Florence, Beatrice or something else?

[nwthree]

I'm going round in circles trying to decide on a name for our second daughter, due imminently, and need help! We already have an Esther (and a son but that's not really relevant) so we need something that sounds okay with that. Our surname is quite traditional English, and so are the other names we've already chosen, so we want something that's fairly classic but preferably not too popular. We seem to have got stuck on Florence and Beatrice but have some reservations with both! Does anyone have any preference or any other ideas?! Thanks

I think Beatrice is lovely. Florence has been quite popular in the last few years.

Every other girl around here is Florence :) we nearly called our own dd Florence until we realised how popular it was. Not that there's anything wrong with a popular name I guess just depends if that bothers you?

Beatrice is a lovely name. I really like that. I also like Edith and Violet.

I like both names - although both names seem to be very popular on here much to my surprise but i don't know many around here!

Other ideas:
Mabel
Martha
Anabelle
Victoria
Audrey
Fleur
Evelyn
Ruby
Viola
Genevieve

:) xx

Beatrice is lovely. Not big on Florence.

What about Francesca, Elizabeth, Ruth, Georgiana, Penelope

I like all your names OP.

Florence was DS2 (if he had been a girl I mean!)

I also like:
Cecily
Mabel
Edith
Agnes
Constance
Martha
Matilda

I don't know many children with any of those names FWIW - two Connies, two Marthas, one Matilda, one Edith. Don't know any Florences or Beatrices! All my DC are older tho so my knowledge of pre-schooler names is limited.

They're both lovely. Choose a name you like and don't worry about popularity. Ds' name is very popular but it's also a classic so it's timeless. Florence and Beatrice are both classic. They are popular yes, but not 'of a time'. They have both been popular for years.

Anna
Sybil
Isobel
Violet
Rosamund

I know a little Beatrice (bea) it's a great name

Beatrice is lovely.

I have a baby Bea :) I love her name, we haven't met another yet!

I like Florence too but obviously Beatrice wins my vote.

I prefer Beatrice out of the two. Esther is lovely, btw.

Beatrice!

My DS would have been a Beatrice - love it.

I have a Beatrice thinking it was v unusual but since having her I have come across a few. In her little nursery she is known as Beatrice to distinguish her from the other (known as Bea).

Not Florence. Go with Beatrice. It's beautiful

Beatrice, 100%. It's such a beautiful name and in my top three. My husband hates it though, so that's the end of that. Boo hoo hoo

We're having a beatrice. We loved florence but there are just a few too many for us. My first daughter is 6 and I've yet to come across a Beatrice. And I love the Shakespearean connection of a strong intelligent woman. It's very classic and does everything that Florence does but just less popular.

Thanks all! Very helpful. My main worry with Beatrice is that our surname begins with a B, but maybe that doesn't matter. The royal family connection puts me off a bit as well - I didn't think I had much in common with Fergie - but I'm sure I can get over that. Biggest concern with Florence is that the nicknames aren't as nice as they could be. Decisions, decisions.

Beatrice was on my short list.

Both names were on my shortlist. I chose Helena with Beatrice as a middle name.

No one has ever commented to me about there being a royal with the same name.

On the name meaning websites I looked at, Beatrice meant 'bringer of joy' and my Bea certainly does that. She's affectionately known as The Menace ??

I prefer Beatrice. Florence feels more common now. Which is a shame for all the people who chose it five years ago thinking they were being a bit different - you just never know!