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Baby names

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

Original poster

Cara or Serena?

36 replies

Zana2222 · 09/05/2020 10:08

I am 27 weeks pregnant with a girl and I think I am down to two favourite first names - Cara or Serena. We have a French last name and might take the name not used as a middle name. Also like Naomi for a middle name. What’s your favourite of the above names?

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peajotter · 12/05/2020 20:29

Seren is Welsh for star and removes the sing song double-a sound if you want both names. How about Cara Seren?

peajotter · 12/05/2020 20:27

You may have issues with how people pronounce Serena, depending on what your surname is.

I read it Se-ray-na as I know it from Italian and Spanish people. I forget that the British pronunciation is Se-ree-na like the tennis player. Looking at YouTube it appears that both are common in the USA.

I’m not sure how it is pronounced in France but if your surname is recognisably french then you may find yourself correcting people a lot.

I love Cara

Whatsyourflava · 12/05/2020 20:16

As a previous poster has pointed out, I do always get Selena and Serena mixed up. I know one of each and I can never pick the right name

Cara is lovely

Carolebaskinssardineoil · 12/05/2020 19:56

Cara definitely

unkindnessofravens · 09/05/2020 20:00

I love Serena, not so keen on Cara

DottieLottie1 · 09/05/2020 19:58

I know others have suggested Clara but what about Carla Serena?

Gallacia · 09/05/2020 19:45

Serena is lovely

Losingitihope · 09/05/2020 19:41

Cara definitely.

cptartapp · 09/05/2020 19:22

Cara.

Thisismytimetoshine · 09/05/2020 19:09

Cara is the Irish word for friend Smile

AtTheFootOfTheHill · 09/05/2020 19:09

They are both lovely!

bridgetreilly · 09/05/2020 19:07

Serena Naomi. Gorgeous.

passthemustard · 09/05/2020 19:06

I'm not keen on Serena but that maybe because I have a Selina and I had to correct people 24/7 that her name wasn't Serena. Cara is on my list for my current pregnancy if it's a girl though. Love it.

SomeonesRealName · 09/05/2020 18:41

Cara is very pretty but it makes me think Addams Family.

"Cara mía!" 🥀

MiddlesexGirl · 09/05/2020 18:38

I would definitely associate Serena with the tennis player.

Ellmau · 09/05/2020 18:37

Serena's really lovely. I like Cara as well.

Makeuptherules · 09/05/2020 18:09

Serena is on my shortlist, it's so pretty! People won't associate with the tennis player once she's lived in the name for a bit. All names probably have a famous person associated with it, so unless they're a murderer or something then it's irrelevant.

DramaAlpaca · 09/05/2020 18:00

I prefer Serena, but Cara's nice enough.

If your DH isn't keen on Serena because of the tennis player, it's game set and match to Cara, surely? Wink

redberrytree · 09/05/2020 17:57

Love them both! Cara is quite popular here in Northern Ireland, I love Nina and Carys too, I would probably pick Serena just because it's less popular where I live

JKScot4 · 09/05/2020 15:27

Gossip girls characters
Cara

Original poster
Zana2222 · 09/05/2020 13:32

Thanks. Never saw the handmains tale! My husband isn’t sold on Serena as it associates the name with the tennis player but I think it’s lovely

OP posts:
daisypond · 09/05/2020 12:28

I like both but prefer Serena. I’m not sure that Serena Cara flows well. Maybe needs a middle name that doesn’t end in A.

userabcname · 09/05/2020 12:09

I like them both! Quite hard to pick one...I'll say Serena but love Cara too.

PaulinePetrovaPosey · 09/05/2020 11:58

Loooooove Cara Naomi

boobmoob · 09/05/2020 11:56

Selina?

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