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Baby names

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Original poster

Estella?

115 replies

IsItADream · 24/06/2025 08:04

I posted a while ago asking for opinions on the name Flavia. Turns out my partner doesn't like it, nor any of the other 20ish names I suggested. So I made a new list and the only name he had a positive comment for was Estella. He actually said he had been thinking of Estella or Stella, but I immediately shot down Stella because I know my sister's immediate association will be the lager and I just can't get that out of my head.

What do people think of Estella? Still too close to Stella or does the extra E help?

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RuthW · 24/06/2025 17:33

It’s lovely

BreakingBroken · 24/06/2025 15:45

Known a few, strangely all South African (English German connection maybe).
But despite meeting them I quickly forget; was it Estelle? Estella? Or simply Stella?

Original poster
IsItADream · 24/06/2025 15:36

butterdish93 · 24/06/2025 15:33

estella is lovely.
as is Stella. Your sisters opinion is irrelevant.

but best of all I love Estelle.

I do like Estelle but it doesn't flow right with the surname and it would end up becoming Estell-uh in German anyway so we might as well go straight for Estella so German and English pronunciation are the same and we don't have to constantly correct/explain.

OP posts:
saveforthat · 24/06/2025 15:35

ToKittyornottoKitty · 24/06/2025 08:15

😂 Stella is literally a very famous beer and Estella is not

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No but when I saw the name, I immediately thought Estrella the beer also.

Original poster
IsItADream · 24/06/2025 15:33

Pianoaholic · 24/06/2025 15:27

He's very fussy!

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Haha, yes. I mean maybe I am as well but he hasn't made many suggestions yet this time.

When we were expecting our elder daughter his list included Medea, Salomé and Mila, all of which I said no to. Every other girl here is Mila (there are two at my daughter's nursery!) so now even he agrees that it's too common.

OP posts:
butterdish93 · 24/06/2025 15:33

estella is lovely.
as is Stella. Your sisters opinion is irrelevant.

but best of all I love Estelle.

Original poster
IsItADream · 24/06/2025 15:30

manicpixieschemegirl · 24/06/2025 14:59

Elana is really lovely. I prefer Alicia (A-liss-ia) to Alyssa but not sure how it would be pronounced in German?

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One of our neighbours has a 6 year old Alicia and she pronounces it A-leet-zia - not sure if that makes sense, but basically the C is said like the letter Z in pizza.

OP posts:
Pianoaholic · 24/06/2025 15:27

IsItADream · 24/06/2025 15:25

Celeste is another one he vetoed 😅

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He's very fussy!

Original poster
IsItADream · 24/06/2025 15:25

Pianoaholic · 24/06/2025 15:08

Do you like Celeste? It's a bit similar.
I do like Estella though, it's pretty.

Celeste is another one he vetoed 😅

OP posts:
Pianoaholic · 24/06/2025 15:08

Do you like Celeste? It's a bit similar.
I do like Estella though, it's pretty.

manicpixieschemegirl · 24/06/2025 14:59

IsItADream · 24/06/2025 14:52

Nina rhymes with my three year old's name. Elena ok, I prefer Elana (partner hasn't commented on that one yet)

Partner likes Alessia but it's very close to my cousin's name. I suggested Alyssa instead but her wasn't keen.

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Elana is really lovely. I prefer Alicia (A-liss-ia) to Alyssa but not sure how it would be pronounced in German?

Original poster
IsItADream · 24/06/2025 14:52

manicpixieschemegirl · 24/06/2025 14:16

I don’t love Estella.

Alessia
Nina
Elena
Tia
Violeta

Nina rhymes with my three year old's name. Elena ok, I prefer Elana (partner hasn't commented on that one yet)

Partner likes Alessia but it's very close to my cousin's name. I suggested Alyssa instead but her wasn't keen.

OP posts:
manicpixieschemegirl · 24/06/2025 14:16

I don’t love Estella.

