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Baby names

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

Original poster

Two girls names to choose from

36 replies

SteffGreen1812 · 22/06/2020 20:50

Hello! I’m due a baby girl in a few months and me and DP are torn between two names. We both love
Eleanor (the shortened version we would use is Nell) or
Cecelia (shortened to Cece)

The middle name would probably be either Victoria for my sister or Iris for DP nan

We already have a DS named Alfred who we call Fred but I’m not concerned if the names match

What are people’s opinions? Especially with the middle names and are there any other names people would suggest?

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JaffaCakeGal · 25/06/2020 15:11

Both of them make me sing a song (Suggs for Cecilia, Biffy Clyro for Eleanor!)

I prefer Eleanor although I think people would try and shorten to Ellie.

Edenember · 25/06/2020 10:55

@SteffGreen1812 both nice, think I prefer Eleanor although I love Nell as a name in its own right 10x more, it’s on my list. Cecelia / Cecilia while lovely (this name has a special meaning to me), I find it a bit of a mouthful and I’d be more inclined to use Cecily (also on my list). Another thing to consider is Nell is a diminuitive that would still be elegant on a grown lady whereas Cece is very cutesy and would be grown out of quickly, with no real other viable alternative shortened form to a long sounding name, that would suit an adult. From your middle names I much prefer Iris (list tick again 😂). I’d personally go 2 middles and use up more choices, I like Nell Cecily Iris but from your options I’d go for Eleanor Cecelia Iris.

babynamelover · 23/06/2020 09:56

Alfred and Eleanor both have the El sound quite similar if that bothers you.

I like Celia 😍

Fifthtimelucky · 23/06/2020 07:25

I like both, but would use the more traditional Cecilia spelling.

Mish85 · 23/06/2020 05:59

Cecelia Iris Victoria

Kokeshi123 · 23/06/2020 03:27

Cecilia, but spelled like that. It's a bit more unusual than Eleanor, although that is a nice name too.

whatausername · 23/06/2020 01:58

Cecelia Iris

Whatsyourflava · 22/06/2020 23:40

@123Dancewithme me too "making love in the afternoon with Cecelia up in my bedroom" yuck!

Whatsyourflava · 22/06/2020 23:40

Eleanor is lovely - perfect name

Cecelia just sounds a bit coeliacs disease to me. And cece sounds like cissy. Also why not Celia, Cecelia is too frilly and unnecessary long for me. Just my opinion though of course.

123Dancewithme · 22/06/2020 23:10

Cecilia. I don’t like the Cecelia spelling though, it looks wrong.

missingmum · 22/06/2020 22:27

Cecilia,love Cece too,
My Nan was Ellen nn Nellie but hated being called Nell so it has put me off that nn 😀

missmouse101 · 22/06/2020 22:25

Cecilia spelt that way. Iris is awful. It's part of the eye. Eleanor is plain and uninteresting! I like Cece as a nickname.

HappyDinosaur · 22/06/2020 22:19

Eleanor as all I can hear is the song for Cecilia.

bridgetreilly · 22/06/2020 22:18

Sorry that last was meant to say Cecilia Victoria is too much of a mouthful. Both -ia endings.

bridgetreilly · 22/06/2020 22:17

I prefer Cecilia to Cecelia but I think I prefer Eleanor to either.

In order I like:
Eleanor Iris
Eleanor Victoria
Cecilia Iris

I think Eleanor Victoria is too much of a mouthful.

SnowdropFox · 22/06/2020 22:17

Definitely Eleanor! Much nicer meaning than Cecelia.

DramaAlpaca · 22/06/2020 22:13

Cecilia - that spelling.

Spelling it Cecelia looks totally wrong, as if you heard the name and liked it but didn't know how to spell it. I know it's an accepted variant of Cecilia but it just doesn't look right.

Emelene · 22/06/2020 22:11

I like both, but Eleanor Iris is really really lovely!

user1493494961 · 22/06/2020 22:09

Eleanor is beautiful, I would choose Eleanor Iris. Not keen on Cece, I also think it's a bit cringy. I like Nell and it goes well with Fred.

Greggers2017 · 22/06/2020 21:35

I love Cecelia but for some reason I find Cece makes me cringe. No idea why!
My cousin has a Charlotte who she calls Char Char and I cringe at that too!

Ellmau · 22/06/2020 21:31

Slightly prefer Cecelia, but I think Eleanor/Nell goes better with Fred.

BeMorePacific · 22/06/2020 21:31

Nell is so lovely!
I also love Cecilia, but I’m not mad on Cece x

Nellydean21 · 22/06/2020 21:28

Eleanor and all its derivatives.

AcrobaticCardigan · 22/06/2020 21:27

Cecilia - love the nn Cece! Not keen on Eleanor but like Nell.

LemonBreeland · 22/06/2020 21:14

Cecelia is lovely and much less used than Eleanor