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Baby names

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

Original poster

Claudia and Sophie for twin girls?

66 replies

Atlas2006 · 14/04/2021 19:28

Hi MN, I posted last week about a few names we were considering and think you’re all right; twins with the same initial isn’t really fair considering they’ll be a ‘set’ to many people for most of their lives, so they don’t really need matching initials in the mix as well.

So, we’re thinking Claudia and Sophie are our current picks, with older brother being George. Thoughts? Middle names will be Araminta (Claudia Araminta) and Catherine (Sophie Catherine).

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Pudding01 · 14/04/2021 22:47

I'm in agreement with Claudia Elisabeth and Sophie Catherine!

Camandmitch · 14/04/2021 22:43

Claudia Araminta is what I wanted to call my dd when I was younger. Dh did not agree. I like Sophie but Sophie Catherine seems a rather boring name in comparison to her sister

Cherrycee · 14/04/2021 21:55

I don't think it matters that one is more popular than the other. Claudia is hardly an obscure name.

They work well and they're not too matchy.

KoalaOok · 14/04/2021 21:53

@MitheringSunday

Honestly? I'd think Claudia got the raw deal, especially with Araminta, while her sister got classic, elegant Sophie Catherine. (Claudia is classical rather than classic in my view and just doesn't feel right with Sophie). And the meanings just clash too much.

Names that work better with Sophie IMO - Rosalind, Marianne, Laura (you don't hear of many little Lauras these days), Helena, Beatrice.

I was thinking the other way around, Claudia gets the more "different" name. I'd give Claudia a more common middle name along the lines of Catherine.

Eliz/sabeth is nice.

SE13Mummy · 14/04/2021 21:50

Claudia and Sophie are a great pairing as they avoid any feeling of being too matchy. I'd name the eldest of the twins Sophie so that she doesn't get to be the youngest and way down the alphabet though!

I do think Araminta or Alexandra rather run into Claudia so her name may end up sounding as though it's Claudie Araminta. Elisabeth works better but a name that begins with a consonant would be better again.

May2021Mummy · 14/04/2021 21:46

@AnnaSW1

I'd go Claudette and Sophia if it was me.
That's a good idea 💡
AnnaSW1 · 14/04/2021 21:40

I'd go Claudette and Sophia if it was me.

Jalapinot · 14/04/2021 21:38

Which pronunciation?

Claw-dia or Cloud-ia?

May2021Mummy · 14/04/2021 21:35

I think they are both lovely names

GreyhoundG1rl · 14/04/2021 21:33

The first names are great, but I really don't like Araminta.

Howsonetoknow · 14/04/2021 21:31

I think it's just my opinion based on the comments here but I personally don't think they go together that well.

Sophie is so popular (consistently top 25 for past few years) whereas Claudia hasn't been inside the top 500 in the last 25 years.

I get not wanting anything matching but when you have a George as well, my perception upon hearing that set of names would be that Claudia was the wild card name out of the bunch!

Sakura7 · 14/04/2021 20:28

Both lovely names and they go well together. And I definitely don't agree with a PP that Claudia gets the 'raw deal', it's one of my favourite names.

OverByYer · 14/04/2021 20:20

Beautiful names, I love the name Claudia

Chilldonaldchill · 14/04/2021 20:17

I think they are both lovely.
But honestly I would think Sophie might feel a bit short-changed - Sophie Catherine is a bit boring next to Claudia Araminta.
I personally would switch to Claudia Catherine and Sophie Araminta to avoid that.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 14/04/2021 20:17

I adore Claudia and I like Sophie a lot too - although it is very popular compared to Claudia (but George is popular as well so maybe that doesn't matter).

Claudia Elisabeth and Sophie Catherine sound the nicest to me - the middle names are then equally classic (Araminta is okay but a bit frilly/unusual in comparison). Alexandra is also classic but a bit of a mouthful with Claudia imo - but Claudia Catherine (nn CeCe?) and Sophie Alexandra would also work.

MadeOfStarStuff · 14/04/2021 20:14

Claudia and Sophie are lovely

Not a fan of Claudia Araminta, it doesn’t flow very well and I agree with the PP who said one child has both very safe names and the other both less common names (not that Claudia is outrageous but it’s a lot less popular than Sophie)

I prefer Claudia Elisabeth

proopher · 14/04/2021 20:08

I'm not fond of Claudia Elisabeth either for the same reason - the vowels run together. I feel that Claudia needs a middle name starting with a consonant so that it will flows:

Claudia Louise
Claudia Penelope
Claudia Mary
Claudia Madeleine

Etc.

Junebabe · 14/04/2021 20:07

Oh i love George, Claudia and Sophie

campion · 14/04/2021 20:05

Claudia and Sophie go well together without being matchy, and they are both nice names.

Middle names are personal choice so I'd just go with the ones you really like. They are hardly ever used. If you love Araminta then go for it. The 'a' sound isn't the same as 'ia' so I don't think it's a problem to have Claudia Araminta.

proopher · 14/04/2021 20:03

Yes, Claudia and Sophie Winkleman! I wouldn't let that out you off though.

I don't think Claudia Araminta flows properly because the two As run together and make it difficult to say.

Sophie Araminta sounds much nicer.

MitheringSunday · 14/04/2021 20:03

Honestly? I'd think Claudia got the raw deal, especially with Araminta, while her sister got classic, elegant Sophie Catherine. (Claudia is classical rather than classic in my view and just doesn't feel right with Sophie). And the meanings just clash too much.

Names that work better with Sophie IMO - Rosalind, Marianne, Laura (you don't hear of many little Lauras these days), Helena, Beatrice.

YourCakesAreShit · 14/04/2021 20:01

Aren't they the Winkleman sisters?

AppleKatie · 14/04/2021 20:00

Both lovely but my first thought was also ‘Winkleman’.

I suppose it depends whether that bothers you or not!

WaltzingToWalsingham · 14/04/2021 19:58

Claudia and Sophie are both gorgeous. But I agree with PPs, that Claudia Araminta doesn't really go. Too much of a tongue twister! Claudia Elisabeth is lovely, or do as Eden suggested and swap the middle names so you have Claudia Catherine and Sophie Araminta. Beautiful, classic names!

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 14/04/2021 19:57

I like Sophie Catherine and Claudia Elisabeth. Hate Araminta.