Opinions on baby name shortlist

I love Lydia. I like Martha, Iris, Nina, Zara and Alice.

I would like Emily, Eve and Sophia but there are so many girls called this it puts me off.

Merryn - I don’t know this name. I don’t feel strongly about it.

Molly is a difficult one. I think of it as a name that gets chosen by people who can’t imagine that their tiny baby will ever be a grown up (perhaps because it rhymes with Dolly). But I am prepared to believe that this is only my prejudice.

Martha, Iris and Nina are all lovely.

Emily - quite like it. Very solid, 'safe' name, always going to be well received.
Martha - quite like it. Old fashioned, sweet vibe. Prefer it for a child to an adult.
Alice - quite like. Another classic, 'always good' choice. Like Emily.
Merryn - more different. Quite like it.
Molly - cute. Prefer it for a child but nice name.
Nina - quite like it.
Sophia - like it but seems to be absolutely everywhere right now. Prefer Sophie.
Zara - love it. Really pretty.
Eve - not keen. Much prefer Eva.
Lydia - Not a name I'd choose but elegant, solid choice.
Iris - Love. My favourite of your options by quite a distance.

Iris would defintely be my pick followed by Zara.

A bit left field maybe but, as you have both Merryn and Zara on your list have you come across Zeryn? I've never met one but read it somewhere and thought it was really pretty.

Emily - A nice classic but I always find it boring
Martha - Ok
Alice - favourite from your list, very pretty timeless classic
Merryn - like this, slightly different but still classic.
Molly - OK, nice enough
Nina - Ok
Sophia - Prefer Sophie, and don't like Fia or Soph
Zara - Nice
Eve - Too many Evie, Eva's for me to use.
Lydia - Don't like
Iris - Feel it will date.

I love Iris! Could never use it though because where we live it's pronounced Ee-ris and I hate that pronunciation. I also like Emily and Alice. I know a couple of Emilys in the UK but they're 18 and 16 now!
Merryn is unusual. I like it though.
I'm not keen on Lydia and Martha.

Sophia/Sofia are really popular here, although surprisingly there aren't any at my daughter's nursery currently. I know one Sophia and one Sophie in the UK. Over here every little girl we come across at the park, etc. seems to be called Mila 😅

Alice, Iris, Lydia

In that order. Do also love Eve but maybe for middle name?

I like Martha, Molly and Sophia

I like Emily and Lydia

Hahah, this made me laugh. Agree wity Molly and Emily (this decade's Claire/Laura/Louise/Sarah.

I have a strong aversion to Emily. Too wet sounding.

I love Iris though. And Eve (not Evie).

Lovely list. My favourites are Sophia, Zara, Lydia and Iris.

Sophia, Emily and Molly are my favourites as all pretty and classic. I quite like Alice as a middle name.

All nice names..
My faves, in order, are:

Alice
Zara
Molly
Iris

Martha, Mirren and Sophie I also like a lot.

I like Emily, Martha, Alice, Lydia and Iris, also find fine and ok as names are Nina, Molly and Sophia... I feel torn on Merryn whether I like it or not... I'm not keen on Eve or Zara.

Emily - every second female over 20
Martha - disastrous if you are Bristolian. (Marfall) otherwise ace
Alice - Alice! Who the f* is Alice? Nonetheless, my bff, so yes! Alicia?
But not Alicent.
Merryn - Trant
Molly - every third female over 20
Nina -DIYAB (Neenall)
Sophia - will get called Sofe
Zara - DIYAB (Zarall)
Eve - competing with Evie, Evelyn, Evelyn, Steve, possibly Eva…
Lydia - nice, tattoo friendly
Iris - excellent, Googoo Dolls

I really like Iris or Eve.
Martha and Molly are my least favourite on this list.

Iris
alice
nina
molly

those are my picks! Lovely list though

Actually Antonia is a good call and ready for a revival.

Emily - 7th choice, another absolute classic that’s relatively timeless, and another very safe option but there are just others I like the sound of better.
Martha - 11th choice, never understood the love for this as it sounds dreary/drudge like
Alice - 4th choice, absolute classic, pretty timeless and definitely the “safe” option.
Merryn - 9th choice, pleasant enough, feels less classic than your other picks.
Molly - 10th choice as I’m generally not keen on nickname style names.
Nina - 3rd choice, simple, yet feminine and elegant plus surprisingly underused. I’m just not sure if I prefer more classic but similar Anna? 🤔
Sophia - 6th choice, beautiful and fab meaning but I think having so many of them (when you include all the Sophie/Sofia’s too) has spoilt it a bit.
Zara - 5th choice, pretty and simple with a slightly exotic feel. I just personally prefer similar Lara or Sara more.
Eve - 1st favourite and on my own girls list .Gorgeous, elegant and simple - but a funky palindrome too. Only concern is the myriad of other Ev- names that might be in her class too 😢
Lydia - 2nd choice and again on my list, beautiful, classic and elegant yet with a slightly quirky feel
Iris - 8th choice, gorgeous imagery in the flower and goddess, I just think it has a slightly harsh sound.

Quite a few your choices were on my own girls list, nice picks! ( I also had Anna, Elizabeth, Claudia, Antonia, Verity, Lara and Isabel on it if it’s of any interest).

Emily - hate this name so much, bland and boring. hate it.
Martha - could be dowdy on one person but elegant on another
Alice - bit dull but okay
Merryn - pretty
Molly - like
Nina - like
Sophia - so many of them about. I always want to pronounce it with a strong New Jersey accent 'yo sophiiiiiiiiia'
Zara - pretty
Eve - pretty but overdone
Lydia - like
Iris - not a massive fan

Lovely list!! It’s rare I like all the names on a list!
I absolutely love Alice - that’s my favourite.
I also love - Martha, Iris and Eve.
I really like all the others.

I love Nina, Zara, Eve and Lydia, all were on our list. Also like Iris a lot, and Emily is nice too.

I like them all!
Alice, Emily and Nina are my favourites.
I prefer Sophie to Sophia.
Molly and Merryn probably would be my last two picks from the list.

Not keen on martha or molly.

Weirdly feeling Nina!
Its a cool name and prob due a comeback...

Merryn is the only Cornish name I like! It’s in my top 10 hypothetical baby girl names.