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Baby names

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

Original poster

Clara or Beatrice

57 replies

Bella1905 · 16/10/2025 15:45

Which name would you pick if you had to choose between either please? Both match sibling names and surname. Neither are my first choice but my husband isn’t keen on that and likes both and they are the closest to a compromise I think. Thank you.

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IfHeWantedToHeWould · 17/10/2025 13:51

Clara definitely.

Emanwenym · 17/10/2025 08:26

Clara is 0x nicer than Beatrice. It's not nice.

PerriFuckingSickOfIt · 16/10/2025 23:03

HoldingTheDoor · 16/10/2025 19:56

Clara is 1000x nicer than Beatrice.

This

WaltzingWaters · 16/10/2025 22:34

Clara 100%

ChuffingNoraah · 16/10/2025 22:30

Clara by a country mile.

JillyGiraffe · 16/10/2025 22:27

Beatrice.

Firebird83 · 16/10/2025 22:12

Beatrice. Clara has a harsh sound.

Whentosayitsover · 16/10/2025 22:09

I think both names are lovely. I don’t think you can go wrong with either of them .

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 16/10/2025 22:07

Clara.

Clara Beatrice is a lovely combo.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 16/10/2025 20:41

I like them both (helpful) so I'd look at dark greener and pick whichever is less popular

Cinnamonbunn · 16/10/2025 20:40

Clara, I think it sounds fresher and more classic. I can see Beatrice dating.

peoplegetreadyforthetrain · 16/10/2025 20:31

Clara

goudacheese · 16/10/2025 20:30

I love them both but particularly Beatrice, Bea or Beattie is nice for short.

Mandarinaduck · 16/10/2025 20:30

Both pretty but I prefer Beatrice. I actually prefer Clare / Claire to Clara even though it's seen as dated. I also like Clara pronounced Clair-a.

SagittariusUprising · 16/10/2025 20:15

Clara. It’s what we would have called no2 if we’d had a girl

Original poster
Bella1905 · 16/10/2025 20:11

Thanks all. A mixed response so far!

OP posts:
HoldingTheDoor · 16/10/2025 19:56

Clara is 1000x nicer than Beatrice.

Emanwenym · 16/10/2025 19:53

Bebe or Trixie - both awful and contrived.

Allswellthatendswelll · 16/10/2025 19:37

Beatrice could be Beattie or Bebe or Trixie not just Bea

I also like Clara though

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 16/10/2025 19:31

Clara.

Cappuccino5 · 16/10/2025 19:30

Love both but Beatrice has the edge for me! Classy & feminine. If you’re not keen on Bea as a nickname then Issy is a good option.

tarheelbaby · 16/10/2025 19:30

Both are nice enough names, distinctive but well known so unlikely to be 2 or more in a class but maybe 2 in a year group.

**If you choose Beatrice, she will probably (almost certainly) be known to everyone as Bea. Are you prepared for others to shorten? For her to chose the shorter version?! All the Beatrices I know use short forms.

[I taught lots of girls with lovely names who chose for themselves the most basic nickname: Florence going straight to Flo or Floss(ie) - the more distinctive, more elegant, the name the more basic a diminuitive they chose]

Pomegranatemum · 16/10/2025 19:23

Love them both! Beatrice (nn Bea) was on our shortlist for DD2.

GreyCloudsLooming · 16/10/2025 19:22

Beatrice by far.
Definitely not Clara.

Thewalrusandthecarpenter · 16/10/2025 19:21

Definitely Clara. I don’t like Beatrice and it inevitably becomes Bea.

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