clara best, then Iris and then Sophia. I'm not keen on Clarissa (though I do like Cleo).

wigglesrock · 04/08/2010 22:46

My dd1 is Sofia, she is the only one in her school, she's 5 and we haven't heard it that much although dd2 is Olivia!

SpanishHarlot · 04/08/2010 22:44

I have a Sofia (it is spelt the Spanish way) much nicer than Sophia or Sophie.

It suited her as a baby and still does as a young girl and i think it sounds elegant for a woman too.

so many names nowadays suit babies but end up getting changed or shortened as they grow older.

Go with Sofia just to be different..

HumphreyCobbler · 04/08/2010 22:43

Clara was about 380 in popularity in 2008.

I see it pop up a lot on here.

It is my dd's name, it is the nicest on your list.

SparklyJules · 04/08/2010 22:39

I have a Sophie, she was the only one we knew in our area until she started school and we found there were 2 more in the whole school - so not as common as people think. I love the name Sophia and sometimes wish we had named her that instead!

proudfoot · 04/08/2010 22:35

Clara would be my choice

Also like Sophia and Iris

mumtoabeautifulbabyboy · 04/08/2010 20:59

Love Clara and Iris.

Sophie is extremely popular in my area (south east) within the under 5s at the moment. I know loads.

wubblybubbly · 04/08/2010 20:55

Clarissa is my favourite, very classical, not overly popular, simple spelling and easy to understand. If I could have another DC that would be my first choice for a girl, it's lovely.

MrsJohnDeere · 04/08/2010 20:46

Iris is lovely.

CreepyFunbags · 04/08/2010 20:30

I like Iris. But Cleo is nice too.

LaundryLyne · 04/08/2010 18:47

I like Clara and Sophia.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 04/08/2010 18:30

As lovely as Clara is it will be the next ever so popular name, like evie, ruby, Olivia. All lovely but most often one of many.

diggingintheribs · 04/08/2010 18:30

I suggested clara to dh and he ruled it out as 'it's a common name for a cow in germany'

I did wonder if they had annual list of the most popular cows names!

As dd is half german decided it migt not e wise to name her after a cow!

ValiumSingleton · 04/08/2010 18:21

Clara. issa ruins it. Cleo is lovely too though.

zenoushka · 04/08/2010 18:12

Sophia is a beautiful name - and definitely not as popular as Sophie. It's classic and timeless!

I really like Clara too.

margaret0709 · 04/08/2010 15:15

Clarissa definitely - and i love Cleo an a nn!!

smother · 04/08/2010 15:09

Clara or Iris.
I prefer Clara but I think it's growing in popularity, always seems to be mentioned on these threads at moment.

Sophia is a little safe and boring, although not so much as Sophie is (eek, sorry to any sophies reading)

Clarissa is the most unusual, perhaps for a reason.

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