Eloise or Beatrice?

[minipie]

After much discussion, DH and I like these two names.

One of us slightly prefers Beatrice and one of us slightly prefers Eloise, but we both like both names enough to use either IYSWIM.

Other names one of us (but not both) likes are: Annabel, Serena, Marianne.

Which would you pick? Any other suggestions?

Eloise is beautiful and timeless and classic, go for that one!
otherwise how about
isabel
daisy
madeleine
genevieve
eleanor
rosie
bit prejudiced as all combos of my dd's names!!
good luck!

DD3 was going to be Beatrice (LOVE IT)

DH really wanted Annabelle and played his trump card (I had named the other 2)

DD3 is Annabelle!

Thanks both, 2 different answers out of 2 so far

Geranium I love a couple of those but used by close friends/relatives so out.

All five are lovely! In order of preference

Annabel
Beatrice
Serena
Marianne
Eloise

I love Eloise! (Although I always think of the Plaza and 'Charge it, please!' :) )

Serena is pretty too.

ha - volauvent has picked DH's favourites and MizK you have picked mine...

I love that Plaza book and don't mind the association - DD will definitely not be living off room service mind you (well actually she probably will for the first few months now I think about it )

I prefer Eloise, but think Beatrice Eloise sounds gorgeous together, or Eloise Marianne, perhaps.

Quite a few Eloise's in my daughters class at the moment

Sorry, meant at her school. Only one Eloise in her class

mmm interesting. Eloise was the 109th most popular name in 2010 and Beatrice was the 116th so I'd have thought probably equal numbers of them... but it may vary from region to region.

sparkle if we use one we will probably "save" the other name in case we have a DD2! Eloise Marianne is what I would like lovely.

Beatrice

Eloise is my fave.

I think Eloise Marianne sounds like a whole lot of syllables. Maybe a second name with 2 syllables would trip off the tongue a bit easier (obv don't know your surname).

It's a lot of syllables yes, but how often will they really be used out loud together? Probably not on a daily basis, so it wouldn't worry me peronally. And I like the symmetry of the rhythm: dum-de-dum dum-de-dum, and also the two 'ee' sounds in the names and the two 'i's in the written words. I'm geeky like that though

boomdecker fair point about a lot of syllables - and she would have 2 more names after that to contend with too (my 2-syllable surname as a middle name and then DH's 1-syllable surname) so maybe a 3 syllable second name is a bit much! I also like Eloise May or Eloise Mia.

Other middle name suggestions for Eloise or Beatrice most welcome...!

I love Eloise, it's a gorgeous elegant name.

I love Eloise. And Elise.

I think it depends on your surname - for example. If you have a 'weak' surname (like Hall) - then Beatrice would be better. Eloise would be good with a stronger name (like Wilkinson).

They were in our shortlist too, along with Francesca and Madeleine.

DD2 ended up being called Eloise Mae and she really suits it - there isn't another one at her school but I have met a few that are coming up to 2 or 3 now.

Eloise is lovely.

I have an Eloise - I think it's a beautiful name.

If number 2 is a girl, we're thinking of naming her Arianne (or Ariane - can't decide on the spelling although both to be pronounced like Marianne).

I like Ariane

I Like Eloise but prefer Eleanor

See now I think Eloise Marianne dum-de Dum flows beautifully as a rhthym - Eloise Marianne Barker Knowles for example or Eloise Marianne Turner Smith, to use some randon surnames from my circle of friends. It will depend on your exact surnames of course but I certainly wouldn't let it put me off

Eloise is beautiful. I'd push for that. I think it's prettier than Beatrice, which, although a lovely name, just isn't as lovely as Eloise.

Of all of your names, my preferences are:

Annabel
Eloise
Serena
Beatrice
Marianne

HTH!

MammaT