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Baby names

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

Original poster

Struggling to pick a name for our 4 day old

113 replies

Luckyasall · 20/12/2024 15:09

DH and I welcome our lovely little baby girl into the world 4 days ago, before she was born we had a list of names we liked but decided to wait until she was here to decide for sure, but now we still can't quite decide and I'm not sure how much longer I can go on calling her baby girl!

Our shortlist is
Leonora (personal favourite)
Arabella (DHs personal favourite)
Clara (seasonal contender, we go to see the nutcracker every year and baby girl was born on the day we were due to go see it this year)
Madeleine (really not a fan of Maddy as a nickname).

My personal choice would be Leonora with Clara as a middle name in place of using Elizabeth (both of our grandmas are Elizabeth but I'm not really attached to using this and it feels like we are filling a gap).

So full name Leonora Clara Taylor-Scott

But DH is worried it doesn't flow well so thinks either

Arabella Clara or Clara Arabella would be better.

Madeleine is the name we first set on naming a little girl when we got married and started TTC but I'm not sure it feels right now.

Any thoughts?

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TwigTheWonderKid · 21/12/2024 17:53

Middle names will only matter for about 5 mins when you announce it and maybe for about 2 seconds when/ if they get married. So go.with what you love and don't worry too much about things ,"going" or "flowing"

MerryChristmasToYou · 21/12/2024 16:44

@Matildahoney , me neither, especially when it's focusing on whether Isla Grace flows without considering the surname, and Isla Tyler doesn't flow Grin

TheaBrandt · 21/12/2024 15:07

It was meant to be! The perfect name. Sooo satisfying when you find the right name. Both my girls are teens now and love their names <smug>

Original poster
Luckyasall · 21/12/2024 15:02

Thank you everyone.

Funny little addition but after telling my mum today that we have named her Clara, she cried and told me that when I was about 5 I went to see the nutcracker on Christmas Eve and got a doll for Christmas which I named Clara after Clara in the Ballet. Feels very full circle and I have no memory of that doll at all!

OP posts:
kezzykate · 21/12/2024 14:58

They're all nice expect I personally find Arabella too frilly.

I don't think people ever care about middle names so wouldn't let that dictate your choice.

My favourites are Leonora Elizabeth and Clara Elizabeth.

ScruffMuffin · 21/12/2024 14:50

Not two -a names before Taylor!
I like Clara Elizabeth.

OptimisticRealist2024 · 21/12/2024 10:29

I think Clara Elizabeth works best - the other combinations of Arabella, Clara and Leonora all sound clumsy and cumbersome to me. I can't tell if it's too many vowels or consonants (or both).

Edited to say I've just seen you're going with this! Congratulations! 😊

tangobravo · 21/12/2024 09:23

Clara Elizabeth is sooo classic and beautiful. And special for this time of year too but not on the nose! Congratulations

LostittoBostik · 21/12/2024 08:43

I love the name Clara...

Clara Elizabeth is a nice name

arlequin · 21/12/2024 08:42

Clara is a beautiful name. Congratulations!

Enko · 21/12/2024 08:08

Clara Elizabeth is lovely

Matildahoney · 21/12/2024 07:58

I don't understand the 'it doesn't flow well' realistically middle names only go on paperwork so it doesn't really matter if they flow well.

TheaBrandt · 21/12/2024 07:47

She will thank you as a teen / adult. Pretty, classy, easy to spell, well known but not overused.

Reetpetitenot · 21/12/2024 07:39

Clara Elizabeth flows beautifully and Clara is a beautiful name.

TheaBrandt · 21/12/2024 07:36

Ooh you’ve gone for Clara! Good shout gorgeous name.

TheaBrandt · 21/12/2024 07:34

Personally think Leonora and Arabrlla are abit fussy / frilly. Clara is absolutely beautiful and actually hardly know any and have been in girl world for 18 years now.

Aberentian · 21/12/2024 07:32

Bunkbedbunk · 20/12/2024 15:41

I love the name Madeline but no longer would use it due to its association with MMcC

Seriously? There are still so many other people called it, I find this odd.

I see OP has picked and her choice is lovely but in case anyone else is reading I think Lina is a great short for Madeleine if you don't like Maddy and it's a beautiful name.

I also love Madeline, which is not even pronounced the same way!

user1492757084 · 21/12/2024 02:19

Clara Elizabeth Taylor-Scott is lovely!
They are your favourites all rolled into one beautiful name.

If you have another daughter you can still choose ..
Leonor Arabella Taylor-Scott
Madeleine Leonora Taylor-Scott.

mathanxiety · 21/12/2024 01:51

Clara Madeleine is gorgeous.

FoolShapeHeart · 21/12/2024 01:50

Clara Madeleine Taylor-Scott

user1492757084 · 21/12/2024 01:41

Clara, Leonora and Arabella all sound too 'a' with Taylor-Scott.
Say them out aloud.

My favourites, inspired from your list..
Leonor Clara Taylor-Scott .. Leonor Taylor-Scott is smart.
Leonor Elizabeth Taylor-Scott
Elizabeth Clara Taylor-Scott
Arabelle Elizabeth Taylor-Scott
Madeleine Clara Taylor-Scott

Onlyvisiting · 20/12/2024 23:43

Luckyasall · 20/12/2024 15:36

Don't really like Leona or Clarabelle.

Not so much looking for new name ideas as the best of the ideas we have.

DH has just said that he is happy with Leonora if that's what I want but he feels like she's more of a Clara!

Maybe Clara is the way to go and she was telling us that is her name by cancelling our plans!

Show quote history

Leonora is pretty and unusual, but it's quite long so you need to be prepared for a NN, im guessing nora is the obvious choice and that has a very different feel to it.
I wouldn't have 2 names ending in a personally. So Leonora arabella or clara is very sing songy. .
I like Bella more than nora so would go arabella. But with a 1 or 2 syllable middle name after either of your favourites.

What about just Beth as the middle name ?
Leonora Beth
Arabella Beth
Clara Elizabeth
Clarissa?

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 20/12/2024 23:32

Clara Elizabeth would totally be my instinct. Clara is pretty, simple to say and spell and fairly classic. Elizabeth is completely timeless with amazing history and a myriad of nn’s too if for any reason she doesn’t like Clara. Together the names tell a lovely family story for whenever she eventually asks why/how she was named (and is more interesting than just “we liked the sound of it”🤣).

Manchesterbythesea · 20/12/2024 23:19

Congratulations on your new baby.
You have great taste in names anyway. I adore Leonora but don’t think Clara works as a middle name. Leonora Elizabeth is better.

ForeverinBJ · 20/12/2024 23:05

Leonora Clara is lovely!