Desperately seeking name for DD1

[PaintedSelfInCorner]

Am starting to think we will never ever find a name for DD...

Really want a strong, un-frilly name, so nothing ending in "ie" or "y".

Our last name begins "Mel..." so that rules out any first name ending in "...bel" such as Isobel. DH thinks it also rules out any first name ending in S or an S sound e.g. Iris, Alix, Grace, as he's worried about teasing / nickname "Smelly".

DH is half portuguese, so something that works in both languages, possibly even a portuguese first name, but don't want to condemn DD to lifetime of having to spell her name or mispronunciations.

My previous favourite, Eleanor, has just been used by a close family member, so that's out too.

Middle name will definitely be Margaret for family reasons, so that means no first names starting "Mar..." (e.g. Marianne) or probably anything starting with M as three initials the same seems too much.

Hasn't been the easiest pregnancy (high risk for Downs, full on SPD, waiting for test results for suspected pre-eclampsia) so now getting stupidly superstitious about lack of a names shortlist and desperate to have at least some contenders to make me believe DD will be real IYSWIM.

I do like all the examples mentioned here as ruled out - please do your work!

I may call her lucy lou in a singy voice from time to time.

I think Clara is the best so far. You rarely use the middle name so you just need to make sure the name and your surname go - I really don't like Lucia Mel... and you really can't have Marta Mel... ignore the middle name for now :)

I think Ariana has various routes. I knew a lovely Portuguese Ariana (which is why I thought of it in realtion to your question) but it is also popular in Greece. In Greece it is considered a variant of Ariadne and I am not sure what it means. It is also a Welsh girls name and in Wales it is said to mean "Silver". It is very popular in the US where I think a few years ago (when I was considering it for DD) it was in the top 100 US girls names.

In the Harry Potter series Dumbledore's sister is Ariana and it is also the first name of Ariana Huffington who launched the online newspaper the Huffington Post.

Francesca?

Elizabeth?

It's funny, so many names being mentioned are ones we thought of and discounted. DH loves Francesca, but only because it reminds him of a pretty girl he had a crush on at school (hmmnn) and I like Saskia but he hates it. And neither work in portuguese.

Festi - good to know re nn - I'm of the same mind as you.

Aspara - thank you, v helpful.

Think it might be coming down to a choice between Clara and Lucia... or Ariana... or Luisa? But then - do any of those go with DS's name? (Sean - chosen by DH while I was still on operating table!!)

What about Aurelia? Or Emilia?

all sound good with sean

Sarah? Seems to work in most languages.

Love Clara, Luisa and Lucia (loo-see-a), not so keen on Ariana.

I prefer Sara to Sarah.

Sarah is lovely (but not Sara)
Elizabeth, Eliza, Catherine, Caroline, Hannah, Susannah,Rebecca, Juliet, Louisa.

love Clara and Lucia

what about Ines - portuguese name and works very well with Margaret
i think it's pronounced Inesh, i think it's a beautiful name.

Greta?

One of my top 5 for DD (due in October) but she'll probably end up being an Anna. (I have the same list of criteria as you do but additionally refuse any name that can be shortened to a nn with a y/ie sound - like Lucinda/Lucy)

Frozen - Do like Greta but doesn't work with Margaret as mn - same name! Glad I'm not the only one with list of criteria, haven't even actually mentioned all mine (e.g. nothing too biblical or royal family-y) for fear of showing myself up as overly picky... Do love Anna - despite concerns it doesn't fit with Margaret I would be considering it myself if not for already being used by close friend.

basking - Ines is my "absolute top favourite ever but don't dare use it" name! Mainly because I'm not even sure how to pronounce it myself, so doesn't seem fair to saddle poor dd with a name people don't know how to say. Also it has the same "smelly" issue as Iris and Alix with our last name. Love love love it though.

Stella ?

anna-lucia (as one name) margaret

Ah, I didn't notice that Margaret was your chosen MN

Sophia
Suzanna

Oh Clara is just lovely, so beautiful and classic without being frilly or twee.

Arden
Eliza
Cassandra

oh that's a shame - glad you like it though. i wanted it for dd, but was vetoed, as bloody usual.

i'd go for Clara. lovely meaning. Chiara is the italian - pronounced Kiara, which i also love, could you get away with that?

Flora - my DD's name. There is another Flora at her school who is Brazilian, so obviously it works in Portuguese.

Estella,
Cleo,
Eloise,

And yes I also love Flora!

Tillyscoutsmum - Your list of names earlier includes both my dd's names and also a couple of others that made our short list. Also, I have a Jem - I assume you have a Scout. Very odd!