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Baby names

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

Original poster

If I like these... what else might I like?

34 replies

ClaryIsTheBest · 09/03/2017 11:54

DD is Clarissa.
Boy's name for DC2 are basically sorted but girl's names are... Idk. Very complicated imo. They are a minefield.

I like Gemma and Donata (probably sounds like donation in English, right?)

Millicent and Astreia are also names currently on our list (a very frank conversation with my mother has unfortunately depleted the previous list severely...)

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Original poster
ClaryIsTheBest · 10/03/2017 09:35

name
I think Emma is currently crazy popular in Switzerland...

nameenvy
I do like Alicia. But I really dislike the sh/tsch sound that may be used depending on the language/accent.

minipie they were on my list :) but ottilie sounds so small and dainty compared to Clarissa...

Went through my old list (the one we had for Clary).
It's currently:

Gemma, Eliana, Louisa or Arielle...

I just think Clarrissa is fabulous (some obvioulsy dislike the name) but it makes it hard to find an other name that can live up to it.

OP posts:
MiniMaxi · 10/03/2017 08:16

I like Oriana, Alanna and Eliana

How about Odette or Ottilie? Too French sounding?

By the way I think the gesture for your cousin's name is lovely but understand why you consulted your mum on that one. Shame though as Natalia is a great name Smile

nameenvy · 10/03/2017 07:10

Some lovely names op what about Nina? Agree Eliana is much nicer than Gemma but that's a UK thing as it's quite dated here. Or
Lydia, Stella, estella, Anna, Alicia or Amalia?

NameChange30 · 09/03/2017 20:39

Yw!

FWIW I think Eliana is loads nicer than Gemma. Gemma was a very popular name for my generation (born mid-80s) so it has a reputation for being a bit dated and boring. I think Emma is much nicer tbh - also popular but more timeless imo. Anyway, Eliana is even better, plus it's Italian so probably more suitable for you and your DD (if baby is a DD!)

Original poster
ClaryIsTheBest · 09/03/2017 20:36

mini
Thank you :)! I think it's lovely as well. Currently sharing rank nr.1 with Gemma :)

Bike It's a nice name. But the nickname Gaby is pretty meh imo. Thanks, name :)!

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 09/03/2017 19:32

I like Eliana and Gabriella.
Think about nicknames - in the UK, Eliana is likely to be shortened to Ellie and Gabriella is likely to be Gaby (or could be Ella).

BikeRunSki · 09/03/2017 19:29

Gabriella?

minipie · 09/03/2017 19:19

Eliana is lovely. Just lovely.

Original poster
ClaryIsTheBest · 09/03/2017 18:51

Ah... Yes. Food obsession... It's currently clam chowder or curry I crave :0

What about Eliana? Seems to be known in the UK, is know in Italy (and therefore also Switzerland), doesn't even sound horrible (to my ears) with a French or a Swedish accent..?

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 09/03/2017 18:49

No no it doesn't! Sorry! I was just trying to think of bits of words that sounded similar to illustrate how I'd pronounce it. It's only the -ana bit at the end that's the same.

Ori- as in Oreo and -ana as in Tropicana
I'm food obsessed at the best of times but going through a starving phase (end of pregnancy!)

Original poster
ClaryIsTheBest · 09/03/2017 18:38

Tropicana. The fruit juice... Shoot. That's... Does it really sound like Tropicana`?

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 09/03/2017 18:23

Like Tropicana Wink

NameChange30 · 09/03/2017 18:23

I think Oriana will be easy for English speakers to pronounce. It's phonetic. I'd pronounce it like this:
o (as in Oreo) - ri - AH - na

Original poster
ClaryIsTheBest · 09/03/2017 18:17

sugar Thank you :)! astro really did suggest a great name!

The Song of the Lioness was one of my favourite books... So, I guess I do have a soft spot for the name Alanna?

The pronounciation seems obvious to me (and DH does it correctly. But he speaks French and some Italian, so eh...)

Basically like this:

Is this how you'd pronounce it? (just with an English R, I assume)?

But I'd also totally be ok with o-RYAH-nah. Clarissa is also pronounced differently in the UK. That's totally fine, as long as there is a nice sounding pronounciation. Not sure of that makes sense?

OP posts:
Sugarpiehoneyeye · 09/03/2017 18:14

Oriana Magnolia
Magnolia Oriana

RuthB4 · 09/03/2017 18:00

I've never heard of Oriana so if you want a name that is known in England don't choose Oriana. Although it seems easy to pronounce - I presume you pronounce it as it is written.

What about Alana as a similar sounding name that is known in England but (presumably) easy to pronounce in all your languages?

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 09/03/2017 17:24

CLARYLS, Oriana is really, very nice !

Original poster
ClaryIsTheBest · 09/03/2017 14:27

And Astreia as well.

I don't think Millicent really goes with Clarissa, tbh.

Oriana, Annabelle/a, Gemma, Donata and Astreia are in a way all similar. Classic names with a lot of vocals...

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Original poster
ClaryIsTheBest · 09/03/2017 14:25

The Sasha I know is actully a woman. But I think she purposely went with a male nickname...

It's also a boy's name imo, tbh.

Currently have Oriana, Annabelle/a, Gemma, Donata and Millicent on the list.

I think I may prefer Annabella to Annabel/le. But that are a lot of As...

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 09/03/2017 12:56

I like Oriana and Annabel(le) too.

Sasha is a boy's name in France and Russia, so doesn't work brilliantly as an international name. DH liked it for our DS but I vetoed it because it sounds like a girl's name to me (English).

Original poster
ClaryIsTheBest · 09/03/2017 12:51

Although I suppose there must be a lot of of bi/trilingual people and names in Switzerland?

Well, yes. I mean, we all need to study 2 langauges in school. In the German part that's French and English, for example... Plus, there are a lot of people with foreign backgrounds (like I have, for example) and Italians are a huuuge group in Switzerland.

Names are usually Italian or French or sometimes German. I think there are very few exclusively "Swiss" names. Maybe Flurina (it's Rumantsch, which is genuinely exclusively Swiss, I think).

Oriana is really, really nice :)!! THank you! :) I also like Annabelle.

I know a horrible Sasha.

Tabitha is unfortunately a cat imo.

OP posts:
Astro55 · 09/03/2017 12:46

Orianna - or Orianne
Ariminta
Sasha
Tamara / Tara
Tabitha
Sophia
Harriet
Rihanna

NameChange30 · 09/03/2017 12:44

Yes we found it hard enough to find a name that works in two languages (French and English) so I imagine it's even harder to find one that works in German, Italian and English! Although I suppose there must be a lot of of bi/trilingual people and names in Switzerland?

Original poster
ClaryIsTheBest · 09/03/2017 12:41

name exactly.

Yes, that was actually one of my mother's arguments as well. He's really chill and still goes by Nate, but eh... Maybe not.

Yes. But the name has to work in the UK (like Gemma for example, a name that's classic/unusual to me but isn't at all in England...), has to sound good in German (my first language) and preferably sound good in Italian as well. There are actually a surprising small of names that work because of this ;(

Right? I also like Carlotta and decided it sounds too much like Clarissa. I think Cressida is even more similar than Carlotta?

Millies is imo a cute nickname, btw. DD is usally Clary (or Chip...)

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 09/03/2017 12:38

What about Daniela?