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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Ella, Evelyn, Elizabeth, Ava or Anna!

59 replies

Sandydunes · 16/05/2012 14:06

Please help me decide as I am about to give birth any day now and am getting sick of thinking about these names...they are all starting to blur!

I have a gut feeling of my two favourites and OH likes another two better so would love some outside opinions.

The middle name would be either Margaret or Claire.

Thanks in advance for all your honest opinions!

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wheniwishuponastar · 16/05/2012 14:10

I like Ella best. Don't like Evelyn or Elizabeth. (Too long/old fashioned.) The other two are so so. Ava makes me think of Eva Braun (Hitler's girlfriend - whose middle name I just found out was Anna!). Anna is ok but feels a bit too used/ordinary.

MamaMary · 16/05/2012 14:12

Elizabeth and Anna are the nicest.

Don't go for Ava - it's so common now and it'll date her (there are loads of Avas, Evas etc at the moment).

YouFloatLikeAFeather · 16/05/2012 14:14

Ava is my favourite.

Ella is ok.
Evelyn is pretty but would get shortened to Evie which I really don't like
Elizabeth is nice and has some nice nicknames (Betty, Beth) but also lots of not so nice ones.
Anna is nice but dull.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 16/05/2012 14:20

All names date a person, so go with the name you like. There are 3 Elizabeths in DD1's year, so not sure what's 'common' Hmm

MaggieMagnolia · 16/05/2012 14:21

Evelyn Margaret is lovely Smile

McKayz · 16/05/2012 14:22

Evelyn. It's a gorgeous name. DH has said no Sad

UnnamedFemaleProtagonist · 16/05/2012 14:27

Ava and Ella are everywhere. Obviously that is because they are lovely names, but they are ten-a-penny.

In order, I like:

Anna
Elizabeth
Anna

UnnamedFemaleProtagonist · 16/05/2012 14:28

Oops.

Anna
Elizabeth
Evelyn.

kerala · 16/05/2012 14:28

maybe take into account that any variant of eve super popular. One third of the girls in DDS class called eve/eva/evie its this generations Sarah. Fine if this doesn't bother you but know it riles my friends who have eves who have said if they had known would have picked other names.

Stellan · 16/05/2012 14:32
  1. Anna and Elizabeth - I can't choose between them: both lovely
  1. Evelyn
  1. Ava
  1. Ella

Apply this test: which of these names would I, as a fully grown woman, like to have? Don't think about which of these will suit my tiny cute baby when you're piecing your shortlist together (save that for when you've got one and a little girl to coo over) because, let's face it, she's going to seem more like a little Annie or Evie or Ellie than an Anna or Evelyn or Ella.

Stellan · 16/05/2012 14:34

kerala - Personally, I think you can get away with Evelyn in the mix of Eves and Evas and Evies because it's pronounce EV-lin rather than EVE-lin?

MamaMary · 16/05/2012 14:41

I disagree - all names don't date a person. Elizabeth and Anna are both timeless. They won't date. They're always around, but not in huge numbers.

But Ava/ Eve/ Eva/ Evie - these names are fashionable at the moment and are two a penny - they will date an entire generation.

MamaMary · 16/05/2012 14:42

That was to ilovemydog

kerala · 16/05/2012 14:44

All the evelyns I know end up as eve. You could try I suppose. Personally would avoid overused names.

Original poster
Sandydunes · 16/05/2012 14:44

Wow so many quick replies, thanks!

I definitely wouldn't be shortening Evelyn to Evie, as there are so many of these "-ie" type names around, and would be pronouncing it EV-lin. I thought that Evelyn would be a bit different and quite like its old-fashioned-ness.

Was worried that Elizabeth Margaret might be too popular this year, with the jubilee coming up etc.

Ella was my original favourite.

I agree that Anna is quite ordinary and plain but I do like it. Ava is OH favourite although I agree that it will date.

Aagh, we are never going to decide!

OP posts:
wigglesrock · 16/05/2012 14:47

I have an Anna, she's 15 months now, I really love her name, I have 3dds and its my favourite. I'm not really sure if you're allowed to have a favourite childs name among your own children Grin.

Her middle name is also one of one of your middle name choices Shock Grin

Willabywallaby · 16/05/2012 14:47

I would have Elizabeth shortened to Libby

SpringHeeledJack · 16/05/2012 14:50

I don't know ANY little Annas, Elizabeths or Evelyns

I know hods of the others

SpringHeeledJack · 16/05/2012 14:52

ps Sandy three of your (not frequently used) names figure in my immediate family

(me and both dds)

your taste is exquisite

Grin
Original poster
Sandydunes · 16/05/2012 14:54

Good point springheeledjack

(am taking notes on all this advice to show OH later):)

OP posts:
Original poster
Sandydunes · 16/05/2012 14:54

LOL thanks...now I want to know which ones!!

OP posts:
kerala · 16/05/2012 15:00

Don't pick any variant of eve if you want to be different! My friend had the same idea with Evelyn but at school now and is known as eve. Sorry but I spend alot of time tying myself in knots with all the eves many of whom are DDS friends things complicated enough with 5 year old girls friendships without them all having the same name!

kiwi5 · 16/05/2012 20:32

i have an evelyn, and we shorten it to Evvy rather than Evie. we do call her Evelyn (ev-e-lyn NOT eve-lyn) al as well. I love it and have not regretted it once!

wonderwooman · 16/05/2012 20:34

Ella Margaret
Evelyn Claire
Anna Margaret or Anna Claire

are my faves Smile

redemptionsong · 16/05/2012 20:47

Ella Margaret is lovely or Ellannor Margaret for sundays :)