Anyone fancy helping me to narrow down please?

[specialsmasher]

So just found out I'm having a girl!

This list is pretty static at the moment...

Eliza (though curse that Sonya off of Eastenders!)
Martha
Elspeth
Beatrice (Bea)
Elizabeth
Esther
Imogen
Katherine (Kate)
Madeleine

What do you think?

I really like the names on your list, especially Martha, Katherine/Kate and Elizabeth - would find it hard to pick one of these but Martha probably tops it for me.

I'm not a fan of Madeleine because there are sooooo many around and I think Elsa or Elizabeth are much nicer than Elspeth for some reason.

Eliza (though curse that Sonya off of Eastenders!)
Martha
Elspeth
Beatrice (Bea)
Elizabeth
Esther
Imogen
Katherine (Kate)
Madeleine

sorry didn't mean to copy your list out again in my message! good luck deciding by the way, keep us posted....

I'm biased but Katherine definitely gets my vote!

I like Madeleine but really dislike Maddie. However, it is quite possible to avoid shortenings if you so choose - I've never been Katy or Kathy (thank goodness!)

Quite like Esther, think that is nicer than Eliza. Like Elizabeth better than Elspeth though. Elspeth sounds a bit dated to me but then these names all come and go in circles I suppose.
Don't like Imogen all that much. It sounds a bit too frilly to me.

All lovely nmaes. 5 of which were on my list when naming DD - Martha, Esther, Eliza, Beatrice, Elspeth (Elsie).

We went for Martha Felicity-Rose and have no regrets, as it suits her perfectly. Good luck with your choices

We've decided against Madeleine now - we do know a few, for one thing. My current favourites are:

Eliza
Katherine

dh dangerously getting dead-set on Martha, which I can feel myself resisting slightly!

Big thanks for all input

I have a soft spot for Elspeth, though. I think it's dated in a good way (i.e. not like Carol or Jean are dated!!)

How about Marta as an alternative to Martha?

Eliza and Katherine are both great but Katherine probably has more nn possibilities

I would eliminate Elspeth - sorry - it sounds like quite a tweedy old lady name to me

My favourites are Elizabeth, Madeleine and Katherine.

Esther also nice

I'm less keen on Martha because it is open to horrible pronunciation. I used to live near a grotty city with a grotty pub known locally as 'Marfas'.

Eliza - Yes, beautiful
Martha - nope
Elspeth - nope
Beatrice (Bea) - Yes, Lovely
Elizabeth - Yes
Esther - nope
Imogen - ok
Katherine (Kate) - Yes, beautiful
Madeleine - ok

Thanks for detailed feedback! Still cursing Sonia as Eliza really is beautiful - guess it doesn't matter so much that she has used it...

Specialsmasher, I loved all your list and it was practically identical to mine!!! I have 3 dd's two of whom are Martha & Esther!!!
My experiences of their names are:
Everyone loves Martha but got to be hon and say it is certainly getting much more popular in recent years. My Martha is 7 but have heard it several times on younger girls. Don't know if that would bother you? That said she is the only one in her school and I don't know any recently born.
Esther also attracts lots of positive comments yet when she started school there was another in her class! Who'd have thought it:-)
I guess you just can't predict it and therefore should just go for the name you love most!
I've recently had dc4 and we were planning on Elizabeth or Vivienne.
Good luck xxx

Eliza - I love this but would use it as a nn for Elizabeth (best of both worlds!)
Martha - I really dislike this name. I know it's a name that many people love, but I've just never got it ...
Elspeth - I don't like this - it doesn't run off my tongue properly
Beatrice (Bea) - Nice
Elizabeth - Just gorgeous! My favourite ever girls name (and of course you can use Eliza as a nn so using two of your favs)
Esther - Ok
Imogen - Ok
Katherine (Kate) - Beautiful!
Madeleine - Ok

So, my favourite would be Elizabeth/Eliza followed by Katherine (Kate)
My least favourites are Martha and Elspeth