37 weeks and still no name!

[Dreya]

Oooh this is a little bit scary. My first thread From the very early days I have loved the name Sophia (once the hormones had calmed down a bit and I went off Tallulah Snowdrop ) My DH likes Sophia too although he says he thinks it's too popular and we know a Sofie who he really dislikes. I am not keen on her either tbh but I don't associate the name Sophia with her at all as it just sounds so different to me. I much prefer Sophia (so does Sofie!) IMO it is more elegant sounding and I don't know anyone called Sophia. Tonight my husband said 'I do like the name Sophia. I just don't really love it. I know you do so we'll go with Sophia.' Now. I should be thrilled but I'm not. I want him to love the name we choose.

There are other names we really like but they too pose a slight problem:

Lucia - really don't like Lu, like a toilet? or Lulu that irritating little woman.

Gabrielle/Gabriella - don't like Gabi but love Elle/Ella

Giselle - DH says that she might get nn 'Gis' and that that is a rude word

The other name we love is one we saw on some film credits. I googled it and it's really uncommon. It's not in any names book or on any lists etc...I've even searched Facebook Cannot get too much info on it except it has a religious meaning. Meanings don't really bother us too much tbh. The slight problem, if this is one, is that it begins with a D and so does our surname. Together the name sounds not disimilar to Daniella Dennis but my surname is French sounding and De N---(trying not to out myself!) The only nn you could shorten it to would be Elle/Ella. Almost perfect except for the surname thing.

So I guess I am asking your opinions on whether or not:

1. Sophia is as common as Sophie?

1. Lucia and Gabriella will inevitably be Lu/Lulu/Gabi? Are either of these names really popular at the moment? (This seems to be an issue for DH much more than for me. I think if you love a name, use it regardless.)

1. You associate Giselle with a rude word?!

1. The surname thing sounds wrong. I'm not sure it does. Afterall, Marilyn Monroe....Danny Devito

Also if you have DD's with any of the names above, or know any, what do you call them?

And finally, if you have any suggestions you think we might like based on the above shortlist, we would really love to hear them.

Thank you!

Please dont read too much into my comments, as its what you and your DH love at the end of the day.

1. Sophia. A beautiful name and I have not met any. Personally, unless you have an Italian connection (i.e. Sophia Loren), I find it a bit pretentious, and would expect the name to be shortened in the playground to Sophie.

1. I love Lucy and Gabrielle, again I find Lucia and Gabriella pretentious, unless Spanish/ Italian connection.

1. No, I dont associate it with any rude words. I associate Giselle with the princess in the film Enchanted, the ballet, and the supermodel. Due to the antelope Gazelle and supermodel, I imagine a girl with the name Giselle to be willowy.

1. I think alliteration names can work very well, I think you and DH need to say it outloud dozens of time, and decide. Without actual first name and surname I cannot comment.

1. Sophia - lovely name :) I think there are more Sophies but I may be wrong. I prefer Sophia of the two.

1. Lucia and Gabriella both lovely too. Also like Lucy.

1. No

1. I don't think the alliteration would be a problem from what you've described.

I'm curious to know what the last name is now!! I don't see alliteration as a problem.

I like Sophia but there are lots of Sophies about.

I like Gabriella, I have a good friend called that but she is known as Gabby.

Lucia is nice but sounds very Italian to me, are you Italian?

oo and Giselle, I was at school with a Giselle, the Jizz thing didn't come up I don't think! (so to speak)

I always thought you pronounced Giselle not with a 'j' sound, but with a 'zh' sound. I can't think of an example in the English language.

What is the mysterious other name?

I don't think alliteration is necessarily a bad thing. Depends a bit on the names themselves.

Gabrielle and Gabriella get shortened to Gabby, which is a real disadvantage imo.

Lucia has many pronunciations and it can be annoying to have to tell people how to say it all the time. I prefer Lucy.

Sophia is very popular, as is Sophie.

Giselle would be pronounced with the 'zh' sound as K12Mom says.

Sorry you're no longer considering Snowdrop - I think it's gorgeous .

Have you thought of
Juliet
Miranda
Eloise
Serafina

Really like Sophia, though there are 3 of them in my son's circle of 3yo friends and only one Sophie. None of the Sophias ever get Sophie as a nn. I think if you like it popularity shouldn't be a problem.

Not keen on Giselle. Unless your daughter is blessed with longs legs and a willowy figure I think you are asking for trouble.

Also not keen on Gabriella (sorry) or Gabrielle, and they are likely to be shortened to Gaby. Lucia is quite pretty, especially with your French surname.

