Why are girls names so hard?

[NancyinCali]

We really struggled with girls names for DD1 and now we're going through the same struggles with DD2 (due July).

We eventually landed on Emily for DD1 (yes popular but also classic and we love it). But completely stuck on DD2. So far we have:

Clara (probably our top choice)
Laura (underused I think these days but I know loads of Laura my age!)
Zoe (my least favourite but DH likes it)

I like classic names. Quite old-fashioned taste. DH likes short names and he would happily use a nickname as a first name (doesn't see the need to have the long name on the birth certificate).

Names ending in S and T sounds run into our surname so they don't work.

All ideas welcome!

Bea

Anna

Florence

Romy

Like all of those:

Bea - can't use as have a good friend with a little Bea
Anna - this is actually on our longer list I think
Florence - runs in to our surname but would still consider for a middle (as it wouldn't really be said so often)
Romy - we knew someone at work called this, no bad memories, it's a possible

Thank you calzone :)

short but classic:

Alice, Beth, Connie, Carrie, Daisy, Daphne, Dora, Edith, Esme, Elsie, Faith, Grace, Hannah, Hope, Hazel, Hattie, Isabel, Isla, Julia, Jane, Kate, Lara, Leah, Lois, Mary, Martha, Maisie, Mollie, Nina, Nora, Nancy, Orla, Pippa, Polly, Rachel, Ruby, Rita, Rosa, Robyn, Sarah, Sophie, Sadie, Stella, Sylvie, Thea, Tara, Tessa, Verity.

I like Clara and Zoe from your list. Less keen on Laura but it's nice enough.

Charlotte/ Carlotta (Lottie)
Hannah
Catherine/ Catriona
Meredith
Verity
Megan
Louisa
Juliet

I love Clara as a sister to Emily. A really beautiful set.

What about:

Jane
Lucy
Alice
Ruby

Sorry if these suggestions seem really obvious but I think they are really lovely with Emily, so classic and pretty.

Matilda
Martha
Alexandra
Abigail
Ella

So many lovely names, thank you everyone.

I hadn't thought of Ruby, going on the list, thank you sunwish & manicinsomniac. So many lovely names on your list manic, many of them previously suggested by me and rejected by DH though. I may have to try again :).

And yes I love Clara and Emily as siblings too. It's definitely a frontrunner!

I love Alice sleepywombat as it's a family name but it's another one that will run into our pesky surname.

toastedteacake adore Charlotte. But a good friend has a Charlotte with nn Lottie. Hannah & Megan have both been on our list at one point but rejected for some reason.

aGirlDownUnder1 Alexandra & Abigail have both been on my list too - rejected by DH! He's the difficult one here .

I love Laura, it's a bit more unusual nowadays with all the Eva/Ava/Bella's around. Clara is lovely too and goes well with Emily.

Thank you, I only added Laura to the list today Elllimam and I really like it :).

If you like Laura and Clara then what about Lara or Lana?

Slow down Nancy your making me feel unorganised.
I love Clara, think it works well with Emily as well. Also really like Zoe.

Im the opposite think there are soooo many lovely girls names. N was nameless for 5 weeks, & if I have another boy it probably won't be much different lol.
I love the granny chic names for girls like Betty, Alice, etc & think they work with Emily.

I quite like Olivia - can't use it as dp is Oliver! And that would be silly but also love sophia ( think am choosing that for dd2 and Isabella nn Bella for dd1!! Love Emily too , how about rose or lily ?

Adora, Aradia, Asha, Bettina, Clarity, Evren, Gwendolen, Harleen, Janine, Janna, Jane, Josephine, Justica, Louisa, Malia, Mercia, Merita, Mirabelle, Olivine, Parker, Panthea, Pax, Salome, Sage, Sephina, Sephie, Sonder, Tesni, Valora, Winifred, Zeal, Zuri

We called our little girl Laure, it's the French version of Laura. We have a French friend with that name and I really like her having something a little different, but still familiar. Now I'm looking for something to go with it if we have another girl, perhaps Amelie... You might end up with Emily and Laura whereas I have their French equivalents!

Frances? Classic name...

Julia
Georgia
Alice
Vivian

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. No more contenders so far but keep them coming :).

hayley sorry! But I know how long it took us last time so getting a head start

Sorry for any repeats:

Lucy
Francesca
Victoria
Lydia
Hannah
Sarah
Rosa
Jennifer
Harriet
Bethan
Catherine

The Emily I know has sisters Susannah and Jessica.

Lucy, Hannah, Laura, Clare

Clara's lovely, I don't think you need to look any further. But here are a few classics just in case which I think will go nicely with Emily:

Valerie
Miranda
Francesca
Belinda

PS I found girls' names easier but had 2 boys.

Do you know what? I think Francesca is going on the list .

Cara
Rowena
Miriam
Aurora
Diana
Seren
Marianne
Cassia
Natalie
Zara
Penelope
Felicity
Joanna
Pearl

Lauren is nice too I think if Laura isn't at
April
Jenny
Claire
Alicia if Alice no good?
Susie