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Baby names

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Original poster

Opinions on shortlist? Is Vida or Xania too much/too unusual?

31 replies

aspiegal · 28/05/2010 16:11

Finally, I have narrowed down names that are liked by most people I have spoken to (I'm not really that much of a people pleaser honest(!), but I didn't want a name most did not like).
However, is Vida too much? It means 'life' and I want a name with meaning.
Also is Xania a bit much- i prefer Xanthe if I'm honest, but so many people now like it that i'm getting worried!!!!!
Anyway, which names do you like the most and why?

Xanthe Rose
Xanthe Abigail
Xania Rose
Xania Sophia
Felicity Sophia Elizabeth nn Flick (Always!)
Rue Sophia Annika
Genevieve Rue
Vida Sophia Rue
Vida Annika
Jasmine Elizabeth
Lily Natalie

Feel free to suggest other middle names or other combininations of those names above (surname starts with B. I am an Eleanor)

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Original poster
aspiegal · 31/05/2010 14:23

Yes, Xania pronounced Zan-ee-a, and Xenia as Zen-ee-a!
I love certain Russian names, and like Ksenia, but imho, it sounds odd if you have no Russian ancestors or relatives, and name your child something very obviously Russian like Ksenia. Names like Natasha and Natalie that are used often anyway are fine I think but that might just be me...
I definitely think Xania and Xenia are off now because they sound a bit harsh, more so than Vida actually imo.
So now the shortlist is
Xanthe Rose
Xanthe Abigail
Xanthe Sophia
Felicity Sophia ELizabeth nn Flick
Genevieve with any of the other names after it
Vida again with any of the other choices after it
Lily Natalie
Jasmine Elizabeth

OP posts:
Teapot13 · 31/05/2010 13:47

I like Xanthe (what about Ianthe? I think I like that better).

I'm not too keen on Vida -- I agree with other posters that it sounds harsh, and to me it sounds a bit dated, too.

I don't know the name Xania. I like Xenia (Ksenia in Russian, as another poster said). How would you pronounce it? Zania/Zenia? I kind of like the KS, but that might be too hard-core for everyday use.

There's also the Ukrainian version of Ksenia Oksana. (pronounced Ox-ah-na). Writing that phonetically alerted to me to one potential problem with the name but if you spell it KS maybe no one will notice.

VengefulKitty · 31/05/2010 12:30

Vida makes me think Vidal Sassoon.

ilovesushi · 31/05/2010 12:21

Vida is beautiful. Very old school glamour.

MamaLazarou · 31/05/2010 11:26

From your list, I like Felicity, Natalie and Vida the best.

Xania sounds like a prescription medication, Lily is way too overused, and the British pronunciation of Genevieve is horrible.

VengefulKitty · 30/05/2010 23:33

Xania reminds me of Xanex.

I quite like Felicity. Natalie was a very common name when I was growing up but I haven't heard of any 'new' Natalie's.

Jasmine very common round here.

A1980 · 30/05/2010 23:16

Jasmine Elizabeth

They sound the prettiest. Jasmine's a pretty name for a girl

halfawake · 30/05/2010 21:30

Annika Sophia

shortontime · 29/05/2010 14:24

LSD would give her a bit of cred as teenager!! Personally I think that wierd/invented names cant help but sound like products because that's how they name a new product in a brainstorming session. There is also a danger of Fifi Trixiebell phenomenon. I,m sure that to new besotted parents of cuteist baby ever seen Fifi etc sounds perfectly reasonable and delightful. How about going for one classic and one that you really like then hopefully, when the baby in question is older she has the option of a middle name to use. Bear in mind that all the longer names will be abbreviated whether you like it or not! Genevieve..Genny Jasmine.. Jazzy, Sophia..Sophie, Felicity...Fliss so you need to like the shortened version as well! I also think you need to say the name with the surname because the total number of syllables seems to make a difference to the finished effect.

