Girls names: 1-2 syllables, not too feminine, unusal or 'ethnic' Suggestions please!

[tebbles]

We have found finding possible boys names very easy. However am thinking Murphy's law will mean that we end up having a girl and we are really stuck!

We would like a simple name, not too rare or overly popular, although we dont mind fairly popular. We dont like frilly names at all and dont want a name that sounds, for want of a better term, too "ethnic". We would also prefer something not biblical.

I like Luna, Lola, Seren but DH thinks they are too ethnic sounding for our family's background.

Something similar to Anna, Laura, Ella. We sort of like Lily as well. I would also be open to 1 syllable names in a simiar flavor.

Any suggestions would be great!

What ethnicity is Lola? I thought it was Spanish language, but I've met several English Lola's under 7.

Ava, Alice, Claire, Dana, Deana, Eva, Fern, Greta, Hannah, Harriet, Iris, Jane/Janet/Julie/Julia, Kayleigh, Lisa, Maisie, Nancy, Olive, Rachel, Sandra, Saffron, Tina, Talia, Vita, Yvonne.

Aren't all names "ethnic"?

Sarah, Ellen, Helen?

I have a Seren, it's Welsh for star. Everyone can pronounce it, its easy to spell and doesn't sound way out there whilst also allowing her to be the only one in her school year (mainly because we aren't in or near Wales!)

Beatrice is a strongish girls name IMO and Bea is a nice nickname.

Juliet is one ive seen popping up on MN recently

Off the top of my head:

Carla
Cara
Clara
Tessa
Bess
Beth
Mary
Maya
Megan
Elsie
Elise
Tanya
Freya
Phoebe
Chloe
Jenny
Emma
Ruth
Holly
Hazel
Sara
Bella
Nell
Helen
Molly
Polly
Pippa

Any of these sound on the right track?

Or if you are interested in unfashionable names, there's loads from past decades eg Claire, Susan, Paula, Nicole, Gemma, Cathy, Carol, Linda etc.

ragged DH thinks it is too Spanish/latin sounding for us.

About the 'ethnic' thing-- cant explain it any clearer but I guess we see it in terms of inital preconceptions/images of a name.

For example, when you think of some names you see a child of a particular ethnicity. We want a name that would match the image of a blonde-caucasion child/adult. It is just a preference really, the same as our preference for a name that is not too frilly or feminine.

Thanks! I like Alice, Cara, Tessa so will suggest these ones.

Have considered Ellen, Pippa and quite like them.

Cant use Elise, Emma for personal reasons but like them.

minipie am a bit cautious of using names from the last couple of decades as I imagine they will seem very dated and old fashioned as the child grows older.

So you're looking for names specific to your own ethnicity. :) Seems fair enough. Why not try some google searches for things like 'English first names'?

Liesl

HelenaRose I did that and go a lot of names I had never even heard before!

I guess I am after names than are more familar in the western, English speaking countries.

And we are probably using the 'ethnic factor' as an arbitrary way of deleting names that would otherwise fit the style of names we like.

Nina
Beth
Leah
Lucia
Sophia

I really really like Leah, but we know of one who ruined this name for us :(

I quite like Bethan.

Lucia and Sophia are too frilly for my taste.

Erin

What about Lana?

How funny I think Lily and Lola are very frilly. Lola will date badly.

How about
Lucy
Ava
Eva
Adele
Ella
Freya
Carla
Lauren
Sophie
Clara
Fleur

If you like Anna, Laura and Ella why not one of those names? Or Emily?

Molly
Erin
Lila
Phoebe
Elsa
Kate?

My name is Seren

And it is Welsh for Star, I'm not Welsh though, it's because my grandmother was called Stella, which also means Star and so it was a different way of naming me after her.

I loved it growing up. My Dad put glow stars all over my bedroom ceiling and a glass star sun catcher in my window, and they bought me a silver necklace with a starfish on it when i was 16 that i still wear today. (not to mention the star earings and braclet my husband got me from Tiffany to match it). So I love my name for that reason.

Similar, less Celtic names might be: Stella, Loren, Lauren, Serena, Meryl, Beryl, Sorel, Selene, etc?

I have a Megan.

We know a Tess and a Beth, unrelated. Both lovely names.