Alessia
Nina
Elena
Tia
Violeta

Original poster
IsItADream · 24/06/2025 12:39

SupposesRoses · 24/06/2025 12:01

There are a lot of names in use in German-speaking countries (obviously these aren't all German names) that don't have those harsh sounds that English speakers aren't used to.

Anna
Lena/Leni
Romy
Maja/Maya
Lotta/Lotte
Hanna
Alina
Luise
Lara
Leonie
Livia
Lia
Pia
Anastasia
Flora
Nicole
Bianca

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Well yes, of course lots of Germans have different names - the top names last year were Emilia, Sofia and Emma, and 90% of the German women I know are named Katharina or Anna/Anne. I'm just saying I'm not a fan of the "typical", very German sounding ones.
Nicole would be Nee-coll, which doesn't particularly appeal to me either (not that Nic-ole is much better).
Romy has the German R that I cannot for the life of me pronounce. And we'd prefer something a little more unusual than Hannah (4th most popular girl's name in Germany in 2023 and 2024) or Lia (8th most popular).

OP posts:
Maddy70 · 24/06/2025 12:24

It instantly reminds me of beer. Estrella or Stella.

jjeoreo · 24/06/2025 12:17

"I'm like Estella...I like to reel it in and then spit it out...I'm frustrated by your aparthy.." that's what I think of when I hear the name. But I like it nonetheless

Y2ker · 24/06/2025 12:09

Bbq1 · 24/06/2025 10:33

What about Estelle? I know one.

Me too. It has no beer associations and is quite a classy name.

I like Esther too.

Doseofreality · 24/06/2025 12:06

Not for me, high class hooker vibes. Sorry.

Doitrightnow · 24/06/2025 12:03

I like Estella. I do think Great Expectations but it doesn't put me off.

I had Estella on my list. Others were:

Adelaide
Lorna
Carlotta
Aida
Angelica
Anastasia
Belinda
Corinna / Karina
Delia
Daphne
Diana
Delphine
Elektra
Genevieve
Ginevra
Jessica
Julietta
Leda
Miranda
Natasha
Nadine
Petrova
Roberta
Zara
Louisa
Brigitta
Julissa
Roxanne
Calypso
Zelda
Zerelda

NoVibrato · 24/06/2025 12:02

ToKittyornottoKitty · 24/06/2025 08:15

😂 Stella is literally a very famous beer and Estella is not

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But Stella's been a girl's name for ever, too (think of Streetcar Named Desire) and it simply means "star" in Latin.

SupposesRoses · 24/06/2025 12:01

IsItADream · 24/06/2025 10:29

I'm not a fan of Agatha in either language. I don't like the way Germans pronounce Elisabeth, plus I have an Aunty Liz. Fiona is my cousin. Astrid was on my list but again he said no.
Gerda sounds awful, sorry. Most German names sound awful to me to be honest - Helga, Mechthild, Gisela, the German pronunciation of Iris and Ada (and the English pronunciation of Eva - I just think of Wall-E saying Ee-Va, Ee-Va!)

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There are a lot of names in use in German-speaking countries (obviously these aren't all German names) that don't have those harsh sounds that English speakers aren't used to.

Anna
Lena/Leni
Romy
Maja/Maya
Lotta/Lotte
Hanna
Alina
Luise
Lara
Leonie
Livia
Lia
Pia
Anastasia
Flora
Nicole
Bianca

Fartughtyred · 24/06/2025 11:53

Estella is pretty, although people might just hear Stella if you don't pronounce the E clearly:
How about Della, which is both pretty and unusual - I knew a Della who was very pretty and very kind, so good vibes perhaps!

Ihaveacatwhoisfat · 24/06/2025 11:41

What about Elise?

I really wouldn’t worry about the Great Expectations association, it’s hardly everyone.

Sudename · 24/06/2025 11:39

Estella is a lovely name though, I'd go for it

Original poster
IsItADream · 24/06/2025 11:32

Sudename · 24/06/2025 10:40

What about Sylvia

Sylvia is actually a family name on my side. I want to live it but I just don't. Partner doesn't either so it would be out anyway. I suggested Sylvette as a kind of tribute but he didn't like that either!

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