What do you think of when you hear these names?

Ruth reminds me of the plain, brainy but lovely woman in Spooks.
Zoe - I'm sorry but to me this is what I call a bitchy name. I think it's school connotations as Michelle is another one.
Clara - like it a lot. Clara Bow was an actress in the 1920s I think.
Iris - one of the nicest flower names but becoming quite popular now. Iris Murdoch too.

Ruth - nice, simple - ok.
Zoe - have never liked this
Clara - quite popular here - stylish, elegant.
Iris - my 8 year old dd. Also did not realise it was trendy - only met one other in nearly 9 years. Also Murdoch, of course.

Iris is DDs name so obviously I love it...didn't realise it was part of the trendy crew though , she's named after my grandmother and his so Iris Maria...was thinking of Iris May, but as she was born in april......

Clara, I love

Zoe and Ruth both nice too.

ruth - ruthless (attrib. to female with this quality sorry)

Zoe - Wannamaker - funny looking face

Clara - magnificent: has the rare quality of being fit for a baby, fit for a toddler, fit for a young lady, fit for a grown woman and fit for a grandma too. love it!

Iris - pretty but a bit too popular perhaps...?

I love Iris. Wish I was allowed it!!!!! DH Being an arse on the name conversation front!!! Anyone else having such probs?!

Come on which will you choose? xxx

I was considering Ruth for DC3 should some miracle occur and this baby not be another DS , so I obviously quite like it.

Zoe is a bit of a nothingy name.

Clara is pretty, but is a bit too much like Clare.

Not sure about Iris.....

Ruth - not a follower - a strong, clever woman and a good friend
Zoe - reminds me of two lovely friends. Would suit almost anyone. Classic
Clara - a horse in a Jilly Cooper novel
Iris - mad old lady/drippy girl

Ruth - my lovely friend, I thought it meant "compassionate", perhaps "pitying" is lost in translation somewhere
Zoe - lovely
Clara - lovely, Heidi's disabled friend who learns to walk and lives happily ever after
Iris - lovely, eyes, rainbows, beautiful flowers

Ruth - I like but I once read that it meant 'pitying' and its put me off ever since...
Zoe - its classless, the best here I think
Clara - bit drippy
Iris - 'ugly' name, imo, sorry (!)

If you are looking for no nonsense ageless names how about;
Mary - really like this
Fiona
Julia

I have a Ruth and believe me when I say that she is not serious, plain, sensible or boring. Determined is a good word for her Most of the Ruths I know like to be centre-stage but they also make amazing friends and have a great sense of fun. All of them have a very dry sense of humour.

Out of those I like Clara the best, I think of Clara Bow, the actress from the 20's.
Im not keen on Iris for the one reason being that my sisters ExMIL was called Iris, she was a bit crabby and standoffish and we nicknamed her "theIris" So that name has forever been tainted!
Ruth and Zoe dont make me think of anything in particular they just seem to be nice, non offensive girls names!

Ruth - I really dislike its sound
Zoe - No
Clara - Ok
Iris - Nice

Ruth - a bit of a serious/plain name
Zoe - a friendly sort of a girl
Clara - Ok. getting popular. German
Iris - really like it - means Rainbow

_Ruth - a bit old fashioned / old testament for me
Zoe - love it!
Clara - ok
Iris - cornea

Ruth: a bit hard, reminds me of Nancy in Swallows and Amazons
Zoe: don't know why but do not like it
Clara: love this name, old fashioned but also current
Iris: I adore it but I see mnetters think it is becoming v prevalent now - makes me think of someone elegant and enviable!

Ruth - classic, no-nonsense name (for nonsense the useful nn Ruthie can be used )

Zoe - I always liked this as a child. Was jealous of girls with the name Zoe. Thought it was a cool name. One horrible Zoe ruined that for me though.

Clara - I think I like it. Certainly don't dislike it. It's too much like Cara to dislike and I love Cara.

Iris - don't like. The eye, Murdoch, a flower.

Ruth - warm and intelligent
Zoe - zany, arty, pretty
Clara - bit simple, pretty
Iris - angular, neurotic, beautiful

They are a nice set of choices.
Short -- you must like short names and dislike NNs.

Ruth - lovely, simple, strong, under-used
Zoe - not too keen but it's ok
Clara - lovely, simple, strong, under-used
Iris - don;t like the sound of it, sort of ugly sound, over-used by a trendyish group

I love them.

Beautiful names.

Ruth - Biblical, strong and classy. Ruthie for a baby is lovely
Zoe - Sweet - the president's daughter in the West Wing
Clara - Heidi - bit of a pain
Iris - the old lady in the upstair's flat

Ruth - like the name and know a nice Ruth
Zoe - not so keen, harsh sounding
Clara - like the name and know a nice Clara
Iris - trying a bit too hard. Nice enough name but, as cece says, getting bit too trendy

Ruth - clever and sophisticated
Zoe - your mate
Clara - a bit haughty, likes ponies
Iris - parents who tried to be trendy