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Baby names

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Original poster

Twins - Bella and Clara or Charlotte and Madeleine

60 replies

Sonotforit · 28/10/2025 21:35

DH and I have 5 day old baby girls, twins. We thought their names would come to us naturally but we haven’t found that to be the case.

We love Bella and Clara and we think these names suit them but are worried Bella feels more nicknamey than full name. We don’t like Isabelle/Isabella, Annabel or Arabella.

We also like Charlotte and Madeleine but we just aren’t as sold on either of the names, we do love Lottie and Maddie though.

We also had
Pippa
Amelie
Emma
Leonora
Adeline

On our list

Personally I love Emma and Clara together but DH is worried Emma is a little plain though he does like the name. DH is a fan of Amelie.

Any thoughts here? It’s so tricky to pick names!

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Needspaceforlego · 29/10/2025 18:17

I'm loving Charlotte and Gabriella as a pair.
Charlotte can become Charlie or Lottie
Gabriella also has a few options Gabby, Ella, Briel,

CreativeGreen · 29/10/2025 16:06

You're going to be saying the two names together a lot over the next 18 years at least - I think Bella and Clara merge a bit uncomfortably ("bellarunclara") and they sound like bookends to one another, whereas Charlotte and Madeleine are of the same ilk without sounding like a complementary pair, if that makes sense.

CherryPinkAppleBlossomWhite · 29/10/2025 16:01

Congratulations on your twin girls! I have twin girls too. Personally I love Emma and Clara, funnily enough both names were on my short list for my twins. I don't think Emma is plain at all, it's lovely. I also love Amelie...that name was also on my short list!

tinytemper66 · 29/10/2025 15:57

Charlotte and Madeline definitely

Needspaceforlego · 29/10/2025 15:54

GreyCloudsLooming · 29/10/2025 15:49

Have you not seen the more recent programmes? International names and female characters.

Show quote history

Nope, I have a vague memory of a pink train, but i can't remember her name. Youngest is beyond Thomas but it seemed to disappear between oldest 15 and youngest 9 when they were at the right age for it

GreyCloudsLooming · 29/10/2025 15:49

Needspaceforlego · 28/10/2025 23:36

I wouldn't worry about the Thomas the Tank Engine names it is sort of in the past. He seemed to disappear about 10 years ago.
I can't see it making a come back. Its just too dated. Not enough balance between male / female and all the names are very 'English'.

Edited

Have you not seen the more recent programmes? International names and female characters.

middleagedandinarage · 29/10/2025 15:48

I love Anna, Clara, Charlotte and Madeleine. (also really like Lottie but not a fan of Maddie)
Emma is also really nice.
I think a combination of any would be lovely, I wouldn't feel you have to go either 2 short or 2 long. I also feel Anna and Annie are different names.

PracticalPixie · 29/10/2025 15:36

Annabel is lovely. Could use Bella or Anna as nicknames maybe?

AntiHop · 29/10/2025 15:35

Charlotte and Madeline. Have similar vibes. Both have opportunities for shortening.

Needspaceforlego · 29/10/2025 15:32

Gabriella now thats not something I'd have thought off, but its stunning, and I really struggle with girls names.

Notagain75 · 29/10/2025 15:28

Anna and Charlotte ,or Anna and Madelaine would get my vote.
I think its better for twins names not to have the same ending or sound too alike
I like Bella but agree it would be better if she could have a longer name too.

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 29/10/2025 15:19

Congratulations!

Charlotte, Madeleine and Clara are nice.

How about Isabella, Gabrielle/a or Annabella?

Squirrelmirrel · 29/10/2025 15:14

Also, I personally can't get past Madeleine McCann but Madeleine and Charlotte undoubtedly go well together too.

Squirrelmirrel · 29/10/2025 15:12

I wouldn't go for Bella. It's very of the moment and its quite nicknamie.
I love Clara so much, I also love Emma and Anna.
The Annie and Clarabel thing would bother me though I think.
Clara and Emma sound great. Both classic literary names. But if your DH isn't sold on Emma, Amelie is a lovely alternative.

Blueuggboots · 29/10/2025 14:31

Amelie and Clara.

ohnonotthisargumentagain · 29/10/2025 14:25

Yes of course it matters that they go together because they will go everywhere together for quite a long time.
I do like the idea of having a long name that can be shortened because it gives them choice. One of my twins switched to her long name when she changed schools.
Love all your names btw

MrsKateColumbo · 29/10/2025 14:15

Bella is a bit overused imo, Dd's year is small but there's so many anabel/isabella/bella combos, i cant keep track with who is who

Zanatdy · 29/10/2025 13:56

Charlotte and Madeleine. Both have full names for BC but also nice nicknames in Lottie and Maddie.

Pranksters · 29/10/2025 13:56

Love Anna and Clara but it is very close to the Thomas carriages as others have said!

I don’t like Bella at all, it’s the number one name for dogs and it’s just a bit nothingy. Emma is lovely. I don’t think it’s boring with Clara. Amelie is so popular and just blends into the sea of Amelias that are everywhere.

CrostaDiPizza · 29/10/2025 13:34

Bella and Clara - makes me think of Thomas the Tank Engine. Bella is popular for pets, and seems a bit tired now.

Emma and Clara go together better IMO. The names don't need to go together, they just need to be names you like, and not sound silly or too long together.

Charlotte and Madeleine but ... we do love Lottie and Maddie though.
Much nicer than Bella and Clara..

I only like Emma out of: Pippa, Amelie, Emma, Leonora and Adeline,
FWIW I don't like Clara.

HPrior · 29/10/2025 12:53

Amelie and Clara. Not too similar sounding but have a similar vibe (feminine but not overly flouncy), both modern-traditional names (not made up recently but haven’t been fashionable in the U.K. before now). Personally not a fan of Bella- I just think Twilight.

ButtonNoseBunny · 29/10/2025 12:53

I much prefer Charlotte and Madeline out of those choices. Both pretty and classic names that have multiple choices for nicknames but that will also serve them well into adulthood.

GreyCloudsLooming · 29/10/2025 12:49

I wouldn’t have two names ending in A. It’s a bit twee and matchy. I do love Anna, though. Not Bella, and I’m not keen on Clara. Would you consider Caroline, the English form of Charlotte? Caroline (Carrie/Caro) and Madeleine or Anna.

AgnesMcDoo · 29/10/2025 12:35

Charlotte, Madeline, Emma and Amelie are gorgeous

I don't like the nicknames.

user1492757084 · 29/10/2025 12:33

My favourite names for twins, considering your list:

Clara and Amelie
Clara and Ellen
Clara and Leonor
Clara and Anna
Clara and Adele

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