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Baby names

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

Original poster

Rose, Florence or Raphaela as a sister for Elodie?

87 replies

SparkleMotion82 · 06/11/2017 23:04

I’m almost 35 weeks now with our second daughter and have cut down our list to the following as a little sister for Elodie (who was born at 38 weeks)!

Rose Willow
Florence Willow
Raphaela Willow

Willow is an honour name for my Dad (William). I should also mention I’ve had a lot of issues with name regret over Elodie’s name (the pronunciation) 😕.

Other front runners from our list that we’ve removed to try and settle on one name were:

Allegra
Persephone
Claudia

Would be great to know which you prefer, which you think works best with Elodie, and what connotations the different names have for you?

Thank you so, so much - I’m a bit confused and would love to settle on a name soon if at all possible, any advice very gratefully received.

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DramaAlpaca · 08/11/2017 20:46

I like Florence or Claudia with Elodie.

I'm not so sold on Allegra as I find it quite a hard sounding name.

SewButtons · 08/11/2017 20:45

I just had french DP say all the names to me with french pronunciation and I think Florence sounds the best both with a french accent and an English accent.

BernardBlacksHangover · 08/11/2017 20:42

I think Florence goes best with Elodie. I like all three options though.

TheVoiceOfTreason · 08/11/2017 20:41

That's a solid list. Smile

I'm biased against Florence because a) abbreviation to Flo, makes me think of periods (objective reason) and b) having to deal with a Florence in a professional capacity who is a total and utter bitch, which has now tainted the name for life for me (subjective reason). Plus side - Florence and the Machine, Florence from the Magic Roundabout.

Of your list, I love Rose Willow (botanical theme!), and Allegra Willow. All of the names you've listed work with Elodie as sibling names too so I think you're fairly safe there. Really loving Willow as a middle name incidentally!

flossyfloss · 07/11/2017 21:45

I’m pregnant and we’ve chosen Elodie! I love it Smile it’s interesting to hear how it might be pronounced! We’re saying El oh Dee like you.

I’d go for Florence it’s beautiful and perfect with Elodie!

SingaSong12 · 07/11/2017 21:37

Allegra sounds a bit like a car to me. I like Florence. I have no idea whether it fits well with Elodie, im not good at that sort of thing. I presume they all go well with your surname - it seems more important to me because your DD will likely be using it into adulthood whereas the link to sibling name will
become less important as time goes on.

Catalufa · 07/11/2017 21:30

Rose is my favourite.

helpmum2003 · 07/11/2017 21:28

Orla?

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 07/11/2017 21:24

Raphaela. But I also like Claudia.

helpmum2003 · 07/11/2017 21:23

Random ones - Phoebe? Aurora?

helpmum2003 · 07/11/2017 21:21

Of the first 3 I think Rose goes beSt with Elodie but agree Rose Willow is too horticultural.

I think Allegra goes very well with Elodie and works well with Willow and no pronunciation problems.

I think Elodie is lovely. I would also say El-o-di.

Original poster
SparkleMotion82 · 07/11/2017 17:35

Thank you so much everyone!!! All really very helpful comments. I think I need to take a few days off from thinking about it and hopefully come back to it with a fresh perspective. Your opinions are really helpful - I’m tallying up all the preferences to see which names are generally preferred.
Do you think that Allegra being an allergy medication in the US is reason to rule it out? I was thinking that in some ways Allegra and Claudia both go well with Elodie as they have the same number of syllables 😂
Thank you so much for your feedback on Elodie - I think I have just stressed myself out because we live in France at the moment and it sounds very pretty in French. I still say Elle-oh-dee in English (emphasis on the Elle), but most English people seem to naturally say El-uh-dee, so I just question myself when I’m saying it. Sounds silly I know. I tend to stress myself out a lot overthinking things so all of the kind comments on the name Elodie were really very much appreciated-thank you!
It’s just so tricky to choose one final name! Thank you so much everyone. Any other opinions very welcome xx

OP posts:
WishIwasinStarsHollow · 07/11/2017 16:29

Florence or Claudia Smile

starkid · 07/11/2017 16:20

I like Rose Willow :)

Smoliver · 07/11/2017 10:46

I like Rose or Raphaela.

Florence is nice too but I don't think it flows well with Elodie. Sounds a bit too harsh.

Love the middle name Willow too!

NinonDeLenclos · 07/11/2017 09:55

Raphaela will end up shortened to something not as nice

Raffy is very pretty and there's always the ubiquitous Ella.

NinonDeLenclos · 07/11/2017 09:53

Raphaela hands down. Beautiful and unusual.

Rose are Florence are everwhere, and Florence is particularly meh.

Oly5 · 07/11/2017 09:46

Florence or Rose
Raphaela will end up shortened to something not as nice

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 07/11/2017 09:43

Elodie and Claudia Willow.

Doubletrouble42 · 07/11/2017 09:42

Elodie is gorgeous! I think they all go but Raphaela is my favourite.

elQuintoConyo · 07/11/2017 09:41

Florence.

But keep.it as Florence because it is beautiful. Flo, Floss, Flossie, Florry arevall horrible. Ren is nice

PandorasXbox · 07/11/2017 09:36

Valentina?

PandorasXbox · 07/11/2017 09:35

Florence although I love Claudia.

17caterpillars1mouse · 07/11/2017 08:45

Raphaela is beautiful and would be my choice. It sounds such a strong name

Florence is lovely but very popular currently which puts me off. I do think Florrie or Flossie are lovely though

Rose is nice enough but seems like every other child has it as a mn so it's lost some of its appeal for me even as a first name

Whyiseveryonesoangry · 07/11/2017 07:41

Raphaela is beautiful. NN Raffy or Ella both work well.