39 weeks and suffering from severe girls name fatigue! Please help with our shortlist.

[RunRunAsFastAsYouCan]

We have been going round in circles with girls names for weeks and would really appreciate opinions on our current shortlist, and welcome any other suggestions.

Our favoured names are generally:

• two syllables as we want to try to avoid any shortening
• not too traditional as would not go well with DD1 name
• ideally not overly popular (top 30ish). For info, DD1 name is around 400 in the nat stat charts, and although easy to spell and known by most people, I haven't met another one in 3 years. As much as I really like this, I know I need to be open to something slightly more popular this time; applying this rule strictly just wipes out too many names!

Current shortlist and any reservations:

• Erin - we don't currently know of any, but are concerned that there must be lots of little Erin's out there based on national popularity?

• Alexa - DP likes this one more than me. Concern again is popularity, and I'm not keen on Lexie as a nickname.

• Thea - read lots of positive comments about this name on other threads, but DP not keen (thinks it lacks consonants!), so not sure now!

• Seren - we are not even 100% sure on how to pronounce this one, but DP likes it. (Sare-en, Ser-en?)

• Georgia - a new addition yesterday. Goes well with DD1 name and surname. Concern again about popularity.

Other names that have been hotly debated are: Philippa (Pippa), Tara, Bethan, Darcey, Esme

We haven't even started on middle names yet, arr!!

Please help!

Georgia gets my vote! It is on our list if our next one due later this year is a girl.

If it helps I also like Sophia, Viola, Rebecca. It seems most of the names I like end in 'a'.

I wouldn't go for a name you aren't sure about pronouncing as others would struggle too personally. Although Viola is a bit like that too!

Phillippa and Bethen are very pretty. A few that are a bit uncommon that I know are Naraya, Summer, Deedee, Daisy, Tulip, Annalise, Dora, Ethy, Tamsin, Lulu, Mercie, Freya and Sian. Good luck finding a name you both agree on, I know it can be difficult!

I like Philippa (nn Pippa), Erin and Thea best from your list (in that order).

What's your DD's name?

Philippa May?

Erin Elizabeth?

Thea Esme?

Erin - I really like and only know 1. I'd say it's popular enough for people to know the name and how to spell it but you're unlikely to have another one in the class or even school.

Alexa - not so keen, especially because of Lexie nn.

Thea - I like this. We have a Rhea, which is similar. Thea sounds quite ancient and classical.

Seren - sorry, but this sounds a bit made up to me. If you don't know how to pronounce it then I'd avoid.

Georgia - I think it was popular in years gone by but no so any more. It's pretty, I like it.

Philippa / Pippa is great. Really sweet, strong name.

Tara - not so keen, a bit wishy washy.

Bethan - again, pretty. Beth is a good nn.

Darcey - I think this is beginning to explode in popularity. I'd avoid.

Esme - on our shortlist so one I love!

I'm not sure that any more suggestions will help - you have a longish shortlist already! Good luck.

I think I've commented on a similar thread of yours, but as there are more names here, I'll have another go - hope it helps!

Erin - nice, and I don't know any in RL

Alexa - nice, but there are a lot of Alex type names around; if you counted them together I think it might fail your popularity test.

Thea - lovely, but fails the non-traditional test (Greek myths, early saint, also nn for Dorothea). I know several, age 7 and under in RL.

Seren - would you really ever be happy with a name you're not 100% about?

Georgia - OK, but prefer Georgina (which would fail your syllable count test). As does Philippa, though it's an OK name.

Tara - nice

Bethan - looks a bit unfinished, but Bethany breaks your syllable critera.

Darcey - nice, but a lot of them around

Esme - nice, know a few, but a fairly traditional name as well.

This is really helping! Thank you so much for your comments. I'm sure this will help fuel further debate this evening. We may have a name before baby arrives after all!

I love Seren and Bethan, beautiful Welsh names. Seren is pronounced as it is spelt - Se-ren, and means 'star' in Welsh. As lnog as you don't live in Wales they aren't too common either.

Other suggestions...

Polly (but I'm biased )
Iris
Freya
Scarlett
Marnie
Sadie
Zara

• Erin - faddy at the moment

• Alexa - not keen, but like Alexandra or Alexandria

• Thea - dislike

• Seren - not keen, prefer Serena

• Georgia - lovely :)

Pippa - again, very nice. Would have Philippa as full name

Tara - OK

Bethan - OK, prefer Bethany (or Megan, another nice Welsh name)

Darcey - reminds me of Mr Darcy so doesn't sound very feminine to me

Esme - dislike, ugly sound IMHO

Erin - dull..not a very feminine name IMO.

Alexa - Not keen, Alexandra is better.

Thea - Love

Seren - Don't go mad

Georgia - like

Pippa - MNers seem to love this name - Bit dull and lifeless for me.

Tara - Boring

Bethan - Prefer Elizabeth, then nn Beth. Like Megan.

Darcey - reminds me of Mr Darcy too and I think Daisy is a nicer alternative to this..

Esme - Really like....

How about Jemima, Emily, Sophie, Charlotte, Lucy, Chloe, Rachel, Emma, Grace, Elizabeth, Lauren, Daisy, Rose, Violet.

I forgot two of my faves, Nancy or Martha...

My favourites on your list are Thea, Seren and Tara. I know a few girls under 5 called Erin, Esme, Alexa, Darcey and Georgia.

How about Tessa ?

Seren means star in welsh - I think its lovely

Roxanne?