Sophia. I write it like this. You could always shorten it to Fifi instead of Soph. I prefer Fifi as a nickname.

Lucia. This names bothers me with the difference n pronounciation. Lu-chi-uh, Lucy-uh, lu-see-uh. I much prefer the simpler Lucy.

Gabrielle/Gabriella. These are nice but you will most likely get the nickname Gab/Gabby when she is older, I dont know any who dont get shortened to these. Maybe Elinor is better for the nickname Ella.

Giselle. I always have to think twice when I see this name as I automatically want to say a hard 'g'--like 'girl' and 'good' and not a soft 'g' like 'giant' and 'giraffe'. I think it is because I confuse it with gazelle. I dont think of a rude word so don't worry if this is your only concern.

I have a Sophia and she has always been known just as Sophia, its certainly not an uncommon name but not very popular either I don't think.

Lucia is quite pretty and I like Giselle.
Not that keen on Gabrielle/Gabriella don't know why as I usually love elle/ella type names.

Some more ideas
Isabel
Isabella
Annabelle
Arabella
Lola
Felicity
Madeline

Thank you everyone for your replies. Really interesting. Komondor I also think of the film - I watched it over Christmas and loved it!
I really don't like Lucy. There are several in the family and nn is Luce, not keen. Aims80 I'm not sure I want to reveal the name as I think I would be rather upset if you all really hated it or laughed at me!
Shoppingdays That made me chuckle I also think Sophie is more popular than Sophia.
Math I agree. Gaby is a real disadvantage :(
I do actually like Miranda. I think this is because I have a bit of a girl crush on Miranda Hart atm! And Serafina is really pretty. Hmmmm...
Jojomags my DH is just under 6ft 3ins and I am quite tall too so she could well be willowy but I know what you mean. And we have no Italian connection. However DH is often mistaken for an Italian even by Italians! This doesn't bother me in terms of names as Sophia is actually Greek anyway. We are a very odd mix of Brazilian, Bajan, English, Irish and Choctaw Indian!
zippy I love Arabelle/bella but DH doesn't and says it makes him think of farming. My dog is called Lola!
Thanks again all.

What's wrong with Tallulah Snowdrop?

I think Sophia is lovely and not too over-used (I like Sophie too).

Lucia - lovely. I don't know a Lucia, but I know a couple of Lucy's and they tend to be shortened to Luce - rather than Lou.

I love Grabrielle (not as keen on the 'ella' ending). I know a 3 yr old Gabrielle who is ALWAYS called by her full name. She's adorable which is probably why I like her name so much.

I really like Giselle. I know a Giselle (aged 22), but again, her name is never shortened.

Tallulah would be perfect as apparently it is a term for falling water in some Native American language.

If you didn't want Snowdrop (which is really lovely imo) would you use Eirlys - Welsh for snowdrop?

math Tallulah means 'leaping water' and is indeed Choctaw Indian! So you're right it would be perfect and I was certain that if I ever had a DD I would name her Tallulah and this is before I even met DH who has the Choctaw Indian connection. I was only put off it from being here on Mumsnet and lurking on some name threads. :( I then thought I would use it as a middle name after Sophia but the initials would then be STD

How would you pronounce Eirlys? I must say I really like your suggestions.

littleyellowteapot I too think I prefer Gabrielle to Gabriella. However I think Ella flows better with the surname. Crikey. This naming lark is so much more difficult than I ever imagined it would be. Before I was even thinking of ttc I thought I had it covered. Tallulah for DD and Tiger for DS (I know, I know!) DH would not have allowed Tiger but then his suggestion was no better. Spike.

I have been told several times that when I see her I will just know what name suits her....

Gorgeous names. Love Giselle - also know one who is 30 and name isn't shortened. I think Sophia/Sofia is extremely popular now - there are two in reception class at DD's school and a few in Ds's nursery also. I would have considered Sofia until I realised how popular it become :-(

Tallulah is great - you could always shorten to Talli?

I have a Sofia, it only ever gets shortened to Fia and only ever by me!! She's 5 and none in her class, or school at the minute, although not sure its wildly popular where we live. I love it, dh picked it and have never had a wobble with it. To be honest I know 6 Ella's all under 4. Ps if you have any boys names, can I borrow them

I know 2 Sophia's and no Sophie's... I like them both. Sophia/Sofia has a more European feel to it. They are both really popular so as long as thats not an issue, see how you feel when she arrives...good luck

How about Luisa?

Here's a pronunciation of Eirlys by a Welsh speaker. There's a rolled R that's hard to convey in a post.