Amanda or Vanessa?

[Supersesame]

I'm back with a new set! Thought Harriet was our name but once I paired it with our surname it sounds dreadful.
Both of these sound ok with surname.
I'm trying to avoid any of the current trendy names as we did with our DS. I'm so pleased we took a risk with his name so I don't mind taking a risk again!

[MichaelBubleBath]

Amanda. Worthy of love is beautiful.
Manda as nn.

Vanessa - I won't lie to you - reminds me of Nessa. Tidy.

[Gingerandproud]

I'm a Vanessa as well and like my name. I only met another one a few years ago. My friends call be Van, ness or nessa, im not fussed which one!

I do not think it is old fashioned and I do not think it dates, it was never a faddy name.

Which ever you choose im sure your DD will grow into their name and make it their own x

[LittlePandaBear]

I'm an Amanda - never liked my name as a child but I didn't share it with anyone I knew until I went to uni. My older sister has a more interesting name so it seemed as if I had sloppy seconds!

I don't mind it now, don't love it or hate it. It's just me! And I was a baby Amanda once so it can suit a baby!

I was only called Mandy for a brief spell at school but it never continued into adulthood.

Not sure if any of that helps or not!

[TallulahBetty]

Vanessa. Amanda is "meh" to me and I can't stand Mandy.

[PeteCampbellsRecedingHairline]

Neither. Sorry.

[looki]

Nobody can really say if in five years there will be loads of little Amandas and Melanies around. If it was said five years ago, the person who said it would have been wrong!

I'm not a fan of either. I know three Vanessa's. One was beautiful, two were overweight. I associate the name as being in a similar vein to Caroline.

I only know of one Amanda but remember growing up I called one of my dolls Amanda (30+ years ago). Its not a name I can associate with anything or anyone or anytime. This might be a good thing or it could be because it sounds 'meh' to my ears.

If I had to choose, I'd go with Vanessa.

[UriGeller]

Yeah but it sort of IS a trend isn't it?. Post irony or über coolyness or anti-trendy names.

In 5 years time there'll be loads of little Amandas and Melanies around ...and 300 different ways of spelling them

[Zoe999]

Vanessa and Amanda ! Wow. I dont likw them but admire u for not following trends. I considered jillian and melanie and lindsay and eventually went with another name from same era (although less popular in its peak)

[dreamingofsun]

supersesame - maybe thats what my mum had in mind. i'm a good 25 years younger than anyone else i have ever met with my name. i still hate it and would love a name of my age group.

[MummyBeerest]

Vanessa is an all-time favourite of mine. Would have used it for DD if our surname didn't start with D.

[UriGeller]

Neither. Both are just bleh names. Feltz and Holden.

[Gowaygoway]

I'm a Vanessa and I like it. Most friends call me Nessa or Ness and I don't mind them either. 2 of my best friends are Amandas. One is only known as Amanda and the other is known by nickname Millie. I'd love to meet a baby Vanessa!

[Littlecherublegs]

I prefer Vanessa.

Amanda is ok though will inevitably get shortened to Mandy which I dont like. (though saying that, now I think about it, I know 2 Amanda's who only ever get called Amanda!)

[Supersesame]

I tend to agree. I would not like my child's age to be identifiable by her name, which it could be with the Evies and Lilys of today.
Opinion is very divided on these two names. I'm veering towards Vanessa. Only have DH to convince now.

[bananamummy]

There is no such thing as an 'old person's name'. All the middle aged Vanessas, Sarahs, Amandas etc were all children too one day!

We sometimes forget why we name our children - they are not fashion accessories that need trendy/fashionable names, they are people who need names to identify them! A Vanessa or Amanda will much more likely be remembered for her name than yet another little Ellie, Evie or Poppy.

Also, a little Amanda will grow up to have a 'cool' name whereas all her contemporaries will have typical, middle aged, 'old' names that so many of you seem to worry about!

[EnjoyEverySandwich]

Both lovely names. I've known a few of each - one Amanda went by Mandy, but the others were always just Amanda with no shortening. And none of my Vanessas were shortened. I must admit that I think Vanessa is a difficult name to carry off if you are not beautiful though! but that might just be me

[Bonsoir]

All the Amandas I have ever known have been silly and immature. Whereas the Vanessas have been intellectual.

[CruCru]

I think Vanessa is lovely. Amanda reminds me of that woman who presented the Word.

[dreamingofsun]

don't like either. both names are from our era, and having had a parent who did this to me i would not wish an 'old person's' name on any child. oh to be a susan, or karen and whatever else was popular when i was born.

[exoticfruits]

Amanda

[Bonsoir]

Vanessa

[bananamummy]

I love both - classic, feminine and not trendy at the moment.

I slightly prefer Amanda - so pretty and she'll be the only one with her name in her age group!

Vanessa also nice but feels more 'now'.

[DanicaJones]

Cat I'm curious about the bullying rhymes. I'm an Amanda and I can't think of any, so are you a Vanessa?