Unusual Girls name shortlist.. Honest comments please. Not long to go.

[bagladywilts]

We are expecting a dd in the next few weeks but we just need to get the name sorted... stress of name is enough to bring on labour in itself. We like unusual names but they can be a bit marmity and we don't want to burden the poor little thing. Ideally something timeless, not obviously shortened, elegant. Which do you like or hate of..?

Romily
Verity
Serena
Selina
Xanthe
Nancy
Lydia
Beatrice
Cynthia
Fleur
Rowena

I'm not sure about iolanthe because it is getting a bit long at 4 syllables and therefore likely to be shortened. I know an iona who is always io which I think is a shame as it sounds a bit harsh to me.

So sorry to hear about your Cecilia.

I personally don't think that Xanthe IS too pretentious (and I'm normally totally against any names I think are remotely 'out there'), as it's such a pretty name. Serena is also very pretty and wouldn't obviously be shortened.

Adelphie has a similar kind of sound to it as Xanthe, so I would maybe go for Serena Adelphie (Adelphie meaning 'sibling', so acknowledging the relationship between both of your daughters).

out of the list I would take out

Verity, Serena, Nancy, Lydia, Beatrice and Selina

If you specifically wish unusual as they are all names people come across semi - regularly (all pretty names but nothing I think (ohh unusual over)

Out of the last 5
Romily I agree with other poster who said this will likely rise.
Xanthe Love this
Cynthia not my style
Fleur pretty
Rowena adore it it was on our short list for dd3

Some suggestions
Ilona, Talia, Farah, Nia, Tansy, Sylvia/Silvia

So sorry to hear about Celia

Romilly is lovely. As are Nancy and Beatrice. I love Fleur and prefer Rowan to Rowena - it's simpler, and more sassy IMO.

I'm not keen on Verity, Serena (although I do like Seren), Selina or Cynthia. Lydia is a name that I know others love but I really really can't bring myself to like it. I have no idea why.

How do you pronounce Xanthe?

My favourites are Romilly, Fleur and Beatrice.

Good luck.

Xanthe, Rowan or Romilly are lovely.
some of the others sound too dated, like Lydia or Cynthia or Verity.

Fleur is slightly pretentious, xanthe more do. Apart from that you've ranged from inoffensive (not meant in a bitchy way, just mean not a fave) to the lovely. I'm not specifying which, cos it's maybe a taste/regional/family thing for me. But any of the others would be fine. Sorry I've put all this badly but hopefully you'll get my drift.

also Fleur just reminds me of Cilla Black's accent iykwim

great list. To be picky...

Verity may get shortened to Very or Rita and is on the increase.
Definitely avoid any Harry Potter names for a while
Xanthe is lovely to hear, but could be a pain to spell/pronounce
Rowena/Rowan is nice - could get shortened to Row

Lydia, love it.

Others similar are:
Aria
Sorrel
Erica
Delia/Cordelia

And Romilly makes me think of Romulan! Sorry - geeky partner.

Just choose your favourite, none of those are bizarre or likely to be burdensome - depending on where you live they probably range from "haven't heard that before" to "oh I know another little ???".

Enjoy her whatever you decide to name her, she will be gorgeous!

Just caught up with your post about you 1st daughter. I'm so sorry. Forget Delia/Cordelia then. I think it's a good shortlist - if you need more it sounds like Shakespeare's a good source for you.

Lydia and Beatrice (but she will be Bee) Also like Verity.

Not keen on Nancy, and don't like anything that's more than but if you don't want names that can be shortened, you need to aviod anything with 3 or more sylables.

How about Delphine? I think it sounds nicely with Cecelia, really sorry to hear baout your loss

Romily - new one on me, makes me think "Rommel"
Verity - ok, though sounds like she might be one of those girls who labels her pencils individually
Serena - meh
Selina - nice sound, but I prefer Celine
Xanthe - ooh, interesting. Lifelong spelling problems though?
Nancy - it's an old nickname for Anne, I can't see it as a name in its own right. And "Nan" or "Nance" must be the worst short forms ever.
Lydia - lovely lovely.
Beatrice - ditto. Love "Bea".
Cynthia - this is TOO lovely, you are not allowed to use it, in case I want it!
Fleur - also lovely. I think the least easy to shorten.
Rowena - meh

I know a Xanthe, must be partly why I like it. I don't find it pretentious. And I think as with Celia (and I am so sorry to hear of your loss) you should go for the name you truly love, and stuff what others may think. We have with both of our children, and I'm glad we did.

How do you pronounce Xanthe?

Is it Zanth or Zanth-ay, or something different?

Zan-thi.

Romily is a dump of a town near me.

Thanks eldritch

Romilly - ADORE if I had another dd, this is the name I would want
Verity - hate it. Sorry.
Serena - v nice
Selena - nice
Xanthe - nice but faces a life of repeating and spelling
Nancy - like it, makes me think of witty women like Mitford
Lydia - like
Beatrice - ummm it's ok
Cynthia - yuck, makes me think of brothel keepers
Fleur -meh
Rowena - meh

So sorry to hear about your Cecelia.

I'm going to be completely honest, so please don't take offence.

Romily -- Never heard it before but actually really like the sound of it.
Verity -- I'm not a fan of virtue names, sorry.
Serena -- Yeah, it's quite nice.
Selina -- Hmm... I think Serena is better.
Xanthe -- Don't really like this. It's trying a bit to hard.
Nancy -- It's very old ladyish.
Lydia -- Soooooo pretty. Uncommon but still traditional.
Beatrice -- I like this, though I think Beatrix is even better.
Cynthia -- No. Just no.
Fleur -- Not unless you're French.
Rowena -- It's ok.

I would also like to second PurplePidjin's suggestion on Bryony.

I find Xanthe pretentious and Cynthia old-fashioned. I like Romilly and Lydia best.

Sorry to hear about Celia. :(

How about Iseult? I knew someone with that name, I think it's very romantic.

Lydia and Cynthia are my favourites on that list.

Romily- well, it would be unique. But maybe as a middle name?
Verity- I love its meaning, but it is quite old fashioned.
Serena - LOVE THIS NAME. It sounds lovely.
Selina- LOVE THIS NAME. It's beautiful.
Xanthe-pretty and sweet, but maybe too unique for a first name.
Nancy- LOVE THIS NAME.
Lydia- okay, but maybe a bit dated?
Beatrice- definitely too oldfashioned for a modern day baby.
Cynthia- too oldfashioned.
Fleur- LOVE THIS NAME. So pretty!
Rowena - LOVE THIS NAME.