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Baby names

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

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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Yamamm · 29/10/2025 09:37

Anna!
Beautiful classic name.
I wouldn’t have two ending in A as it seems a bit twee. I have twins and really wanted to avoid matchy sounds.
Bella is a dogs name these days. Every other dog is Bella or Luna.
All your names are fine though. I’d vote Anna and Madeleine.

Avantiagain · 29/10/2025 09:31

Emma and Clara. I'm not keen on Bella.

Calliopespa · 29/10/2025 04:56

Emma I just find a bit bland.

Calliopespa · 29/10/2025 04:55

I think they all sound nice.

I don't always love Lottie as it makes me think Clottie, but it's perfectly ok.

Clara I like. Bella is sweet but I do think much better with a longer name on the BC.

Greenfinch7 · 29/10/2025 04:48

Another variant--
Anya and Clara

Palexpo · 29/10/2025 04:44

I have an Anna and a Clara - not twins but sisters. Obviously I love both names and get lots of complements on both. Nobody has ever made a Tank Engine connection.

I like Bella and Clara too but I think Anna, or Emma, has more substance than Bella. They are also less commonly heard than Bella nowadays.

Charlotte and Madeline is also a great combination. I would consider Madeline with Amelie on your list. Both slightly French sounding and very pretty.

LivingTheDreamish · 29/10/2025 01:27

I like all your options with Clara. Also: Stella and Clara

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'.

Enough4me · 28/10/2025 23:03

I'd go for Ella and Clara.

Ooogle · 28/10/2025 23:01

Oh I just read the pp comments about the trains- I’m way far out of the Thomas tank days so forgot about Annie and Clarabel

Annabelle so you’ve got Anna but the nickname Bella? Still a bit Thomas tank tho maybe. Or Mabel and Clara and Mabel could also be Bella?

Kelly1969 · 28/10/2025 23:01

I wouldn’t worry about whether the names go together.
They are individuals and it’s really irrelevant at any age but particularly when they are off independently doing their own thing.
Lots of people use names that are traditionally short for another name, Bobby, Charlie, Archie, Alfie so it really doesnt matter these days..
its really what you like but to throw my opinion in I like Bella, Charlotte, Emma, Amelie, not so keen on the others.

LaserPumpkin · 28/10/2025 22:59

I wouldn’t have Charlotte and Madeleine as they’re both names of desserts / baked goods.

I’d have Clara and Madeleine or Bella and Charlotte.

Ooogle · 28/10/2025 22:58

Anna and Clara are beautiful together and much better than Bella and Clara IMO.

i always thought if I had twin girls I would like Charlotte and Olivia because I love the nicknames Livvy and Lottie

Troisoranges · 28/10/2025 22:55

Another vote for Clara and Madeleine

CarpetKnees · 28/10/2025 22:49

Anna and Clara remind me of the carriages from Thomas the Tank Engine and now I can't not hear it, sorry.

This.
Don't do that to twins.

We know they are Annie and Clarabel but it's too close.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 28/10/2025 22:33

Amelie and Clara is lovely

Dolphinnoises · 28/10/2025 22:27

I’d have Clara and Madeleine.

Firebird83 · 28/10/2025 22:24

Anna and Clara are lovely!

Or you could have Anna and Charlotte (maybe Annie and Lottie) or Charlotte and Philippa (Lottie and Pippa)

Needspaceforlego · 28/10/2025 22:20

I really dont really like Madeline and I hate Maddie,

However
Charlotte / Lottie
Annabella / Bella
Clarabelle

Any mix of them would work

Moreteaandchocolate · 28/10/2025 22:04

Sonotforit · 28/10/2025 21:51

Oh and something else we’ve considered

We both love the name Anna, we sort of discounted it as our close friends daughter is Annie but we do really like Anna and Clara together.

Anna and Clara are lovely but I can’t unhear the Annie and Clarabel carriages unfortunately. Similarly with Clara and Bella…

Emma and Clara are gorgeous together imo.

Charlotte and Madeleine (Lottie and Maddie) are lovely too. Charlotte and Philippa (Lottie and Pippa) are nice together.

Leonora and Adeline are pretty together too.

I’d pick Emma and Clara - two of my favourite names 😊

Eenameenadeeka · 28/10/2025 22:04

I'd go with Emma and Clara, over Bella it just seems less of a nickname and it's actually less popular at the moment as well I think.

Quixota · 28/10/2025 21:54

I love Charlotte and Madeleine together out of those choices. But Bella and Clara are lovely too.

Anna and Charlotte? Also love. Anna and Clara remind me of the carriages from Thomas the Tank Engine and now I can't not hear it, sorry.

Tralalalama · 28/10/2025 21:53

I like Emma and Clara or Amelie and Clara

RosesAndHellebores · 28/10/2025 21:53

Hannah and Clara?
Charlotte and Madeleine?

I'm not 100% about Bella and Clara and think Hannah is a little bit better than Emma with a similar vibe.

ninjahamster · 28/10/2025 21:51

Bella and Clara are gorgeous names.