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Original poster

Some names we are pondering over......

45 replies

daisy5 · 12/01/2009 17:41

Just wondering what people think of when they hear these names.....

Juliet
Genevieve
Portia
Gretchen
Francesca
Emilia
Helena
Anastasia
Alexandra

We have a short surname so the longer names sound really good but I worry that they can come across as pretentious (such as Anastasia - although very pretty I think).

Any thoughts.

Many thanks.

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Sesi · 12/01/2009 20:44

Juliet - Classic, but a bit wet.
Genevieve - Classy, grown up, very nice.
Portia - Awful, quite chavvy, reminds me of a name like Chanel or Armani.
Gretchen - Ugly sound. Greta is ok.
Francesca - It's ok, Frankie isn't nice, so I would be wary.
Emilia - Nice, a bit close to Emily which is way over used.
Helena - Very nice, imo the nicest name of your choices.
Anastasia - I love this name but Ana & Stasi only nicknames are not great.
Alexandra - Safe, again can't go wrong but not very interesting.

LiffeyMermaid · 12/01/2009 20:35

Juliet - absolutely lovely. A really feminine but strong name which doesn't end in 'a' I like that.
Genevieve - probably ginny for short which is pretty. Genevieve hard to spell, hard to pronounce and a bit Disney Barbie.
Portia - lovely but I would use it as a middle name.
Gretchen - not keeen, but I love Greta and Margot
Francesca - not keen because I don't like Franky or Fanny
Emilia - nice. Jemma or Jemima lovely too.
Helena - ok. the H spoils it. ELena nicer
Anastasia - ok, bit long and fussy, so it would be shortened to Ana or Annie which are both nice. I prefer Annabel, especially as it is a pretty name like Juliet but doesn't end in 'a'
Alexandra - not overly keen. Sasha for short ok.

Hassled · 12/01/2009 20:31

Portia is a bit poncey.

Gretchen a bit Hansel and Gretel-ey - you expect pigtails and Germanic wholesomeness.

Genevieve was the name of a car in a 1960s film, but is lovely.

The rest all nice names.

LaDiDaDi · 12/01/2009 20:28

Juliet-like it
Genevieve-ok
Portia-ok
Gretchen-really don't like it
Francesca-lovely
Emilia-very nice
Helena-very pretty and classical
Anastasia-ok
Alexandra-very pretty and classical again!

annasmami · 12/01/2009 20:24

I love Anastasia and Helena!

I find Gretchen really ridiculous (sorry, I really do)! It is the German 'cute' form of Greta and would not suit a girl older than 3!! I also have no idea how you would pronounce the -chen in English . Sorry, but you did ask!

brimfull · 12/01/2009 19:52

love
Helena,
Gretchen
Juliet

not keen on the others

HelenBurns · 12/01/2009 19:49

Be brave, bluff it - no one will dare say you're being pretentious! Especially as you're not, you just like the names.

I love most of those,

Juliet is the nicest imo.
You can't have Gretchen as I have bagged it for my yet-to-be-conceived daughter!

CatchaStar · 12/01/2009 19:48

Emilia is my favourite, you could have Emmy for short which is lovely.

Not overly keen on any other except for Juliet.

deleting · 12/01/2009 19:47

like them all except genevieve, portia and gretchen

pamelat · 12/01/2009 19:47

Juliet - ok
Genevieve - don't like
Portia - terrible
Gretchen - no
Francesca - lovely but hard for little ones to say?
Emilia - like
Helena - very nice (my favourite on your list)
Anastasia - no
Alexandra - also very nice

So Helena, Alexandra and Francesca are my favourites.

themildmanneredjanitor · 12/01/2009 19:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hulababy · 12/01/2009 19:45

Of your list I think I prefer Anatastia, and nn Ana. Emilia is nice too.

NotADragonOfSoup · 12/01/2009 19:44

They're all OK except Gretchen which is horrendous.

harpomarx · 12/01/2009 19:42

I only like Francesca. Though Alexandra is ok.

Is Elizabeth too boring? Gabriela?

I don't really like long names, sorry!

chandellina · 12/01/2009 19:41

have known Gretchens, Genevieves and Juliets and always thought those were great names. The others are ok but i like those three best.

mrswoolf · 12/01/2009 19:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsjuan · 12/01/2009 18:00

I like Alexandra best.
Quite like Gretchen but don;t think I'd be brave enough to use it myself!

Boobz · 12/01/2009 17:57

Alexandra is the best
Juliet, Genevieve are second best
Gretchen, Helena are good
No to Portia, Francesca, Emilia and Anastasia.

SAEJ · 12/01/2009 17:55

Love Alexandra, like Helena, find people always spell/pronnounce Portia wrong (Porsche). Prefer Amelia or Amelie.

Also like Cecile and Cecelia.

Nancy66 · 12/01/2009 17:53

Anastasia is my favourite of the bunch. Portia is the only one I'd class as pretentious

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