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Baby names

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

Original poster

Alexandra or Esme?

60 replies

Sorrelia · 12/06/2024 22:27

Very different feel for our DD due in one week. What name is your favourite and why?
Last name is Ross.
Thank you 🥰

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OneWorldly4 · 13/06/2024 09:34

Alexandra and I wouldn't shorten it..its a beautifully classy name.

Duckies · 13/06/2024 09:29

Alexandra is great. I love Sandy as a diminutive, but Alex is also super cool on the right girl/woman.

Esme is nice enough but feels disproportionately popular for babies just now. I feel it will start to grate and your DD will be "one of the Esmes".

Alexandra is well known but doubt there will be many in your DD's peer group. Can't go wrong.

SunMootStars · 13/06/2024 09:23

Love Alexandra- strong, classic and feminine name

AngelDelightButNotStrawberry · 13/06/2024 09:14

Alexandra.

Esme is becoming overused and I don’t particularly like it.

Fontainebleau007 · 13/06/2024 08:35

With your surname i think Esme though they're both lovely names x

TheaBrandt · 13/06/2024 08:04

Alexandra is one of those lovely classic but currently underused names. Also Miranda Susannah Antonia Zoe. Lovely and also rare in a sea of Eve / Olivia / Isabel / Lily tedium.

Firsttimebabymummy · 13/06/2024 07:58

Parfortheparsnip · 13/06/2024 05:54

DD is Alexandra - Alex - Allie -Zandra, it's a great name, but I'm biased!

Ditto! My girl gets A-J too as she is Alexandra Joy. Xx

Firsttimebabymummy · 13/06/2024 07:57

Alexandra. I'm biased as that's by daughters name.

Parfortheparsnip · 13/06/2024 05:54

DD is Alexandra - Alex - Allie -Zandra, it's a great name, but I'm biased!

ArcticBells · 13/06/2024 05:41

The Sewing Bee has ruined Esme for me

LoudSnoringDog · 13/06/2024 05:20

Esme

I have a 10 year old Esme.

leafybrew · 13/06/2024 05:12

Esme - gorgeous

NewbieSM · 13/06/2024 04:50

Another vote for Alexandra (also my own name) so many nickname options and a sophisticated classic name that works well as both a child and an adult

stressedespresso · 13/06/2024 02:19

Alexandra 100% - such a lovely, timeless classic and gorgeous nickname potential too (especially Sasha!!)

Not a fan of Esme - more like a sound than a proper name to me + there’s the issue with pronunciations

MrsP80 · 12/06/2024 23:42

I prefer Alexandra to Esme. But with the surname I like Imogen, Alexa, Alice and Erica.

AdaColeman · 12/06/2024 23:39

Alexandra! It's a beautiful classic name, cool and sophisticated when they are grown up, with some sweet nicknames when they are small, I especially like Zandra.

l'm not keen on Esme, particularly since there are a couple of different pronunciations.

PolliFlinders · 12/06/2024 23:34

Definitely Alexandra

shoopshoopdedoo · 12/06/2024 23:29

Like both, prefer Alexandra

rainbowsparkle28 · 12/06/2024 23:24

Esme 100%

PocketCup · 12/06/2024 23:21

TheaBrandt · 12/06/2024 23:17

Definitely Alexandra. Beautiful classic name not much used in this generation. The Alex’s I have met are generally decent people. Esme more common for children and sadly the ones I have come across are absolutely dreadful.

Agree. Choose classic Alexandra over common Esme.

TheaBrandt · 12/06/2024 23:17

Definitely Alexandra. Beautiful classic name not much used in this generation. The Alex’s I have met are generally decent people. Esme more common for children and sadly the ones I have come across are absolutely dreadful.

Smellz714 · 12/06/2024 23:13

@Sorrelia I've always loved it, had the odd comment when I was a kid about it being a boy's name (I've always been an Alex) but I think it's much more common for girls nowadays. Sasha is great!

NoSnowdrop · 12/06/2024 23:10

Alexandra is a great name to have. It goes with Ross too, no issue with saying those together.

TedWilson · 12/06/2024 23:08

Alexandra is a lot prettier and sophisticated. Esme is over used and just doesn't roll off the tongue nicely - it sounds wrong in my head!

Moreteaandchocolate · 12/06/2024 23:03

I vote for Esme - I love how it’s pretty for all ages and not generally shortened.

I also like Alexandra but I find the full name a bit long for everyday use and I don’t love Alex for short.