Poohbearsmom · 28/05/2010 22:08

My Favourites would be Jasmine, Elisabeth, Lily, Felicity and Genevieve is an absolutly wonderful name

Original poster
aspiegal · 28/05/2010 21:45

Zinnia is nice, but too close to my sister's name! Lily Sophia is nice. Trouble is, although i'm pretty sure surname will start with a B, there is now a possibility the surname will start with D (long story), in which case Lily Sophia is out!!

OP posts:
pogleswife · 28/05/2010 20:34

Zinnia?

Zinnia Sophia Rue

Jamiki · 28/05/2010 19:38

I thought they were both types of medication on first glance.

Do love Jasmine Elizabeth though.

fabhead · 28/05/2010 19:33

Lily is quite popular - like Xanthe the best and I dont know any. Xanthe or Vida i'd say

liliputlady · 28/05/2010 19:30

I like Jasmine Elizabeth.
What about Lily Sophia?

Original poster
aspiegal · 28/05/2010 19:15

Sorry for the typos

OP posts:
Original poster
aspiegal · 28/05/2010 19:14

Thanks for all the comments. I thought people would hate Vida, I am pleasnatly surprised, although i don't think I will use it because it is very hard sounding.After having a think I have decided that I would also only use Rue as a middle name. I didn't think of the frrench word at all. I was thinking of it as a flower name that is not Daisy(!!) , but most importantly as acharacter in a book whom I was drawn to and I devoured every page that Rue was on! I loved her and I cried when she died! I would honestly want a child of mine to have her characteristics! I thuoght Ruth was a bit hard to use.
I obviuosly thought Xanthe was more popular than it was, but maybe that is because I spend so much time lurking on these baby name boards!!!!

OP posts:
janeite · 28/05/2010 18:16

I like Lily, Elizabeth, Felicity and am strangely drawn to Rue (but as a middle name). Not fond of Vida or Xania.

My favourite combination would be:
Elizabeth Rue, I think. Ruth is lovely.

2plus2more · 28/05/2010 18:16

I knew a little girl called Vida (Norwegian), but it always made me think of Veda which is a type of malt bread made in Northern Ireland! Pronounced exactly the same and I just couldn't get past it! Also, I know a fair few people thought her name was Vera and called her that. (the mum's accent might have confused them though and they just assumed they'd heard it wrong so it must be Vera!)

catinthehat2 · 28/05/2010 18:07

I've seen it as Ksenia, though for a Russian lady living in the UK.

belgo · 28/05/2010 18:04

Prefer Xenia (I've seen it spelt Xsenia) to Xania.

Xanthe is lovely.

Not RUE! What about Ruth?

mathanxiety · 28/05/2010 18:02

Xanthe Rose -- lovely
Xanthe Abigail -- lovely
Xania Rose -- echo Bonsoir's impression of Xania
Xania Sophia -- as above; prefer Xenia anyway
Felicity Sophia Elizabeth -- Felicity is a bit twee, imo; prefer just Sophia Elizabeth
Rue Sophia Annika -- no to Rue, like Sophia Annika, love Annika Sophia
Genevieve Rue -- drop Rue and substitute
Vida Sophia Rue -- ok, again no Rue
Vida Annika -- like
Jasmine Elizabeth -- lovely
Lily Natalie -- prefer Natalie to Lily, and since they both end in the long E, I wouldn't put them together.

Lily Abigail or Natalie Abigail would be nice.

Tortoise · 28/05/2010 17:57

How about Xantia? It is my DD1's name. Xania sounds like how some kids say it when they drop the T (which i hate!)

JodieO · 28/05/2010 17:56

Vida reminds me of the supermop, vilida or something and xania of headache tablets.

alyssa1980 · 28/05/2010 17:56

I really like Xanthe - didn't think it was particularly popular? Also really like Jasmine.

I'm really not sure about Vida. Think it's quite hard sounding name.

I'm also not sure about Rue as a first name as it just looks like a French street name!

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