Clara - I'm having second thoughts at 35 weeks...

[JaffaSnaffle]

Having been adamant for months that I want to call my second daughter Clara, I'm having a last minute wobble.

I still think it is a lovely name, but I'm worrying that it sounds a bit hard and grown up.

Also, I have an acquaintance, who is quite an opinionated pushy mum, and her daughter is called Lara. Is she going to think I'm sort of copying her?

Don't worry at all about Lara's mum!
Clara is a beautiful name. You can call her Clarey too, which is really lovely and a bit softer.

Thank you. I think it is just last minute nerves. I am still worried about Lara's mum though!

It's a lovely name.
Doesn't matter what the other woman thinks.

You could call her Clara and then use Clarry as nickname and see if your friend follows suit and calls her daughter Larry ?

Clara is lovely - good choice!

I have a 2 year old Clara, I obviously love the name and gets lots of compliments on it. Her sister can't quite pronounce her name and calls her lala which is cute too. I don't think it is too grown up a name but a name that will age well with her.

It's a beautiful name and was my second choice for dd. I think it is a good thing to give a name that will grow up with your child. Some names sound lovely for a little girl but perhaps not so great for an adult!

I really like Clara too.

Clara is a lovely name :) I think it suits all ages.

Don't even think about the acquaintance, her opinion is really not relevant.

Clara is beautiful. I'm trying also to think and choose a name that will be long term suitable for our dd. many girls names seem too cutesy and suitable for little girls. I have my heart set on Fern for our dd. quite grown up too. But babies become their names as their little personalities emerge. Clara is a beautiful strong name and also that of my favourite dolly when I was little!

Aw, yes, go on. It suited me then and it suits me still now! (And there's not many of us.)

It is a very pretty name and I would not say it is at all hard or grown-up but she will be a grown-up far longer than she is a child.

I see stacks of babies in my job and have not come across another Clara so it is not too popular either.

Clara is a lovely name, not hard at all, but a lovely girl's name and a beautiful woman's name. I loved it and it was on my list for DD.

Love it, go with it. Imaginary dd2 is called Clara

I love Clara and if dp's ex hadn't been Clare I would have definitely short-shortlisted it for dd.

Go for it.

My Aunt was Clara, it was pronounced 'Clair-a' so is dissimilar to Lara.

Oh how lovely: she will be born near Christmas and it reminds me of Clara from the Nutcracker Ballet. It's great!

Are you pronouncing it like Claire with an A on the end or like Lara with a C at the beginning?

Like Lara with a C at the beginning

i used to want to be called clara after Heidi childrens tv series when i was little, her gorg friend was called clara.

The pronunciation would be your only sticking point. Mine is said the same as Dogsmom's Aunt, but people ALWAYS say it the other way. Either way is lovely though.

Lovely name - forget about the Lara, life is too short. If you are really having second thoughts how about Carla, Carrie Callee or Carly.

One of my favourite names when I was little.....very distinguished and clean sounding!

I love Clara. It's pretty, yet strong. Timeless! Don't worry about the Lara thing; they are different names, just happen to rhyme.

It's a very pretty name

I wouldn't give Lara another thought.