Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Zara, Francesca or something else?

34 replies

januaryy · 08/01/2026 22:09

Hi,

Due baby no. 2 in a few months and just found out I’m having a girl.

I have a Hugo already. I like that Hugo’s name isn’t particularly common (where I am in the UK, anyway, I appreciate it is v popular in some areas), can’t really be shortened, suits a baby or an adult but isn’t old man-ish. Everyone I meet loves his name, as do I.

I naively thought girl names would be easier but it’s providing to be just as difficult!

The current top 2 names are Zara and Francesca. Zara obviously ticks a lot of the same boxes as Hugo whereas I don’t like any of the shortened versions of Francesca so that’s a clear downside. I do like the full name but I worry it’s too long for everyday use.

I’d be really grateful to hear any other suggestions you think might “go” nicely. Surname is uneventful, two syllables and starts with “Lo….”.

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
stample · 10/01/2026 21:54

Zara is lovely
ypu may also like
Zinnia
Adalyn
Florence
Delilah
Saskia
Mauricia

BatsInHibernation · 10/01/2026 21:24

I really like both Zara and Francesca. However, as you don't like any NN for Francesca, I think it has to be vetoed.
Other suggestions.. Hugo and..
Felicity
Gabriella
Nina
Serena
Lucinda
Verity
Claudia
Camille
Renee
Josephine
Louisa

Jemima
Eliza
Alexandra
Viola

user1492757084 · 10/01/2026 11:59

Hugo and Zara sound ideal for siblings.

Francesca is gorgeous too.
Chesca and Chessy are sweet short forms that I have heard used..
Also Fran, Franny and Fanny.

LilyLemonade · 09/01/2026 23:41

Zara and Francesca are both lovely. If you don't like any diminutives for Francesca, go for Zara. What about Frances?

A few other suggestions:
Livia
Tamara
Melissa
Chloe

Emanwenym · 09/01/2026 20:41

Hugh, Hewg (sp?), Hugs, Huggy, Hughie, Shughie...
If a name can't be shortened, it gets lengthened.

Original poster
januaryy · 09/01/2026 20:33

Thank you all for taking the time to reply with your feedback and suggestions. It is much appreciated. 😊

Interestingly @user2848502016 Daphne was on my list for a long while but Scottish people (I’m in Scotland) do have a habit of calling someone a “dafty” as an insult, so I worry it’s a bit too close to that.

@EatingHealthy I’m curious to know what you would shorten Hugo to? I’ve never once heard it shortened or any suggestions for a nickname from it. I guess the natural “shortened” version is Hugh which isn’t actually any shorter by number of letters.

OP posts:
EatingHealthy · 09/01/2026 17:51

I'm not keen on Zara and I don't think it goes with Hugo at all. To me Hugo is posh and traditional whereas Zara is tacky and modern. I love Francesca and think it goes well with Hugo, but I do think it's likely to be shortened (not something I actually regard as an issue because I like the shortened versions but you obviously feel differently).

I'm perplexed by you saying Hugo can't be shortened though 🤔

user2848502016 · 09/01/2026 17:44

I prefer Zara for the same reasons as you, Francesca is nice but Fran/Frankie are awful

Susannah/Susie maybe
Helena
Eleanor
Daphne
Lydia
Eliza

TrentCrimmsflowinglocks · 09/01/2026 17:26

If you like Francesca, how about Alexandra? Zara is a perfectly decent name but I prefer Lara.

Forgottenmyphone · 09/01/2026 14:04

The Hugo that I know has sisters Xanthe and Sophia

Emanwenym · 09/01/2026 12:33

I know loads of Zaras and there's the shops. The Francescas I know tend to have their names shortened so if you don't like Frankie, Cesca, Fran etc, I'd use it as a middle name.

You have months to decide.

(I dislike Thea but Saskia is lovely)

mybediscold · 09/01/2026 11:42

I think Zara is so perfect, why look any further 😍

maria127 · 09/01/2026 11:12

I really like Zara

DreamOfTheRarebitFiend · 09/01/2026 10:46

Love Hugo and Zara! They sound perfect together.

I knew someone called Francesca who shortened it to Cesca, which could also be an option other than Fran.

DinoDances · 09/01/2026 10:41

I like Zara a lot. The Hugo I know has a sister called Fleur which I think is a lovely name.

Glittergargoyle · 09/01/2026 09:04

Raphaella
Claudia
Antonia

tTragicKingdom · 09/01/2026 08:50

I don't like the typical shortening's do Francesca but know someone who goes by Cesca (cheska pronounced) and I think it's so lovely!

Misspotterscat · 09/01/2026 08:47

Turmerictea · 09/01/2026 07:45

Francesca is shortened to Frankie, Frannie, Fran.

I love Francesca and also love Gwendoline, Georgina/Georgia, Juliette, Guinievere, Arwen, Felicity, Antonia, Adeline and Isobel. So you may like any of them! (My daughter is one of them).

I know three Francesca’s. One is Frankie, the other two are chess and cesca. They are all adults and those shortenings have been used throughout their lives.

notnow29 · 09/01/2026 08:19

Zara goes 100 times better with Hugo IMO, and I like it much better than Francesca.

Schoolregret · 09/01/2026 07:47

Gabriella
Saskia
Allegra
Clara
Genevieve
Julia

Turmerictea · 09/01/2026 07:45

Francesca is shortened to Frankie, Frannie, Fran.

I love Francesca and also love Gwendoline, Georgina/Georgia, Juliette, Guinievere, Arwen, Felicity, Antonia, Adeline and Isobel. So you may like any of them! (My daughter is one of them).

Mumofgirls2017 · 09/01/2026 07:44

Hugo and

Thea
Felicity
Nora
Eloise
Cecilia
Clara
Esther
Annabel
Phoebe
Juliet

Misspotterscat · 09/01/2026 07:40

Love Zara and Francesca, both beautiful. I particularly love the shortening of cesca or chessy for Francesca.
if you don’t like any of the shortenings then I would 100% go with Zara as it’s perfect.

Liondoesntsleepatnight · 09/01/2026 06:41

Violet
florence

ThelastRolo20 · 09/01/2026 06:23

Both those names were on our list but we've ended up with a Georgina and Jessica if that helps :)