Claudia or Louisa

[AnaMRT]

Where do I start… so I’ve had quite a hard birth and baby girl will be our last (which is probably why I’m feeling like I have to get her name right). We have spent a couple of weeks trying different names and none have felt quite right. I’ve changed my mind a couple of times and so has my husband. We’ve gone back and forth and the two that have felt the most natural are Claudia and Louisa (which would both be honouring family members). We like them both equally and will be sticking with them. I have even deleted the extensive list of baby names off my phone… I would be so grateful if I could get some feedback of which one do you all prefer the sound of please? We are looking for a name that is quite classic and won’t necessarily date. I think both fit that as neither has ever shot up to the top of the name charts.. all feedback very welcome ☺️

@CandleRose

Olivia and Claudia go nicely together as sisters, I think it's because they are similarly structured with the "L" as the second letter as well as the "ia" ending. Olivia and Louisa also very pretty together and just as gorgeous, but I do think Claudia is a lovely equal "match" in tone to Olivia (even though we name children as individuals of course, not as a pair!)

Wow you have a very good way of explaining names! Are you a baby name expert by any chance? 😂

@Normandy144

I'm biased as I have an 8 year old Claudia and I absolutely love the name. It's never shot up the popularity charts and I have a theory that it is because people get out off by the meaning. That's fine by me as I couldn't give two hoots about it. Our Claudia gets shortened to Claude or Claudie occasionally but generally just stick to Claudia. We've had lots of compliments too.

That’s good to know! Yeah I think that it must be the meaning. I’m also not bothered by that.

@Imabitbusyatthemoment

I love Claudia. I think is gorgeous.

I also knew a lovely Louisa, which makes me like the name, but with a soft ‘s’ - is that how you would pronounce it?

I think we pronounce it more with a Z sound.. but I like it both ways..

I much prefer Claudia and it works well internationally as popular in Germany and Italy. It just such as classic, clear name. Every Claudia I have met has always been elegant and intelligent so I think of it as sophisticated.

Louisa sounds a bit more cutesy to me. Not such a good name if you are a leader.

@Jayneisagirlsname

Both lovely names and I love the Cloud-ia pronunciation. I have a Louisa so it's obviously my favourite! She's never yet become Lou and I'm hoping it'll stay that way. If you decide to use both names, I think Claudia Louisa flows better than Louisa Claudia.

How lovely! How do you pronounce Louisa with Z or S? Are you based in the UK?

@SheAndHerAreWomen

I have a family member who is called Louisa. People who didn't know her used to her call her Louise though and it drove her bonkers! This was several years ago though when it was more or less unheard of. It's Claudia for me!

Oh no I would definitely not like that! 🙈

I prefer Louisa, perhaps based on those I have known with that name.

My DSis has already posted- DD is Claudia, aka Clauds, Claudi, Claudi Bear, Claudi B. We were stuck between India and Claudia and I'm so glad we went with it now. She really suits it and I love that it's quite "European" and is easily translated. Should save a lot of bother on the Eurocamp holidays we'll no doubt be going on before her dad and I are too uncool for her to holiday with. It sounds lovely with Olivia too!

I went to school with loads of Louises (born late 80's when it seemed every other girl got it as a middle name) so to me Louisa just sounds like you're trying to jazz up Louise. It's not horrible, just not as naice.

I prefer Louisa, better nickname / shortened name potential. Lou, Lulu, Ouisa ( weeza) .

Claudia feels a bit clunky in comparison. Claud, Claudie, Lordie??

Claudia Eloise.

Louisa definitely.

Louisa for me, I chose it for my own daughter (dark haired)

I love Claudia but think of it as Cloud-ia

Which reminds me of beautiful fluffy clouds, plus all the Claudias I've known have been kick ass!

Much prefer Louisa, it's far more pretty I think. I would think of Tess saying Clawed on Strictly. Otherwise it could be Cloud.

How about Louisa Claudette?

I love Louisa

Louisa can be shortened to LouLou which is cute

Both lovely, but I slightly prefer Claudia. It feels very elegant - like a beautiful Roman lady.

Those are both fantastic names. I would lean towards Louisa, but you can't go far wrong with either.

AnaMRT my Louisa is with a 'z' sound, though I do think the Luisa pronunciation is really pretty. We're in England.

My dd(11) has never been mistakenly called Louise. She gets Lolly, Lollylou and Weesa as nicknames.

Let us know what you decide. I don't think you can go wrong with either name!

Claudia. I think Louisa is a little bit dated

Claudia means 'lame' which would put me off.

I have a Claudia and a Louisa . Both great names!

Claudia
I don’t like Loo - it will get shortened.

Louisa.
Claudia just doesn't work for me - Clod- ee-ah. Sounds harsh.

I prefer Claudia. I don't particularly like the sound of Louisa, and the name has some connotations for me (one of those names that relates to a specific person from school).

Although there's nothing inherently wrong with Louisa. It mostly depends how both names sound with your surname, really.

Would you say it as Lou-ee-za or Lou-ee-ssa?