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Baby names

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Original poster

What are your opinions on my shortlist for girls names....be honest!

62 replies

OurNextAdventure · 06/01/2018 00:13

I'm still TTC at the moment but already have a shortlist of girls names I really like and I'd love your honest opinions on each.

After writing a long list on my phone it was obvious that I have a penchant for girl names beginning with "E", and only E names will do it would seem :)

So here is my shortlist....some I like more than others and I have a favourite (I think) but would love to hear everyones opinions.....

Elena (pronounced e-LEN-ah)
Elle
Ella
Emma
Emmy

If it matters we have a two syllable (quite boring) surname and we will be choosing two middle names (family tradition).

OP posts:
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LipstickHandbagCoffee · 06/01/2018 13:12

What this thread has demonstrated is the multiple ways folk will pronounce elena
So, either you (and dd) habitually correct people or you live with the multiple pronunciation
I like all the other names except Emmy. Emmy is a labradoodles name
If I heard it shouted in the park id expect to see a scampering dog

Smoliver · 06/01/2018 13:01

Elena - Very pretty, but I prefer Eleanor.

Elle - This one's slowly growing on me recently. I think it's nice.

Ella - Love this. I just think of Ella Fitzgerald when I hear this name.

Emma - Good, classic name but might be a bit of a safe name. Still love it though.

Emmy - I know a young girl called this, it suits her a lot. I do prefer it as a nickname for Emma or Emmeline.

Other E names I like: Eva, Emer, Eloise, Elisa, Emmeline, Everly, Evelina

Paddingtonthebear · 06/01/2018 12:41

I chose and “E” girls name. It’s unusual and we don’t know of anyone with the same name. I still like it but in all honesty I did not realise at the time how popular E names were/are for girls. She is now 5 and we’ve not come across anyone else with her name yet but it does sound quite similar to lots of other very popular E names.

AlmostChristmas · 06/01/2018 12:35

The Elena I know (Italian routes) is pronounced Ell-eh-na.

How about Eleni? Pronounced Ell-en-ee

Afreshnewyearplease · 06/01/2018 12:24

I think elodie is french, very pretty

Original poster
OurNextAdventure · 06/01/2018 11:38

Wow, thank you everyone for taking the time to reply with your opinions....so nice of you all; I wasn't expecting there to be so many.

Great comments, many of them echoing my own niggles about some of my own choices.

I think my thoughts now are;

Elena - (this was my original fav) it still is really BUT I fell in love with the name when I first saw it and read its pronunciation as "E-LEN-A". It was like a feeling that you just know "that's the name I want to call my daughter one day". HOWEVER...I just don't really like the other ways of pronouncing the name (they are not "wrong"; just not the same name to me. I don't know if it's something I could get past as, from experience, it's annoying having to correct people when they pronounce your name. But I LOVE it......I don't know.....name stays on maybe list.

Emma - I really really really like it. Agreed, it's strong and classic and beautiful at the same time and suits all ages. My only hesitation is I'm a child of the early 80s so it was as common as my own name when at school (therefore is it a tad boring for a name choice?)

Elle - you are all to spot on with saying it's "sticky". I think it's so pretty BUT it's like the end E sound is hard to say if that makes any sense?!? Still do like it though as an alternative to the Elena dilemma (oh god, that kind of rhymes)....

Ella - I think it's super pretty but (at the risk of causing a mumsnet storm) I feel it might be a tad "common" as in not just popular. Not that these things really matter but...

Emmy - totally agree, it can't really be used as an actual name can it. Far too cute and childlike for a grown woman one day. That said, if I was on a deserted island and didn't have to worry about anyone else I'd use it as I think it's so sweet.

Thank you for all the other E name suggestions. LOVE "Etta", very cute...but love James as a boys name so maybe not lol!

Elodie is also lovely - where has this name come from? It's like Melody without the M....but do really like it.

Elise is in the consideration pot for a middle name :)

Thanks everyone....much food for thought.....now just have to actually make a baby....and figure out my boy list too of course!

