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Baby names

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

Original poster

Middle Name for Claire

55 replies

Rabbit600 · 05/01/2020 13:19

We have decided on the name Claire for our daughter, but are stuck on a middle name.

These are the potential options:

Alice
Olivia
Nancy
Maxine
Teresa
Joyce

Nancy, Maxine, Teresa and Joyce are family names (mine and husbands grandmothers names), so we would prefer to use them, but we are unsure if they go well with Claire.

I did think of shortening them, but I don't think the shortened versions work any better.

As for Alice and Olivia, they are not family names. I just like them and I think they go well with Claire. However, because they're not family names, I'm not totally sure if I've ready to commit to using either of them as the middle name.

Please help!

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Mushypeasandchipstogo · 05/01/2020 20:30

Claire Elizabeth sounds lovely.

Aurea · 05/01/2020 20:17

You need a two or three syllable name to go after Claire imho.

17caterpillars1mouse · 05/01/2020 20:09

I really like Claire Maxine, it sounds fiesty

PsychosonicCindy · 05/01/2020 19:40

As pp said depends on your surname Olivia no good if your surname begins with a W.
I think Teresa goes best out of your list but I do think the only middle name that truly goes with Claire is Louise!

PetraRabbit · 05/01/2020 19:31

Claire is lovely. It's a one syllable name so I think you need a 2 or preferably 3 syllable middle name. For example Claire Joyce lacks rhythm for me.

CocoLoco87 · 05/01/2020 17:56

Claire Joy is lovely
Claire Marie
Claire Elizabeth
Claire Amelia

LanguageAsAFlower · 05/01/2020 17:32

Oooh my name is on here. Be wary of vowel middle names. My initials spell something, and if that wasn't enough I'm a teacher so my initials are in every child's timetable!!
Good name though Grin

Whatsyourflava · 05/01/2020 16:54

Claire imogen
Claire Margaret
Claire Clementine

Lobsterquadrille2 · 05/01/2020 16:12

I like the Clair spelling (as in de la lune).

Marie as a middle name.

Londonmummy66 · 05/01/2020 15:56

As Claire is a long single syllable I think that the names that go best with it start with a couple of short syllables eg Claire Annabel, Claire Imogen etc. So I think that Claire Maxine works best.

The list of family names you have are lovely but I think that they would work better the other way round eg Olivia Claire or Theresa Claire. You could still use Claire as her main name. The order doesn't really matter.

Aragog · 05/01/2020 15:54

Claire Louise is very 70s - I don't mean that in a bad way. Its my name and was also the same name as three of my classmates at the time :)

From your list I prefer Alice or Olivia. I think a one syllable first name benefits from having 2 or more syllables for the middle name.

Pemba · 05/01/2020 15:49

I love Claire (although slightly prefer the Clare spelling), time it made a comeback! Nicer than the currently fashionable Clara.

I am sorry to say that I find Joyce really frumpy, Joy is much nicer as suggested by pps. Maxine I also find a bit frumpy, ditto Nancy. I really like the sound of Teresa though, although I realise it's not fashionable at the moment (I suspect Teresa May didn't help with this, but never mind her).

Both Alice and Olivia are lovely names but I'm not sure how well they flow with Claire. You really need a middle name that doesn't start with a vowel sound otherwise could sound like Claire Ralice, IYSWIM.

milliefiori · 05/01/2020 15:48

I think a long name balances better with Claire.

Claire Alexandra
Claire Emilia
Claire Georgiana
Claire Elizabeth

mogtheexcellent · 05/01/2020 15:42

Claire is a short first name and joy is also short so adding a 2 syllable name as well will flow better. Claire Olivia joy or claire Theresa joy are lovely.

I love claire. Was on my shortlist!

user1493494961 · 05/01/2020 15:39

Claire Olivia goes best, you could always add Nancy or Joyce on the end.

Drabarni · 05/01/2020 15:38

Louise.

RagamuffinCat · 05/01/2020 15:37

I think Olivia goes well with Claire.

I'm a Claire, and I have always liked my name.

DramaAlpaca · 05/01/2020 15:33

I love Claire, so pretty.

I don't think it matters much about the middle names 'going' with the first name if you want to use family names, as they will be such a different style they probably won't 'go'. So I'd just pick two, probably both maternal grandmothers' names, and use those.

1990shopefulftm · 05/01/2020 15:33

I like Claire Olivia out of your list, I'm a claire and my name middle name ends in an e which works well.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 05/01/2020 15:31

I agree with PP Claire Alicia is nice.

ThankyouwithacapitalR · 05/01/2020 15:28

Anne goes well with Claire

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 05/01/2020 15:26

Oh I'm a Clare. I've never liked it, but I think it's quite cool and refreshing for a baby.

Out of your list I like Claire Olivia.

Other suggestions.
Claire Elizabeth
Claire Lucille
Claire Frances
Claire Loren

ParkheadParadise · 05/01/2020 14:43

You've got good taste @Rabbit600 😊.
CLAIRE LOUISE

daisypond · 05/01/2020 14:39

Claire Teresa.

Legallybleachblonde · 05/01/2020 14:12

How about Claire Elise?