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Baby names

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Original poster

Eleanor, Vera or Nina?

38 replies

badg3r · 22/01/2017 14:17

Very common surname so would prefer something not so popular as a first name.
I like all three but my big shadow of doubt is telling me Eleanor is very popular, Vera is an old granny's name and Nina is too twee.

Don't know the sex yet but for boys I like names like Matthew and Hamish, although can't use them, so suggestions there very welcome too!

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Yellowpear · 24/01/2017 22:28

I love Nina. It's my top runner for our next baby.

What about Edie instead of Eleanor?

Original poster
badg3r · 24/01/2017 22:06

Ooh I really like Nola too! DH has said he thinks Vera sounds a bit harsher than the others and isn't so keen now.
And I agree that compared to Fifi-Belle Nina is not really twee Wink i love the name but just trying to not pick as much as I can for reasons I might go off it. I saw a thread a year or two back where a lot of people said it sounded like the noise an ambulance makes...

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FrancisCrawford · 24/01/2017 17:41

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HolisticAssassin · 24/01/2017 10:24

Nina is the nicest of the three.
Not keen on Eleanor, prefer Ellen.
Don't like Vera but love Verity.

Pemba · 24/01/2017 10:19

Vera is not an attractive name and IMO still has a strong whiff of old lady about it. Possibly this may change in the future. Definitely your worst choice.

Nina and Eleanor are both lovely! Although Eleanor has been very popular for a number of years now as I'm sure you know. Plus she may end up as the ubiquitous Ellie. Nina is very chic and a bit more unusual. I don't know where you got twee from as I don't really see how that could apply. Fifi-Belle, for example., would definitely be twee.

Pluto30 · 24/01/2017 02:17

How about Leonore or Leonora?

Pluto30 · 24/01/2017 02:17

Nina can be short for Katerina, Christina/Kristina, Alexandrina, Valentina etc.

I don't like Eleanor.

Vera is okay but my only associations are Vera Wang, and a Vera who lived into her 90s despite being a chain smoker her entire life. Her house reeked.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 24/01/2017 01:56

There's nothing twee about Nina.
It's strong elegant famine and classy and not too common.
Vera is awful. Old but not in a nice vintage way and Eleanor just has no imagination or thought. They're everywhere.

Original poster
badg3r · 23/01/2017 13:54

Yes I don't know many ninas either but the ones I do know are all pretty feisty! Leaning towards Vera more too now since not everyone has said it's terrible. I do live Eleanor and nn Ellie or Nora but I do feel it's the safe boring choice.

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ALittleMop · 22/01/2017 22:34

I have a Nina
All the Nina's I know are hardcore dd included.

I like Vera.
Alternatively about Vita?
And Leonora rather than Eleanor.

Captainladder · 22/01/2017 22:30

Nina. Love it. Would have had it if mine had been a girl

Joeybee · 22/01/2017 22:29

I think Vera is beautiful - classic, classy and pretty. I recon this might be a name that rises in popularity. Plus when I think of a 'Vera', I think of a strong little girl with lots of personality. Nina is nice too, but doesn't feel quite as whole as Vera.
Eleanor is a name I really like, and has lots of versatility in terms of nicknames - Ellie, Els, Lenor, Elle etc. That name would be on my list if it wasn't an ex of my Husbands Grin

buttercup54321 · 22/01/2017 22:01

I love Vera with Kate as a middle name.
Boys
Reuben
Bertie
Kenneth
Jacob
Thomas
Raymond
Robert
Silas
Samuel
David
Darius

TeshiB · 22/01/2017 21:19

I love Vera too

Sweets101 · 22/01/2017 21:17

Oh I love Vera.

DramaAlpaca · 22/01/2017 21:15

Nina is lovely, not twee at all.

The only thing that puts me off Eleanor is the ubiquitous El... nicknames, as others have said.

I don't like Vera at all.

TreeTop7 · 22/01/2017 20:44

Eleanor is stylish but would probably be shortened eventually, which would be an issue if you dislike Ellie or El.

Nina is great and not twee at all.

MollyHuaCha · 22/01/2017 20:44

Vera is short for Veronica. I think Veronica is really pretty. NN Vee is nice too. (Vera is not so great)

ExcitedMamaToBe · 22/01/2017 20:35

Nina is definitely my favourite from those 3, very cute name

Shockers · 22/01/2017 20:34

Do you like Esther?

17caterpillars1mouse · 22/01/2017 20:31

Eleanor though I prefer Eleanora. Noor could be a nice nickname to use of you want to avoid the currently over popular Ellie or Ella. Elle is another nice alternative

I kinda like Vera and retro names are in

None is okay but my least favourite of the free

NavyandWhite · 22/01/2017 20:24

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Waterfeature · 22/01/2017 19:19

I knew an old lady called Vera. I don't like the name itself but her nn was Ve which I find really cute.

Eleanor is boring, sorry, and Nina is not pretty.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 22/01/2017 19:16

Nina is a nick name for Christina/Kristina.
I really like Fiona and Finola, also Harry.

Original poster
badg3r · 22/01/2017 17:46

Serena is really nice too, thanks! What other names could be nn Nina?

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