Laura, too safe and boring?

[PoultryInMotion]

Anyone who searches my previous threads will know I'm giving this girls name thing far too much thought!

So the latest list is

Laura - I think it's reasonably unusual for a baby < waits to be corrected > but although it's lovely, it smacks of safe and boring!

Susannah - To be shortened to Susie most likely. I like it. I'm not sure whether I love it or not

Elsa - what if she becomes Ellie? (which I don't really like) or she gets called Elephant or something < playground taunts coming back to haunt me >

Tell me how great one of the names are and sway me! TIA!

I like Laura - its pretty IMO and I don't thnk it's boring

I love Laura. Classy, classless, timeless, easy to spell, not too common, not too unusual, lots of middle names 'go' with it, a bit Scottish, works internationally...

We have one, obv

Susie is my favourite.

I don't think Laura is boring, you never hear it on babies these days so in that way its more 'interesting' than susannah (i've heard a few) and elsa (quite a few). Laura is nice.

I like Laura a lot and you are right you don't hear it so often these days.
I think its a good choice! (Lara is also nice)

I suppose Laura is quite 'safe', but in a classic, timeless - admittedly not as much of a classic as Alice/Catherine/Elizabeth, but has strong historical roots, and to me feels much fresher than Lauren, which has been more common recently. I teach in primary schools and have come across only one or two in the past few years.

Don't think it's inevitable that Elsa would be nicknamed Ellie. It's a bit like saying that girls called Ella would also be called Ellie, which doesn't really seem to happen. Think it's short enough to avoid a nickname at all - would be more of a risk with Eleanor etc. Really like it - it's short but strong and would age well. And I'm too young to have the whole Born Free association, so I don't automatically think 'lion'!

Susannah - nothing wrong with it but have never been a fan, not sure why. Generally prefer shorter names, which might be it. Of the three would go with Elsa, but all nice choices.

My best friend is called Laura...

She's anything but safe and boring!

what about Laurel or Lauren?

I like Laura and it is unusual, which is good. Lauren is pretty common these days. Lorna is nice, too IMO.

I also like Louisa, esp with a short middle name, like Anne or Mae.

Laura is a lovely name and not too popular at the moment. It's pretty and fairly timeless. It's not safe and boring in the same way as some of the ultra-traditional names.

Susannah/Susie is OK, although I prefer Laura.

Not keen on Elsa, or Ellie.

Laura is a lovely name, IMO

Laura is a lovely name and not very commonly used. I prefer it to Lauren although Laurel is lovely.

What about Laurie ? Like Laura but used less

Laura is a very classic name - that doesn't make it boring. I probably like Susannah best from your list, but all three are nice.

Don't get het up about potential nicknames or playground terms of abuse. You can't control what her friends and not-so-friends will call her. And besides, playground tormentors will always come up with something you don't expect.

Thank you all, Laura looks like the winner!

My Mum was friends with a group of mums at toddlers when I was a baby. One of the mothers was uber competative, her baby (Laura) was always so far advanced and 'better' than anyone elses. Mum and her friends nicknamed the baby 'perfect Laura', she is horrified I'm considering it Apparently she can't say Laura without putting 'perfect' in front of it. Not to worry, my baby will be perfect after all

My DD2 is Laura Alice and is a teenager now - she loves her name and so do we!

My gorgeous younger sister is a Laura - I may be a teensy bit biasied, but she is intelligent, bright, witty and fun. Go for it!

She's a Laura Grace. When she was naughty we used to call her Laura Disgrace which made us all fall about. Simple things I guess...!

DS was going to be Laura. I like it. And there aren't loads around. Classic and pretty.

Oh Laura is not boring - it is gorgeous, classic and underused on babies at the moment! Elsa also lovely, but suddenly got quite popular. Susannah is okay but the other 2 much better IMO.

Laura - OK, but I prefer Laurel.
Elsa - quite nice. She might also get shortened to Elsie I suppose.
Susannah/Susie - I have first-hand experience of these two, but go by the latter. And love it!

Laura - lovely name. Timeless. Only one spelling. Not massively overused at the moment.
Susannah - I quite like, but you get into the 'many spellings' area (which, I know from experience, having a name that can be spelled many ways, how annoying it can be). Again though, nice classic name which people have heard of / won't have difficulty pronouncing, and not many about.
Elsa - I'm afraid I think of the lion, it's the only Elsa I've ever known.

Laura, definitely. I think it's really pretty without being twee.

Laura is lovely and it is also the name of a very lovely friend of mine and yes, it is quite unusual these days - I don't think I know any Lauras who are under the age of 30 or so ...

I love it but really like susannah