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Baby names

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

Original poster

Having a hard time choosing

34 replies

Elbelle6 · 01/11/2015 18:38

We are struggling to choose a name for our first child. I want something distinctive but not too outlandish that she won't fit in with everyone else. Favourites so far are:

Ianthe - bit worried no one will no how to pronounce it
Danae - similar issue to above
Eliza - family name
Elodie
Cordelia
Isadora
Danica
Fleur
Lowenna
Xanthe

Surname is Whitfield

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SniffsandSneezes · 04/11/2015 23:22

I lived with an Elise in my flat sharing days and she was a raging psycho... ruined the name for me for life!

Of your list I like Elodie and Fleur best. Ianthe is hard to pull off without a similarly jazzy surname and Danae just seems a bit try-hard to me!

CakeRattleandRoll · 04/11/2015 23:16

Love Xanthe, it was on our list for DD.
Also like Lowenna, but much prefer Morwenna.
How about Isolde? Feels similar to several of yours.

Ianthe - I keep reading as "Ian the" but that's probably just me.

Elise/Eliza/Elodie - there seem to be so many "El" names around at the moment, I would probably avoid for that reason.

Original poster
Elbelle6 · 04/11/2015 13:07

Just wanted to thank everyone for responding to my post it's been really helpful. Will let you know what we decide. Xxx

OP posts:
nooka · 04/11/2015 06:26

I think if you want something distinctive then Lowenna and Danica meet that criteria best.

Mclaren37 · 04/11/2015 04:44

Love Elodie and Elise! Beautiful names with a classic French twist.

LeaveMyWingsBehindMe · 02/11/2015 20:54

oh and Eliza is quite nice as well.

LeaveMyWingsBehindMe · 02/11/2015 20:53

I love Cordelia and Xanthe and have loved both for many years. I almost called DS1 Xanthe and he's 23.

Not wild about Elodie, dislike Isadora, like Fleur, not sure about Lowenna, prefer Morwenna, Danica not sure about it…it could grow on me but it sounds quite hard.

What about Erica instead?

GRW · 02/11/2015 20:49

I know a Danae (pronounced Dannay) and I think it's lovely and unusual.

cocacola1006 · 02/11/2015 20:10

I like lowenna. Another Cornish pretty one is Kerensa

Tirfarthoin · 02/11/2015 18:03

I know a teenage girl called Danica, it was new to me but it grows on you.

Original poster
Elbelle6 · 02/11/2015 17:58

OH has just side swipe me with Elise as an alternative to Eliza, he is still not sold on Cordelia. Bizarrely I've recently been doing so family history and on the census my gran Elsie was recorded as Elise. :)

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Only1scoop · 02/11/2015 17:44

Other than Eliza sorry ....

Beautiful

Only1scoop · 02/11/2015 17:43

The rest don't sound like they are from the same list Op!!

Especially
Danica

Only1scoop · 02/11/2015 17:42

Xianthe know one and pronounces it ....I an thee ....lovely

Cordelia lovely

Tirfarthoin · 02/11/2015 17:37

I love the name Cordelia, it works for a child and and adult and will never get old. Also love the nn Coco

Original poster
Elbelle6 · 02/11/2015 17:32

I like those nicknames they are really sweet. I think Cordelia is a name that ticks a number of boxes for me. I think final choice will be between Cordelia, Xanthe and Lowenna. OH has now informed me he thinks Elodie sounds too much like Melody and he didn't like his aunt Eliza! Also in the last couple of weeks I've met the parents of what feels like a hundred Eliza's lol

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Binkybix · 02/11/2015 16:15

I have a Cordelia. She's very new and her nicknames are Cordy and CoCo - might help persuade your DH if he thinks the full name is a bit much?

Lunastarfish · 02/11/2015 16:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

handonhip · 02/11/2015 14:49

Eliza sounds amazing with your surname! Fabulous.

MrsMichelRouxJr · 02/11/2015 13:08

LOVE the name Elodie!

Original poster
Elbelle6 · 01/11/2015 21:36

That makes sense. I hadn't thought about it but you are right there are a lot of ie endings out there at the moment.

I want something that will sound good whether she is a doctor or an artist lol

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celtictoast · 01/11/2015 21:17

Ianthe and Isadora are my favourites from your list.

ExBallerina · 01/11/2015 21:02

I like Elodie and Danica Whitfield.

IoraRua · 01/11/2015 21:00

Ah I see, Lowenna sounds lovely. That would probably be my favourite of them but Cordelia and Xanthe are nice too. I also really like Elodie and Isadora too but I do think popularity would be a problem.

As a teacher I really notice the huge popularity of -a (seems to be short -a names though)and -ie names. It seems to make them blend into one another....Milly, Molly, Lily, Sophie, Ivy etc and the result is the names become a bit insipid because it's all so similar. I'd think Xanthe is probably unusual enough to avoid that but definitely keep it in mind when choosing a name, if you'd like something a little different.

Original poster
Elbelle6 · 01/11/2015 20:48

Hi thanks yes I think OH been watching too many Danish dramas hence the Danica lol

I googled Xanthe and not too many coming up but I think it's getting more popular. I think it is my preferred at the moment. I like Cordelia but OH says he needs persuading. I think it sounds quite classic

Lowenna is Cornish..would be pronounced Loh-en-ah. I see someone on here also asking about it so must be getting more popular. Means joyful.

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