not asking you to decide, just want to get reactions

[rhetorician]

thinking of calling DD2 Anastasia (old family name), probably with Anna as nn. DP and I really like it - it's classic, but very feminine, and a traditional (although not much used) name where we live.

Alternative is Dara (or Daire in the Irish spelling) - it can be used for a boy or a girl, and means either 'oak', 'fertile' of 'second-born' depending on which source you consult. I like this one too.

I've never heard of Dara but would probably consider it a girl's name. It's ok. I like Daria or Dahlia better though. :)

Anastasia is very pretty and I love Anna.

What's your other DD's name, if you don't mind me asking?

I love Anastasia. I do like Dara but it does just make me think of Dara O'Briain. If you live in Ireland that probably isn't a problem though.

cheerfulYank DD1 is Catherine

never (so far) shortened

Anastasia is a wonderful name. Goes well with Catherine, and Anna is a lovely nn.

I know a Daria (Polish) who is pretty, clever and friendly, so I prefer Daria to Dara. I think Daria goes better with Catherine, too.

I think we have a clear winner...although will probably change our minds and call her Miriam (one of my faves),

AlmaMartyr I love love love your username!

Have you chosen a middle name yet?

Anastasia Miriam or Miriam Anastasia are both lovely :)

Not a massive fan of Anastasia but I do like Anna.

I also know an Anastasia who goes by Stasi ('Star-zee') which I think is kind of cute.

Dara - mmm, it's interesting. Kind of name which could grow on me I think.

I like it but unsure of pronunciation.

Is it:

An-ay-stay-sia

or

An-a-star-sia?

if slight mispronunciations will seriously bug you, you maybe should consider this.

Overall very lovely and classy and classic though.

I was assuming pretty phonetic, so

Ana-stay-zia

I am :( about Dara, but from straw poll reactions on here plus my own gut instinct I think not. She will end up being Anna a good bit of the time I imagine

I like Anastasia but I love Dara/Daragh/Daire. Really love it.

I like Dara for a girl. I've known male Daraghs and one female Dara. Tbh I think Anastasia is a bit on the long side, so you have to be realistic. Are you picking between Dara or Ana?

I wouldn't spell it Daire by the way. I want to follow my instinct and pronounce it to rhyme with gaire, as in ta me ag gaire. But obviously they are pronounced differently! so just go with Dara if you choose it.

I like Anastaisia but not Dara so much.

bandwithering - yes, good point about spelling. We seem to favour names that are as long as our children are short...(well, that remains to be seen with this one, I suppose)

Anastasia nn Anna is perfect.

Beautiful as a long name, Anna a great name which doesn't invite 'What's it short for?' - so she could just be Anna if she ends up not liking Anastasia. Tasha, Taz are possibilities that she might go for when she decides for herself though - do you like those?

Dara harsh, boring and doesn't shorten to anything or offer any kind of variety - I think if you called her Dara and then informed her that she could have been Anastasia, I think she'd hate you forever

shoutyhamster - fair point! Taz I quite like - and I guess DD1 might have difficulty getting her tongue around her sister's full name at first, so we will probably end up with a homegrown nn for her. It does fulfil most criteria, doesn't it:

• classic, but not common (I don't know another, other than the family forebears - it hasn't been used in 2 generations, and the last owner was an Irish speaking, pipe smoking, whiskey drinking old bird :))
• feminine but shortens nicely

- lots of possible nicknames - no obvious teasing possibilities

Anastasia was also some kind of obscure saint whose feast is celebrated on Christmas day, so good for an (almost) Christmas baby. She is the 'deliverer from potions' (what's not to like?) and her name means 'resurrection' - I'm not religious, but I quite like this nerdy early Christian stuff.