Which girls' name to choose

[mammiebee]

I am expecting DC in 3 weeks time and we've settled on a couple of boys' names but girls' names are proving more tricky so I'd love your thoughts on these please:

I love Florence but I feel like every other little girl I meet is a Florence at the mo. I know this really shouldn't matter but I'm also not keen on the NNs Flo, Floss, Florrie etc

I also love Madeleine but I wonder if people of our generation will always think of the poor McCanns when they hear it?

I also adore Effie but I wonder if it sounds like a nickname and I don't like Euphemia, which it is short for.

BTW, I also love Tabitha but DP has vetoed this!

Any thoughts?

In line with those names, what about:

Matilda
Verity
Nancy
Amelia
Beatrice
Una
Christabel
Georgina
Georgiana
Catherine

How about Jemima or Clementine? I like Effie and Florence from your list I think pick the name you love!

Mammie, have you checked out this thread?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/1502915-19th-Century-Cutesiness

Effie is mentioned here, so some of the other girls names might appeal to you :)

FWIW, I think that Essie is a lovely alternative to Effie x

Hey Marbles, you've chosen well; I already have a little Beatrice (I've loved it since studying Much Ado at school) and my sister beat me to Matilda for her little girl. Verity is sweet, I hadn't thought of that. Thank you.

I like Madeleine, it's beautiful.
Some people may think of the McCann's but the same would apply for Holly, Jessica, Sarah etc.

Re: Effie, it could be a nickname for anything beginning with F ("eff"), so you could have Florence for BC and just introduce her to everyone as Effie, so that's the name that'd stick. We did something similar with our DD.

Wow, that link is great MammaTonic, I like loads of those. Essie is gorgeous. Any idea what it's short for? x

In skins 'Effie' was nn for Elizabeth. I've also heard it (not in children in adults) used for Elodie, Elspeth, Emilia, Eris, Francesca and Esme. Going on that I'd guess you could use any E or F name.

Such a shame Tabitha is vetoed! I think it's so lovely! I do like Madeline. Don't think the McCann thing would be a problem - bit different to Holly/Jessica etc though because she's still in newspapers, and may be for a while.

Thanks Yodas. Wise words on both counts. You've given me quite a lot to think about there.

Better get the kettle on...

I guess Essie could be short for Elspeth and Esme. I love both of those too. Unfortunately DP vetoed Elspeth too but he likes Esme :(

We call our Freya Effie!

I love Effie

Elphaba (Elfie)?

Aoife?

Gnocchi, sounds really stupid but how do you pronounce these?

Elphaba - Ell-Fabba (nickname Elf-ee)

Aoife - Ee-Fa

Ahhaa. I keep seeing Aoife written down but had no idea how to say it. And I wasn't sure whether it was Ell-fabba or Ell-fayba so thank you for saving me from any embarrassing moments!! :)

Elphaba is the name of The Wicked Witch of the West from Wizard of Oz and Wicked.

I love the connection, and would use it as a name but thought I should point it out just incase you went with it and people asked.

Lucy
Marianne
Penelope/Penny
Susan
Amelia
Eloise
Bethany
Juliet
Emmeline
Aurora
Louisa
Natalia/Talia

Edith / Edie

I think you are right about your other names.

Yeah I appreciate that. I chose my first daughter's name based on a literary connection which I love so I'd have to think about using a possible less flattering one...

Very sweet. Think it's getting quite popular since that telly programme (you know, period drama, first series was good, blimey my memory is soooo bad at the mo)

Hmmm, I'm not sure what Essie is short for, or if it's a name in it's own right. Maybe Esmerelda? Esme/Esmee? Esmerine? Any name starting 'Es' probably ...

I'll have a look in my reliable baby names books for you and get back to you later on x

Elsie is a good shout too x

Hi Valerie, yes it is. Even DP likes Elsie (he tends to veto a lot). It's got a very pretty sound.

DH's aunt is an Elsie, I love it.

Edie can also be short for Meredith?

Effie fabulous

I have a not so little Scarlett (9) and a scrumptious Queenie (3)

also liked
Nancy, Stella & Nell