Xxx

OP posts:
Commuterface · 06/01/2018 08:47

I like Elle and Emma, which I agree is a classic name. I’m not keen on Ella because it just makes me think of salmonella and and Emmy is just a bit of a silly/girlish name.

Other ‘E’s I love are Erin, Eve, Elsie

Zampa · 06/01/2018 08:46

We have an Emma who we call Emmy too. Classic, strong name which suits all ages.

It's actually not as popular as some think. It was something like 54th in the ONS list in 2016 and 61st in 2015. I think Mumsnetters think it's so popular due to its prevalence in the 1980s when some of us were at school.

ChocolateCrunch · 06/01/2018 08:39

Emily, Esther, Eliza, Elise, Elsa, Evangeline, Edith, Eleri, Elodie, Elora

cindersrella · 06/01/2018 08:33

I love Emmy! My little one is called Emily and I find myself calling her Emmy

Afreshnewyearplease · 06/01/2018 07:57

Love Etta. If ds3 had been a dd Etta was in the running

Afreshnewyearplease · 06/01/2018 07:56

Love Etta. If ds3 had been a dd Etta was in the running

OakIsBetterTho · 06/01/2018 07:56

Elena and Emma are really lovely. Emma is actually my favourite girls name, I think.
Ella and Elle are a bit limp imo, not much to them and they're a little bit cutesy. Emmy is just awful, as it's limp and cutesy on speed. Sorry!!

whoareyoukidding · 06/01/2018 07:54

What if you have a boy, OP?

Joeybee · 06/01/2018 07:51

Elena (pronounced e-LEN-ah) - Really nice name, but people may not always say/spell it they way you would like it to be. That'd annoy me If I had that name.

Elle - A bit plain.

Ella - Still can get Elle as a nickname if you like. A nice, pretty name, but a little cutesy.

Emma - LOVE it. Classic, strong, beautiful name. Pretty popular though.

Emmy - Don't like it as a name in its own right. Is a nice nickname for any of the above names.

BastardGoDarkly · 06/01/2018 01:34

Eloise is my favorite E name.

But out of yours,I like Ella.

fkthssht · 06/01/2018 01:05

Eleanor is probably my favorite E name.

fkthssht · 06/01/2018 01:03

Elena (pronounced e-LEN-ah) nice
Elle a bit dull
Ella ok but the are loads around if that bothers you
Emma nice
Emmy nickname for Emma or maybe Emmeline

AnyaMoondial · 06/01/2018 01:01

I really like Elle. How about Eloise? Or Electra. Or maybe Erika.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 06/01/2018 01:01

Love
Elle and Emma.

I take it you like E names more ideas for your list.
Eleni. Elodie. Emilia. Erin. Elisa. Elise. Esme. Evie. Eva. Elaia. Ellia. Ebony. Elora.
Eliza. Ember. Emaya.

Pemba · 06/01/2018 00:58

Elena is nice, but most people would assume it's pronounced El-AY-na. Elle is slightly tacky,and the French for 'she'. But as someone pointed out on another thread Ella is apparently the Spanish for 'she'. Much prefer Ella though.

Emma is nice, but loads of them around, guess that doesn't matter. Emmy is cute but very nicknamey.

Chapman198 · 06/01/2018 00:54

My daughter is Eliza-Mae
But unless you like it's no good
You have to be right n once the name comes to you
You will know x

MollyHuaCha · 06/01/2018 00:47

Elena (pronounced e-LEN-ah)
Ok, but she will have a lifetime of correcting people's pronunciation

Elle
Ok

Ella
Nice

Emma
Lovely

Emmy
Sounds like a nn for Emma or Emmeline

MumOfTwoMasterOfNone · 06/01/2018 00:24

Elena is the only one I really like of those OP, but I do REALLY like it. The others are just a bit 'nothing' IMO.

Mrsknackered · 06/01/2018 00:24

candycane I love Etta. But I've actually heard of 2 new baby Etta's in the last couple of days! I think one may be an Arietty though.

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