Massive name wobble

[EndangeredSpecies]

Help!! Thought I had it all wrapped up but now indecision has taken over. I have posted before about the name Claudia which we had been really sure about but have now decided against because of pronunciation problems. (I prefer Eng. pronunciation Clawdia, where we live everyone will call her Cloudia).

Then we decided on Erica / Erika with middle name Isobel. Now I'm not sure. It's a really strong name, what if she's a cute fluffy little girl that wouldn't say boo to a goose.

DH getting very impatient and not helping. He sees it as another box to be checked off, and doesn't want to wait till she's born to see what name she looks like.

Sorry if I sound massively hormonal but am at the 35th week now.

I really like Erica, but if you like Claudia then use Claudia - i know several, and have never heard the Cloudia pronunciation.

I prefer Claudia, but like you, prefer the pn Claw-dia

I'm not keen on Erica.

Do you have any other choices?

In a lot of countries you won't be able to get away from the Cloudia pronounciation - certainly my DH's family would never get used to saying it the English way, I think.

Does the pronounciation really matter? It's a preference but it's pretty either way.

You've got time to go. I changed my mind weekly in the last month or so with DD1 and the baby ended up named something completely different from what I thought she would be called at 35 weeks. Ignore your DH and take your time (unless he has a strong preference for one name or the other?)!

The pronunciation will get on my nerves after a while. Also her brother and sister will get confused as to how to pronounce the name, they mainly speak Italian. I can just imagine us all in the park with half the family pronouncing her name one way and half the other. Chaos, already have enough of that round here.

Other possibilities yet to be run past DH

Isobel (then will have middle name crisis)
Annika

And that's about it.

I can see how Claudia can be a problem.

Erika is really nice. I like it spelt like this as it softens it more. I really like it.

Isobel and Annika are ok but I much prefer Erika.

Erika Isobel is a lovely combination!

I prefer Claudia no matter how it's pronounced to Erika. That is a bit plain.

Erika Isobel doesn't flow well either.

Annika Isobel doesn't flow well either but it is nicer.

I think Claudia is lovely and I like both pronunciations (lived abroad as a child so I'm used to the Cloudia version). However, if you feel that it would be difficult then I'd go with your gut.

If you like Erika then I wouldn't be put off by how you perceive the character of the name. Children just become their names, or rather their names take on the characteristics of that child. If you love Erika then I wouldn't hesitate to use it.

(The only time I wouldn't apply this rule is in using the 'virtues' as names. I always felt that to call a child Prudence would mean she was destined to develop a gambling habit, Chastity would become a crack whore, etc. ).

My family are Italian and, although I love the English pronunciation of Claudia, I didn't want my daughter called Cloudier [hmm}. It is a problem with names that are written the same in English and Italian but pronounced differently (it explains why I ended up with a completely boring bilingual name).

I like Roberta (could be shortened to Bertie) but quickly learnt that I was in a minority with that one hence neither of my daughters are called that .

Claudine, Erin? You can soften the names if it helps?

Erika is a great name. There were two Erikas in my year in school and they were both awesome.

Erica is very pretty and with a nice meaning too.

weirdly as I find Erica very femine and soft not a strong name at all

I'm 99% decided on Erica. Also felt the same about the last baby's name so must be preg brain.

I'm not so keen on Erika -- very 80s name imo. And Isobel, while nice, is extremely popular.

Annika is lovely though.

Would you consider Rebecca/ Rebekah?

Erica is much nicer than Claudia IMO.

How about Imogen? :)

already have a rebecca!!

[doh]

Rebecca and Annika sound very nice together imo.

Or how about
Sara?
Olivia?
Monica?
Vanessa?