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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Anna, Elena, Elsa or Eva?

41 replies

Buzzybees · 23/03/2014 20:43

These are our favourite girls names for DD1 due in June. We have a DS named Harry.

Anna - DH favourite, I do really like it and think it is a classic but maybe a bit plain?

Elena - (pronounced Ellen-ah). DH originally wanted Helena but I don't like Helena & Harry together & really dislike the nn Hells which my 2 friends called Helen get shortened to. I like Elena but think she will spend her life correcting people's pronunciation & spelling of her name.

Elsa - I have liked this for a long time, DH not so keen & MIL positively hates (could be a good reason to choose ha ha!). Also don't want people to think we're copying the princess from Disney's Frozen movie!

Eva - we both like but think it's too popular along with similar names like Ava, Evie.

What do you think?
Thanks! x

OP posts:
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Paloma12 · 23/03/2014 20:44

Anna

MrsBungle · 23/03/2014 20:45

Elsa.

JimmyCorkhill · 23/03/2014 20:47

Anna. Classic.

DramaAlpaca · 23/03/2014 20:53

Anna is my favourite, it's lovely.

I agree Elena will cause problems with pronunciation - I immediately think Ell-ay-na.

Elsa - not keen. To me it's either an elderly German-speaking lady or a lioness, which is probably why your MIL dislikes it Grin.

Eva - nice name, but like you say it's very popular. It's nowhere near as nice as Anna, though.

If you think Anna is a bit plain (which it isn't Smile) you could go all out & give her a really fancy middle name.

PunkAssMoFo · 23/03/2014 20:53

Anna. Lovely name.
I like elena, but would pronounce differently if spelt that way.
Would only choose elsa to show mil whose boss!

Variations:
Anya
Alina
Anaya
Eleri
Eliana
Anais
Elise
Evelyn

Bowlersarm · 23/03/2014 20:57

Anna

MyNameIsSuz · 23/03/2014 21:06

Elsa, I love it! I haven't seen the film so don't know the connection, but it's one of my favourites.

Buzzybees · 23/03/2014 21:09

Thank you for your opinions & suggestions!

I think Anna is really growing on me.

DramaAlpaca... I was thinking Kate or Beatrice as middle names or even both... Anna Kate Beatrice (surname starts with B & is 3 syllables).

PunkAssMoFo...Ha I would love to show her who's boss .... she said she would refuse to call DD Elsa if that's the name we chose!! But she is very much a part of our lives & is generally very supportive etc & I don't think I can be bothered with the hassle of her hating DD's name unless it was a name that I absolutely loved.

OP posts:
NadiaWadia · 23/03/2014 21:09

Anna is lovely and classic. Eva too, but very popular ATM as you say. They are my favourites.

Elsa is nice but not quite as nice as the others.

Elena, like others say, most usually pronounced ell-ay-na. If you want the pronunciation 'Ellen-ah' then why not just go for Eleanor, which is normally said like this? Lovely name.

IPokedABadgerWithASpoon · 23/03/2014 21:16

Elsa - think its so sweet! And great for any age/ profession

Feartheescalator · 23/03/2014 21:25

OP - we must have very similar taste as my list was Anna, Elena, Elsa and Christina. We went for Anna in the end and I still think it is a lovely name

Mireio · 23/03/2014 22:34

Anna or Elsa.

DramaAlpaca · 23/03/2014 22:34

Anna Kate Beatrice - I like that a lot, it's very pretty. It's nice the other way round, too - Anna Beatrice Kate.

Driveway · 24/03/2014 06:51

Anna or Elsa.

Delphiniumsblue · 24/03/2014 06:56

Anna

Buzzybees · 24/03/2014 06:57

Yay glad Anna Kate Beatrice sounds good to you too, I keep coming back to it.

Looks like Anna or Elsa then! Thanks all!

We discounted Eleanor because although it is often said more like ellen-ah we dislike the nor sound at the end if pronounced how it's spelt.

Feartheescalator - great taste! Does your Anna use any nicknames? Annie?

OP posts:
BartBaby · 24/03/2014 07:37

We have a 2 week old dd called Elena, like the others have said we pronounce it Ell-ay-na, and even then we have already had people unsure how to say it and spell it. It isnt bothering us though and we still love it.

I think Anna off your list. What about Annabel?

everlong · 24/03/2014 07:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AddUpToNothing · 24/03/2014 07:54

Elsa is beautiful and definitely my favourite.

Jemimapuddleduk · 24/03/2014 07:56

Anna or Elsa, lovely

Lottiedoubtie · 24/03/2014 07:57

Anna - easily the nicest Smile

Elfhame · 24/03/2014 12:46

Elsa

Emubaby · 24/03/2014 13:33

Love Elsa and Eva. Both gorgeous! How about Anya?

Feartheescalator · 24/03/2014 13:33

We call her Anna Banana

TallulahMcFey · 24/03/2014 13:41

I like Elena best. My 11 year old is called Eleanor though (we call her Ellie) so i clearly liked the sound of it. However, I did nearly change my mind last minute as thought it was too popular and at primary we knew v few, but now at secondary we know loads of Ellie's. We know quite a few Eves and Evies too but not Eva. My third child was a boy but I would have called a girl Caitlin.