Niamh or Esther

[sirhandel]

DH and I were deciding whether to call our pink bump Helena or Juliana, but two other names which we both like have been thrown into the hat Niamh or Esther. Middle name would probably be Elisabeth or Katherine.

Opinions on these please, and how popular are they in your areas.

I really love Esther. I'd never be able to use it myself as the last name would end in er. But I think it is a beautiful name. Esther Katherine or Helena Katherine. Or Katherine Esther.

I would stick to Helena Katherine - sounds beautiful.

I don't like Esther at all...sorry. I like Niamh I like the way it looks on paper!I had it on my SL but Dp wouldn't let me have it.

Esther. I do like that name. I think it's cos I know 2 people called Esther and both are great.

Like both names. :) Love Helena too but not Juliana so much.

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I love Esther and think Esther Elizabeth sounds beautiful. Classic but not a name you come across often.

Niamh is a nice name but only choose it if you don't mind people spelling it wrong. It wouldn't bother me but I know it does for some people.

really really like Helena

how do you pronounce Niamh?

NEEVE [smile} I'm Irish. All our names are hell to pronounce (worth bearing in mind) BUT very glam and different... I vote Niamh

I vote Niamh too - it's a beautiful name feminine and strong.

I wouldn't choose Niamh unless I was Irish, but it is a lovely name. Esther is lovely too.

I know one young Niamh but no young Esthers round here.

Helena is lovely as well. I know one my own age (early thirties) but no young Helenas. It's a lovely classic name.

Not sure about Juliana though. Reminds me of 'The Juliana Hatfield Three', some nineties band?

oh thanks iloveshoes - I'd always wondered!
lovely name, I am torn between Niamh and Helena now

I'd use Niamh as a middle name.

I like Esther. It's less obviously pretty-pretty than Juliana, but I think that girls names are beginning to become stronger. That is the fashion 'next up' imo. (Sofia, Isabella, Amelia all beautiful but remind me of girls my dd's age - 8).

Btw, Elena is much nicer than Helena. The h is a bit huh huh huh harsh. and by putting an H in front of it the pronounciation becomes unclear. Is it HellENNa or HELLenna, or HellAYna or Heleeena ?/
If you use Elena, then obviously going to be ellenna. ykwim

jmo obviously

Juliana really sounds like she sails from Southampton I'm afraid.

Suggested Juliet as an alternative to Juliana. DH wasn't sure at first but I think it is growing on him, so may be a possibility too.

Like both probabably Esther more

Esther

please not esther,very old fashioned but noy classic

Niamh

I hated Esther when DH suggested it for our DD, but now I really like it. Strange. Niamh only works if you are Irish.